Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog

*****Update*****

7:20 PM

Eric Longabardi is now on KFI Los Angeles 640 AM Radio and he has stated that employees of Univision have sent him the e-mails in this piece. Give it a listen.

California Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-San Francisco)

In a conference call today with reporters California’s Senior Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein’;s endorsement of Hillary Clinton did not quite go as planned. In fact, it was dogged by questions about Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, his divorce and his girl friend Telemundo political reporter Mirthala Salinas.

A reporter asked Clinton whether she was concerned about the recent scandal following Villaraigosa’s divorce and his admission of a relationship with a Spanish-language television reporter, and whether she’d spoken with him.

Feinstein angrily interjected.

“I’m surprised at you for that question. My goodness, Hillary is running for president of the United States she doesn’t need to get into this,” Feinstein snapped.

“I echo my friend Dianne’s comments, but let me say that I have spoken with the mayor,” Clinton said.

“I also am well aware that he is the mayor of our second-largest city, and I think that his work on behalf of many of the issues that I care about is very significant so I will continue to welcome his support.”

Of course, Hillary will “welcome” his support. But, it is Flap’s guess that Mayor Villar and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (who earlier this year admitted to an affair with the wife of his campaign manager) will have little to do with the campaign and appear very sparingly with the Senator from New York.

By the way, Hillary, when you talked to the Mayor did you tell him that you commiserate with Corinna?

Or what?

And……..

And a print rendering of this original cartoon by Patrick O’Connor of the Los Angeles Daily News can be purchased by clicking the link here.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Villaraigosa on WHOSE Side?

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Still Smitten; Update: Eric Leonard Investigating Documentary Evidence Mayor’s Office Has Different Press Rules for Spanish Language Media

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno

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*****Update*****

KFI’s Eric Leonard has picked up on the story and have the e-mails as well.  The story is being broadcast on the 3 PM news.

The Mayor denied in an interview Wednesday that he was fed specific questions and answers written out ahead of time.

E-mails obtained by KFI NEWS reveal news producers at KMEX channel 34 pre-arranged interview questions with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office for a regular in-studio segment called, “Villaraigosa A Su Lado” (rough translation: “Villaraigosa on your side.”).

The interview — which is presented as a spontaneous exchange between news anchors and the mayor — aired regularly before news of the mayor’s affair with KVEA reporter Mirthala Salinas became public.

“From time to time I think a number of you [reporters] will give the general thrust of a question,” Villaraigosa explained Wednesday.

But what about specific questions and answers written out ahead of time?

“No,” the mayor said.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praises Telemundo reporter and girl friend Mirthala Salinas at a news conference in the mid-city area Monday, July 23, 2007.

Eric Longabardi has a blockbuster of a post about which Flap alluded yesterday.

Actually, Eric Leonard of KFI mentioned the FLAP first. And what is the FLAP, you ask?

ERSNews has exclusively obtained e-mails documenting that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was receiving written questions in advance, sometimes days in advance, before television interviews that were conducted on the Univision Los Angeles based television station KMEX-TV34. The questions were then asked during on-air interviews conducted by the stations in-studio anchors for a segment known as “Villaraigosa a su lado”, which translates from Spanish as “Villaraigosa on your side”.

The so-called broadcast “interviews” were conducted regularly on Wednesdays each week in 2006 and through mid-2007.

A breach of journalistic ethics?

You betcha……..

Even USC Journalism Professor Joe Saltzman (whose Mass Communications class at USC Flap often sat in) called the Univision conduct: “very very poor judgment.”

On Monday, the Mayor at a new conference on traffic praised his girl friend and Telemundo political reporter (even though she on numerous occasions dated politicians with whom she covered as a reporter and announced “on air” the Mayor’s divorce while she was the “other woman.”):

“I continue to have the utmost respect and confidence in the journalistic abilities and the high ethical standards of Mirthala Salinas,” the mayor said.

“I can tell you that I believe that if this investigation addresses all of the issues here, including the fact that she made it absolutely clear the extent of the relationship that we have, that I expect she’ll be vindicated.”

Birds of a feather – flock together.

The questions sent to the Mayor were represented to the public as impromptu-unscripted questions. ERSNews had uncovered they were anything but that. The topics ran the gamut of issues concerning Villaraigosa’s job as LA’s mayor.

ERSNews has learned that the questions were provided to the Mayor in advance via a direct link. That link was the Mayor’s Deputy press secretary Diana Rubio. Rubio was working directly with the Executive Producer of Univision and others at KMEX, including at the time the station’s Vice President of News. Other news staff was well aware of the communications and the intertwined relationship the station had developed with the Mayor’s office. According to sources familiar with the situation, the mayor’s office exerted extensive influence and sway in insuring the Mayor was not put in any light other than a favorable one, something Univision accommodated routinely.

Eric has the e-mail evidence:

Now, how will Univision respond?

And will this story affect NBC/Telemundo’s decision on Mirthala Salinas – that is due at anytime?

Stay tuned…….

Previous:

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Will Telemundo Decide Mirthala’s Fate Today?

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With Anita Moreno #2

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Still Smitten; Update: Eric Leonard Investigating Documentary Evidence Mayor’s Office Has Different Press Rules for Spanish Language Media

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Watch: Mayor Denies Affair With LAPD Officer Anita Moreno

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Fred and Mrs. Jeri Thompson

Yesterday Flap reported that Fred Thompson’s Presidential non-campaign manager was replaced because of a rift with the former Senator’s wife.

Kelly O’Donnell has more on the JERI FACTOR.

Apparently Thompson’s fundraising is DOWN and there has been another staff resignation.

Fred is living up to his reputation as a “light weight” – remember what Nixon said?

Does Thompson have the “fire in his belly” to run for the Presidency? He sure as hell is NOT showing it and his poll numbers reflect it.

Fred is making John McCain’s campaign look good. WOW……

Update:

And now he is heckled – before he announces – double WOW.

Previous:

Fred Thompson Watch: Thompson Replaces Campaign Staff Because of Rift With His Wife

Newt Gingrich Watch: Quote of the Day

I Announce My Candidacy Against Nancy Pelosi in California’s 8th.

A lesson in moronic futility. But, Flap likes it…….

Previous:

Cindy Sheehan Watch: Cindy to Speaker Nancy Pelosi – Impeach Bush or I’m Running Against You

Cindy Sheehan Watch: Thanks for the Memories

Cindy Sheehan Watch: Sheehan Quits Democrat Party Over Iraq War Funding Part Two

Cindy Sheehan Watch: Sheehan Quits Democrat Party Over Iraq War Funding

Globe Trotting California GOP Chairman Ron Nehring

Bill Bradley has the POOP.

And California conservatives thought the Governator was bad for the party. At least Arnold pays the bills.

Looks like the California Republican Party needs a good housecleaning.

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani holds up a card listing his 12 Committments to the American people as he speaks to a group in San Francisco, Monday, July 23, 2007.

The brain donors over at WaPO can read their own poll.

DUH……..

Previous:

Rudy Giuliani Watch: California Dreamin’ – Summer in the Inland Empire

Giuliani Notes: Rudy Continues Commanding Double Digit Lead in Latest Washington Post – ABC News National GOP Presidential Poll 

The Rudy Giuliani Archive

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani reaches for 3-month-old Ethan Gaines, son of Coffee Depot owners Geof and Evelyn Gaines, during a stop Tuesday at Coffee Depot in Riverside.

When the California GOP a few years ago changed Republican Presidential convention delegate rules, they envisioned candidates campaigning in all or most of California’s numerous counties.

Who is the ONLY GOP candidate traveling from San Francisco to Fresno to Riverside and San Diego – Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Yesterday, the Giuliani campaign rolled into the Inland Empire.

During a brief stop Tuesday morning at Riverside’s Coffee Depot, Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani visited with patrons and criticized Democratic rivals, saying they fail to recognize the threat of terrorism.

In between kissing babies and sipping iced coffee, the former New York mayor positioned himself as the candidate to fight terrorism.

Rudy Giuliani currently is the front runner in Inland Empire and California state polls.

Previous:

Giuliani Notes: Rudy Continues Commanding Double Digit Lead in Latest Washington Post – ABC News National GOP Presidential Poll 

The Rudy Giuliani Archive