Ratherization in Action
Allawi Provides the Chance, MSM Declines Opportunity
Steyn points to yet another example of media Ratherization when the press had Iraq's Prime Minister front and center but failed to ask him important questions in their zeal to promote the Democratic (party) cause:
But Iraq's the No. 1 issue in American right now, and they've got the go-to guy right in front of them, and what do the blow-dried poseurs of the networks ask:
''Mr. President, John Kerry is accusing you of colossal failures of judgment in Iraq . . .''
NBC guy: ''A central theme of your campaign is that America is safer because of the invasion of Iraq. Can you understand why Americans may not believe you?''
CNN: ''Sir, I'd like you to answer Senator Kerry and other critics who accuse you of hypocrisy or opportunism . . .''
They're six feet from Iraq's head of government and they've got not a question for him. They've got no interest in Iraq except insofar as they can use the issue to depress sufficient numbers of swing voters in Florida and Ohio.
Who's living in the fantasyland here? Huge forces are at play in a world of rapid change. As the prime minister said, ''We Iraqis will stand by you, America, in a war larger than either of our nations.'' But the gentlemen of the press can barely stifle their ennui. Say what you like about the old left, but at least they were outward-looking and internationalist. This new crowd -- Democrats and media alike -- are stunted and parochial, their horizons shriveling more every day.
But what did you expect?
Meanwhile,
Power Line links to this
Bill Kristol piece that describes like disgraceful behavior from Kerry and his Krew. Here's a bit:
Read more »
Kerry and his advisers have behaved disgracefully this past week. That behavior is sufficient grounds for concern about his fitness to be president.
Kerry's rudeness paled beside the comment of his senior adviser, Joe Lockhart, to the Los Angeles Times: "The last thing you want to be seen as is a puppet of the United States, and you can almost see the hand underneath the shirt today moving the lips."
Is Kerry proud that his senior adviser's derisive comment about the leader of free Iraq will now be quoted by terrorists and by enemies of the United States, in Iraq and throughout the Middle East? Is the concept of a loyalty to American interests that transcends partisan politics now beyond the imagination of the Kerry campaign?
John Kerry has decided to pursue a scorched-earth strategy in this campaign. He is prepared to insult allies, hearten enemies, and denigrate efforts to succeed in Iraq. His behavior is deeply irresponsible--and not even in his own best interest.
There is some chance, after all, that John Kerry will be president in four months. If so, what kind of situation will he have created for himself? France will smile on him, but provide no troops. Those allies that have provided troops, from Britain and Poland and Australia and Japan and elsewhere, will likely recall how Kerry sneered at them, calling them "the coerced and the bribed." The leader of the government in Iraq, upon whom the success of John Kerry's Iraq policy will depend, will have been weakened before his enemies and ours--and will also remember the insult. Is this really how Kerry wants to go down in history: Willing to say anything to try to get elected, no matter what the damage to the people of Iraq, to American interests, and even to himself?
No surprise here either. Democrats in general have been doing everything in their power to promote defeat on a variety of fronts including the economy, stock market, and war on terror. This is just a continuation of the pattern that seems to indicate a belief that Bush's failures are somehow remote from the general public and will have no effect on U.S. citizens. Either that, or they simply do not care what price Americans have to pay for defeat. Either way, disgraceful.
« Collapse
Posted by:
Randall
on Sep 25, 04 | 9:30 am |
[0]
comments [1227] Views |
Permalink | [151]
TrackBack |