Ron Brownstein's belated disclosure

This blog gets results! I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago noting the apparent conflict of interest in LA Times columnist Ron Brownstein writing an article touting John McCain's chances as a third-party presidential candidate in 2008 shortly before marrying McCain's communication director. The post, which was linked on the media insider site Romenesko, appears to have prompted a disclosure statement that appeared at the end of Brownstein's column yesterday:

(Full disclosure: My wife recently took a job as an aide to Sen. John McCain [R-Ariz.], one of the judicial deal's architects. Marriages that span the divide between the media and politics are common in Washington. They require both parties to draw a firm line between their personal attachments and professional responsibilities. I do not intend to treat McCain any differently as a result of my marriage, and my wife does not expect favored treatment for her boss. I certainly don't expect any special treatment from McCain or his aides. Readers, of course, will have to make their own judgments, but I am confident that her new job will not affect my judgments, pro and con, about McCain and his initiatives.)

It's late, but welcome.

Update 6/7: More here.

Comments

[Bruce Bartlett]

I don't see the big deal here. Lots of Washington political-types are married to media-types. For example, Matt Cooper of Time Magazine is married to Mandy Grunwald, profiled in the 6-1 New York Times as a key adviser to Hillary Clinton.