2008-10-13 15:36:30 - Andy Martin takes on Sam Zell, owner of the Chicago Tribune, for falsely presenting a New York Times report. "Operation Aloha Obama" begins in one day.

CONTRARIANCOMMENTARY.COM
New York-London-Washington-Chicago-San Francisco-Palm Beach

Chicago mail:
Suite 4406, 30 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611-4723
Tel. (866) 706-2639
Fax (866) 707-2639
Web: ContrarianCommentary.com
E-mail: andymart20@aol.com


Andy Martin, J. D.
Professor of Law (Adj.)
Executive Editor

October 13, 2008

Sam Zell
Chicago Tribune
Chicago, IL 60611

and
Frank James
ChicagoTribune.com

via fax (312) 222-4674


Defamation Notice and Request for

retraction/Correction

Dear Sam and Mr. James:

I am providing a pre-litigation notice to an absolutely outrageous posting on your web page today:

www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/10/obamas_muslim_r ..

First of all, I have never published any "rumor" about Barack Obama. I have published facts or opinions based on facts, as the accompanying libel notice to the New York Times attests. I have never published anything anonymously, contrary to your own reports. No one has "exposed me," least of all the New York Times. It is exaggeration and misrepresentation of this type that saps reader confidence in your news organization.

Your newspaper chooses to ignore me because of the bias of several employees, led by Rick Pearson. I recently discussed Pearson's problems in a separate letter to Sam.

Without calling me, your reporter Mr. James claims I have "issues." I do have issues: defamation issues with the Tribune. Mr. James has issues because he publishes drivel without checking with the subject or trying to provide any local content for a national story. I usually speak with your reporters (Pearson does not contact me) and meet with your editors, as the record will attest.

I fail to see why you are claiming I am insane when I recently appeared before your editorial board. Your news organization deliberately chooses to ignore local opposition to Obama. Pearson does run his yellowed and repetitive election-cycle claim every two years which is almost a template of the Times story.

Once again, your reporter (James) seeks to engage in defamation and fraud. No one has ever suggested Obama is not a "Christian" today, although the bona fides of "Black Liberation Christianity" leaves one agape. Obama was undeniably a Muslim until the age of 10, and he has never given a date when he abandoned Islam and converted to Christianity. Do you have a date? Obviously not. If so, you are the only news organization with that date. Therefore, my reporting and commentary has been absolutely correct.

I don't think Mr. Gibbs delivered a "beatdown" of Mr. Hannity at all. Gibbs beat himself down and time will indicate he also beat down his own candidate by attacking me. When the air clears more people will ultimately believe me than believe the Tribune or the Times. The fact that Gibbs was attacking me is indicative of the continuing damage I have inflicted on Mr. Obama's campaign by telling the truth about his evasiveness and the seriousness Obama's staff devotes to my writing.

If you would like to publish a retraction and apology, by all means get in touch. I am accessible to you. But if you do not, another lawsuit will be coming.

I don't know what you pay your law firm, but it must be plenty. They love your lies about me; they are the ones who profit from them. You certainly have an opportunity to avoid litigation if you choose to act in a rational and lawful manner. If not, you know where I am headed. I am disappointed, of course,

In addition, using Media Matters as you source involves republication of their lies and misrepresentations. Media-Matters is a George Soros-financed tax-exempt operation that functions as an adjunct of the Obama campaign and other left-wing organizations. You are fully liable for their defamatory accusations. Why not link to the original sources, to the New York Times or Fox News, instead? Why indeed?

Finally, if you think you are going to elect Obama by smearing me as an anti-Semite, you are gravely mistaken. My experience over the past 25 years is that people who call me an anti-Semite invariably create backlash for themselves and for their candidate. I have no reason to doubt that will be the case in this instance. People can read. They can see that my facts are accurate and my opinions have also proven remarkably accurate over the past four years, a lot more accurate and impartial than the Tribune's own reporting.

It is part of the myopia of the media that they think that screaming anti-Semite against me on the front page of the New York Times will help Obama.

I beg to differ.

Sincerely yours,


ANDY MARTIN

AM:sp

P.S. Wednesday we launch "Operation Aloha Obama" in Honolulu, the first news organization to land an Obama investigator in Hawaii. Will you be reporting, or lying to your readers about my efforts? Time will tell. Don't say you did not have notice (the Tribune receives multiple e-mail copies of all of my releases and columns).