by Mish
The National Enquirer entered the fray with this claim on March 23: Pervy Ted Cruz Caught Cheating — With 5 Secret Mistresses!
Cruz responded to reporters in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on Friday, stating “Trump and his henchmen” planted the seeds to what he called a “garbage” story and “tabloid smear.”
The story progresses with a Trump counterattack, then a claim by a Washington Times columnist that the Enquirer is correct on at least two counts.
I comment only because this story could easily change the national election.
Trump Denies Cruz’s Claim
Politico reports Trump Denies Cruz’s Claim, noting three Trump counter attacks:
- “I have no idea whether or not the cover story about Ted Cruz in this week’s issue of the National Enquirer is true or not, but I had absolutely nothing to do with it, did not know about it, and have not, as yet, read it.”
- “I have nothing to do with the National Enquirer and unlike Lyin’ Ted Cruz I do not surround myself with political hacks and henchman (sic) and then pretend total innocence”
- “I certainly hope they are not right about Lyin’ Ted Cruz. I look forward to spending the week in Wisconsin, winning the Republican nomination and ultimately the Presidency in order to Make America Great Again.”
**Washington Times Columnist Claims “**EnquirerCorrect on At Least Two Cases”
The story then took a strange twist when Washington Times columnist Drew Johnson Tweeted “COMING CLEAN: From what I know, at least 2 of the women named as Cruz mistresses by the National Enquirer are accurate.”
In response, Washington Times erased Johnson’s pages, then claimed Johnson left a year ago.
I reordered the following Washington Times’ tweets so they appear in order in which they were made.
Google Archives vs. Washington Times
Was Johnson a Washington Times columnist or not?
Let’s see what the Washington Times has to say about that, from a Google Archives Search.
Johnson last wrote for the Washington Times on March 4, 2016. His post was called Al Gore’s New Inconvenient Truth.
He was listed under Staff Members.
He also wrote a post on February 25, Obama’s proposed crude-oil tax has sucking sounds.
From April to September he wrote at least seven other columns for the Washington Times. That’s not a prolific amount, nor is it nothing.
I pieced together much of the above from a Reddit Thread on Drew Johnson.
A Proper Washington Times Response
If that was an “old” archive page, then why did it take the Washington Times over a year to yank it?
Given that Johnson was “not a columnist, and not an employee, and parted over a year ago” why was it necessary to remove old columns?
A simple “Drew Johnson’s views do not represent the views of the Washington Times” should have been sufficient.
Johnson Responds to Washington Times
Johnson made these Tweets in response to the Washington Times’ actions:
- “I have respect for the @WashTimes, so IDK why they would disassociate from me via Twitter (no email/call) for saying a scandal may be true.”
- “Though the @WashTimes is bashing me,I’ve enjoyed working there as an editorial writer, gov’t waste reporter &,recently, an online columnist.”
- “I look forward to finding a new home for my columns & continuing to advance liberty by exposing gov’t waste, abuse of power & hypocrisy.”
- “I now see the need for a platform to hold politicians/preachers/teachers/media & others w/power accountable. I promise to create such a site“.
I welcome any site that lives up to the promise Johnson made in points three and four above.
Still, Johnson needs to explain this Tweet:
“COMING CLEAN: From what I know, at least 2 of the women named as Cruz mistresses by the National Enquirer are accurate.”
What does Johnson know?
Monkey Business
Anyone recall Gary Hart’s escapades on his yacht “Monkey Business”
1988: Gary Hart and Donna Rice
As a popular Democratic senator from Colorado, Gary Hart was a front-runner to be the party’s presidential nominee in 1988. His campaign was dogged with rumors about his infidelity almost as soon as it began, prompting Hart to tell the New York Times, “If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead.”
Several newspapers did just that, finding, among other things, this photo of Hart with model Donna Rice on a yacht named Monkey Business. Needless to say, Hart did not last much longer in the election. Rice became an anti-pornography activist.
This entire campaign is truly a sorry state of affairs from many angles. Like it or not, another sex scandal could easily tip the election.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
