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Question raised by exchange

by Rich Gardner | 03.21.2008

Serious question raised by exchange in White House.

Dan Froomkin of the WaPo reprints an exchange between White House Spokesperon Dana Perino and the genuine reporter (Compared to the rest of the White House press corps) Helen Thomas:

Thomas: "The American people are being asked to die and pay for this. And you're saying they have no say in this war?"

Perino: "No, I didn't say that Helen. But Helen, this president was elected --"

Thomas: "Well, what it amounts to is you saying we have no input at all."

Perino: "You had input. The American people have input every four years, and that's the way our system is set up. . . . "

Thomas: "Supposed to be a government for the people, of the people, by the people?"

Perino: "I would submit to you that people across America, if asked what type of a President do you want: one that stands on principle or that one that chases polls? And I think that they would want --"

Thomas: "What's the principle of going to war against the people who did nothing to us?"

My question is: How many reporters knew in 2000 that this is what Bush's view of the office was, but chose to give him a pass anyway? Al Gore was described as a serial sigher and habitual exaggerator. "Gore was 'pandering' on [the Cuban boy] Elian [Gonzales], and Bush was not—though both held the exact same position." Completely normal conduct by the Bush and Gore campaigns were treated as stark, black-and-white opposites (See the final example in the referenced piece) by the Washington DC press corps.
Why were reporters in 2000 covering for Bush?

Comments

YouTube of Bush defending torture

Submitted by Rich Gardner on Fri, 03/21/2008 - 9:40pm

Fellow IMCer Hans Bennett passed this link on to me.
Matt Lauer of the Today Show interviews Bush in the White House. Bush delivers an absolutely infuriating defense of torture. Lauer looks uncomfortable, but manages to keep his cool.
I would have grabbed Bush by the lapels and shouted "But what you're having done is EVIL!!! You should be tossed into the deepest, dankest prison available for ordering those things done to people!!"
*Sigh!* Matt, you're more restrained than I would have been.

Rich Gardner

http://www.prawnworks.net/

Update

Submitted by Rich Gardner on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 4:51pm

Daily Kos tells us that 94% of Americans disagree with Perino's stated views here. They all think Presidents should pay attention to citizen views between elections.

Rich Gardner

http://www.prawnworks.net/

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