So once again we have the conservative, right-wing media haters trashing journalists who work hard to make sure that the general public is informed of what our government is doing. Just so we're clear: Karl Rove and the Bush administration have perfected doublespeak and obfuscation. What's black is white, and what's good is bad...hence, we aren't suppose to trust "anonymous sources" anymore because they are all liars? Please!!! Doesn't anyone find it interesting that it was the DOJ, run by Alberto Gonzalez (Mr. Bush's close & personal friend) who denied the investigation of Hastert, but other sources in the FBI continue to support this claim? Time will tell...just like it did about NO WMD, NO Iraq link to 9/11, voting irregularities during the 2004 election, the VP office's role in outing a CIA operative, and NSA domestic spying.

Brian Ross is a GREAT reporter...let's just see where this goes !!

The Neo-cons, that minority group of 29 percent, have nothing more to go on. There's is an empty vessel, so attack the press. They would rather be lied to, than to know the truth. It's easier for them that way.

Let's see how objective Mr Ross really is. i challenge him to tell us who he voted for in teh 2004 election. A non-answer will be an assumed vote for John Kerry.

Of course Hastert is under investigation. Why would he not be? Investigation means being looked into - not that somebody thinks there is wrongdoing. Hastert is connected to Abramoff money and Indian tribes. The FBI would be derelict if they did not look into this based on those facts alone.

Some people are really dumb.

Bill

is the story accurate? it appears not to be at this point in time, and basing it on an "unnamed source" smacks of political partisanship.

The reactions of the left and right blogspheres to the various scandals is pretty telling. When Democrats like Jefferson are implicated, the lefty bloggers want him kicked out of the caucus and indicted for his crimes. But with Cunningham, DeLay, and now possibly Hastert, rightwingers insist it must be The Media! or Overzealous Prosecutors!, etc. etc.

ABC, you should be careful to lock this story down. But if you have the sources, then don't back off just because rightwingers are enraged.

ABC News' Brian Ross will probably next report that according to a senior, but anonymous, federal official, “you and your investigative team work only to the highest journalistic standards and are doing a fantastic job.”

Way to get ahead of the news cycle jokers!

ABC is owned by Disney - a corp. not known for its liberal bias. It's pretty amusing reading the rightwingnuts' posts accusing ABC of liberal bias. If Disney is jumping from the Republican ship - THAT'S NEWS.

Hastert is no different from the rest. He ripped off the Indians because they all thought they could get away with it. If the dems were in power they would have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. It makes little difference cause they think we are rubes and they are right.They know, like everyone else, incumbents almost can't lose.

Well if old J. Denny Hastert has nothing to hide, then he should not object to the FBI seeing all of his documents....and while he's at it he can just let them wire tap his phone and look at his phone records....hey if it's ok to do it to the rest of us Americans, it oughta be ok for the Speaker.

"I plan to check back here and see if the right wingers who are oh so sure that the story was a damned lie retract their statements if it turns out to be accurate"

Mr Zap, this will never happen. Republican criminals rarely admit anything, until caught red handed. Their misguided followers are much the same. Just stubborn, I guess.

so when do they lock up these crooks?

Once again the Irrational Right Wing whine. If your members of congress had the integrity of Brian Ross and ABC News, they would not be under investigation.

I don't recall such whining during "travelgate" or whitewater, both of which turned up nothing.

If we did truly have a liberal media, there would have been a regime change in the USA by now. Instead we hear about American Idol and other NON-news every day. Hastert? Sure he's got it coming like many of the other pigs at the trough. Dem or Rep doesn't matter, we've got to take the big money out of the game or this will go on forever.

Further, it is important to realize that Brian Ross is almost single handedly keeping close tabs on this White House/Congress. We should be damn grateful to have someone, anyone helping to expose the crimes being committed in the name of the people of America. He has my support and admiration. We need about 200 more Brian Rosses.

"Every time the liberal, mainstream media takes a shot at the Bush Admin., baby jesus cries." - Alberto Gonzales

The problem with ABC News reporting of these anonymous sources is that it appears like a smear campaign where Speaker Hastert is effectively unable to defend himself. That is obviously going to get defenders of Hastert very angry with little benefit.

Fox News suggested over 30 members of Congress pressured the Interior Dept. on behalf of Ambramoff to prevent a certain tribe from getting a casino. Obviously if that many legislators are exerting pressure over a tribe not in their district or state it smacks of bribery and corruption.

isacoydog,

I call the phenomenon you mention "willfully ignorant." It creates too much cognitive dissonance when they are presented with facts. You can try to present "wingers" with the facts -- just the facts -- and they will continue to deny and obfuscate until the cows come home. I did this on a local news server. I posted and posted and posted documentation until I almost dropped from exhaustion. Did they read any of it? Nooooooo! They whined it would take too much of their time to read it. Argh! They simply don't want to know.

And yes, John S., I agree with you that while the FBI is at it, it might want to dig through its own files and resurrect the Turkish Council investigation/litigation (the Sibel Edmonds matter) that the administration shut down by claiming State Secrets.