WorldNetDaily

Type	Online news site
Format	Website
Owner	WorldNetDaily.com, Inc.
Editor-in-chief	Joseph Farah
Managing editors	David Kupelian
News editor	Joe Kovacs
Founded	1997
Political alignment	Conservative
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Official website	WorldNetDaily.com

WorldNetDaily (WND) is an American web site that publishes news and associated content from a U.S. conservative perspective.^[1] It was founded in May 1997 by Joseph Farah with the stated intent of "exposing wrongdoing, corruption and abuse of power"^[2] and is headquartered in Washington, D.C.^[3]

History[link]

In 1997, Joseph Farah created the news website WorldNetDaily^[2] as a division of the Western Journalism Center. It was subsequently spun off in 1999 as a for-profit organization^[4] with the backing of $4.5 million from investors, Farah owning a majority of the stock.^[5] The site describes itself as "an independent news company dedicated to uncompromising journalism."^[2] In 1999, WorldNetDaily.com, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware^[4] with offices in Cave Junction, Oregon.^[6] According to its website, World Net Daily has a staff of approximately 25 people.^[2] In 2007 it was headquartered in Medford, Oregon.^[7]

Seeking credentials to cover the U.S. Congress in 2002, WND was opposed by the Standing Committee of Correspondents. This panel of journalists was charged by Congress with administering press credentials. Until 1996, internet-only publications had been deemed unacceptable. It was argued by some that the conservative position of the publication may also have been a stumbling block.^[8] WND turned to the United States Senate Committee on Rules and Administration for help, arguing that the panel's decision had violated the site's constitutional rights to due process, equal protection, and freedom of the press." Faced "with legal threats and negative publicity, the panel reversed itself, voting 3–2 to award WorldNetDaily its credentials."^[9] Shortly after, the rules were formally adjusted to clarify the participation of online publications.^[10]

Description[link]

WND provides news, editorials, commentaries, letters to the editor, forums and conducts a daily poll. It claims its editorial content has a diverse range of viewpoints,^[11] though predominantly from a right wing or conservative perspective.^[1][12][13] Besides providing articles authored by its own staff, the site links to news from other publications. Notable staff includes Jerusalem Bureau Chief Aaron Klein, White House Correspondent Lester Kinsolving, and Staff Writer Jerome Corsi. Its commentary pages feature editorials from the site's founder, Joseph Farah and other social conservative authors such as Pat Buchanan, Ann Coulter, David Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Chuck Norris. It also has featured weekly columns by libertarians Walter Williams, Vox Day, Ilana Mercer, as well as liberals such as Maralyn Lois Polak, Bill Press and pro-life moderate Nat Hentoff.^[14] WND also offers products for sale, typically these are products sold by its related book service, WND Book Service, by its publishing house, WND Books, or by its retail operation, ShopNetDaily. The site also runs a printed magazine, Whistleblower, and other companies such as the G2 Bulletin, a subscription-only website described as an "intelligence resource" for "insights into geo-political and geo-strategic developments."

WND Books[link]

WorldNetDaily also publishes books under the imprint WND Books. The imprint was launched in 2002 through a partnership with Thomas Nelson Publishers (a Christian publishing house) and released books by politicians and pundits like Katherine Harris, Michael Savage and Farah himself. The partnership with Thomas Nelson Publishing ended shortly before the 2004 election;^[15] Thomas Nelson continued the division for a time under the Nelson Current imprint.^[16] The WND Books imprint was subsequently published under a partnership with Cumberland House Publishing^[17] and released books by Jerome Corsi, Tom Tancredo and Ken Blackwell, among other authors. In 2007, Los Angeles-based conservative publisher World Ahead Publishing became the publisher of WND Books.^[18] In January 2008, WND announced it had acquired World Ahead Media.^[19] In April 2011, British newspaper, The Guardian, called WND Books "a niche producer of rightwing conspiracy theories, religious books and 'family values' tracts".^[20]

Controversies[link]

This article's Criticism or Controversy section may compromise the article's neutral point of view of the subject. Please integrate the section's contents into the article as a whole, or rewrite the material. (April 2011)

WND has published articles that have created controversies and criticism of the site by other media outlets.

9/11 attacks[link]

On September 13, 2001, WND published a commentary by Anthony C. LoBaido regarding the September 11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., two days earlier. In his column, LoBaido outlined what he regarded as the moral depravity of America in general and New York in particular, asking whether, "God (has) raised up Shiite Islam as a sword against America."^[21] Commentators Virginia Postrel of Reason magazine and James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal criticized LoBaido and Joseph Farah for the piece and called for columnists Hugh Hewitt and Bill O'Reilly to sever their ties with WND, prompting Farah to respond with a column of his own explaining that the article did not reflect the viewpoint of WND, and that it, like most other commentary pieces, had not been reviewed before being published.^[22]

Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories[link]

Barack Obama's long-form birth certificate

WorldNetDaily has emerged as a leading outlet publicizing conspiracy theories about Barack Obama's citizenship status, claiming that Obama is not a natural-born American citizen and is thus not eligible to serve as president.^[23][24][25] Such claims are considered unsubstantiated or debunked by most news sources. After the 2008 presidential campaign, WND began an online petition to have Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate released to the public. The website also unsuccessfully urged Supreme Court justices to hear several lawsuits aiming to release Obama's birth certificate.^[26]

Libel lawsuit[link]

On September 20, 2000, WND published an article^[27] claiming that a Savannah, Tennessee car dealer, and fund-raiser for then-Vice President Al Gore, had interfered with a criminal investigation, had been a "subject" of a criminal investigation, was listed on law enforcement computers as a "dope dealer," and implied that he had ties to others involved in alleged criminal activity. In 2001 the car dealer, Clark Jones, filed a lawsuit^[28] against WND; the reporters, Charles C. Thompson II and Tony Hays; the Center for Public Integrity, which had underwritten Thompson and Hays' reporting on the article and related ones^[29] and various Tennessee publications and broadcasters who he accused of repeating the claim, claiming libel and defamation. The lawsuit had been scheduled to go to trial in March 2008;^[30] but, on February 13, 2008, WND announced that a confidential out-of-court settlement had been reached with Jones.^[31] A settlement statement jointly drafted by all parties in the lawsuit stated that a Freedom of Information Act request showed that the allegations had been false, and that WND had misquoted sources.^[31]

Feud with LGBT conservatives[link]

WND has also come out against LGBT participants in the Republican party and their associates. In 2010, when writer and pundit Ann Coulter accepted the invitation to attend and speak at GOProud's Homocon 2010 event, Farah announced the withdrawal of Coulter's name from the list of speakers at the company's Taking America Back conference.^{[32][better source needed]} Coulter responded by saying that speaking engagements do not imply endorsement of the hosting organization; however, after Farah published private emails between himself and Coulter, Coulter called him a “publicity whore” and a “swine” in an email to the Daily Caller blog.^[33]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Sourcewatch profile

S. Joseph Simitian
Simitian at the TeachAIDS inaugural gala, 2010
Member of the California Senate from the 11th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 6, 2004
Preceded by	Byron Sher
Member of the California State Assembly from the 21st district
In office December 4, 2000 – December 6, 2004
Preceded by	Ted Lempert
Succeeded by	Ira Ruskin
Member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from the 5th District
In office December 2, 1996 – December 4, 2000
Preceded by	Dianne McKenna
Succeeded by	Liz Kniss
Palo Alto City Councillor
In office December 7, 1992 – December 2, 1996
Personal details
Born	(1953-02-01) February 1, 1953 (age 59) Palo Alto, California
Nationality	Armenian-American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Hughes
Residence	Palo Alto, California
Alma mater	Colorado College Stanford University University of California, Berkeley
Occupation	Attorney Businessman City Planner

Saren Joseph Simitian (born February 1, 1953) is a Democratic California State Senator elected in 2004.^[1] Simitian represents the 11th Senate District, which encompasses all or part of 13 cities in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.

Simitian chairs the California Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources. He is the author of California's 20% renewable energy portfolio standard and California's data breach notification law, which requires companies and agencies to notify individuals when their personal information is compromised.^[2]

Simitian also authored several high profile transportation safety laws, including California's hands-free cell phone bill.^[3][4]

Family[link]

Joe Simitian is married to Mary Hughes, a Bay Area political consultant. Simitian proposed to Hughes on election night in 1996 upon being elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.^[5]

Education[link]

• Palo Alto High School Class of 1970
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, cum laude (with academic honors), Colorado College
• Master of Arts, International Policy Studies, Stanford University
• Master of City Planning, University of California, Berkeley
• Juris Doctor, University of California, Berkeley School of Law

Early political career[link]

Joe Simitian served as President of the Palo Alto School Board from 1983 to 1991.^[6] He was on the Palo Alto City Council from 1992 to 1996 and served as Mayor for part of that time.

Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors[link]

Simitian was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in November 1996. From 1997 to 2000 he represented District 5 (Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Mountain View, Saratoga, and Stanford, as well as portions of Sunnyvale and San Jose).

State Assembly[link]

Simitian was elected to the California State Assembly's 21st District in November 2000, and re-elected to a second term in November 2002.

State Senate[link]

Simitian was elected to the California State Senate in November 2004 and is currently serving as State Senator for District 11. He defeated former Assemblyman and San Mateo County Supervisor Ted Lempert in the Democratic primary election, also prevailing in the general election. Simitian was re-elected to a second term in 2008. His current term ends in 2012.

Legislation[link]

Some of Joe Simitian's notable pieces of legislation include:^[7]

• AB 700: Security breach notification law (2001)
• AB 2140: Criminalize elder abuse (2002)
• AB 2474: Antifreeze bittering (2002)
• AB 2672: Cruise ship sewage dumping ban (2004)
• SB 107: 20% Renewable energy portfolio (2005)
• SB 201: Sustainable marine aquaculture (2005)
• SB 1613: Hands-free cell phone law (2006)
• SB 28: Prohibition on texting while driving (2007)
• SB 1298: Education information system (2008)

According to the New York Times:

Simitian, who led a successful fight to ban motorists from sending text messages and using hand-held phones, has reintroduced a bill that failed last year to fine bicyclists $20 for similar multitasking. . . . Mr. Simitian is proposing the $20 fine on bicyclists who send text messages and a $30 increase on the existing $20 penalty for doing the same activity while driving a car, a difference that he said reflects the relative risk the behavior poses to others. “At some point,” he said, “you do have to simply rely on the good judgment of folks as they go through their daily lives.” Mr. Simitian added that he believed that efforts to legislate against distraction outside the car could diminish the seriousness of hard-fought campaigns and laws meant to curb distracted driving. “Is there a problem out there with distracted pedestrians? I’d be the first to acknowledge it,” he said. But, he added, “It’s appropriate to distinguish between 4,000 pounds of steel and glass coming at you and a pedestrian who may well put themselves at risk but probably poses less of a risk to the general public.”^[8]

Committees[link]

Simitian serves on the following Senate committees:^[9]

• Chair, Environmental Quality Committee
• Member, Budget Committee
  • Chair, Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy, and Transportation
• Member, Education Committee
• Member, Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee
• Member, Natural Resources and Water Committee
• Member, Transportation and Housing Committee
• Chair, Select Committee on Privacy
• Chair, Select Committee on Delta Conservation, Conveyance, and Governance
• Member, Select Committee on Delta Stewardship and Sustainability
• Member, Select Committee on Climate Change and A.B. 32 Implementation

Awards[link]

Simitian has received the following awards (partial list):^[10]

• Californians Against Waste, Legislator of the Year
• Palo Alto Educators Association, Friend of Education Award
• Sierra Club, In Recognition of a Lifetime of Commitment
• Palo Alto Stanford Heritage Award, Preservationist of the Year
• Bay Area Municipal Elections Committee, Friend of BAYMEC Award
• Junior Statesman Foundation, Distinguished Leader Award
• Housing Action Coalition, Housing Leadership Award
• Billy DeFrank Lesbian and Gay Community Center, Friend of the DeFrank Center Award

Community service[link]

The following are some of Simitian's other activities:^[11]

Current[link]

• Board of Directors, American Leadership Forum – Silicon Valley
• Board of Advisors, Adolescent Counseling Services
• Board of Advisors, O'Neill Sea Odyssey
• Honorary Council Member, Leadership Mountain View
• Advisory Team, San Mateo County Service Learning Project
• Trustee Emeritus, Junior State of America

Past[link]

• Co-Chair, Housing Leadership Council, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
• Board of Advisors, Clara-Mateo Alliance, Inc.
• Board of Directors, Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network
• Steering Committee, Bay Area Council
• Member, California UN 50 Committee
• Explorer Scouts Advisor, Law Explorer Post No. 804
• North County Allocations Committee, United Way of Santa Clara County
• President, Friends of the Children's Theatre
• President of the Santa Clara County School Boards' Association
• President of the League of California Cities Peninsula Division
• Chairperson of the Santa Clara County Intergovernmental Council (IGC)
• Representative of the President of the United States, 1994 U.S. Delegation to Observe Elections in El Salvador
• Elections Supervisor, 1997 and 1998 Bosnian Elections
• Volunteer, International Rescue Committee (IRC) 1999 refugee relief and resettlement efforts in Albania and Kosovo

External links[link]

• State Senate website
• Campaign website
• Facebook page
• Ballotopedia
• Election History – Join California

References[link]

v t e Members of the California State Senate President of the Senate: Gavin Newsom (D) President pro Tempore: Darrell Steinberg (D) Majority Leader: Ellen Corbett (D) Minority Leader: Bob Huff (R)        Ted Gaines (R)    Noreen Evans (D)    Mark Leno (D)    Doug LaMalfa (R)    Lois Wolk (D)    Darrell Steinberg (D)    Mark DeSaulnier (D)    Leland Yee (D)    Loni Hancock (D)    Ellen Corbett (D)    Joe Simitian (D)    Anthony Cannella (R)    Elaine Alquist (D)    Tom Berryhill (R)    Sam Blakeslee (R)    Michael Rubio (D)    Sharon Runner (R)    Jean Fuller (R)    Tony Strickland (R)    Alex Padilla (D)    Carol Liu (D)    Kevin de León (D)    Fran Pavley (D)    Edward Hernández (D)    Roderick Wright (D)    Curren Price (D)    Alan Lowenthal (D)    Ted Lieu (D)    Bob Huff (R)    Ronald Calderon (D)    Bob Dutton (R)    Gloria McLeod (D)    Mimi Walters (R)    Lou Correa (D)    Tom Harman (R)    Joel Anderson (R)    Bill Emmerson (R)    Mark Wyland (R)    Christine Kehoe (D)    Juan Vargas (D)    Democratic (25)    Republican (15) California State Legislature California State Assembly California State Senate

Joseph Farah (born July 6, 1954) is an American author, journalist and editor-in-chief of the conservative website WorldNetDaily (WND).^[1]

Early years[link]

Farah was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on July 6, 1954, to parents of Syrian and Lebanese ancestry.^[2][3] His father was a schoolteacher.^[3] He graduated from William Paterson University, in Wayne, New Jersey with a B.A. in Communications.^[3] He is married to Elizabeth Farah and is a highly conservative evangelical Christian.^[3][4]

Career[link]

Farah worked for six years as executive news editor at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner.^[5] On July 22, 1990, Farah became editor of the Sacramento Union. The paper had been losing up to $3 million annually, and in early 1990 it was purchased from Richard Mellon Scaife by Daniel Benvenuti Jr. and David Kassis.^[6] Farah and the paper's owners envisioned the paper as a conservative alternative to the Sacramento Bee.^[7] "We just thought the way to go was to be unabashedly conservative in our approach," explained Farah to the Washington Post.^[7] Among other things, Farah convinced Rush Limbaugh to write a daily column, which ran on "Page 1."^[5]

In 1991, Farah left the Union and co-founded the Western Journalism Center.^[8] He launched the online WorldNetDaily in 1997.^[9] Farah received the Washington Times Foundation National Service Award, in 1996.^[3]

Farah is among those who have promulgated conspiracy theories questioning Barack Obama's status as a natural born citizen of the United States and resultant eligibility to serve as U.S. President,^[10][11] stating, "It'll plague Obama throughout his presidency. It'll be a nagging issue and a sore on his administration, much like Monica Lewinsky was on Bill Clinton's presidency" and "It's not going to go away, and it will drive a wedge in an already divided public."^[12] Despite the release of Obama's notarized birth certificate abstract,^[13] Farah demanded that Obama release his "long-form" birth certificate, which was subsequently posted on the White House's web site on April 27, 2011.^[4][14][15] Farah had previously pledged $15,000 to the hospital where Obama was born upon the release of said document.^[16][17] When Obama finally released the long-form birth certificate, he called it "fraudulent."^[18]

Books[link]

• Collaborated with Rush Limbaugh on See, I Told You So (1994)^[3]
• Farah, Joseph; Richard Pombo (1996). This Land Is Our Land: How to End the War on Private Property. St. Martins Press. ISBN 978-0-312-14747-1. 
• Farah, Joseph (2005). Taking America Back: A Radical Plan to Revive Freedom, Morality, and Justice. WND Books. ISBN 978-1-58182-469-8. 
• Farah, Joseph (2007). Stop the Presses!: The Inside Story of the New Media Revolution. WND Books. ISBN 978-1-58182-469-8. 
• Farah, Joseph (2008). None of the Above: Why 2008 Is the Year to Cast the Ultimate Protest Vote. WND Books. ISBN 978-1-935071-01-3. 
• Farah, Joseph (2010). The Tea Party Manifesto: A Vision for an American Rebirth. WND Books. ISBN 978-1-935071-28-0. 

References[link]

External links[link]

• WordNetDaily Official website
• Podcasts of Farah's recent articles
• Washington Post Online Chat Session with Joseph Farah