Very Important Sycophants

by digby

Hello Ken,

I am writing a story about Ann Romney and her horse Rafalca for Deadspin.com as part of our Olympic coverage. I was wondering if you might allow us to use some of the photos from this story: http://www.dressage-news.com/?p=16317 to go along with our piece. We will of course give full credit for the photos to you and your site.

Thanks,
—
Tom Ley
Deadspin.com
210 Elizabeth St. #4, New York, NY 10012

Ken:

Afraid not. No permission is granted.

I don’t know Deaddspin.com.

KENNETH J. BRADDICK

Me:

We are a Gawker Media property with 2.3 million monthly readers. Here is a link with some information about who we are and what kind of an audience we have: http://advertising.gawker.com/deadspin/

If we were able to use some of your photos, it might help generate some increased interest in your site.

Thanks,
Tom

Ken:

I have twice your viewership. According to the latest market survey released end of June dressage-news.com is #1 equestrian Internet site in world in both viewers and credibility.

I spend a fortune covering equestrian events around the world.

I don’t know what your site will do to increase my viewership/credibility.

I think I know my industry well and do not want my images, acquired at enormous cost (I’ve been in Germany since July 2, heading to London tomorrow and will be there through the Olympics, my third trip to Europe this year) used for purposes other than the way I present them.

I do not sell my photos, so by implication don’t care about expsue to a “larger” audience.

Sorry

Right. Dressage-News.com has 4.6 million monthly readers. Sure it does.

Horse showing, whether it’s dressage or jumping or whatever is a perfectly fine sport that requires real skill. But don’t kid yourself. For every normal, decent horse lover there are 10 rich creeps and their hangers-on like this guy. This is the Romneys’ world.

Update: It turns out old Ken isn’t such a bad fellow after all. He was just having a bad day.