Now that we've heard KIRO radio talkhost Mike Webb's simple, perfectly plausible explanation of what happened that caused him to be arrested for felony insurance fraud, we're happy we never questioned his assumption of innocence, even though on the face of it- we gotta be honest- he looked guilty as sin.
What a difference hearing his side of the story makes!
(But we were neither amused nor surprised to see that the Times reporter failed to attribute BlatherWatch with breaking this story. We got it first and we got it right; got a tip and dug it up from Superior Court files. We bloggers don't get paid for this shit, so a little knod when we generously provide the footwork for the paid press would be much obliged).
Here's the story extrapolated from what Mike told the Seattle Times (he's not speaking to us):
Someone who "hates" Webb's talk show probably hacked into Geico's and Washington Mutual's computers; changed the dates on his car insurance policy and those on his debits to accounts payable.
This scheme was cooked up, apparently, so Webb would unwittingly drive around uninsured. When he had the accident in June with an uninsured driver, he'd already been deviously set up for fraud charges when he innocently tried to make a claim against the policy he says he'd bought months before.
Gunning for Mike because of assault charges he'd made in 2004 against an officer during an incident waiting in line at Dick's Drive-in, the Seattle Police Department had plenty of motive to hack into those corporate computers in order to frame the outspoken "liberal with a capital L" talk host.
(What did he order that fateful night at Dick's? According to sources: he ordered a Big Dick and a small fries).
There's the possibility, of course, that SPD, Washington Mutual Bank, and Geico worked in tandem to ruin Mike's reputation and silence him- he speaks truth to power and the corporate establishment doesn't like that (He also plays oldies to power and no one likes that). Mike should hire investigators to pursue that conspiratorial possibility- like when OJ pursued the "real killers" after his trial.
All of this was compounded by a possible "clerical or electronic error" on GEICO's part in their on-line application process; and again when Mike mistakenly showed police a proof of insurance card from a company that hadn't insured him since 2001. Apparently the officer didn't see that the card was four years out of date (it happens!). Mike says he simply grabbed the wrong one. Thank god- it should be simple enough for him to show the judge the right one he must have gotten from Geico.
With Mike's firm denials and fiery public adamance, it looks like there won't be any chickenshit plea agreements--this is going to court.
We look forward to hearing Mike discuss this when he comes back from "vacation" Tuesday. BlatherWatch will stay on this case for you, dear readers- we'll be there when justice is done- stay tuned.
Mike Web will not discuss his fraud case on the radio because it is a criminal trial that has not been adjudicated.
Posted by: umo | December 23, 2005 at 06:47 AM
I smell a last minute plea bargain.
Posted by: artistdogboy | December 23, 2005 at 07:20 AM
Welcome to the delusional world that newspapers live in.
They would rather die a horrible death involving enumclaw horses than credit their sources that they "liberated" their stories from.
Not sure why people/writers see justification in having a local paper steal their story.
Newspaper reporters are the biggest damn hacks on the planet.
Posted by: asfdsafsafd | December 23, 2005 at 07:24 AM
Thank goodness I checked this blog early. Once the Mike Webb conspiracy consortuim discovers that it has been uncovered here on blatherWatch they will move with lightning speed to shut it down. Luckily I have taken a screen shot of the blog and will send it out in a massive spam to insure they cannot hide the truth.
Thank you Michael for having the strength to post your findings here for all to see. When the Bush conspiracy spirits you off to secret European prisons where you will be torutured for the truth, our hearts will be with yo.
Posted by: Fred | December 23, 2005 at 08:23 AM
well, mike's the first one to play the gay card. and the "they hate my TRUTH" card. and the " i know radio better than anyone in this building" card. and finally, the "i have a BLACK lawyer" card. Full house!
Brad Marshall is a classic race baiter and no (white) people in seattle have the nuts to call him on it. he and his client will plea it out and STILL bleat the "hacker" theory.
Webby's the kind of "victim" who repeats his lie until even HE believes it.
Posted by: Scrilla | December 23, 2005 at 09:39 AM
How does anyone know the Seattle Times is aware of this blog and that they didn't get tipped off about the story through whatever standard means they use?
Posted by: Andrew | December 23, 2005 at 10:15 AM
Dude, we get 30-some hits a day from the Times and nearly that many from the PI. Interesting new Audience, we'd like to Welcome: the Geico folks from the home office in Washington DC- 74 pageloads today alone!
Posted by: blathering michael | December 23, 2005 at 10:31 AM
There's a guy that calls in to Mike's show occasionally who talks about all sort of conspiracies. He was on last week and went on and on about how Google was funded by the military and how the government was tapped into Safeway's computers so they knew when you bought Cheerios. Funny, Mike poo-pooed this guy as being a bit too extreme. Now, this week, Mike seems to have picked up this meme.
Posted by: Don | December 23, 2005 at 10:34 AM
Seriously? Damn. I apologize.
Geico j00 4r3 73h suX0r haa!
Posted by: Andrew | December 23, 2005 at 01:18 PM
BlatheringMike:
Well, now that you have taken Webb's side, you should be careful. I would not be surprised if SPD beats you up the next time you stop by Dicks.
Posted by: JDB | December 23, 2005 at 01:42 PM
I'll admit that, at least for now, this looks like a inexplicable enormous lapse of good judgement on Webb's part. If it turns out that he's guilty, he won't be the first local celebrity to think he's somehow "untouchable." (Remember when a SPD cop gave Bill Gates a traffic ticket?)
I suppose the juvenile "insert gay-related joke here and giggle to yourself" comments sprinkled here have to be expected with an open comment forum.
Posted by: RR | December 23, 2005 at 04:43 PM
"He also plays oldies to power and no one likes that."
Bravo for that line, which just cracked me up.
Posted by: litlnemo | December 24, 2005 at 05:00 AM
I saved a lot on my car insurance by not having any and then trying to stick it to GEICO!
Posted by: MikeW | December 24, 2005 at 08:22 AM
I heard Frank Shires today on another entercom station, KBSG. Playing disc jockey, spinning the oldies.
Posted by: urslow | December 24, 2005 at 03:50 PM
That's his normal gig. I can't express enough how much I hate hearing him on KIRO. He was doing the nine ta noon a few days last week and it was like waking up to a bucket of cold water.
Posted by: Andrew | December 24, 2005 at 04:28 PM