Spin Cycle

Sam Zell, who's in the process of taking control of Newsday owner Tribune Co., tells the New Yorker that Chuck Schumer has been helping someone who wants to buy Newsday:

“I’ve had offers on every single asset in the portfolio. Chuck Schumer calls me, because he’s hustling for some people who want to buy Newsday."

We don't know who -- the name most prominently mentioned in the past has been investor Frank Zarb. The New Yorker article, separate from the quote about Schumer, mentions that Rupert Murdoch has had interest in a stake in Newsday.

In any event: We're used to Schumer caring for Wall Street contributors on various matters of financial regulation on the theory that they're big NY employers, and we've written recently about how he intervened with the Philippines on behalf of big contributors from SentosaCare as part of his "ongoing efforts to assist health care companies as they address the nationwide shortage of nurses."

But here's a question: How is it part of Chuck's public duty to provide special help and special pleas on behalf of someone who wants to buy Newsday? And does whoever that person is understand that it might make the public a little cynical about the neutrality of the paper's coverage of Chuck if Chuck helps a buyer close a deal?

Update: We've asked Schumer's press office to tell us who the senator is representing, and why. We'll let you know when we get a response.