Easongate, Eason’s Fables, Easonquiddick…whatever you want to call it, it’s still alive. Eason Jordan is still hiding behind CNN spin doctors. Still no transcript. Still no tape. It’s not just right-wing hounds who are “baying.” Boston Phoenix writer Dan Kennedy wants to see it. Jay Rosen and Captain’s Quarters, and LGF tackle the Wall Street Journal’s treatment of EasonThing and possible conflict-of-interest issues raised by blogger Dinocrat.

Meanwhile, Mickey Kaus notes WSJ writer Bret Stephens’ “gratuitous and snotty putdown.” Thanks, Mickey. And readers give the WSJ an earful about the Stephens piece.

As I noted yesterday, Stephens neglected to mention the pivotal role that citizen blogger Rony Abovitz played in being the first to stand up and challenge Eason Jordan to back up his remarks. It was after Abovitz questioned Jordan that Rep. Frank chimed in. And it appears that it was only after Abovitz blogged the confrontation that Stephens “broke” the story on the paid WSJ newsletter, Political Diary. I e-mailed Rony for more details about how the conversation went down and whether Stephens approached him at the time:

I am not sure why Bret omitted me, other than the fact that it seems in the media you generally need a big name (Frank, Dodd) etc. in order to gain any impact. I hope that the videotape of the discussion is released, because it will objectively lay out everything. I remember being the first to challenge Eason, and challenge him pretty directly because I was so disturbed by what he was saying. I believe that Frank was brought in afterwards by Gergen, as a U.S. Congressman, to essentially answer for the U.S. to what Eason was asserting…

I was not approached by Bret Stephens, but I was approached by a number of others, including Senator Dodd who was visibly bothered by what Eason had said. He thanked me for speaking up and asking Eason for objective data, facts, evidence, anything. I remember seeing Bret at the forum, and knew that he was a senior person at the Wall Street Journal, but we did not speak. Other senior media people did come up to me, and when it was unclear if they would do or say anything, I said that I would just blog it. No one seemed to have the courage at the time. I had no idea that this firestorm would ensue.

On his new blog, Rony has more good thoughts and some cautionary notes for bloggers covering the story. As those who have followed my own coverage know (notwithstanding Bret Stephens’ nasty characterizations of me), I have not called for Jordan’s firing or resignation (yet)–unlike many other bloggers who did so even before I published by reporting on Rep. Frank, David Gergen, and Chris Dodd on Monday (timeline and links here).

I’m with Rony on this:

To me, a successful outcome of Easongate could be a transformation of Eason Jordan himself, of CNN, and perhaps the media in general (a lot to ask for). The words expressed in Davos about accountability, transparency, ethics, being fair, improving the state of the world – are these just words or can they be translated into actions?

“Taking Responsibility For Tough Choices” was the theme of the meeting – it surely applies here. I am holding out a bit longer on what may be an unpopular position, but it is one based on the following:

* Eason Jordan should personally lobby for, and release the videotape of the session where Easongate began.
* CNN should play the video in its unedited format, for all to see, as well as give copies to any other media outlet who wants it.
* Eason, in a way unobstructed by spin, can face his own words and deal with the consequences head on.
* There will be fury about what he said, but the speculation will end. For those of us who were there, we know that what is on the tape does not bode well for him but it should not stop him from releasing it.
* Admit fully any mistakes.

I would add:

*Apologize to those who have been unfairly smeared and slandered.

Rony’s also right about this:

There should be no joy in seeing a fellow human being fall down. As the drive for accountability builds, it needs to be tempered with a sense of humility.

There should be no free ride here, and no easy way out for him. A complete and wholehearted admission of a mistake is also no guarantee. But it does rebuild a sense of respect.

My final point for now: as we charge forward, we should also tread carefully, especially Eason’s counterparts in the media. This discussion, this debate brings no joy, and its outcome is uncertain. I hope that it can be for the good, for all sides, if that is somehow possible.

Trey Jackson has video of Rony Abovitz’s appearance on Scarborough Country last night.

Larry Kudlow’s all over the story now on his cool new blog and latest NRO column. So is Scarborough. TKS notes a Washington Times editorial on the matter. Hugh Hewitt is amused at a Salon attack piece. And Easongate is keeping up with everything, including comments from politicians and Beltway journalists.

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