O’Keefe targeted CNN reporter for depraved ‘prank’
I very much believe — and hope — that nothing is going to top this story in terms of pure strangeness. But the way things are going, that hope may prove to be false.
You may remember James O’Keefe, the conservative hero and “filmmaker” made famous by his ACORN work. Apparently, young Master O’Keefe wanted to find a way to “punk” and embarrass CNN, and to do so he set in motion a plan to lure a CNN reporter, Abbie Boudreau, onto a Maryland houseboat on the pretext of doing an interview.
The boat was to be outfitted with hidden cameras and other items, as detailed in the “equipment list” later acquired by CNN and republished below. O’Keefe then intended to try to seduce Boudreau, on hidden camera, and later release the video as some sort of triumph.
As CNN itself reports:
According to the document, O’Keefe was to record a video of the following script before Boudreau arrived: “My name is James. I work in video activism and journalism. I’ve been approached by CNN for an interview where I know what their angle is: they want to portray me and my friends as crazies, as non-journalists, as unprofessional and likely as homophobes, racists or bigots of some sort….
“Instead, I’ve decided to have a little fun. Instead of giving her a serious interview, I’m going to punk CNN. Abbie has been trying to seduce me to use me, in order to spin a lie about me. So, I’m going to seduce her, on camera, to use her for a video. This bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who comes on at five will get a taste of her own medicine, she’ll get seduced on camera and you’ll get to see the awkwardness and the aftermath.”
The plot was apparently foiled only at the last minute by a female colleague of O’Keefe’s, who intercepted Boudreau right before the meeting and confessed the scheme.
Go read CNN’s account. It has more details and weirdness than I can include here. I thought the Shirley Sherrod debacle was probably as low as this kind of thing could go, but clearly I had no idea.
There is something deeply sick, even depraved, about these people.
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548 comments Add your comment
md
September 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
After reading the posts, makes me wonder if he wasn’t punking the msm. As mentioned above, seems to have bit hook, line and sinker.
May very well be trying to out folks such as Jay – if not, scummy idea.
Bosch
September 29th, 2010
3:18 pm
pat,
Or they fly airplanes into IRS buildings, or shoot doctors in church, or blow up children…..oh wait.
Paul
September 29th, 2010
3:19 pm
left wing
““They feel because of the way I look that I do not matter, and that my reporting is a joke. They don’t know anything about my work ethic – my history – my dedication and commitment – and my love for reporting. They just saw my blonde hair. ”
Hey!!! She stole that from what bloggers here write about Fox anchors!!!!!
stands for decibels
September 29th, 2010
3:19 pm
sfd 2:27 –
sure thing.
Live on Pay Per View: Bi-Partisan Ball-Kicking.
it can’t miss. this is big. Really big.
jm
September 29th, 2010
3:19 pm
As someone said recently: “you’re not famous until you have your own porn video.”
Bet O’keefe was gunning for the real thing. Nutjob. whoopss…
Pennsylvanian
September 29th, 2010
3:20 pm
“Can we have a GROWN-UP TOPIC now Jay?”
I second that. Jay – How about sharing some of those photos of Palin in a wet T-shirt and a thong?
stands for decibels
September 29th, 2010
3:21 pm
And yes, I know, I’m totally stealing this from Mike Judge’s deeply flawed would-be masterpiece Idiocracy and its play-within-a-play, “Ow My Balls!”
Doggone/GA
September 29th, 2010
3:23 pm
“a wet T-shirt and a thong?”
And don’t forget the rifle! (and before you get all pouty about it, yes I already know that picture was faked)
ty webb
September 29th, 2010
3:24 pm
Bosch,
For your viewing pleasure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI-MB0E3uiQ
jm
September 29th, 2010
3:24 pm
sfd – text “DonkeyPunch” to 99999 if you’re a dem wishing to kick him, or “ElephantSquash” if you’re a Repub.
$0.20 per text….
left wing (the original)
September 29th, 2010
3:24 pm
pat @ 3:16 – When they get mad, they go shoot people at the Discovery Channel.
One guy; an isolated incident. As opposed to when tea douchbags get mad, who spit on congresspeople, cut gas lines to a congressman’s house, and threaten to kill people.
jm
September 29th, 2010
3:25 pm
left wing 3:24 – viva la revolution!
Not advocating violence here though… a little marching, not so bad.
left wing (the original)
September 29th, 2010
3:25 pm
Paul @ 3:19
Pennsylvanian
September 29th, 2010
3:26 pm
“And don’t forget the rifle! (and before you get all pouty about it, yes I already know that picture was faked)” Was it a rifle, or a gun? A rifle’s for huntin’, a gun is for fun….
RW-(the original)
September 29th, 2010
3:26 pm
I wish my wayward cousin would find a new name. I keep thinking I’ve posted something and can’t remember doing it.
md
September 29th, 2010
3:26 pm
Since we are throwing out hypotheticals, doesn’t it seem a bit too easy that CNN got their hands on this document??
left wing (the original)
September 29th, 2010
3:27 pm
jm – Yeah. Who would have a problem with threatening “second ammendment remmedies” ala Sharon Angle?
Doggone/GA
September 29th, 2010
3:27 pm
“Was it a rifle, or a gun?”
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_sarah_palin_bikini_pic.htm
md
September 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
sfd,
I left you a link downstairs on the strife on the other side of the pond – you know, the folks that don’t get all upset about things.
Bosch
September 29th, 2010
3:28 pm
ty,
Oh dear….oh….dear. [shaking head in embarrassment for the guy]
jm
September 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
RW – no worries. Obama has a fix for you alzheimers, psychosis, shizo, bi-polar, or any other problem. Leave it up to the gov to fix…
Maybe you are LW and just didn’t know it. Black outs? Calling grady…
Paul
September 29th, 2010
3:29 pm
Bosch 3:14
“When I think of AmVet, this is who I see.”
Dang! Me, too!
md
“Since we are throwing out hypotheticals, doesn’t it seem a bit too easy that CNN got their hands on this document??”
Don’t you mean, doesn’t it seem a bit too amazing that CNN got their hands on an original story?
Mr. Snarky
September 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
This punk has let his little bit of fame go to his head. What a loser.
AmVet
September 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
Run away Spice Guy, but you’ll come back and we both know what will ensure next.
As is true in the past, I will not ever make any effort to engage you. Nor will my posts refer to you at all.
You however, will sooner or later, in response to one of my posts that has zero to do with you, throw some childish remark/insult my way.
You have proven time and time again that you simply cannot help yourself.
And if it ain’t me, you’ll insult anybody else until you get someone to play along.
Then you’ll rant about how angry they are.
Brilliant waste of time you are.
“…if not, scummy idea.”
md, I would redact that to read “…regardless, scummy idea.”
And remember it was another woman who kept this POS from pulling this off. Where were all of his in the know male pals that were gonna protect this woman’s honor?
The Boner's Tan Line
September 29th, 2010
3:30 pm
The Boner is sure proud of this lad O’Keefe. The Boner says he’s so smart he could have been his son.
The Boner just has one problem with him, though. He can’t figure out why a young stud like O’Keefe should have to take Viagra.
When the Boner was his age he didn’t need anything like that. He could go for hours and hours. Of course now, he needs some help from the magic pills.
But the Boner’s not ashamed of that, those pills make him able to keep 3 women happy and satisfied. Well – satisfied anyway.
jm
September 29th, 2010
3:31 pm
left wing – I think Angle’s an idiot, along with a lot of other Republicans. Deal in particular.
Did you ever have a chance to pick your favorite top marginal income tax rate?
md
September 29th, 2010
3:34 pm
“I think Angle’s an idiot, along with a lot of other Republicans.”
Well, if she wins they’ll be swapping an idiot for an idiot – they lose out there either way.
left wing (the original)
September 29th, 2010
3:36 pm
jm @ 3:31 – As I said on the other blog, I’m not qualified to be able to set that rate, and probably, neither are you. If I guessed, that’s all it would be. Things like that get set by real economists. I have a 30 year old undergrad in it (plus I read a lot). All of which qualifies me to discuss things on blogs.
godless heathen
September 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
So CNN is doing a hit piece on this guy and he decides to “punk” the reporter. He must have had an idea that it was potentially going to go down the way he thought it would. What signals had the bleach-blonde been sending?
The Snark
September 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
No surprise. This little twerp is just working from the Karl Rove/Newt Gingrich playbook, chapter 27: delegitimize any organization that airs information that does not conform to the image you promote.
Abrazos
September 29th, 2010
3:37 pm
“Still ignoring the part where he said she was trying to seduce him before he came up with this plan.”
OK, look at him. Now, look at her. Look at him. Look at her.
The only way that she could be the one trying to seduce him is if it’s a script of another “Amercian Pie” sequel.
AmVet
September 29th, 2010
3:38 pm
Paul, NGuy has a penchant for taking off when the heat gets turned up, doesn’t he?
He would have loved the old days when a certain right-winger at Luckovich’s would keep multiple windows open so as to get the last word in, long after comments had “closed”.
Sorry boys, no beard, no long hair, and I’m not 50 pounds overweight!
But the laugh looks like mine!
Not so much anymore, but this is who I used to get compared to a lot…
http://tinyurl.com/34zz6bq
Brad
September 29th, 2010
3:39 pm
“But the Boner’s not ashamed of that, those pills make him able to keep 3 women happy and satisfied. Well – satisfied anyway.”
Could the Boner explain the difference between female happiness and satisfaction? lol
@@
September 29th, 2010
3:39 pm
Didn’t AmVet confess to looking like Richard Dreyfuss?
left wing (the original)
September 29th, 2010
3:40 pm
Abrazos @ 3:37 – to be fair, all guys, no matter how young or old, how fat or thin, good looking or ugly, think they’re about 3 situps away from dating Ms. Boudreau.
Paul
September 29th, 2010
3:41 pm
jm
I don’t much care for it when one side says “your person did this” and the response is “yeah? well, your person did…”
But the Dems have a guy who takes calculated lying to new levels. Used to think he was the Democratic equivalent of Bachman. No more. How a person who represents the worse in politics holds office is beyond me. It’s Rep Alan Grayson out of Florida.
Just took a clip of his opponent, Daniel Webster, addressing a group of guys at his church telling them to keep a journal and to pick out Bible verses. He specifically said “don’t use that one about ‘wives, submit to your husbands.’
What’s Grayson do? Runs an add showing him saying “Wives, submit to your husbands” over and over and… get this…. calling him “Taliban Dan.”
The guy’s reprehensible.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0928/Attack-ad-over-the-top-Alan-Grayson-compares-opponent-to-Taliban
Brad
September 29th, 2010
3:41 pm
Well, maybe 10 situps and 5 pushups, but I’ve really let myself go.
md
September 29th, 2010
3:42 pm
“OK, look at him. Now, look at her. Look at him. Look at her.”
So, if she was trying to seduce him, probably wasn’t sexual ….right??
marky mark
September 29th, 2010
3:43 pm
“They just saw my blonde hair. And the ironic thing is that I’m really a brunette.”
Is it just me, or does anyone else find that this is kind of an odd statement for a professional reporter to make? That last was a little bit too much information, especially in light of what the story is about….kinda funny, but still odd.
stands for decibels
September 29th, 2010
3:43 pm
Also–the Dan Rather card?
Really? six years on? still playing that? really?
Don't Forget
September 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
I usually don’t post from wikipedia but:
O’Keefe currently works as a speaker and video producer. In addition, in a January 26, 2010 interview, Andrew Breitbart, editor of the Drudge Report and owner of Breitbart.com, BigGovernment.com, BigHollwood.com and BigJournalism.com, says he pays O’Keefe a salary for his “life rights”.[20]
No surprise he’s employed by Breitbart.
Abrazos
September 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
left wing (the original) @3:40 and Brad @ 3:41:
Best laugh of the day!
md
September 29th, 2010
3:44 pm
Concur on Grayson – all that is wrong with the “establishment”.
stands for decibels
September 29th, 2010
3:45 pm
I left you a link downstairs on the strife on the other side of the pond
I saw it and I’m aware of the protests but, you see, they’re protesting cutting back on services. You know, in order to cut spending. Really doesn’t disprove the point I was making about other nations having citizens who are largely content with (or merely ok with) their services–in fact, it shows they’re literally willing to take to the streets to fight for them.
Kamchak
September 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
Can’t see where “independent film-maker” James O’Keefe did any thing illegal.
This time.
Give him enough rope and he’ll hang himself.
Billy from Dip
September 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
Come on. Whats wrong with Marvin Gaye?
Paul
September 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
AmVet
Ah, the open multiple windows days at Luckos. Fun memories.
I was thinking of the laugh. Directed at certain bloggers. You spend waaay too much time running around to be 50 lbs overweight! And as far as the pic….. glad it wasn’t Randy….
jm
September 29th, 2010
3:46 pm
md 3:34 – yeah. Reid’s a humble kind of guy. But not a leader and not terribly bright either.
I like Steny and Ryan in the House. I grasp at straws for decent senators, but there are a few pretty decent ones.
Bob
September 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
Does this mean the video wasn’t real ?
Jefferson
September 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
Who is pulling the puppets strings on the republicans in rehab (tea) ?
jm
September 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
left wing 3:36 – never suggested you weren’t qualified. I wanted to get into specifics of tax policy, and you have to start somewhere. With some theoretical top tax rate…. that’s why I was asking.
godless heathen
September 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
marky mark@”Is it just me, or does anyone else find that this is kind of an odd statement for a professional reporter to make? That last was a little bit too much information, especially in light of what the story is about….kinda funny, but still odd.”
Yes. These news readers like Ms. CNN there want to be appreciated for their good work, but it seems that their vanity trumps all.
md
September 29th, 2010
3:48 pm
Try this one on – Let’s say I’m a decent looking female reporter, I’m well aware of the history behind a certain scummy individual, yet I agree to meet this scummy individual for an interview. What exactly am I looking for???
TaxPayer
September 29th, 2010
3:50 pm
O’Keefe obviously saw himself in a TV role on Ponderosa 2010 as the little John. A role that he is truly not man enough to fulfill.
josef nix
September 29th, 2010
3:51 pm
Breeders is messy!
AmVet
September 29th, 2010
3:51 pm
No on the Dreyfus, but I’m almost surprised you didn’t write down who it was!
One of the many great beauties of growing older is that the delusions of youth pass. For some, quicker than others to be sure. And as Steely Dan alluded to in Hey 19, other than the obvious physical aspects, who other than the little men with fat wallets would want to be with a woman half their age who doesn’t even know who Aretha Franklin is?
RW-(the original)
September 29th, 2010
3:51 pm
Paul,
You do realize you never really had to leave multiple windows open to post whenever you wanted don’t you?
Big D
September 29th, 2010
3:52 pm
I think this guy got his list from Bill Clinton’s how to seduce an intern manual.
He just added towel to the list.
md
September 29th, 2010
3:52 pm
“it shows they’re literally willing to take to the streets to fight for them.”
Yep, easy to fight for them, not so easy to pay for them.
And we are headed down the same road. I’d like a bunch of stuff for my house too, but just don’t have the money.
mm
September 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
Ah yes, wingnuts. The gift that keeps on giving.
This POS never got his chance to peddle his “tape” to Fox News. What a shame.
jm
September 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
CHINA, FOREIGN POLICY, NATIONAL DEBT
Seems to me, when all the nutjob foreigners have bought all the outstanding US Treasuries in an attempt to keep down their currency, we should cancel our debt to the rest of the beggar thy neighbor world.
http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aIQLi8JCy1bk&pos=6
Don't Forget
September 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
md, you’re grasping at straws. lol
AmVet
September 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
Don’t Forget, you can tell a scumbag by the company he keeps.
And as long as it is not illegal, who cares about morals, ethics or basic human decency?
jm
September 29th, 2010
3:54 pm
BTW, I know my 3:53 idea is nuts. I’m just overly annoyed with the stupid Chinese. Although who’s dumber – the thief or the homeowner who leaves his home unlocked and unguarded?
AmVet
September 29th, 2010
3:54 pm
md, your 3:48 is preposterous and frankly borders on the disgusting…
stands for decibels
September 29th, 2010
3:55 pm
Where the Michelle Obama “Whitey Tape” at?
Paul
September 29th, 2010
3:55 pm
RW-(the original)
Not back then -
Question I’ve been meaning to ask – how do you so effectively locate a particular post on some weeks-ago thread on this blog?
left wing (the original)
September 29th, 2010
3:55 pm
jm @ 3:48 – You didn’t suggest, I’m saying I’m not. As Clint Eastwood once said “A man’s got to know his limitations”.
As I said, I’ve seen a survey of real economists; general consensus seemed to be in the 40-60% top rate. Plus, historically, we had a lot of real economic growth in the ’50s, when the top marginal rate was 91%. If I was guessing (and that’s all I’m doing) I’d like to see a new tax bracket at the $1 million level. And let’s peg the rate at 45%. But my point is that we could probably raise the top marginal rates and still be at the top of the Laffer curve.
Abrazos Your welcome. I’ll be here all week; be sure & tip your waitresses.
Abrazos
September 29th, 2010
3:55 pm
“Try this one on – Let’s say I’m a decent looking female reporter, I’m well aware of the history behind a certain scummy individual, yet I agree to meet this scummy individual for an interview. What exactly am I looking for???”
Like Christianne Amanpour’s interview with Ahmadinejad last week? She’s a decent-looking female reporter and he’s as scummy as they come. OMG, she must have have seduced him! EEUUWW.
jms
September 29th, 2010
3:56 pm
“bubble headed bleach blonde who comes on at five”
Gotta give him props for the Don Henley reference.
techengineer
September 29th, 2010
3:56 pm
Is CNN still reporting the news are they just primarilty the outreach for the DNC now?
Pennsylvanian
September 29th, 2010
3:56 pm
md – I think Jay has run off to a doc in the box to have the hook, line, and sinker removed.
josef nix
September 29th, 2010
3:56 pm
“Voulez-vous cliche avec moi, ce soir?”
I’m going to steal that one, Jay!
BADA BING
September 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
I think he had a chance with a CNN girl. He wouldn’t stand a chance with the FOX NEWS girls. WOWSA !
marky mark
September 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
Amvet – “One of the many great beauties of growing older is that the delusions of youth pass. For some, quicker than others to be sure”
Mine finally passed when my wife of 22 years, who is 12 years older than me, saw me checking out a 30 something and damn near passed out laughing….at that point, I knew the chase was over….(picture me leaning on a tree, wheezing….)
ty webb
September 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
“Like Christianne Amanpour’s interview with Ahmadinejad last week? She’s a decent-looking female reporter…”
really?
stands for decibels
September 29th, 2010
3:58 pm
Like Christianne Amanpour’s interview with Ahmadinejad last week? She’s a decent-looking female reporter and he’s as scummy as they come. OMG, she must have have seduced him! EEUUWW.
Gross. Ew. Ew.
I’m off to find brain bleach.
Don't Forget
September 29th, 2010
3:58 pm
Something tell me he won’t be needing that Viagra anymore and I don’t mean that in a good way. lol
stands for decibels
September 29th, 2010
3:59 pm
really?
ty, compared to icky icky Ahmadickheadjad, she’s a freaking supermodel.
josef nix
September 29th, 2010
3:59 pm
Are O’Keefe and Boudreau from South Carolina?
Don't Forget
September 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
Ty, some of us find intelligent women to be very attractive
RW-(the original)
September 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
Question I’ve been meaning to ask – how do you so effectively locate a particular post on some weeks-ago thread on this blog?
The best way is to do a google search and tell google to only search this site.
Back at ml’s in the old days all you had to do was save the source code file and reopen the comment portion of the code.
jm
September 29th, 2010
4:00 pm
left wing – we’re almost certainly on the front (left) side of the laffer curve – I agree in essence. That said, the world is a different place than it used to be. There’s a lot more “tax competition” between jurisdictions than there used to be 10 or 15 years ago. If I’m rich, there are a lot of places around the world that have figured out its good business to be nice to me…
BADA BING
September 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
Pimpin’ ain’t easy Jay.
left wing (the original)
September 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
jm @ 3:53 – What we should do is create some inflation. This would have 3 benefits:
1. It would devalue the outstanding foreign debt we have (including what we owe the Chinese).
2. It would make U.S. goods cheaper in the international market, with the effect of increasing our exports.
3. We currently have businesses sitting on $2 Trillion. With no inflation, they can afford to let it sit in T-bills. Create inflation and they’re forced into spending it (which would start the economy moving).
jm
September 29th, 2010
4:02 pm
China (and this guy’s comments) are a house of mirrors. Trust nothing the Chinese (gov’t) says…..
http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601010&sid=aoB6cWYcz8Yo
md
September 29th, 2010
4:02 pm
“md, you’re grasping at straws. lol”
One hypothetical is as good as another……
Bosch
September 29th, 2010
4:03 pm
“She’s a decent-looking female reporter…”
really?”
Really.
jm
September 29th, 2010
4:03 pm
left wing 4:01 – there’s truth in what you say, and the Fed’s on your side too, I think. It’s a bit like playing with fire though, better make sure you can keep it under control once it gets going.
ty webb
September 29th, 2010
4:03 pm
sfd,
I don’t know…too close to call.
Bosch
September 29th, 2010
4:03 pm
This chick is on CNN n ow……….
md
September 29th, 2010
4:03 pm
Am,
So what exactly is so disgusting about it. Pretty simple question actually.
It says she agreed to meet with him – what for??????
jm
September 29th, 2010
4:04 pm
left wing – of course the Fed’s been trying to do this in essence already. pushing on rope apparently….
Th for the big one
September 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
The democrat record is undefensible. The progressive political masters say “trash the oppostion with sex and innuendo”, hope we can distract people from our failures. Bookman produces right on cue.
Good boy.
ty webb
September 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
Don’t forget,
I agree…on the telephone.
jm
September 29th, 2010
4:05 pm
Bosch – I think its fair to say – she’s hot. No need to play “hot or not”
Billy from Dip
September 29th, 2010
4:06 pm
Were there cameras on deck? If he could have pulled it off and then the two of them done some fishing afterwards, the film could have been a hit here.
Jefferson
September 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
Raise taxes AND interest rates if you want to get money into the economy.
Paul
September 29th, 2010
4:08 pm
RW-(the original)
thanks!
sfd
Brain bleach? Not sure even the concentrated stuf’ll work after that image…..
aboch
September 29th, 2010
4:08 pm
The part about her trying to seduce him made me laugh so much. I’m sure in his mind, every woman is trying to seduce him. What a pathetic weasel.