I'll come right out and say it: Dave Hogan and Harry Esteve are liars

(updated - see comments)

So I read this article on the inauguration and the Governor's speech, and was surprised to read this:

[T]he governor segued into his desire for Oregon to lead in finding alternative energy.

While most in the room applauded loudly, conservative Republicans, including House Minority Leader Wayne Scott of Canby and Donna Nelson of McMinnville, sat quietly.

I'm really curious where Dave Hogan and Harry Esteve got this information.  Why?  Because I just happened to be sitting one chair to the left of Representative Donna Nelson as her guest at the event.  And she just happened to be very enthusiastic about the Governor's speech.  The moment mentioned above, when the Governor talked about alternative energy, she not only applauded, but turned to me and commented that she strongly supports alternative energies.  I remember it well, because I told her we should take a good long look at nuclear power as a means to lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

After the speech was over, she said, and I quote:

That was the best speech I have ever heard Kulongoski give.

Oh, and by the way, this all took place after Kulongoski singled her out of the crowd and gave her a warm hug - the only person in the entire House chamber to be so greeted by our Governor.  Of course, no one from the paper saw fit to mention that... but I digress...

After reading this article, I asked her about it.  No one from the newspaper had the decency to ask her for any sort of statement or opinion.  I guess they already had their script ready, and there was no need to let facts get in the way.

Now, I'm speaking purely for myself here, and not for Representative Nelson, but this sort of petty false reporting is an abomination.  Dave Hogan and Harry Esteve should be ashamed of themselves.

So now we must wonder: how many other "news" stories have falsely accused conservative Republicans of things they didn't do?

Comments

[RinoWatch]

Gully,

Could Not agree with you more!!!

No person in their right mind would ever speak to or trust Dave Hogan -

On or Off the record.....

He's screwed several of my friends and wrote that I was a "racist" for favoring Proof of Citizenship to register to vote.

[Jared McLaughlin]

I see we've shared a moment here. The moment when you begin to wonder, really seriously question and wonder, when you read anything anywhere. My moment happened when reading about Iraq while being in said country. A tale of two Iraqs? I don't believe a word of anything said about it unless it's a personally verified source now.

[HMIL]

how many reports in the mainstream media about conservatives are untrue?

Likely most of them.

[Lc Scott]

Gully the only real surprise is that you have a first hand account of this.
Good job, Calling them on there B.S.

[Ken]

Gully -- I emailed Dave Hogan about this, and he responded:

"I don't believe I attended the governor's speech on Monday (by the time he spoke, I had gone downstairs to my office to eat). My colleague Harry Esteve covered the speech, and he assures me he saw what he reported."

The fact that you had first-hand knowledge of this situation makes me doubt the latter statement about Esteve, but I at least take Hogan at his word that he wasn't covering Kulongoski's speech. So it sounds like your beef should be with Esteve.

[RinoWatch]

Hogan or Esteve - birds of the same feather.......

Tell 'em Nuthin' - On or Off the record

[maxredline]

Fine catch, Gully! Typical reportage, though.

[Abe]

I like bald faced liars. They are easier to spot and expose as you have shown.

[Ken]

"Hogan or Esteve - birds of the same feather......."

You're right -- what's a little libel among friends?

[Ken]

After reviewing my previous comment, I don't think I was sufficiently clear.

I thought RW's dismissal of both men as "birds of the same feather" wasn't fair in this situation. Gully was specifically addressing the comments in the Oregonian article about Donna Nelson's actions during the governor's speech, and accusing Dave Hogan of lying about them. Hogan says he wasn't even in the room when the governor spoke, so accusing him of lying about something he wasn't present for is approaching libel.

It's clear that Gully has a strong argument on his side, but I think it's fair that he strike Hogan's name from this post and replace it with that of Harry Esteve.

[DFWW]

This doesn't surprise me about Harry Esteve. I have a post on my site about how he likes to gloss over bad traits if you're a liberal, but point them out if you're a conservative.

[The Cheezer]

Gully is fully in his right to name either of these fools as they both put their names to the article.
If Dave claims he wasn't even in the room, then his name shouldn't have been added to the credit.
If you add your name to an article, you don't get to shift the blame if you don't like the way it reads or the heat you get for it.
Your name, your problem.

[Ken]

I'm sorry, I just don't get it -- Hogan says he didn't report on the speech, but he did report on other things that went in the story. That's why there are two bylines on the story. But to call him a liar about Donna Nelson's actions during the speech (which is the entire premise of Gully's post) is to make what seems to be a false accusation. He says he wasn't there for the speech, that his co-worker covered that aspect of the story, and we seem to have no proof to the contrary. Are we so blinded by our desire to call foul on the MSM that we can't be fair? Isn't that what we expect from the MSM?

[Gullyborg]

Gentlemen, gentlemen...

I finally got a chance to get away from the office and check up on the blog. Thank you for pointing out that this was a shared byline. I inadvertently gave blame to only one of two co-authors. I am updating the post to reflect joint and several liability.

Unlike the liberal MSM, I *WILL* fix mistakes, and even point out that I did so!

[Steve]

If Harry Esteve is going to point out who isn't clapping at certain moments, then it is only fair for me to point out that Harry Esteve never puts his hand on his heart during the Pledge of Allegience.

[Carla]

Harry also remains silent at "under God". :)

[capitol3republican]

Dave Hogan and Harry Esteve are liars
Glad to see your showing how liberal the Media can be.
glad that your sticking up for republican Donna Nelson
Gods blessings
T&T