Why isn't the MSM all over McClellan's *ss on this one?

[David Ippolito]

This is a piece from my own "Forum" at:

http://www.thatguitarman.com

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Okay... today... FOLLOW THIS. (And, then tell me if I'm completely alone in this!) I hafta talk about something that has got me sooooo scratching my head. First of all, you all know I've been completely baffled by the lack of reason from anyone who could have supported this duplicitous and ignorant man in the Oval Office, his administration and it's unconscionable and wholly unAmerican march to WAR in Iraq. But this, once again... is like "Alice in Wonderland". (And once again, I'm flabbergasted that people in the Mainstream American "News" media were not ALL OVER Scott McClellan's *ss.)

It's just about the White House reaction to the Newsweek story. (Me personally? I'm not completely buying the idea that the story was NOT accurate, or the apology... y'know, I'm not sold on the idea that the incident with the Koran did NOT, in fact, take place.)

But, here's how the story about the White House's reaction appeared on Reuters.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday an inaccurate Newsweek report based on an anonymous source had damaged the U.S. image overseas by claiming U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran at Guantanamo Bay.

At the same time, the Pentagon said an investigation remained open into allegations contained in Newsweek's May 9 report that triggered several days of rioting in Afghanistan and other countries in which at least 16 people were killed.



Okay... here's the White House reaction.

"It's puzzling that while Newsweek now acknowledges that they got the facts wrong, they refused to retract the story," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "I think there's a certain journalistic standard that should be met and in this instance it was not."

"The report has had serious consequences," McClellan said. "People have lost their lives. The image of the United States abroad has been damaged."

"It has certainly caused damage to the credibility of the media as well, and Newsweek itself," he added later.

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Now... DOESN'T ANYONE IN THE MSM SEE THE OUTRAGEOUS IRONY, THE LAUGHABLE ARROGANCE, UNMITIGATED GALL... THE "B*LLS" SURROUNDING THIS STATEMENT!!! Here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna print these two items again and substitute a few words. (Which I will capitalize) And, YOU tell me if I'm nuts.

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The White House said on Monday an inaccurate INTELLIGENCE report based on an anonymous source had damaged the U.S. image overseas by claiming THAT IRAQ HAD AN ARESENAL OF WMD, POSED AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO THE U.S., AND WAS INVOLVED IN THE ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11th.

At the same time, the Pentagon said an investigation remained open into allegations THAT THE WHITE HOUSE KNEW THE INTELLIGENCE WAS FAULTY, that triggered several YEARS of WAR in IRAQ and TERRORIST ATTACKS in other countries, in which at least HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF people, INCLUDING 1,623 AMERCIAN SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN were killed.

*******

Okay... now... substitute just a few words for McClellan's imaginary reaction?

.


"It's puzzling that while THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION now acknowledges that they got the facts wrong, they refused to ADMIT ANYTHING OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR WAGING A WAR ON FALSE PRETENSES," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "I think there's a certain MORAL AND HUMAN standard that should be met and in this instance it was not."

"The WAR WE STARTED has had serious consequences," McClellan said. "People have lost their lives. The image of the United States abroad has been damaged."

"It has certainly caused damage to the credibility of US INTELLIGENCE as well, and AMERICA itself," he added later.

*******

.

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Where do people like this come from?! Where do they get the nerve!? How can the "news" media let it slide? Help me out!

[LynzM]

1. That is GREAT

I mean your substitution. Pass that one around! (If you don't mind, of course?)

[Skittles]

2. because they are too busy demanding accountability from Newsweek

for an article that was written by a right-wing shill. These guys just f***ing kill me.

[chicagojoe]

3. This is because hypocrisy,

coupled with fear(read cowardice), make up the weak foundation upon which stands the Bush Mis-Administration.

[SmokingJacket]

4. The irony makes my head explode.

Honestly, I don't know how much more of this I can take.

Clearly the bushies are angling for some kind of out-and-out censorship -- they're going to claim they need to control the media for the "safety of innocents."

The news media lets it slide because they have nothing to gain by attacking the administration -- and $$$$ and access to lose.

We have to stop watching and stop buying the magazines and papers. I can't think of what else we can do.

[Beelzebud]

5. Because they're IN ON IT!

How much more proof does it take?

The news media in our country is accountable to the rulers. Not us.

People need to start realizing that this isn't just "politics as usual". We're heading towards fascism at an alarming rate.

[kenny blankenship]

6. Because they have no self-respect, no regard for truth, no honor to defend

...no esteem for the independence of a free press, no love for democracy only a groveling loyalty to power, and ultimately they have no reason to EXIST AT ALL except to collect their checks, so they can make payments on their Lexus cars.

That's why they aren't fighting back against McLellan and the Ape House.

But this is just a beginning, as the White House says. After peeing on themselves in nutless submission Newsweek, and all the rest of them, will rededicate themselves to the service of the Bush Imperium with abjection and zeal increased tenfold.

They will not, my money says, learn from this experience and find their dignity as human beings nor rediscover and rededicate themselves to the mission of the press in a (former) democracy. They will find instead more ways to be pliant, more spittle to lick, more ways to make themselves useful to the emerging Fascist cult and state.

[David Ippolito]

7. The "cool kid's" table in the cafeteria.

I think the television news media has been sitting at the "cool kid's" table too long. In other words... they all enjoy sitting at the table with the Rumsfelds and the Kennnedys and the Kerrys and the Wolfowitzes.

And, I mean, the whole f*cking lot of them. Wolf blitzer, Paula Zahn, Holt... I can't think of an example of a TV "news" personality who has teeth anymore. Even Stephanopoulis and Matthews still loft soft balls and let liars off the hook with double-speak.

Y'know, if Russert has "Powell" and Scheiffer has "McClellan" one Sunday, and Russert is tough on Powell... next week, he ain't gonna get McClellan. And, that's all they care about. Alot of back-patting after the red light is off. Good television. "Aren't we impressed with ourselves."

Nobody cares about journalism, getting to the Truth, or the integrity of the press anymore. None of them are willing to risk anything to get at the Truth.

It's sad.

But, more than that... it's dangerous.