Bob Woodward has passed his sell-by date

Bob Woodward, along with Carl Bernstein, brought us "Deep Throat" and the explosive exposure of Watergate.   Down went Richard Nixon.

Now, decades and several books later, veteran journalist Bob Woodward seems to have passed his sell-by date.   Noted for his ability to gain interview access to top White House officials for his books on presidents and behind the scenes at the White House, he has of late seemed to slant the truth in an anti-Obama direction.

That's unfortunate, because his history and his prior books give him a certain gravitas and credibility, which multiplies the damage when he distorts the truth.  The latest flap concerns his recent accusation that President Obama was trying "to move the goalposts" by demanding new revenues in the sequestration debate.

Ezra Klein has already smacked down the goalpost claim when it was made by Republicans (see ShrinkRap, Feb. 26).

Now Woodward is claiming that he was threatened by an unnamed White House official who told him he "would regret" that story line.   Politico has obtained the email exchange between Woodward and Gene Sperling discussing a prior telephone call they had apparently had.   Here's the exchange:

Sperling:  I apologize for raising my voice in our conversation today. I do understand your problems with a couple of our statements in the fall -- but feel on the other hand that you focus on a few specific trees that gives a very wrong perception of the forest. But perhaps we will just not see eye to eye here. But I do truly believe you should rethink your comment about saying that Potus asking for revenues is moving the goal post. I know you may not believe this, but as a friend, I think you will regret staking out that claim ... My apologies again for raising my voice on the call with you. Feel bad about that and truly apologize.

Woodward:  Gene, You do not ever have to apologize to me. You get wound up because you are making your points and you believe them. This is all part of a serious discussion. I for one welcome a little heat; there should more given the importance. I also welcome your personal advice.

Now Woodward is taking that perfectly ordinary exchange between friends and trying to turn it into a petulant claim that the White House threatened him with: a 'You will live to regret this' warning.   And where did he choose to amplify this claim?    Fox News !!!

In return, Woodward is getting raked over the coals by responsible journalists all over the place.   It's sad when a once-respected journalist begins to lose it, as David Broder did.

But that's life.   Better to move off stage while you still at the top.

Ralph