Statement by Larry Barcella
Statements by Norman Hsu and Winkle Paw To WSJ Yesterday
August 28, 2007
Yesterday, Norman Hsu, Winkle Paw and I told the WSJ that there was nothing at all inappropriate about the contributions they had made – the WSJ chose to run the story anyway, knowing the implication they were making is untrue. Norman Hsu has been a longtime fundraiser for democratic causes and candidates. Like every fundraiser, he asks friends, colleagues and others to support the causes and candidates he supports. That is what every fundraiser in America for any cause does – political or non-profit – does. And, in none of these instances, to address the WSJ innuendo, has Mr. Hsu reimbursed them for their contributions.
The WSJ reporter contacted Norman late last week. Norman asked me to respond to them on his behalf. I made several attempts to reach the reporter, none of which were returned until yesterday (Monday) afternoon. I told the reporter and his editor that I had reviewed the Paw’s financial records, which clearly demonstrated that they easily had the financial wherewithal to make any level of contributions.
The reporter said in our first contact that he wanted to finish the story 'by the end of August.” At 6:30pm, he suddenly emailed that his editors had accelerated the story because they were worried about competition from the Washington Post and the NYT. I told them no other news organization had made contact with Norman, the Paws or me, so they had time to make sure their story was right.
I asked the reporter, in the presence of his editor, if I got permission to let them see the Paws’ financial information, which shows their resources, would they not run the story? His editor responded 3 times that they were running the story anyway.
I told both the reporter and his editor that it was clear that they were more interested in writing their story than the facts, that they were making no attempt to understand Asian-American culture, and that they were unfairly invading the privacy of the Paws and Norman (all of which makes the story's suggesting that the WSJ didn't understand my comment – that if Norman and the Paw’s last name was Smith or Jones, this story would not be written – completely disingenuous).
Perhaps more surprising, the reporter also elected to quote only selectively from the email statements that Norman, Winkle Paw and I sent.
I've always had great relations with the press throughout my career...in fact, my father was a reporter...and I deeply value the media. This incident, however, is deeply troubling, as is clearly reflects a rush to print a story that smears two Asian-American families who wished nothing more than to privately give back some of what they felt America has given them by contributing to political candidates in whose values they believed
As to the photo of the Paws' house, now being passed around the internet, thanks to Mr. Mullins, I did a quick public records check and found they have owned the house since (at least)1989 when the sales price was $260,000 and its assessed value was $293,000.
Update: 8/29 here. Also, if you missed Media Matter's take on the yesterday's WSJ article, it's here and well worth a read.
