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...
I just joined the party here, and my guess is also Elisabeth Bumiller.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-43,GGLD:en&q=Elisabeth+Bumiller
How nice -- "...our military goes out of their way to handle the Koran with care and respect. There are policies and practices that are in place."
And what policies do we have in place here at home for our sacred religious icons? Athesists petition to take "God" out of the Pledge. Judges remove the Ten Commandments from our courthouses. "Artists" on the public dole put crucifixes in urine.
And now we bend over backward begging forgiveness from a religion that spreads hate and violence. My God, is our world turned upside down or what?
I don't know how to respond to your post, it is all so true, and sickening what has become of the United States, because of the swine on the left, the demoncraptic party, they are trying to destroy what is left of America. Wake up, we have to stop them, stop taking God from our Pledge, if the rats don't like it, LEAVE the Decent United States. Stop the lefty loony judges from taking the 10 Comandments out of our Society, and Stop the dumbell wanna-be-artists that piss and think that they have created art. Throw them all out of the US, at least into the pacific ocean, what disasterous crap will wash up on the left coast. Maybe the left coast will fall into the ocean sooner than we had hoped.
Welcome to our toiletgate barbecue.
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.
WH: The press has the responsibility to report the news accurately. The Press should not create the news. And in this particular case, I believe it is fair to say that Newsweek incited riots across the world leading to the deaths of 16 people based on fiction disclosed to them by a source that no one except Newsweek believes exists. Since Newsweek is loath to announce its dubious source, no one outside Newsweek can comment on as far as the WH is concerned this fictional account. Madame, you are a reporter. Please feel free to investigate this fictional event and then report to the American people the facts and nothing but the facts. And by all means leave your feelings and biasness at home.
We need to shun Newsweak right out of existence.
Indeed. It is extremely satisfying to observe this debacle.
Correct. Please hire the best lawyers available. Include prominent Jewish lawyers, to make a key point.
I just saw on Scarborough where Isikoff said that neither the White House OR Newsweek were aware of the ramifications of printing the story---
How does he get off lumping the White House in with Newsweek?
Also, they showed Condi in England? talking about this and she was almost shaking when she talked she was so angry about how this distorts the rules that the military has been told to use re: the Koran. (not that I care how the Koran is taken care of, but they were purposly told to do certain things, so it goes to the "awareness" that the White House has for what the ramifications would be, doesn't it?)
Aw, jeez, Scarborough just went on and on about how Isikoff is one of the best journalists in America, blah, blah,
And, he said that he isn't a glory hound---doesn't go for the accolades....barf....barf...barf...
Scarborough can take a weird left turn now and again and I end up with a headache!
"all together now, one-two-three-fart" in Newsweek's direction specifically while also hoping that the farting wafts over, around and among the press in general, who are certainly the most fartworthy in society today.
Yah, she tried to pass it off as truth in reporting but I found the fact very telling that the editor added it after she turned it in. And after she worked so hard to sound like she was actually there. WAAAAAAAAAH
Raggedyass, Liberal "reporters," both male and female, should not be allowed in these press conferences when they are PMSing.
So Newsweak asserts that the White House didn't know what the ramifications of a story Newsweak might print would be.
Well, now they have a better idea, don't they.
I would have had two replies:
Reply that would have gotten me canned: "Elizabeth, you are a disgrace to your profession, which is really saying something."
Reply that would have gotten me reprimanded: "Elizabeth, are you suggesting that the only news fit to print, concerning the American military, is negative?"
Yeah, but let another so-called torture story get "leaked" to any of them, and they will be off to the races again!!!
It went from a presidential campaign of ABB (anybody but Bush)--to EGB (everybody get Bush)!
I swear, these guys will be dancing on his grave some day!
Did she share an office cubicle with her idol, JAYSON BLAIR?
Instead? They ARE the offending parties! You have my vote!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.