Petrelis Files

WV Paper Underwrote Prez Talk; Owner Gave to Bush

The president made an appearance last week in Wheeling, WV, to deliver another of his "we're winning in Iraq" fantasy speeches and the local newspaper, the Intelligencer, went all out to provide Bush with positive coverage, and the paper also helped underwrite the expenses of the visit. It was one of a handful of local boosters.

A resident of Wheeling today in an online chat hosted by Washington Post media watcher Howard Kurtz asked about the ethics of cosponsoring a presidential talk before civic leaders. Kurtz labeled it "a journalistic blunder."

Well, that blunder is very much in keeping with the political views of Ogden Nutting, the Intelligencer's publisher.

Mr. Nutting has quite an extensive file with the Federal Election Commission, one that reveals many donations to GOP politicians and PACs, including a $1,000 contribution to Bush for his 2000 campaign. Click here for FEC image.

You can take a look at more of Ogden's FEC-listed donations here.

And go here, to see today's edition of the Intelligencer.

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