Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Newsweek's aftermath...is Bush's fault?

The MSM is circling the wagons on this one. Notice how quick they come to the aid of one of their brethren whenever their agenda-based "reports" turn out to be well-edited and eloquently-worded lies! The Media Research Center documents (link) the talking points going around the circuit. Just a sample of some of the damage control spin:
  • Reporters Come to Newsweek's Defense, Suggest Story Really True
  • (you know, the CBS defense? "Well, the source was wrong, but the story was still right!" Hey...the National Enquirer can use that approach! "OK, the photos of Elvis on the UFO are fake, but the story is still real!")

  • MSNBC's Olbermann & Crawford Suggest Bush Team "Set Up" Newsweek
  • (I'll bite...how do you "set up" an MSM source?)

  • Schieffer Blames Newsweek's Retraction on White House "Pressure"
  • (looks like CBS Evening News is continuing the Rather tradition)

  • Alter: Story May Be True, Chides Pentagon, Touts Mag's "Digging"
  • (Alter works for Newsweek, so it's news that he's defending them?)
    Yep, it was Bush's fault that Newsweek had to retract its dungpile report! It had nothing to do with the fact that the story was wrong and wreaked of hitpiece and sloppiness. Oh, no, it was Bush's fault that the lies had to be retracted! I tell you, what I wouldn't have given for any of my college professors to make me retract a bad report and give me another crack at it!

    The last item is hilarious, because Alter says "the larger question that people have to ask is do they want news organizations out there trying to dig, or do they want to take all their information from the government?" As the MRC astutely points out: But in this case, isn't Newsweek's position that they got their information from a government official?