Larry Sinclair at the Press Club: Save Us From the Freakshow

Over 7,500 people have signed the petition telling the Press Club not to host Larry Sinclair (who says he did coke and had sex with Obama, who was responsible for murdering his pastor).

Having an event like this, which does little more than give oxygen to anti-Obama skunk works and helps legitimize Sinclair, is not in line with the Press Club’s chief purpose and ethics creed:

• Purpose: "The Club shall provide people who gather and disseminate news a center for the advancement of their professional standards and skills, the promotion of free expression, mutual support and social fellowship."
• Ethics: "I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness should prevail for all; that supreme test of good journalism is the measure of its public service."

The whole affair is being orchestrated by Sinclair’s attorney, Montgomery Blair Sibley, lawyer for Deborah Jean Palfray (whose law license was suspended in DC and Florida). And as Digby reminds us, Paula Jones and Gennifer Flowers made their way onto the stage via just this kind of "news conference." "Whitey" became a story strictly because…well, because people were talking about it. On the basis of that alone, it was picked up and disseminated and now it’s out there.

Please, by all that is holy, save us from the next election being dominated by the freak show.

If Sinclair does appear at the Press Club, it will be seen in many quarters as equivalent to Reverand Wright’s infamous appearance. And thus, worthy of news. Given all the media mischief that this opens the door for, please urge the Press Club to stop it now by signing the petition.

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