Her name is Karen Jordan, and she is a weekend news anchor for ABC News in Chicago. She co-chaired the Woman's Conference connected with the Rainbow/PUSH event in June of 2004.She was there. She heard Michelle Obama speak. She can confirm whether the woman who would be First Lady used the word "Whitey," or if she said something else intemperate.
As I note in the post below: You do not need video of Abraham Lincoln to know that he said "Four score and seven years ago." Eyewitness testimony from a trustworthy source suffices.
I have tried to contact Ms. Jordan repeatedly. Unfortunately, neither she nor anyone else connected with that event will return my calls. Earlier today, I had foolishly hoped to get her exclusive comments on what happened. But this story is far more important than are my dreams of acquiring a scoop. So: If she won't return my calls, perhaps she will return yours.
If you call this number, you can ask to be patched through to her line: 1(312)750-7777.
UPDATE: When I call the ABC Chicago switchboard now, they tell me to write a letter. I get the feeling they've been swamped with inquiries. If there were nothing to the story -- if Michelle spoke politely on that occasion -- why won't these two eyewitnesses reveal the truth?
ABC News anchors Cheryl Burton and Karen Jordan co-chaired the meeting. It thus stands to reason that ABC News taped the event.
A few days ago, before Hillbuzz had identified a likely specific date, Roger Stone said that "a TV network" possessed the tape. Immediately after he said those words on FOX News, right-wing blogs spread the rumor that the network in question was...(wait for it)...ABC.
UPDATE 2: Cheryl Burton is, or at least was until recently, a member of Trinity United. (Thanks to a reader for providing the link.) However, I am sure that she is a journalist of integrity, and that she is loyal to both the truth and her employer.
14 comments:
Joseph, Just getting this far is an incredible scoop. I'm fascinated by your quest. I'm stuck at work and can't make calls. But, I'm hoping this story starts unraveling soon.
Thank you so much!
If you think that one tape is what will destroy Obama, it's with a psychiatrist that you need to check in immediately.
good luck whitey
I let that last comment through just to show you an example of the "civilized" messages I receive from Obama supporters.
Dear brave Anonymous,
Interest in this issue does not necessarily derive from the desire to "destroy Obama" (or even his campaign)
Some of us just want to know what we'll be facing if we nominate that man. There are many such questions.
But, when good, lifelong Democrats ask about these issues we're told, "That's a Republican Talking Point"
Like Republican Talking Points don't have anything to do with winning or losing elections.
Listen, Anonymous --
John Kerry LOST largely because of lies and misrepresentations:
A photoshopped picture of him and Jane Fonda at a rally -- and do we know if either of them were really there? Nope -- that doesn't matter some large number of voters believed that it was true and that it mattered.
"Swift Boat Veteran's" -- They layers of lies surrounding this are incredible.
"Throw Metals over White House" - True, I think. Who knows and why did it matter.
"A bad joke on a slow news day"
Kerry bungled ALL of these issues. And they had a lot to do with why he lost.
So DON'T tell me it's out of place for me to be interested in how Obama answers these questions. Or out of place for me to know the truth (if possible)
If Obama is our nominee this fall these questions will be asked. McCain is already talking about some of them.
And I'm one blogger who isn't going to let this summer go without finding out some answers.
Thank you, Joseph for letting me rant.
Thank you, katiebird.
Obviously, I can't pretend not to have a bias here. But at this point -- and I mean, at this minute, right now -- I would love to have the mystery of June, 2004 wrapped up.
If the judgment goes against what I've written in previous posts, fine. I can munch on a bit of hat. No prob.
I just want the matter resolved.
Damn, I wish people would get back to me! I know I'm just a blogger, and not one of the larger ones. Still, there's something suspicious about the refusal to comment on that event. I have never had this kind of trouble getting through to sources before.
I do too. You know how it goes though, when the story breaks it'll be a flood.
And a good bit of it will be do to your work.
Here's an email I just sent to the WLS ABC I-team. I'll let you know if I get an answer.
----- Original Message -----
From: xxxxxxxx
To: iteam@abc.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 11:41 AM
Subject: Question for Cheryl Burton and Karen Jordan
If reporters Cheryl Burton and Karen Jordan not only attended but MC'd the '04 Rainbow/PUSH women's luncheon where the alleged Michelle Obama
intemperate "whitey" remarks were made, they should affirm or deny the truth of the story with corroborating details immediately. What about it , folks?
Source:
http://web.archive.org/web/20040811233750/corona.tpsgi.com/rpc/Conference_Schedule.htm
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund Annual Conference
12:00p.m ~ 2:00p.m.
SHERATON BALLROOM 1-7 "2004: A YEAR OF CRITICAL CHOICES FOR INCLUSION AND GROWTH"
Schedule of Events*
Womans Luncheon
M.C.’s: Cheryl Burton and Karen Jordan, ABC 7
Keynote Speaker: Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
Special Guests:
Shoshana Johnson, Retired United States Military
Michelle Obama, University of Chicago
a black reporter from chicago is going to go "Yeah She said whitey" ? wishful thinking. shes probable a supporter,
investigative reporting is all about the element of surprise and deception.
Why not call in a professional manner say your with so and so and calling in behalf of so and so.
you have a copy of a tape that has so and so in it and you hear a womens voice which is believed to be so and so.
and you wanted to confirm she was there said date then star asking tough questions, oh yeah dont forget to do a 1 2 mic check if you know what i mean.
HillBuzz has something up as to what might be on the tape.
My hat's off to you for leaving some of the comments up--very educational if not edifying.
I wonder if Bill Cosby knows anything about this.
i think you have the date wrong took place.
Monday, June 28
Women's Luncheon, with keynote speech by Rev. Jackson:
12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
i googled
“2004: A YEAR OF CRITICAL CHOICES FOR INCLUSION AND GROWTH”
Damn. You're right.
While this correction does not invalidate the story or affect its substance in any way, I must confess that my face is beet red. I apologize for mistyping the date and will correct my posts.
Re the ABC Chicago affiliate's reluctance to answer question about reporters present in June '04, here's two links that identify ABC reporter Cheryl Burton as a member of Trinity Church.
See paragraph #3 at:
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/obamas_controversial_past.html
And
See Posted by: Pamela | Mar 16, 2008 8:48:50 PM at:
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:Pk2wnaOJRSYJ:newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/religion_theseeker/2008/03/barack-obama-de.html+cheryl+burton+michelle+obama&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us
REZDO CONVICTED: HOW THIS IMMEDIATELY REFLECTS ON BARRY
A QUOTE FROM THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY:
But DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett, who ran against Blagojevich in the 2006 race for governor, said Wednesday that "Today's conviction should prompt the Illinois General Assembly to impose an
immediate moratorium on the governor's ability to hand out any further no-bid contracts, bond fees, pension fees or other spoils of the pay-to-play system that has so defiled our state's reputation. We do not give the car keys to a serial drunk driver and we should not hand hard-earned taxpayers' money to a governor who has repeatedly abused the public trust by enriching his political friends to fatten his campaign treasury."
Birkett added, "The conviction of Tony Rezko represents a deep stain on the Democratic Party in Illinois. Democrats from top to bottom, including Barack Obama, stood idly by — and in some instances directly benefited — while the massive Blagojevich corruption scheme flourished. They rode into office promising to clean up after the George Ryan scandals and they have taken corruption in Illinois to a new low. They ought to be held accountable at the polls starting this November."
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