Only it’s a matter of interpretation. One publication’s “plagiarism” is another’s “honest mistake.”

“Is there anything lamer than blaming a researcher for plagiarism?” writes Politico‘s Alexander Burns on Twitter this morning. As a matter of fact, there is. How about calling something plagiarism that isn’t? Salon broke the original story last night with the aforementioned overhyped headline. Has this happened to Williams before? Is there a pattern? Actually, no. At least not shown by way of example in either story published in Salon or Politico. Williams, also a Fox News Contributor, did not try to hide anything. He made a mistake and the publication did everything in its power to correct it, including being honest with readers in an editor’s note just as Williams was with editors of The Hill.

The events unfold

Williams’ column was published Feb 18. In the column, as reported by Politico, a researcher had given Williams information that Williams thought were the researcher’s own words. Williams reworded it some, not realizing that the researcher had received the information from the Center for American Progress. CAP sent an email to The Hill the next day. But the recipient was on vacation and higher ups were told about it Feb 28. The Hill then moved quickly but methodically and Editor Hugo Gurdon (not “Gordon” as Politico has it) spoke with CAP on Feb 28, March 1 and March 2 and completed revisions to the article done on March 2.

The Hill took other steps not mentioned in the Politico or Salon stories — they reviewed months of Williams’ work to make sure there was no pattern of errors.

“CAP contacted us after Juan’s column came out to say several paragraphs were from one of their articles,” Gurdon wrote FishbowlDC by email. “The complaint was justified and we looked through all Juan’s columns back to October to make sure there was no pattern. There was nothing in them to suggest this was anything other than an isolated incident.”

Gurdon called Williams to learn more. continued…

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Lindsay Lohan

“I’m not sure but I think Lindsay Lohan just trolled us all,” BuzzFeed editor Stacy Lambe wrote. And New York mag’s Dan Amira: “The hashtag #lizanddick may look a lot like #lizarddick, but don’t get your hopes up, it’s #lizanddick.”

Fox News and Commentary Radio Host Todd Starnes advised, “I think it helps if you’re drinking wine.”

On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” today, Co-Host Mika Brzezinski said the movie was “the worst thing I’ve ever seen. … That was insanely terrible.”

“Even on Lifetime it’s the worst thing,” concurred Bloomberg News‘ Margaret Carlson, a guest on “Morning Joe.” NBC’s White House Correspondent Chuck Todd echoed the sentiment, comparing it to a Saturday Night Live skit. “We’re going to find out that was all really comedy,” he said. “It’s a dark comedy. It’s hilarious if you look at it that way.”

More reaction… continued…

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HBO’s drama Newsroom debuted Sunday night. The series tells the story of an easily agitated cable news anchor played by Jeff Daniels who has a public meltdown at Northwestern University resulting in a mass exodus of his staff. What’s a newsroom without a resident alcoholic, a wonk and a love triangle? Sam Waterston plays the drunken president of ACN who tells Daniels privately that he loved the meltdown. Dev Patel plays a perfect wonk. Who wouldn’t love to have him on their news team? A former love interest played by Emily Mortimer takes over his program as executive producer with plans to shake up the newscast for better or worse. And the love triangle: Daniels’ assistant played by Alison Pill is seeing an arrogant ass of a reporter (Thomas Sadoski) in the newsroom who doesn’t want to get too serious. Will she shack up with the new guy played by John Gallagher (check him out below)? Stay tuned…

Gawker published a favorable review by broadcasting legend Dan Rather. If subsequent episodes are as good as the first, he wrote, “then [Newsroom creator] Aaron Sorkin has a winner.”

ABC News’ Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper was less kind. In TNR, he called the show “sadly disappointing.” Similarly negative reviews were published in the NYT, WaPo and The New Yorker magazine.

We asked around to see what Washington’s media thought about the show. Sadly the viewing community, minus Slate‘s Dave Weigel, wasn’t large. And among those who watched, most abhorred it while a small minority of journalists are on the fence and plan to keep watching.

“Didn’t watch… don’t plan to… why do I want to spend my down time watching a fictionalized account of what I supposedly do for a living?” — NBC’s Chuck Todd

“So badly do I but I don’t get HBO despite trying to get it specifically so I could watch this show. I need someone to rent me a living room with HBO next weekend so I can check it out.” — RCP’s Erin McPike

“Going into the show I was highly skeptical, but you know I was entertained. Was it the west wing? No.  True to life? no (I’ve never seen a bottle of whiskey in my newsroom) but a quality first outing. I think it got the energy of a newsroom right. I’ll watch next week.One knock, but its kind of part of the Sorkin playbook…it got a touch preachy. I do wish the newsroom had a breaking news siren or something. — ABC7′s Kris Van Cleave

“Not sure I feel one way or another about it yet. I did identify with some of the situations, the environment and some of the characters, but I wasn’t fully convinced. Plus, the best part was the on-stage meltdown. It slowed considerably after that. Enjoyable but not addictive – at least not yet.” — CNN’s Matt Dornic

“I got rid of cable when I was watching too many “real” housewives. When I found myself wasting my time watching Kimmie’s wig pulled off on the streets of Atlanta – and my kids glued to Cartoon Network – cable had to go … Leaves me more time to read Fishbowl.” — ABC7′s Rebecca Cooper

“If the point of The Newsroom was to leave West Wing fans feeling a bit embarrassed, Sorkin succeeded. However, I am excited to share this experience with Twitter until the show ends.” — The Heritage Foundation’s Director of Communications Rory Cooper

“Didn’t watch. Think I’ll wait then tackle three or four episodes in one sitting.”– Politico‘s Dylan Byers

“Didn’t watch, though did enjoy Sorkin’s A Few Good Men on (I think) TNT Saturday”– Politico‘s Alex Burns

“I did, largely because 1) the negative reviews/profiles were so succulent and 2) I needed to procrastinate. Maybe Dan Rather is right, and people in print media just don’t understand whether or not this feels REAL. (When I do MSNBC, I’m sort of an in-and-out guest in the newsrooms and studios, so I have not seen a newsroom burst into action to chase down BP statements.) That said… seriously, they broke the BP story wide open because they ran with the new guy’s two sources? Isn’t that how the Paris correspondent gets in trouble in “The Imperfectionists”?”– Slate’s Weigel.

“I am probably the only person in D.C. whose job it is to write about entertainment and did not tune in. I’ll watch it when I get home tonight, but from all of the scathing reviews I have pretty low expectations, which is disappointing because I love a good walk and talk. I have “Sports Night” queued up on Netflix in case I need to cleanse my palette afterward.”– The Daily Caller‘s Taylor Bigler

“I turned off HBO after True Blood, the Newsroom’s plot just seemed too dark and twisted.” — USA Today‘s Jackie Kucinich

“Tedious.” — The Daily Caller‘s TV Reporter Jeff Poor

“No, didn’t watch watch it and won’t watch it.. I work in a newsroom. Why in god’s name would I then go home and watch a show about working in a newsroom? Give me an episode of Game of Thrones!” — NBC’s Andy Gross

“I thought it was mostly fun, albeit pretty melodramatic with the various speeches, especially the ones delivered by the Brit woman. Plenty of news organizations are “popular” without pandering to one audience or another. Thought Jeff Daniels was great as a cynical, beaten-down new sguy who could have been a print or digital person as well as a TV one.” — BusinessWeek‘s Bryan Gruley

“I didn’t watch. I’m lame.” — NYT‘s Mark Leibovich

“Sorry, In ATL this week for a conference. Didn’t see it.” — HuffPost‘s Christina Wilkie

See more responses from Washington journos…

continued…

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On May 15 Rothenberg wrote a column with the following headline: “Is Pennsylvania In Play for November? Maybe.” Four days earlier on May 10, Charlie Mahtesian, a blogger and editor, wrote, “Is Pennsylvania a Swing State or not?” Both stories question whether Pennsylvania will seriously be in play for the presidential election.

As the battle is brewing, may we suggest a good old-fashioned Twitter fight? Or Politico can run a special live show and invite Stu on as a special guest. Politico‘s Executive Editor Jim VandeHei will moderate. Juana Summers will pipe in from Pennsylvania. It’ll be a great time.

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Derbyshire’s “latest provocation, in a webzine, lurches from the politically incorrect to the nasty and indefensible,” National Review Editor Rich Lowry declared in a post on Saturday. “So there has to be a parting of the ways.”

Though originally from the UK, Derbyshire lives on Long Island. His earliest column for National Review Online is from the year 2000. He hasn’t responded to a request for comment. He was with the publication since 1998.

Derbyshire’s column drew widespread criticism. In Washington, journos and political types weighed in over the weekend.

Politico‘s Alex Burns compared Derbyshire to D.C. Councilman Marion Barry, who recently caused a stir by commenting on Asians who open “dirty” stores in the District.

“I should be offended by this Derbyshire piece but it’s so incoherent that I can’t tell why. Probably my Negroid IQ”– The Atlantic‘s Ta0Nehisi Coates.

“Good news for Derbyshire: [Breitbart.com]  is always looking for race-baiting writers.”– MMfA’s Eric Boehlert.

“According to [Politico's Dylan Byers] Derbyshire’s column was “widely viewed as racist in nature.”– Metro Weekly‘s Chris Geidner in an apparently snarky tweet about Byers’s post on the column.

“I know I don’t,”– National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru responding to a tweet from ObsoleteDogma who asked if anyone at the publication wants “to be associated with someone who publishes racist trash like this.”

“At what age should parents have ‘the talk’ with their kids about John Derbyshire?– Former White House speechwriter Jon Lovett.

Some reaction from the comments section of the column:

• “[D]ownright disgusting way of messing up the kids,” one said.
• “Well, he’s done a public service, having the racists out themselves by allowing them to pretend to be ‘hard-headed clear thinkers,’ who extrapolate a mugging into a theory of eugenics,” said another.
• And, “Is there something statistically incorrect about this article?”

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Politico

The “welcome” table, stage banners, cocktail table tops, pens and even the napkins were branded with the publications’ names. Call it marketing, but we’re still seeing red spots when we blink.

Kicking off the evening was a “Year in Review” panel discussion with Politico 2012 reporter Alex Burns joined by Pro reporters Elizabeth Wasserman, Dan Berman, and David Nather. The event was led by Executive Editor Jim Vandehei and Chief White House Correspondent Mike Allen. Breakout sessions with policy experts on health care, technology and energy followed.

Allen also moderated the health care panel, nodding his head when he agreed with the speakers, looking out into the audience every three minutes and smiling like a proud son of Politico‘s Founding Fathers.

We didn’t take away much from the session because, coincidentally, there was a lot of coughing going on, making it hard to hear as we feared for our health.  But we noticed the stylish cufflinks Allen wore and asked him about them at the cocktail reception after. He said he bought them in Manhattan from Pink, though “someone thought they were Lego.” The cufflinks are pictured at the right.

Politico Pro is just over a year old. Part of the evening was to celebrate it. An attendee who works in the health insurance industry spoke with us at the reception, though she was too shy to be named. She told us she likes Pro, but said it might be becoming too pricey. (In explanation…The rates are tricky. They have varying rates depending on which policy area you want, if it’s for a company or individual, etc. For an individual, Pro Health Care is $2495/year — a rate that will jump to $4495 in the new year. Happy New Year, folks.)

After cocktails, “Policymaker of the Year” awards went to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

The bar was a big hit. Overheard during the reception…

Attendee 1: I found the bar faster than you.

Attendee 2: I can’t believe that.

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Politico

The time: 8 a.m. Please, Politico, we know you’re into world domination, but does everyone have to wake at 4 a.m.?

We can’t hint many more details to you because a certain reporter whose name rhymes with Bike Hallen called first dibs on it. But what we can tell you is that the event includes a “fun lunch” that will not be boring boxed meals or an otherwise lame seated affair. What’s more, many of the networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) are participating, along with senior political reporters from all partnering publications (such as the Des Moines Register), and some “very” senior former admin officials. And don’t forget Politico‘s “all-star” cast that includes Mike Allen (no relation to Bike Hallen), Jim VandeHei, Jonathan Martin, Maggie Haberman, Alex Burns, Charlie Mahtesian and Rachel Smolkin.

Note to readers: I’m told FishbowlDC readers are welcome to RSVP.

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From one reporter to another

“@aburnspolitico Sorry, I can’t find the part in that story about his penis.” — Politico‘s Molly Ball to her colleague Alex Burns in a Wednesday tweet.

It’s roasting outside

“People wearing dark suits in the sous vide bath that is DC’s pre-summer swelter. Huh.” — WaPo‘s J. Freedom du Lac in a Wednesday tweet.

A Weiner joke where you least expect it

“It’s easier to get an email from Weiner than to get you on.” — Former CNN host Larry King on “The Daily Show” last night explaining how hard it was to get Jon Stewart on his program.

Weiner Parental Guidelines 101

“Prediction: Weiner child not allowed to use Internet for a lonnnng time.” — National Review Online’s Jonah Goldberg in a Wednesday tweet.

New kid on the block

We came across a brand new reporter on the scene this week. His name is — get this — Michael Mayday. There are too many jokes here to boil it down to just one, but let’s just say screaming “MAYDAY! MAYDAY!” during an interview with him could prove to be amusing. So would directing you to a video like this one. Or this one. But we’re going to cut him some slack. The young Michiganian has been on the job one week. Publication: The Daily Caller. Welcome to the Fishbowl Mayday!

HuffPost Hill has quite an imagination

“Satan prepared his acting reel to audition for the part of ‘Anthony Weiner’ in the inevitable Lifetime original movie about this whole mess.” — Wednesday’s edition of HuffPost Hill Edited by Eliot Nelson. So who would play Weiner and Huma and the cast of characters in a Lifetime movie? If specific actors come to mind, let us know at FishbowlDC@mediabistro.com or FishbowlBetsy@gmail.com.

Ezzy likes salad

“Just found out a Chop’t opened a block away from my office. Life, or at least lunch, will never be the same. #firstworldbenefits.” — WaPo‘s Ezra Klein in a Wednesday tweet. We’re delighted for him and now we know where to find him at lunchtime.

The name of “The Daily Show” segment on Weiner last night: “The Wangover”

Ahh memories…

“One of the bratty boys I babysat when I was 13 is apparently in prison. I remember complaining to his sad mom that he chased me with knives.” — Laura Donovan, an editor at The Daily Caller, in a Wednesday tweet.

Schultz gets emotional about Weiner and wife, Huma

“For me and for many of us behind the scenes producing, the Anthony Weiner story is undoubtedly as sad as it gets.” — MSNBC’s Ed Schultz on his Wednesday night program. Schultz has called for Weiner’s resignation. “Please resign. Please do it. …the fact that your wife is pregnant is awesome.”

Weiner’s ex-girlfriend attacks Maureen Dowd

“For the record, a blackjack dealer and porn star are not lesser people than an aide to Hillary Clinton, as Maureen Dowd disgustingly claims.” — The Daily Beast Columnist, Fox News Democratic Political Analyst and Weiner Ex-Girlfriend Kirsten Powers in a Wednesday tweet. This is what Powers found so offensive in Dowd’s NYT column this week: “The weenie Weiner married up to Hillary Clinton’s aide, the glamorous and classy Huma Abedin, and only 11 months later got caught e-dating down with a Vegas blackjack dealer, a porn star and a couple of college students.”

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He didn’t. The Daily Caller reprinted the story under “fair use” rules with “Politico” next to Gavin’s name. The DC story linked to Politico‘s story saying, “Full story,” except it was the same “full” story minus one blind quip from a reporter at the end.

The Headlines…

Politico: SARAH PALIN TURNS HEADS AT TAMMY HADDAD’s BRUNCH

The Daily Caller: Sarah Palin turns heads at Tammy Haddad’s brunch
By Patrick Gavin – Politico | Published: 1:46 PM 05/01/2011

See Politico‘s original version. See The Daily Caller‘s reprinting here.

We’ve reached out to The Daily Caller Publicist Kurt Bardella for comment. So far he has nothing to say on the matter.

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Today they have a big red banner up so it’s easy to spot.

The explanation is a little hairy for non-techy types: “The page is like 44 and Click-a kind of composite between a traditional subpage and a blog. The page will be overseen by Charlie Mahtesian, the mastermind of all our political coverage,” writes Editor-in-Chief John Harris in an e-mail to staff.

Alex Burns will be deputy political editor of the 2010 page. He’ll work closely with politics scribe Jessica Taylor. Burns (who apparently will never sleep but maybe they’ll let him eat and shower once in awhile) is responsible for the “Morning Score” e-mail digest that has been going out for the past week. That e-mail goes out at dawn (when Burns will purportedly be “taking the dawn” as VandeHarris types like to say).

Check out the internal memo signed “Vandeharris” but specifically from Harris after the jump…

continued…

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Most of DC wakes up to him, even more of DC wonders if and when he ever sleeps, Politico’s Mike Allen never seems to stop.

So last night, co-hosts John Harris and Ann O’Hanlon, Jim and Autumn VandeHei, Mike Feldman, Betsy Fischer, Hilary Rosen, Jonathan Karl, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale thought it was about time for Mikey to let loose with a “surprise” birthday party at the home of one of DC’s best hosts Tammy Haddad.

And how do you go about surprising someone who knows everything going on in this town? Tammy and co. posed the party as a celebration of “President Obama’s 160 Days of Media.” The surprise was spoiled just a little before the party- Tammy had to fill Mike in to ensure his attendance.

Ben Bradlee and Sally Quinn, Ann Compton, John Dickerson, Rita Braver and Bob Barnett, Suzanne Malveaux, Nia-Malika Henderson, Savannah Guthrie, Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt, Debbie Dingell, Sam Feist, Steve Chaggaris, Querry Robinson, Roger Simon, Ann Schroeder Mullins, Lauren Vicary, Mark Murray, Sasha Johnson, Juleanna Glover, Janet Donovan, Edie Emery, Adam Verdugo, Carol Lee, Alex Burns, Michael Feldman, Ron Bonjean, Lynn Sweet, Bill Burton and Laura Capps, Gordon Johndroe and Austan Goolsbee, among many others, all donned “I Like Mike” campaign-ish buttons.

Harris and VandeHei each toasted their all-star, each saying that Mike had a bigger heart than any guy they’ve ever met.

Mike also gave a really gracious speech, joking that the party was sponsored by Starbucks and thanking Tammy and others for their friendship and hospitality, and God, quipping VandeHei thinks that’s a reference to him. VandeHei called him a “guy who will break more news before I’m done with this toast than I will in my career” and very appropriately, the “guy who gets up in the morning and reads all the papers so the rest of us don’t have to.”

Always the intrepid reporter, Mike even included a pool report in this morning’s Playbook:

POOL REPORT from Washington’s true bipartisan DMZ — TAMMY HADDAD’s YARD. Tammy (the one carrying two cameras, as well as throwing the party) had a few friends over to “Celebrate! President Obama’s 160 DAYS OF MEDIA, Hosted By John Harris and Ann O’Hanlon, Jim and Autumn VandeHei, Mike Feldman, Betsy Fischer, Jonathan Karl, Greta Van Susteren and John Coale, Hilary Rosen, Jonathan Martin, and Tammy Haddad.” Aided and abetted by the magic of Kim Kingsley. (hat tip: Mom)

THE CARTOON SPHYNX SAYS: Thank you for the love and amazing time, and for taking the time to appreciate and enjoy each other.

IT TURNS OUT THAT… even Michael Feldman would want to come back as Michael Feldman.

Mike’s birthday card.

More party photos after the jump. Also, find out where Mike’s friends read his Playbook, courtesy of Politico‘s Patrick Gavin. We have to agree with Margaret Carlson- “Doesn’t everybody read it in bed?”

continued…

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