MSM Finally Dragged - Kicking and Screaming - to Gunrunner Scandal

Well, the clock has been ticking on the MSM since February on this scandal. That's when CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson attempted to take the story national but got nowhere with the liberal media establishment. In fact, she got virtually nowhere with her own network, which relegated her story to the bottom shelf. Finally, we can yell 'TIME!' Four months after a scandal broke that implicates the Department of Justice in a 'Watergate-with-murder' cover-up, outlets like the Washington Post and CNN finally decide they can no longer avoid it.

What did it take? First, a round of explosive hearings that could only be seen on C-SPAN 3, which were instrumental in ATF Director Kenneth Melson's inevitable departure, which is what finally caught the MSM's attention. However, the Washington Post perfectly telegraphs their reluctance.

In print journalism, the rule is you put the most explosive information at the beginning, which includes the headline. WaPo got that part wrong. Instead of focusing on Melson's exit, they choose, instead, to focus on Obama's nominee to replace him - Andrew Traver. Remember, the breaking news story is that fact that this scandal is forcing Melson out. Check out WaPo's headline:

Obama’s nominee for ATF chief to meet with Justice Department officials

They don't even get to Melson until the end of the third paragraph.

Via the Washington Post:

President Obama’s nominee to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is scheduled to meet with senior Justice Department officials Tuesday amid growing pressure on the agency’s leadership over a controversial gun-trafficking operation.

Andrew Traver, who runs the ATF’s Chicago office, is arriving in Washington as political fallout is continuing from the agency’s “Fast and Furious” operation, which targeted Mexican gun traffickers but has been linked to the killing of a U.S. law enforcement officer. Republicans in Congress have criticized the ATF’s handling of the investigation.

One U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said Traver may be offered the ATF’s top job on an acting basis at a meeting Tuesday with Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. CNN reported Monday that the current acting director, Kenneth E. Melson, is expected to resign under pressure.

But law enforcement and other sources said Melson has told associates that he believes he has done nothing wrong. Officials said the White House is watching the situation warily and is concerned about the ATF but has not asked for Melson’s resignation.

The most interesting development to come from all this will be what Melson chooses to do. He's basically down to two choices:

1.) Tell Issa everything he knows in hopes of being granted immunity
2.) Fall on the sword of a very corrupt administration

Sipsey Street thinks it's likely to be #1 based on Melson's contention that he 'did nothing wrong.'