Is this sort of thing a big deal? I dunno. You decide. But no double standards. If it's a big deal when it happened under one admnistration, it's a big deal when it happened under the other. And if it's not, it's not.

There is a vast difference of degrees here. Having a spouse or other close relative that works for the people your supposed to be reporting on is cheesy, and should be avoided. Directly taking money from them voids any claim you had to being an independent journalist, instead you are a markting person.

That the right wing hacks involved in this situation don't seem to understand the difference between being a advertising expert and being a journalist is part of the problem.

Jay