Say what you will about James O’Keefe, the videographer and self-described journalist famous for his ACORN and NPR stings, but after today, you can’t deny the man has a pretty wicked sense of humor and a moderate-to-above-average sense of rhythm.
Overnight at Andrew Breitbart’s Big Government website a music video for the song “Landrieu Dance” appeared, posted by its director, Christian Hartsock, in which O’Keefe and his sometime accomplice Anthony Dini sing and dance to a tune that raises a big ol’ middle finger to his critics. (The title is a reference to O’Keefe’s arrest for tampering allegedly attempting to tamper with the phones in Landrieu’s office last January.)*
After a trumped-up sizzle reel featuring a slew of angry MSNBC hosts and some rather heroic shots of our often pimped-out hero, the song begins with O’Keefe’s mock-arrest. Then, after he ousts the cigarette he smokes with all the cool of Olivia Newton-John circa the last five minutes of Grease, the singing begins.
And it’s not Rebecca Black bad.
Sometimes wearing the fluorescent yellow vest and hardhat of a telephone worker, sometimes donning a suit and drinking the cheapest-looking cocktails I’ve seen outside of Chillis, O’Keefe’s stylings are something of a late-90s Justin Timberlake. (Okay, maybe Nick Lachey.) But the lyrics are a little more of-the-moment. “Listen to my basics,” he insists. “Open your mouth and taste it, give up your 100 K solution ”
The chorus—which comes at about the 3.35 mark (check out that lead-in!)—is more remarkable for the choreography than the insight, but the tune’s half-catchy.
We need a bit of action, That will give this the traction, As a matter of fact-tion, Won’t you bring me [indecipherable] down.
It gives us satisfaction, When you take civil action, We’ll go out and attack them, Investigate them, hit the ground.
I’m not sure I see much validity to whatever is being said in this freshly dropped disc. Or that this will do much to assuage any critics. But hey, it’s pop music, so I’m not going to think too hard. And on that level, the whole thing is just a tad brilliant, really. Charming if not convincing.
Look for the hilarious Michael Jackson tribute at the end. “Heavily edited,” indeed!
*Note: thanks to padikiller for pointing out an oversight—O’Keefe was arrested on an attempt charge rather than for actually tampering with the phone lines. Good summary here.
Meares writes: "I'm not sure I see much validity to whatever is being said in this freshly dropped disc." And yet, here we have a post describing it in excruciating detail. It pains me to think just how many times Meares had to watch this video in order to deliver up his time-wasting musings--but perhaps he's just rehearsing for a future merger between this blog and TMZ?
Annoying pop-culture commentary can be found everywhere on the Web; perhaps Meares can stick to CJR's stated mission.
#1 Posted by Anthony Banks, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 03:33 PM
OH SNAP JOEL
#2 Posted by Burn!, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 03:53 PM
Oops...
Time for another "Update"...
O'Keefe wasn't arresting for tampering with any telephones...
He was arrested for an attempt charge...
But hey... Why let the mere facts get in the way of another liberal smear job on O'Keefe, right, Joel?...
Our "professional" and "neutral" "watchdog" at work!...
#3 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 04:47 PM
Why would you associate the University's prestige or CJR's reputation with a convict and fraudster? O'Keefe's criminal history, lack of integrity and fraudulent videos are no laughing matter. Leave this to Gawker and like Anthony Banks said, stick to CJR's mission.
#4 Posted by Seriously?, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 04:51 PM
Re the indignation at coverage of O'Keefe, if Trudy Lieberman's editorials on health care, the latest of which doesn't even make a pretense of being tied to a journalism 'hook', are within CJR's 'mission', then that mission goes well beyond what is advertised as a 'Journalism Review'. The previous Lieberman editorial had to have its math seriously corrected by a reader, possibly owing to the zeal of the editorialist to create the usual left-wing framing of helpless average citizens needing the assistance of Lieberman and the politicians she likes.
I look forward to Ryan Chittum's piece on the CJR error - after all, there shouldn't be anything wrong with expecting him to hold his own colleagues to the same standards he holds, let's say, Tucker Carlson.
#5 Posted by Mark Richard, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 05:07 PM
NOT NEWS.
If I want to read about this kind of garbage, I'll set my browser's home page to gawker.
O'keefe is overhyped flim flam, NOT NEWS.
If he were news, maybe he wouldn't have to beg for conservative sugar daddies to pay his credit card bills.
#6 Posted by Thimbles, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 06:46 PM
Mark, Much like James O'Keefe, you're attacking the messenger and not the message. At no point to do you address the issue at hand, which is whether O'Keefe's history of smearing his opponents - going so far as to break the law and potentially entrap a reporter - fundamentally disqualifies his "work" from legitimate news review. O'Keefe's shameful record aside - and don't demagogue the matter as a right v. left issue because objectively his work lacks journalistic integrity - the fact that he made a poorly produced music video does not fall within the purview of CJR's mission.
If you want to debate ideology visit a political blog or if you want to challenge Lieberman's work maybe, I dunno, comment on her posts. However, railing against another writer as a defense for Joel Meare's very poorly selected subject matter is irrelevant and is, well, a poor argument.
#7 Posted by Seriously?, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 09:11 PM
Mark...
You're not going to see Mr. Chittum coming clean...
Trudy misstated the math to exaggerate the cost of a prescription...
While Ryan misstated the law.. Then misstated the job that a public official holds.... And finally misstated the political leanings of comment writer...
All to further the liberal/commie agenda...
All of the "errors" at CJR (including Joe's misstatement of the nature of O'Keefe's arrest) reinforce the liberal/commie agenda...
None of these "errors" ever work against the leftist worldview.
It's kinda like there's a "bias" thing going on...
#8 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 09:38 PM
Seriously? wrote: At no point to do you address the issue at hand, which is whether O'Keefe's history of smearing his opponents - going so far as to break the law and potentially entrap a reporter - fundamentally disqualifies his "work" from legitimate news review
padikiller laughs: "Legitimate"?....
You mean the "legitimate" CJR guys who jump on O'Keefe like white on rice but haven't written a word about the JournoList scandal?...
The same "legitimate" CJR that sent Paul McLeary on a paid snipe hunt to Texas on a quixotic hunt for a 1970 typewriter that can produce the MS Word default font that Dan Rather's hit job used?
You mean the "legitimate" news operation at AP that could summon 20 journalists to Maine to dig up dirt on W. Bush's 30-year old DWI but couldn't summon a single reporter to track down Obama's cocaine dealer(s)?
The "legitimate" operation that could devote a gaggle of "fact-checkers" for Palin's book, but not a soul for any of Obama's books?
The "legitimate" news guys that got scooped by the National Enquirer on John Edwards' Baby Mama?
Too, too funny...
Deal with the Reality here... Seriously!
#9 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 10:02 PM
For the record, neither Padkiller nor Mark addressed the fundamental problems with the subject matter of this story. Instead, they've resorted to attacking other journalists and promoting McCarthy-like conspiracy theories.
Joel, As evidenced by some of the commentary on your post, this subject matter cheapens CJR's reputation and is becoming of a gossip website. The commentary alone should be enough of a barometer for the merits of your post.
#10 Posted by Seriously?, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 10:59 PM
I see Joel's "error" has now been corrected.. I mean "updated".... Without comment or explanation...
I suppose the readers are unworthy of such treatment...
#11 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Tue 19 Apr 2011 at 11:00 PM
I suppose one man's "McCarthy-like conspiracy theories" are another man's "concrete examples of a plainly pervasive liberal bias in the mainstream news outlets"...
The distinguishing feature here in this debate is the plain, undeniable REALITY...
The AP really did send a drove of reporters to dig up dirt on W's ancient DUI, but it really didn't send a single reporter to dig up dirt on Obama's recent cocaine use.
CJR really did send Paul McLeary to Texas... But it really didn't publish a single word about the JournoList scandal...
The AP really did dispatch a bunch of "fact-checkers" to vet Palin's book, but dispatched nary a one to do the same to Obama's books...
The MSM really did sit on its hands and let the National Enquirer break the news about John Edward's love child....
Reality bites, dudes.... Seriously!....
As for the "substance" here...
O'Keefe is rather light-heartedly thumbing his nose at the self-proclaimed "professional journalists"... And the journalists don't seem to like it much...
What's the big deal?
#12 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 12:56 AM
Keep pushing buttons passhole. This site belongs to and is maintained by journalists at Columbia U. Your trolling posts are tolerated at their pleasure and they've been more patient than I would have been, considering your record of frequent mistakes, unabashed bias, your hypocritical needle picking of others whom you accuse of the same, and your general prickishness.
You don't care about being right, you care about making others look wrong. You don't care about the truth, you care about your side winning dumb arguments about the truth. You're a paid troll and I won't mourn your departure. Say hi to your crappy think tank friends at reason or whatever Koch hole you crawled from, paddy.
#13 Posted by Thimbles, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 05:50 AM
LOL..
Yeah, Thimbles...
You're "Mr. Civility", alright....
And so predictable. Every single time I roll out the Undeniable Reality... You turn up the Juvenile Ad Hominem...
If you can show us a mistake in this post, go for it. Otherwise, don't worry. I'm not taking it personally.
The truth hurts, sometimes. Some people can handle it, and some can't.
#14 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 07:29 AM
Since the "watchdogs" here and the self-proclaimed "professional journalists" of the MSM took so much public offense to what they perceived to be selective editing from Breitbart and O'Keefe, I suppose we will see these ethical pit bulls straining at the leashes to bring CBS in line over it's selective editing of Obama's hot mike, right?..
Sure we will.....
http://biggovernment.com/amarcus/2011/04/20/confirmed-cbs-editors-refuse-to-release-full-audio-of-obama-hot-mic-recording/
#15 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 11:01 AM
I don't agree with O'Keefe's politics or methods for the most part, but the video was fresh, and no one else brought it to me.
+1 this post, Joel.
#16 Posted by steve, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 12:29 PM
No, I'm not Mr. Civility and I never pretended to be, passhole, but the difference between you and me is that I don't lead with incivility and I don't respond to civility with abusive and repetitive incivility. My motivation is to better get at the truth, admit wrong when I'm wrong, point out wrong when I see wrong. Your motivation is to serve your paymasters, screw up discussions, and embarrass people who are trying to do their jobs over things you do more egriously and more frequently. Paid troll is paid troll.
And the fact that you are getting pissy about cbs's refusal to release full footage of their tapes after what you've posted in the past in defense of the Breitbart goon squad (who released edited tapes and smeared innocent organizations and people while you "rah rah"ed it) is a fine example of what we expect from you. One standard for your team, another standard for the rest of the world.
If that's your criteria, and it has been for several years that I've seen, then it doesn't have a place here. Start a blog for accuracy in media or some other right wing bs peddler, because the Truth is - on cjr - you're just repetitive noise. Unserious, untrustworthy, uninteresting noise, and I wouldn't blame the proprietors for silencing you. You are a paid asshole. Go flatulate your gums elsewhere, troll.
#17 Posted by Thimbles, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 02:01 PM
Thimbles...
I don't know where you're getting the idea that I'm paid to post anything here...
The CJR Black Helicopter Operator's Manual?...
For the record... I'm not paid a dime... I'm a self-employed professional with an interest in confronting and calling out the pervasive liberal bias that exists here and in the majority of MSM news outlets.
I take a pointed tone, because the transgressions are severe... Notice how many "updates" I've engendered just recently?
If it weren't for me, Trudy's readers would believe that a woman was facing a $1600 monthly bill for medicine, when she just isn't...
If it weren't for me... Ryan's readers would believe that DOJ is asleep at the switch with regard to financial crimes investigations and that the criminal statutes of limitations are expiring, when they just aren't.
If it weren't for me.... Joel's readers would believe that James O'Keefe was arrested for tampering with phones when in fact he just wasn't...
I performing a service, and yes, Thimbles, it does piss me off to see that these systemic "errors" always seem to further the liberal agenda.
These people are self-proclaimed "professionals". They have a duty to present issues fairly - a duty they crap on every chance they get - whether intentionally or through negligence.
The facts are the facts, Thimbles... You can call them "flatulence" if you wish.. But they aren't going anywhere....
The problem isn't my "tone"... The problem is that these "watchdogs" are playing fast and loose with the facts, and the readers deserve better from them.
#18 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 05:01 PM
"Thimbles...
I don't know where you're getting the idea that I'm paid to post anything here..."
I take it you don't like unfounded allegations such as "there is an anti-capitalist/liberal/commie drive in your head that guides you to deliberately and maliciously fabricate nonsense and present it as fact to your readers"
http://www.cjr.org/the_audit/wall_street_running_out_the_cl.php
or "you're a paid f'in troll from newsbusters posing as a grassroots poster". I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, I didn't know trolls could cry.
#19 Posted by Thimbles, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 08:57 PM
The liberal/commie nonsense is indeed infuriating...
But thank God I'm here to get the B.S. "updated".
Somebody has to look out for the readers.
#20 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 09:10 PM
"Somebody has to look out for the readers."
Unless it involves climate change denialist nonsense or the latest smear from Breibart and FOX or "sky is falling" bs on social security or "Obama's an anti business SOCIALIST persecuting the poor innocents of Wallstreet" meme pass arounds.
Because when it comes to that nonsense, somebody has to protect the readers from you.
There's a difference between a journalist who makes a mistake now and again and a partisan hack who actively lies (or should I say fabricates?) about things he should know better about.
We know which side you're coming from, money bot troll boy.
(
Did I hurt your feelings again? :' )
#21 Posted by Thimbles, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 10:28 PM
Thimbles...
Repeating the same idiocy over and over again won't make it true...
Given the many corrections I've forced here, I can't argue that I deserve to be compensated for my service to the readers...
But I'm a mere volunteer... Who makes no pretense of neutrality...
The reason you're so angry is that I shine the light on specific, undeniable facts that refute the liberal silliness... And the best you can do is name-call and gnash your teeth...
What you call "nonsense" is any worldview that disagrees with the liberal one... This definition is as juvenile and unpersuasive as it is radical.
What I call "nonsense" are specific falsehoods.. Honest-to-goodness, undeniable, no-question-about-it, real examples of nonsense. Like the fact that a particular guy didn't work for the SEC like Chittum said he did... Or that a particular drug doesn't cost $1600 a month like Trudy said it did... Or that James O'Keefe didn't tamper with any phones and wasn't arrested for tampering with phones, like Joel said he did. Etc... Etc.. Etc...
When you attempt to refute conservative ideas or claims, you do so with invective, ad hominem and evasion, but you can't do anything with the above-referenced R-E-A-L-I-T-Y, so you effort falls predictably flat.
When I refute liberal claims, I do so with facts. Like the fact that Phil Jones, the scientist at the center of Climategate, admitted the plain REALITY - namely that there hasn't been any statistically significant global warming in the last 15 years.. Like the fact that if you eliminated the defense budget entirely, we would still have a trillion dollar deficit - larger than any deficit under any previous administration... Like the fact that the IOU's in the Social Security Trust Fund aren't assets, if you define an "asset" to be something that can be exchanged for something else of value. Etc.. Etc.. Etc...
The problem you have in a debate of ideas, is that you're bringing a knife to a gun fight... History is replete with evidence that commie platitudes and pluralist ideals just don't work in the real world and it doesn't take a whole lot of effort to point out specific facts that shoot down liberal pipe dreams.
Sorry dude, but that's just the way it is.
#22 Posted by padikiller, CJR on Wed 20 Apr 2011 at 11:06 PM
Wow. You must be paid by the character with A-L-L T-H-A-T T-Y-P-I-N-G. Does your master give you biscuits for your little key stroke tricks?
#23 Posted by Thimbles, CJR on Thu 21 Apr 2011 at 12:54 AM
James, that was a great video...I especially like it when that "journalist" gives you a hard time...these hacks are going down....FAST.. We will win the hearts and minds of the young, little by little, when we expose the lies and double dealing and corruption of this phony bunch of progressive, left-wing creeps. Keep up the good work. Special shout out to Andrew Breitbart and all the rest of the great conservative minds working to put together the defeat of the leftist punks and ensure the survival of the republic.
#24 Posted by Daniel Cox, CJR on Thu 21 Apr 2011 at 08:17 PM