As we reported earlier, this week's Times Magazine featured a piece on sneaky word-of-mouth promotions by a cabal of marketers called BzzAgent. But was the magazine itself the recipient of some unsolicited BzzAgentry?

Check out Matt Bai's interview with Dick Gephardt and you be the judge:

...What else have you been buying?

I did get an iPod. Oh, I love it. It's the best thing that ever happened to me.

What are you listening to—political speeches?

The collected speeches of Newt Gingrich. That would be NO. I like Josh Groban. I like Tony Bennett. I like Nelly. He's from St. Louis. He's a very good rapper. I like Eminem. I have his album.

Some of the lyrics are a little hard to take.

Oh, I don't listen to the lyrics. I just like the music. I like the beat.

"The best thing that ever happened to you"? Pretty clever, Dick, but we see right through your bzz.

House Proud [NYT Magazine]
Earlier: 'NYT Mag': Secret BzzAgent Men (and Women)

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