ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Who is behind this anti-Edwards video?

Posted: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 3:49 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
At 12:11 pm ET today, we -- and, as we understand it, plenty of other national political reporters -- received an email  that contained an unflattering video of Edwards, which shows him apologizing for his votes for the Iraq war and the bankruptcy legislation. The video concludes, "We need a president who will get it RIGHT the first time."

The email -- from a person identified as Neil Dooley, and with a Patrick McMurphy cc'ed in it -- says simply: "Have you seen this? It's pretty funny. Biden gettin' feisty? See you on the trail."

We contacted the Biden campaign, which denied being behind the video. And as the Politico's Ben Smith points out, Biden's folks "would be unlikely to raise the war and the bankruptcy bill as talking points."

What about the Obama campaign, since Obama has begun engaging Edwards on the trail? Obama spokesman Bill Burton tells First Read that they're not behind the video and have no idea who Dooley and McMurphy are.

First Read has emailed both Dooley and McMurphy, but neither has yet responded to the query. Neither also seems to have contributed to any political candidates, according to a Federal Election Commission search.

We know that by posting the video, we're giving free advertising and publicity to it. But it's too sophisticated of an effort not to try uncover who is behind it.

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments


I know exactly who's behind this...Ralph Nader.  He's starting a negative third party campaign already!
Why not Clinton...they are known for dirty tricks and trying to make it look like another camp...

Not saying they did just curious as to why you left them out and went immediately to Obama/
Nice piece. He put a tough one together against Clinton,  as I recall. This is tough as well, but not unfair. I actually didn't realize he voted for that horrific bankruptcy bill. I suppose Clinton did as well. What could Mr. Two Americas possibly have been thinking when he went along with that bill?
You barely covered Bob Kerrey's 2-day racist smear campaign against Senator Obama, but you may issue of this?  
Whose debate mantra has been "We need a President who will get it right the first time"?  Dennis Kucinich.  Why he is targeting Edwards, though... no idea.  Could just be a fanatical Kucinich supporter (aren't they all?) who believes Kucinich is more electable than Edwards who is often touted as the most electable candidate.  Both are wrong.  Biden is the most electable and the best candidate on either side.
It was probably the Hillary campaign, they are worried of losing to Edwards and Obama in Iowa.

Edwards-Obama 08
Now its official, First Read is anti-Edwards? I imagine you get dirty trick emails every day, why use your privleged position to broadcast this one?
The Clinton's. Someone else will be fired or resign soon.
It is truly a shame that with a year of this ahead of us we are already playing dirty! I have to say that hindsight's 20/20...I don't believe any of the candidates would say they have made the right decision the first time all of the time. I think that life in this day and time moves so incredibly fast; with the aid of today's media time is not always on our side. In today's dynamic world facts and circumstances are in a constant state of change and what is important is to take each moment for what it is; an opportunity; and make the most of it. From there we move forward.
Shame on whoever put this together. Not because I am an Edwards fan, but because this is a piece we can insert the face of many into. Lets move forward!
This is not news. Edwards is gaining and this just proves it. Have no clue who put it out...could have been anyone including the repuds.

EDWARDS 08!
Why not find out who's behind it then report on it you jerks!!!!!
And why in the world did  you include the video?!?!

When Edwards' campaing released "the politics of parsing" video, did you include it on first read?

When Mark Penn kept using the word cocaine on Hardball did you include the video.

First Read is disgusting and it is a shame that you can't hide your negative feeling towards Edwards!!!

Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro are pathetic!!!
so apparently to firstread any idiot with a computer can put forth a "sophisticated effort"

if this is such a professional hit, how come you guys can't figure out who made it, let alone released it?

weird.
I doubt Biden's campaign is behind this considering Biden voted for the bankrupcy legislation too. My guess would be Obama. He has the most to lose if Edwards performs well in Iowa.
Kevin -- Thanks for the feedback. Yes, we did write about the "Politics of Parsing" video, as well as tons of other campaign videos like the anti-Hillary "1984" one. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/02/445146.aspx

As you can see above, this looks like a professional job -- much like the "1984" one was. And, to us, that makes it news.
Why not find out who's behind it then report on it you jerks!!!!!
And why in the world did  you include the video?!?!
_______________________________________

Yeah what's up with that!  I was going to ask you guys the same thing, why post it when you have no idea who sent it and why.
Politics truly suck!
Was it Bush, was it Cheney?? Was it underdog? No, it was pathetic!
This has Obama's boy Gibbs fingerprints all over it if you ask my opinion.
Mark Murray, I kinda agree with a few others here. What have you done to find out? Follow the IP, and see if its a computer registered to any campaign (like Blue Hampshire did, when outing seven Clinton staffers from its blog).

I also disagree with those pointing the finger at Clinton here. Yes, I think she's dirty. But its in her interest to keep Edwards in the race.
Here it is again, hillaryclinton.com
The names are probably fake.  That said, I doubt it's Obama as it's not his style.  Plus, the so called attack you guys keep shouting about was one sentence during a q and A yesterday.  Nothing more than off the cuff stuff they all do at these things.  Not an attack like what Hillary has been doing.
And speaking of Hillary....have you checked on the possibillity it's from her.  This is more her style.
have you googled the email addresses?  and other key words that appear in the text?
Edward got caught like Hillary Clinton...
First Read - It's not news until you investigate and find out who is behind it.  Right now all you have done is disparage the Edwards and Biden campaigns.  This apprently was the e-mailer's intent in the first place.  You did the e-mailer's bidding.  It's like al jazerah playing a bin laden video to the Muslim world.  Man you guys are pathetic today.
Hillary is #1... hillaryclinton.com
bankrupcy legislation too. My guess would be Obama. He has the most to lose if Edwards performs well in Iowa.
Erin M, Jacksonville Beach, Florida (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 4:25 PM)

Believe you me, this is a Clinton job, designed to have speculators thinking Obama campaign did it. Obama is not stupid, believe you me he would not resort to this, that is why he is ahead in the polls!!

Patrick McMurphy was the name of the main character in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Actually Randle Patrick McMurphy). Probably just a coincidence, but it would be funny if it was intentional.

That's right, Mr. Martini. There is an Easter Bunny.
I guess the Dodd campaign was responsible for the video. It could be Hillary Clinton...
Mark,

It's nice to know that you are reading the comments posted on this blog. So, let me ask you this: Did Obama not do a damn thing today?? Just curious.
also, your techies may be able to find the IP address for the computer where the email originated.  Then do a whois and with any luck, it won't be a home address (such as Comcast or Cox) and it'll be a more specific... perhaps a business?

Come on!  I know you guys are political commentators... but you border on being reporters!  Join the information age!  lol.

I think you guys need some "tech-savvy Ron Paulites" on your staff!  You'd get to the bottom of this in just a few minutes.  

Btw, I know I complain at times (who cares about Ric Flair??), but... overall, you guys do a pretty good job.  Now get crackin on that email!

Maybe you should post an image of the email... we might be able to help you figure it out.  :)
QUESTION 1
Who says America needs a President who gets it right the first time - DENNIS KUCINICH.

QUESTION 2
Who benefits if voters believe that ALL politicians are the same, no exception - HILLARY CLINTON. If she manages to remotely pin this on Obama, she brings down two birds (Obama and Edwards) with one stone. Except, Obama hasn't had every vote right the first time and despite pressure from backers that he should link Clinton's and Edwards' Iraq war vote to the painful casualties, he NEVER DID - look it up.

I would bet money, that Clinton is involved, but from this piece, this might well be the work of a Kucinich person:
http://www.pollsb.com/polls/poll/3356/kucinich-on-john-edwards-recent-apology-for-voting-for-the-iraq-war-apologies-are-a-little-bit-late-when-you-ve-got-dead-bodies-all-over-the-field

Really, this is a clear Clinton job, I bet one of her campaigns or supporters are linked to this in some way!!
Cuckoo's nest... yeah... that comes right to the top on a google under wiki.

This is fun... you guys should let us try to figure it out!  As well, you get work done for you... then give the info to Matthews and Olbermann... and they'll be on the national news tonight saying "as reported by Mark Murray" blah, blah, blah... you guys get famous and didn't have to do anything!  You just let your bloggers have some fun!  Come on... post the email!
News Flash!!!! Hillary Clinton is responsible for that video
Uzoma, Obama got endorsed by Ken Burns. And he held a foreign policy forum in IA today. As soon as we get the dispatch from our Obama embed, we will post the report. Thanks for the note.
THE BUTLER DID IT !
Obama involved ? well daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
"it would be funny if it was intentional"

Patrick McMurphy is a play on Cuckoo's... no doubt.  But just because it's a fabricated email address doesn't mean we can't have fun investigating this.
News flash Bee is full of s--- !
Mark-thanks for responding to my post.

However, myself and others have noticed that first read continuously ignore Edwards or puts a negative spin on any story written about him.

Is there a reason for this?
How come Hillary Clinton's name wasn't included. She also got EVERYTHING WRONG:

- IRAQ WAR

- IRAN LEGISLATION

- UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE

How convenient!
News flash again ! Bee did it ?
Since Edwards and Biden are the ones mentioned I would assume these people are feeling insecure due to movement in the Edwards and Biden support.
"Who is behind this Anti-Edwards Video?"

Well Mark and Dom, I really don't know; it wasn't mailed to me.  Here's an idea though.  You're the journalists, why don't you look into the matter and get back to us with the answer.  Right now you have everybody pointing fingers.
It's a conspierecy. Dick Chaney ?
All I can say is that this video is not that highend..you take a person that knows anything about Adobe Premire and they could produce this very video or actuall even better...could just be another fan not afilliated with a party...
Kevin -- Even the best political journalists are far from perfect, and we here try to be as impartial as we can be. I can't tell you how many Obama folks think we're anti-Obama; how Hillary folks think we're anti-Hillary; and how Edwards folks think we're anti-Edwards. We try to call them like we see them, although we understand that mission opens us up to criticism. I would say that Edwards fans probably aren't too displeased with what we wrote in First Thoughts today. Again, thanks for the feedback
Oh no Bee did't do it ,she not smart enough.
This is hilarious, if not unfortunate for the Johnny Come Lately populism of John Edwards.  I'm so glad that someone finally brought this to light.
Okay, who knows maybe Edwards' campaign email the video to get some mileage out of it and to try and damage whomever.  The only person I know who has been hammering Edwards on his Senate record is Congressman Kucinich.  Maybe that is why the DMR stopped him from attending the debate.  No one talks about Edwards' Senate record at all but Congressman Kucinich.  Also, Congressman Kucinich likes to let everyone know that he got it right the first time on all issues.  I doubt he did this but it goes back to the 1st question maybe the Edwards campaign put it out themselves.  Alot of campaigns like to put out bad news before another campaign does it.  It makes sense, and I also read that this video is old.  We live a a you tube World, everything is over there and all someone has to do it attach and click.
James... you're wrong!  It was the Care Bears and Punky Brewster.  They've got their fingerprints all over it!  Everyone knows that Edwards draws support directly from their preferred candidate: Angus MacGyver.
John did it, he needed some attention.


SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=524093

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google