alternative hippopotamus

progressive cyberdadaism from our nation’s capital

June 30, 2006

An Example of How the WaPo Supports Bush

by AltHippo @ 11:48 am. Filed under Uncategorized

A very interesting dialogue with Amy Sullivan last night at Drinking Liberally. I wanted to pass on one of her comments about how the refs have been worked at nominally critical press organs- here, I’m really thinking of the Washington Post- to err on the side of the Bush administration.

Here’s how she put it: If an article is too conservative (whatever that means these days) liberals will react, sure. But no where near as strongly as conservatives will react if an article is too liberal. She also suggested that this may have shifted slightly in recent times, but is still essentially the case.

Take this article in today’s Post: A Governing Philosophy Rebuffed. The title sounds pretty critical, but let’s look a little more closely:

For many in Washington, the decision echoed not simply as a matter of law but as a rebuke of a governing philosophy of a leader who at repeated turns has operated on the principle that it is better to act than to ask permission. This ethos is why many supporters find Bush an inspiring leader, and why many critics in this country and abroad react so viscerally against him.

This passage illustrates a number of ways the Washington Post, consciously or unconsciously supports Bush:

  1. False dichotomy. In this case “to act” vs. “to ask permission.” Hamdan v. Rumsfeld had nothing to do with either action or permission. What the President did was wrong. We knew it, he knew it. The only question was whether he could stack the Supreme Court with enough Unitary Executive whackos to slide by.
  2. Misleading rhetorical florishes. Here, using words that function to flatter Bush’s shortcomings. I’d take “ethos” and “inspiring leader” as examples. Indeed, I’d have to wonder if anyone would apply the word “inspiring” to Bush, unless they mean it in a general causative sense. For instance, you could say Bush’s inattention during Katrina inspired chaos and despair. In terms of chaos and despair Bush is certainly our most inspiring president ever.
  3. Mischaracterizing the position of critics. For instance, characterizing critics as responding “viscerally” when Bush confuses himself with Napolean, Caesar, or Ghengis Khan. Tell me, O WaPo, just how should we respond when Bush rips up the constitution? With an ironic sense of bemused detachment? Funny, the word I would have used would be “appropriately.”
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2 Responses to “An Example of How the WaPo Supports Bush”

  1. Bulworth Says:
    June 30th, 2006 at 1:53 pm

    “That sort of back-and-forth process is just what Bush has usually tried to avoid as he set about to prosecute an unconventional war against an elusive enemy after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.”

    That sort of back-and-forth process? It’s called democracy, Wash Post, look it up. See also,
    separation of powers, checks and balances.

    “Lawmakers and judges largely deferred to him, with occasional exceptions, such as the Supreme Court two years ago when it limited the administration’s ability to detain suspects indefinitely.”

    Where are things with the “indefinite suspensions”? Doesn’t seem like anything’s changed.

    At least the article went on to provide several points of view opposing Bush’s policy in this area, although one of those “opposing” views was by Lindsay Graham who NOW says that the administration has to be held
    accountable to the rule of law. This time Graham means it. But I won’t hold my breath.

  2. KCinDC Says:
    July 1st, 2006 at 7:15 pm

    Ugh, that “ask permission” comes right out of Bush’s 2004 campaign speeches bashing Kerry.

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