What about "The Israel Lobby?"

Sent by Larry | 3:14 PM ET | 06-19-2007

I suppose some would think that it is more unethical for a journalist to deceive a PR firm than a PR firm to deceive the American public. After all, what is wrong with lying and supporting repressive regimes? It is done all the time. But lets be sure to get all Moral and Rightous when someone lies to expose them. All lies are equal, right?

Sent by George from Oregon | 3:21 PM ET | 06-19-2007

I'm afraid I just don't see the issue here in regards to journalistic integrity. Perhaps my morals are twisted, but representing yourself as part of a group that needs a particular service and then testing the response seems to be par for the course in evaluating anything from customer service to business ethics. Exactly what did Silverstein do wrong?

Sent by BLR | 3:45 PM ET | 06-19-2007

I am not sure that this was fair. Perhaps I have been duped by the innocent sounds of the powerful professonal, but I found Ken Silverstein shrill and I not sure I understood the point. I already know that these guys would would represent evil incarnate. It is what they do.

Sent by Roosevelt Newsome | 3:52 PM ET | 06-19-2007

Bravo the Harpers JOURNALIST!!

REPLACE Conan he is political milk toast. He consistently steers discussion away form anything controversial. With a little homework he could have asked questions that would have shed light on the topic.

Sent by Robert Freeman | 3:53 PM ET | 06-19-2007

I don't see anything immoral or unethical here. Civil rights attorneys do this; when they want to see if someone is discriminating in housing for example. They send people of different races to apply for an apartment with the same credentials to see if they are treated differently. Police do this, they send decoys out to pretend to be prostitutes, or johns, or minors who want to buy alcohol, etc.

Sent by EMD | 4:22 PM ET | 06-19-2007

Lobbying firms should be illegal. I hope that this report leads to having a much brighter light shine on that filthy industry.

Sent by PP | 3:57 PM ET | 06-20-2007

poverty is the lack of imagination. making bad things look good is old. there is no imagination here just deception. weapons are made to kill humans and bad politics to use them. WOW! how about making good things work! this is the lobby i want to hear about. as i sail of into another beautiful sun set remeber, the bad children are the lost and the good children are hungry for a better future.

Sent by donk | 7:27 PM ET | 06-20-2007

Ken Silverstein, Washington editor of Harper's Magazine, managed to come off as sleazier than a Washington lobbyist. I was simply appalled by his self-righteous smugness in his quest to make news rather than report news. The tactics Silverstein used were questionable ethically and journalistically. While this is probably a story that needs to be reported, it should have been done by a journalist with integrity rather than a sanctimonious opportunist. Silverstein was an embarrassment to journalists.

Sent by dpb | 12:59 PM ET | 06-21-2007

Silverstein landed the upper right cut. Proving as a professional, his impact capabilities vying in leadership; how else would he have managed to bring us the sweet talker?

Sent by jamie | 1:02 PM ET | 06-22-2007

Even criminals are granted representation for their day in court, and multi-nationals like Halliburton and Exxon-Mobil feed us a steady stream of their propaganda. For Apco and Cassidy to hold one single info-gathering session with any potential client is no sin in my book.

Sent by Timber | 7:49 PM ET | 06-26-2007

The U.S. should have more journalists like Ken Silverstein. We might not be in a constitutional crisis today, if more journalists had done the great and brave job Ken has done. Thankyou PBR, and Bill Moyers for being part of the land of the brave.

Sent by Rusty Wood | 12:14 AM ET | 06-28-2007

I have listened to this program segment twice. I was struck by the thought that in this day and age when our country is combatting terrorism ... when terrorists strike in the U.S., Britain and elsewhere ... there are private firms here in Washington that accept big fees to promote terrorist regimes. That's what bothers me the most.

Sent by DH | 10:07 AM ET | 07-02-2007

K.Silverstein turned over a rock & exposed the rot underneath.This is bigger than just lobbyists the rot infects our entire government & too many of our industrial/ military businesses! Our Democracy is dying !!

Sent by Arthur Solomon | 7:58 PM ET | 07-04-2007

Are you kidding? Lobbyists are money mongers and paid liars. How can the people let this happen?

Sent by The Federalist | 9:17 PM ET | 07-19-2007