Posted on 05/17/2005 3:22:34 PM PDT by Brian Mosely
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX TUE MAY 17, 2005 18:02:22 ET XXXXX
REVENGE OF THE PRESS: WHITE HOUSE REPORTERS RIP SPOKESMAN OVER NEWSWEEK MESS
Mainline reporters moved into battle-mode today during a White House press briefing -- as one of their own outlets continued to hemorrhage over a now retracted story!
Afghanistan's government said Tuesday that NEWSWEEK should be held responsible for damages caused by deadly anti-American demonstrations after the magazine alleged U.S. desecration of the Quran.
The White House said the United States' image abroad had suffered irreparable damage by the story.
But it was the press's turn to fight back as Bush spokesman Scott McClellan opened his briefing to questions.
[Joined in progess]
Q With respect, who made you the editor of Newsweek? Do you think it's appropriate for you, at that podium, speaking with the authority of the President of the United States, to tell an American magazine what they should print?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm not telling them. I'm saying that we would encourage them to help --
Q You're pressuring them.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm saying that we would encourage them --
Q It's not pressure?
MR. McCLELLAN: Look, this report caused serious damage to the image of the United States abroad. And Newsweek has said that they got it wrong. I think Newsweek recognizes the responsibility they have. We appreciate the step that they took by retracting the story. Now we would encourage them to move forward and do all that they can to help repair the damage that has been done by this report. And that's all I'm saying. But, no, you're absolutely right, it's not my position to get into telling people what they can and cannot report....
Q Are you asking them to write a story about how great the American military is; is that what you're saying here?
MR. McCLELLAN: Elisabeth, let me finish my sentence. Our military --
Q You've already said what you're -- I know what -- how it ends.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, I'm coming to your question, and you're not letting me have a chance to respond. But our military goes out of their way to handle the Koran with care and respect. There are policies and practices that are in place. This report was wrong. Newsweek, itself, stated that it was wrong. And so now I think it's incumbent and -- incumbent upon Newsweek to do their part to help repair the damage. And they can do that through ways that they see best, but one way that would be good would be to point out what the policies and practices are in that part of the world, because it's in that region where this report has been exploited and used to cause lasting damage to the image of the United States of America. It has had serious consequences. And so that's all I'm saying, is that we would encourage them to take steps to help repair the damage. And I think that they recognize the importance of doing that. That's all I'm saying.
Q As far as the Newsweek article is concerned, first, how and where the story came from? And do you think somebody can investigate if it really happened at the base, and who told Newsweek? Because somebody wrote a story.
MR. McCLELLAN: I think Newsweek has talked about it. They took it --
Developing...
Be embarrassed or humiliated, especially publicly. For example, Terry lost face when his assistant was promoted and became his boss. Both this expression and the underlying concept come from Asia; the term itself is a translation of the Chinese tiu lien and has been used in English since the late 1800s. Also see save face.
Time for 1st Amendment waiting periods for these morons.
What makes the press think this war is unpopular, if not necessary? Who does not really think that we have to fight these people there, or, fight them here?
The press incited an unsuspecting public into believing that VietNam was not worth fighting, leaving millions bereft to die in our wake as we left. Still, the South Vietnamese here support the US faithfully, and unwaveringly. Some might even say, and, do, that the press caused us to 'lose' that engagement.
NEVER AGAIN. We're on to you, press corps. We KNOW WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT NOW. AND, WE'RE SMARTER.
I'm f'ing had it with the press. The WH should have kicked that SOB out of the room. Had him removed and not allow him to future briefings. How dare this pompous ass attempt to badger our Press Secretary about the very story that the media should be examining and learning from.
It was a Karl Rove plant!!!!
What I wouldn't give to hear him respond, "I think it's appropriate to insist that the press tell the truth and not make up lies. That is especially true when the totally BS lies cause multiple deaths. I think it's totally appropriate to tell an "American" magazine to wash the blood off their filthy, lying, propagandizing hands and tell the truth. Yes. That would be appropriate, elisabeth you America hating skank!"
Yes I heard .. I also heard him point out that many in the media NEVER question the detainees
But ALWAYS question our military
RUSH IS RIGHT!!
Rush talked at length about how they, The Old Media, are all the same, just different faces!
They hate America Superiority, American Military and they really Hate President Bush!
CBS and NewsWeek both 'Wanted' the story to be true to tarnish the success of this administration.
"Oh, so Newsweek *has* an editor?"
I think your wrong about it waste. Were positioning ourselves strategically. The real war will start after the next terrorist attack.
Because THEY don't like it
They didn't like that we went after the terrorists in Afghanistan after 9/11
Don't sweat it. This is the lead story on Drudge, and the story by now probably has a quarter of a million hits.
She and the media are hanging themselves with their own rope. God works in mysterious ways.
He also pointed out that the terrorists know they can't beat us militarily
But know if they hold out .. they can beat us in the PR war because many in the media/press will help them
IMO .. it's Uncle Walter Cronkite all over again
"The real war will start after the next terrorist attack."
I agree, and these people will pay dearly.
Great idea!
Pray for W and Our Troops
Q: With respect, who made you the editor of Newsweek? Do you think it's appropriate for you, at that podium, speaking with the authority of the President of the United States, to tell an American magazine what they should print?
A: Elisabeth, Newsweek has made us hypocrites in the face of the world. How could they sign on to such a sloppy policy of fact checking?! And the question is what does that tell us about their record?
Q: Erm …….
Video available here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050517-2.v.html
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