Extremist KS DA Ducks Request For Interview - KCTV5 Notes C&L Coverage
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Kansas City CBS affiliate KCTV5 conducted a 6 month investigation of Phil Kline, the religious zealot and rabid anti-abortion District Attorney of Johnson County, Kansas that has now caught fire on blogs nationwide, earning C&L a nod for our coverage. The investigation uncovered some dirty secrets about Kline's true residency and his apparent lack of work ethics -- and now he's running for cover.
In a follow up report Tuesday night, KCTV noted that Kline refused to appear on their broadcast to defend himself, but instead chose to appear on right wing radio talk shows around Kansas where he dodged the issues and repeatedly attacked KCTV and it's reporters. KCTV captured some of his radio hissy fits and replayed them, nailing him on a number of lies and issued Kline a fifth invitation to join them to talk about the allegations. Somehow I doubt he'll accept. This is real journalism and it's encouraging to see it come out of the Midwest. Fine work, KCTV5...don't let up.
Foist!
Ha!~ The bastards!
I mean (ahem) the Bastard!
What a pussy these Neo-Cons are turning out to be...this is truly a laugh out loud right in their Nazi faces type moment....enjoy! ;)
Run! Run! Run!
C&L Leadership rules again!!!!!
Go John and Crew!!!!!
Don't let up, indeed.
Typically, Kline will only talk to 'friendlies' and those that eat his lies up like candy.
Awwwww...poor baby.
Typical.
A member of the party which stands for "Personal Accountability" running and hiding when he's called to be accountable.
I guess that "follow the rules" thing is just for us "little people".
if "jesus" had half a brain he'd start policing up his followers. Oh...wait...that's right, he can't...because he's DEAD. My error, pardon me.
I catch your posts via my feed reader and congratulate you on the nod on network television. It is nice to see this level of investigative reporting on any network news.
Great work as usual here at Crooks and Liars!
Be well and enjoy the day.
Squeal piggy squeal!
Crook and Liar indeed.
phil kline is so nasty!
Then CBS drops the affiliate, fires the reporters, and closes the business and says "Well since Viacom owns CBS and Viacom also spent alot of money to get these fascists in power to keep the billions flowing in... Sorry."
At least, that would be honest....
Does anyone have the transcripts from the rightwing radio shows he was on? I would love to read them.
Maybe this is Phil Kline's themesong?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97RjuC9YeXg
This is sad when real journalism is coming far away from so-called "media" capitols like NYC and LA.
They can show the rest of the MSM how it's done, though.
Cue the music: 'Bump Bump Bump...another one bites the dust..."
Props to C&L for their work on this. Blogs like C&L and the rest of the virtual world are starting to have their effect. Keep on Dogging the crooks and liars of the political world and maybe, just maybe the people can take the country back from the Zealots.
I wouldn't give KCTV 5 too big of a pat on the back.
If you watched them all the time (which I do) you would see that most of their "Investigations" are just ambush stories that are done just for ratings. Local TV news is a joke and I don't expect to see them going out of their way like this again in the foreseeable future, unless the target makes it easy for them - like Phill Kline does.
BTW, For whatever reason his name is PHILL Kline (the extra L is for Liar!)
Here's a big ATTA-BOY and ATTA- GIRL to C&L. Cool! :)
He claims that he doesn't need to "lend life to this thing" [to avoid coming on TV].....but he'll run from reich-wing station to reich-wing station "lending life to this thing". Jebus, you reich-wingers really are pathetic idiots.
So, ther reallly is investigative journalism somewhere in America, huh? Wow! That's good to know! This guy is like a pit bull hanging onto Klein's pant leg. Good for him!
I love it when these invasive Republicans get busted by their own electronic surveillance.
He states is daughter was driving. She is fifteen. She can't be driving by herself now can she?
Good story.
It is always fun when the pompous "holier than thou" types like Kline get nailed for corruption.
send KCTV5 your thank yous and well wishes
bgreen@kctv5.com
investigate@kctv5.com
kctv5@kctv5.com
ksmo@myksmotv.com
Kline may be a creep - but these newscasters are freaky.
I can't get with the idea of following the Klines when they are driving their daughter to school.
It is also really weird to me the way the co-anchors look at each other and the way they sound.
It seems that no matter where you go in the country, the news has been molded into some strange high-school play.
I also wish that reporters would go after really big stories such as the deliberate dismantling of the Constitution and
the rampant lying by administration officials.
Was that KC Mo or KC Ks? I'm unduly preucided because I've only been through there once and the people in Mo. were very nice, while the people in Ks I won't comment about. Except that the only nice people I ever met in kansas, were from somewhere else.
One thing these scum-bags are good at is "running for cover" ~~
*
Piss on Kline! (Yellow is his color)
Here's the background for those who don't follow Johnson County politics. Basically, Kline was the AG for KS. Paul Morrison was the AG for Johnson County. In 2006, Morrison defeated Kline as he sought re-election for the KS AG spot. Morrison then quit his JoCo AG job to be KS AG. So now the JoCo spot is open and the JoCo Republicans then appoint Kline to be AG. JoCo is generally conservative but the people were P.O.'d; they had overwhelming voted to have Kline removed as the KS AG, they definitely didn't want him as their local AG. Kline then takes office and fires most of the staff because they were not nut cases like Kline. So the staff sues, and loses, and Kline is still AG in a country that doesn't like him. Now the JoCo Republicans need to be held accountable for appointing a lazy, law-breaking AG who thinks the government should be making medical decisions for women.
Sorry, I said JoCo AG when I should have said JoCo DA.
We have to give Billo some credit for blabbing about the women's medical records. If Kline and co were smart they'd tell all; so they can be tried and pardoned or at least have their sentences commuted by King George.
This is real journalism and it’s encouraging to see it come out of the Midwest.
Like the rest of the time people in the Midwest are polishing their flag lapel pins, watching NASCAR, and singing George W. Bush's praises?
Anyway, nice job KCTV5.
Klein doesn't NEED to answer to any citizen or media inquiries, as long as he continues to get his far right fundamentalist constituency to do what ever has to be done to keep him in elected office.
Rather than judging his DA service record by yardsticks such as how many cases are brought forward, what the case results are, things of that nature, his performance should be judged on the QUALITY of the work that's going into these numbers. We need look no farther than the recent federal prosecutor firings to see how a lot of "work" can be achieved, but that work may actually be shoddy in how it's being put together. I've read that the problems within the JD that have been created by the poor level of work performed by the ideologically-driven fundamentalist lawyers working there under Ashcroft and Gonzales will not be felt, let alone put right, for YEARS to come.
I agree with ChrisM70. KCTV 5 is notorious for ambush investigation. I have several friends that work for 5 and have told me of vendettas for turning down interviews. It's as though 5 is attempting Hearst style media tactics.
Other than that just to give a feel for this town to 'ralph' on 27:
We've got 8 distinct sections of town that are really their own entities that we call the 8 burroughs (joke). Really though KC is a very disjointed town and the people in each area hare distinctly different with the major distinction riding between KS and MO. You've got KC proper in Jackson county MO, KCKS in Wyandotte county KS, JOCO in Johnson county KS (loads of money here), Lee's Summit in Jackson county MO, Independence MO in Jackson county, Liberty MO in Clay county, NKC in Clay county and Leavenworth KS in Leavenworth KS leaving this city a schizophrenic nightmare.
Naturally Phil Kline will claim harassment. I've read a lot about this guy - he is a hardcore right winger that pushes his own personal beliefs on others and has a tremendously concerning holier-than-thou, superiority complex that he brings to his work. In short, the man has no problem ruining someone else's life if it bodes with his own "moral values".
He's the epitome of what's wrong with the neo-conservative mindset.
There's no way that critics won't make this a left/right issue, and bravo to these 3 anchors I just watched not kowtowing to that. When hard investigative journalism would expose corruption, hypocrisy, and criminality like this in the past very few would raise the question of political bias. Go after Democrats too if they're doing wrong. I encourage our media to do that. But fucking do SOMETHING! And don't let the Malkinite extremists of the world bully you into thinking you're doing something wrong, or biased. This IS journalism. This is what used to be considered the media's job. And somewhere along the line we had to stop questioning authority.
Good for this news channel. At the risk of hyperbole, they are a beacon of hope.
Kline sounds a lot like Bush Jr.: A little work and lots of vaction time.
Phill (not a typo, Philllllllll is spelled with 2 l's) Kline has had his law license revoked at least twice in KS. How would we expect him to understand what the legal requirement of residency is?
Radio talk shows in Kansas and KC are ALL right wing talk shows. Except for Colmes at midnight, NPR (kind of), and KPR.
RUN FOREST RUNNNN!
This may screw-up Kline's dream of becoming president.
So that is what TV journalism looks like. Bravo KCTV5, keep up the good work.
The only radio talk show Kline would go on was KMBZ which is a Fox affiliate. The radio show he was on and the host that interviewed him, Mike Shanin, who is a right-wing mouthpiece who always supports and repeats the GOP talking points and criticizes the Democrats as lefty loonies. Mike Shanin is also Arlen Specters cousin.
This is totally irrelevant, but I'm in KC this week on business, and the manager here looks EXACTLY like Deadeye Dick Cheney. There's even a stuffed pheasant on his wall. No word on what condition the bird was in before it was killed.
All of a sudden Kline is in favor of privacy rights. He had no problem sending out women's private abortion records to anti-abortion groups in Kansas.
Doug @ 45:
Ok...do I HAVE to say it again.
First GOP Rule, children.
NEVER LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY.
Kline needs a media advisor....catch the name of the investigative reporter! Kline should have said he thought he was being followed by Islamofascist terrorists intent on doing him harm because he stands up for the traditional American family! Well, given his career, he doesn't seem to be the sharpest tack in Kansas.
Ahhh yes, more from the 'I live over here, no wait, I live over there, no wait, I'm for goo in a petri dish over living children, no wait I'm for fudging the crime numbers. Oh no, I didn't say that, no wait... ah ahh'
Too bad he didn't have a cesna or something fly into a building or two in Topeka or where ever the hell he really lives... Then he could go all noun, verb, 9/11 all over the place....ala you know who.. Yea... too bad....
And this guys a D.A. eh..... That's some fine ethics for a top law dog.. Right up there with our good buddy Alberto...I say good on Kctv5, roast his ass but good... Run him right out of town, law and politics permanently.. Little pudgy fucker looks like the kind of kid who use to get picked on mercilessly during recess... Funny thing about that is I used to defend kids like that when I was young and saw that kind of shit... I'm really beginning to feel sorry I ever stuck up for any of em now.....JD
KCTV's interests seem to be the investigation of corrupt politicians. Therefore, according to Kline's words of not backing down from prosecuting those aligned with KCTV's interests, Kline should prosecute himself. Or, at least do the ethical thing and allow an independent investigation.
Just like with Watergate, true investigative reporting never happens with "elite" journalists covering the national or white house scene, it happens locally. This is another reason to stop media conglomerates from owning many broadcast stations.
Rapture bunnyist Phil Kline needs to hit the showers. His career is over
"This is real journalism and it’s encouraging to see it come out of the Midwest."
...contrary to popular belief, not all people in the midwest are slack-jawed yokels. get with it.
rasta @ 25:
As a Show Me State denizen who calls KCMO "home" ... considered it done.
(And a lump of coal in the stockings of gene, ChrisM70 and bigbrother2084 for such a seasonal "Bah Humbug" bad attitude.)
It's almost too easy, but....
"If he's not doing anything wrong, why is he worrying about privacy?"
Isn't that the standard wingnut response to any concern about surveillance?
What a putz. Here's hoping he goes down in flames.
I know this is a tiny, irrelevant correction, but the guy's name is Phill Kline, not Phil Kline. It's nobody's fault of they get it wrong - he's the weirdo who chooses to spell it that way. But living in Kansas, I'm proud to say I voted against Phill when he got kicked out of the Attorney General spot, and it's Phill who should be getting dumped on now. Just in the interest of accuracy.
Kline is a creep and his anti-abortion crusade is scary. He should not even be the DA in Johnson County, KS. There are a lot of scary religious whackos in Kansas - like the idiots that protest at soldiers funerals claiming they died because of gay people in the United States. I have even had conversations with colleagues who think the bible is the literal word of God (they even said it with a straight face). They are also on the Missouri side where I live. Lots of mega churches. Independence, MO is where some of the Mormons think where Jesus will appear. They even have a spiral structure (think stairs from heaven) I can see it in the distance on my way to work.
I generally do not watch the local news here because it is pretty worthless. I would not consider KCTV5 as being at the cutting edge of investigative journalism. He is a scum bag but what they uncovered was not really earth shattering. I would have been more impressed if they had found something about the way he was going after Planned Parenthood in Johnson County.
"It's good to see this come out of the Midwest?"
For those of us that live in the Midwest, statements like this confirm our stereotype that people who live "on the coasts" are completely clueless about areas of the country that aren't New York or California. Well, time for me to bring in the pigs and smoke my corncob pipe for awhile. . .
I love Crooks and Liars, but the site loses credibility when it prints statements like the one quoted.
Boot @ 23:
Actually, in Kansas we get our learner's permits at 14 and then receive a restricted license, with which we can drive to work and school alone, at 15, and then get a full license at 16. I think it's because of the large number of farms and the need to have kids work the tractors, drive the trucks, etc, but I'm not sure. Let me tell you though, that law was pretty awesome for my 14 and 15 year old self!
Phill Kline (I've heard that there are 2 Ls because there was already another KS politician with one L) is completely undeserving of the DA position. It was really a travesty when the Republican party put him in, as he was completely inexperienced and did not live in JoCo. He was a horrible AG and he's not doing so well as DA either. Where are more Paul Morrisons (our new AG, former Republican, great guy) when you need them?
It is rich for Kline to talk about harassment! He of all people..!
Can you see CNN or ABC or NBC or FOX doing something like this? I cannot, either.
Or wait, FOX would. But in a f***ed up way, following some leftie to his car for not wanting to be screamed at by Orally.
Use extreme caution when quoting reports from KCTV5. They are well known in KC for inaccurate sensationalism. They may have this story right but I would wait for followup from more reliable sources such as the KC Star. I was the object of a hit piece by KCTV5 that contained inaacuracies and ommisions and resulted in an anchor eventually quitting and calling me personally to apologize. KCTV5 is not to be trusted!
Also - Steve Rose, columnist for the conservative JoCo Sun here in KC area said previously that Kline's appointment by Kansas delegates to DA position was a quid pro quo in exchange for pressing charges against abortion clinics which he quickly did. I would like to see a real journalist flesh this out.
What gets me is the way these wackos run straight to the right-wing nutjob radio stations to defend themselves the moment some inconvenient truth comes out. Kline is a chickensh*t coward. Just like cheney.
They're all the same. Worthless, every one.
Ah Kansas, take it from a misplaced Missouri boy living in Kansas. Kansas is full of sun shine and assholes.
Anthology @ 26:
This is a LOCAL news show...They don't exactly cover the Constitution and, anyway, Kline is a member of that administration you are whining about that they don't cover.
Klines daughter was not being followed by KCTV5 news. Kline lied about that on a right wing radio talk show. Kline or Kline's wife was picking up the daughter from school and she was riding in the car. Not driving on her own while being followed.
Also yes the local news stations are crap and KCTV5 does have a history of sensational journalism, but they do have this one right. Phill Kline is an ass and he is at least doing one basic thing wrong and that is obvious, he is not residing in Johnson County as the County law requires that he should do as a DA of Johnson County.
He is lying about his residence. The apartment he claims he lives in is a small crappy house on the property of a storage rental unit business that he owns. His "landlord" who (who is his employee) is lying for him as well.
So he should do one of two things. He should either resign or live in his crappy house in Johnson County. The fact that he stays in Topeka and doesn't even make an attempt to live in Johnson County is what this is all about.
Instead of trying to lie his way out of this he should just come clean. But that is not what these Religious Fundamentalists Extremist Republican hipocrits do.
Julie @ 56:
You're taking it completely out of context and your implication that I was somehow slamming people from the Midwest is imagined. I was giving props to journalists going after a conservative politician in a traditionally conservative area of the country -- nothing more. Your imagination has gone a little off course with this.
Julie @ 56:
I totally agree. I live in the KC area and travel frequently, just returned from LA. East and west coasters act as if TV news is good everywhere but the midwest!! LOL. I so wish non-midwesterners would get their heads our of their @sses when it comes to bad politicans, bad television news, bad politics....it's everywhere in the states, folks, and don't forget it. Keep vigilant everywhere. That being said, this guy Phill Kline is the most sanctimonious, publicity-seeking slimeball I've ever seen. He's already announced he won't seek election (no re-election since he was put in place by the county precint committee persons), and rumors are that he wants to go national in some way. Do not underestimate the national anti-choice wing of the Republican Party. This Phill Kline is their freakin' savior and they love him without question. He's an Elmer Gantry-style preachin', thumpin', liar who will do ANYTING to get power. Watch out, he'll soon be out of Kansas and in the national spotlight. Mark my words. The guy is a dangerous demogogue and has a huge national following. And if you don't know it, you better keep your eyes posted on the right-wing, anti-choice blogs. They love, love, love him, and they'll put Kline anywhere they want him.
He looks just like the warden on Shawshank redemption...
Seems to act like him too
Logan Murphy @ 65:
just apologize. your excuses make it look worse than it was in the first place. your original statement insinuated that people from the midwest are incapable of good journalism and might be less than highly intelligent. it's not exactly the most original stereotype. i was caught off guard by it and, apparently, this reader was too. to come back and call it, "imagined" is not true. if someone is offended by something, they're offended by something, no matter the intent.
...in other words, to this reader, you should just say, "i'm sorry for offending you" and move on.
keep up the good work, folks. love the site.
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