This issue has been eating at me for a couple of days now but I’ve decided that there are enough serious, real world things happening related to the #Weinergate story that the truth has to come out about an aspect of this story. I hinted at it in this article, which is worth reading to get some context.
My friend Patterico has done a significant amount of solid blogging about Weinergate. One of the big breaks that he had in the story was his article revealing the Tumblr page of ‘Ethel’, the underage girl in Delaware that Rep. Weiner has been having private direct messages with. I knew about this story before Patterico posted – we spoke on Sykpe and he had me read a draft. I complemented him on finding this major piece of information at the time.
A few days ago, Patterico told me that the source of that information. Sock puppet “John Reid” told Patterico about the Ethel Tumblr page and the “Large. In Charge” comments.
It’s important to note — the information presented about Ethel was accurate. However, by not revealing the source of that information, I think Patterico made a major (although not badly intentioned) error. I believe he was being used by ‘Reid’ to continue their own personal vendetta against Rep. Weiner.
Further, not revealing the source has allowed the illusion to continue that Reid is actually ‘pro-Weiner’ when in point of fact, they were working behind the scenes and using Patterico to post some of the most damaging info about Rep. Weiner; information that actually helped lead to Rep. Weiner’s resignation.
I know that Patterico is a good person and I believe this was an honest error. He confirmed the facts before running the story and at that point couldn’t have seen the ramifications. However, the stakes are too high at this point for people to continue to have illusions about what is really going on with these fake Twitter personas.
One thing that convinced me to reveal this is the following exchange.
John Reid – what did GennetteC do to cause your consternation with her? Does your spouse still stand behind her letter?
Comment by JD — 6/26/2011 @ 9:27 pm
Unfortunately my wife does not stand by her letter. It was actually Patterico’s story on Ethel that causedus to question our daughter’s claim of only 2 DM’s between her and Rep Weiner. After Patterico’s story uncovered the discrepancy of Ethel saying there were 2 DM’s when later on itturned out to be 5 or 6, my wife and I questioned this.Thanks to Patterico, we realized we were in the same situation as Ethel and her parents. There were more DM’s that Nikki did not want us to see. We gave Rep Weiner the benefit of the doubt at the time when my wife wrote her statement.Now we are disturbed about some of the content. Although we don’t want to jump to any conclusions.Since so many people have jumped to conclusions throughout this ordeal, it wouldn’t be fair.
Comment by John Reid — 6/26/2011 @ 10:23 pm
Reid is using Patterico and lying about their involvement in the story. This behavior is strikingly similar to what Patriot did repeatedly by using Mike Stack as a front for (true) information.
I hope Patterico will take a moment, reconsider how he has been used and manipulated, and set the record straight. This was a difficult post to write but nobody’s interest or safety is being preserved by allowing the John Reid sock puppet to use their illusions.
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