John McCain: 'Fake News' a Fake Scandal

NewsMax ^ | 12/4/05 | NewsMax

[wagglebee]

Sen. John McCain said Sunday that the Bush administration did nothing wrong in the so-called "fake news" scandal, where the Pentagon paid Iraqi newspapers to carry reports that paint the U.S. liberation in a positive light - as long as the stories are true.

"If these are accurate stories written by legitimate people then I don't think there's anything wrong with that," McCain told NBC's "Meet the Press."

The Arizona Republican's answer clearly disappointed MTP moderator-turned-Leakgate prosecution witness Tim Russert, who asked incredulously: "But here we are trying to teach democracy and freedom of the press and the lack of state-sponsored censorship, if you will, and we're paying Iraqis to print articles?":

McCain shot back: "If these are accurate stories then we should make every effort to get them out. We are in a propaganda war. This is a war for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people as well."

At that, an irked Russert interrupted: "But in principle you have no problem paying the Iraqis?"

McCain replied: "If that's the standard procedure in Iraq - if that's what you need to do to get a story in one of these newspapers . . . . then I'm not terribly offended by it."

[HawaiianGecko]

It is simply a mistake the believe that paying to get an article into print is somehow a bad thing. I can understand the belief that the article may be slanted in favor of the issues of the 'payer', but can anyone with a straight face claim that Tim Moran or Helen Thomas write articles that are NOT issue oriented in opposition to the administration?

They are complimentary prostitutes and frankly, I have more respect for the Iraqi journalist that takes a couple of bucks to feed his family.

The truth is the truth whether it becomes public for free or through remuneration.

[gondramB]

"
The libnuts are dead wrong on this as they are on everything else. I wish Mcvain hadn't used the term "fake news". It's not fake if it's the truth. "Fake news" is the leftwing catch-phrase of the week now"


I'm not usually quite as anti-McCain as most on this site but this time I think people are being too positive about him.

I think he's taking a small shot at the president here. Otherwise, I don't think the term "fake news" would be used. We handicap our corporations by limiting them to U.S. regulations on what they can do overseas but there is no way it should apply to the military on information distribution.

[Brad from Tennessee]

I re-watched the National Geographic Channel's four-hour documentary Friday night on 9/11. One journalist said FBI agents had commented to him that it "will take another 9/11" to wake up the government and the public to the fact that we are in a real and dangerous war. A CIA analyst said people had no idea "what a long and bloody road" we must travel to defeat a global enemy.
With silly, partisan call girls like Tim Russert representing the top tier of American journalism, no wonder the masses remain uninformed and vulnerable.

[Polybius]

Tim Russert, who asked incredulously: "But here we are trying to teach democracy and freedom of the press and the lack of state-sponsored censorship, if you will, and we're paying Iraqis to print articles?"

That's right.

In the U.S., you can't even pay the liberal news media to print the truth about Iraq.

[gondramB]

"With silly, partisan call girls like Tim Russert representing the top tier of American journalism, no wonder the masses remain uninformed and vulnerable."

The problem is that press is even less able to be detached when reporting stories about the press. They are already mad at President Bush for having what they think is a fake reporter in the White House briefing room.

[FlingWingFlyer]

The real scandal here is that the DemocRATS and their toadies in the Liberal MSM are so "outraged" about the Iraqi newspapers printing good news stories. Any DemocRAT will tell you that, if it isn't doom and gloom, it has no place being printed in a newspaper.

[goresalooza]

"I'm not usually quite as anti-McCain as most on this site but this time I think people are being too positive about him. "

The only thing consistent about mcVain is his inconsistency. I have no earthly idea what is going to come out of his mouth next, he can't be trusted IMO. I will not vote for him in 08 but I strongly doubt he could win the nomination. You won't find me in his cheerleading section...LOL

[Polybius]

Russert did cajole McCain into admitting thet "mistakes were made" in conducting the Iraqi war operations.

Show me an account of a war where no mistakes were made within the first 5 minutes after the first shot was fired and I will show you a Fairy Tale.

"No battle plan ever survives contact with the enemy." ------ Field Marshall Helmuth Carl von Moltke

[Cicero]

I was just going by what was reported, but I'm not surprised at what you add.

McCain is a publicity hound of the worst kind. You don't get invited onto talk shows unless you give the hosts what they want to hear. McCain is the only Republican who gets this kind of exposure. The MSM loves him, for reasons that are only too clear.

[gondramB]

Yes, well the main stream media is a strange place run by strange people.

[shrinkermd]

McCain is redeeming himself--at least in my eyes.

[hsalaw]

McCain shot back: "If these are accurate stories then we should make every effort to get them out. We are in a propaganda war. This is a war for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people as well."

Very sensible comment. And here's a thought: the MSM presently prints their liberal, lying garbage for free and they're all going broke. Maybe the government could pay them a modest fee to actually publish the TRUTH, and they wouldn't have to layoff all their "reporters" and be attacked by Moveon.ugh.

[FlingWingFlyer]

At that, an irked Russert interrupted: "But in principle you have no problem paying the Iraqis?"

I'll bet the "irked" Tim Russert has no problem with NBC taking money from DemocRATS and Georgie Soros' 5/27 groups to air their mudslinging ads full of lies about President Bush and the Republicans. The Liberal MSM press doesn't seem to have any problem with accepting money from Leftist maggots to publish their "full page ads" attacking President Bush and the Republicans. Hypocrites!

[Real Cynic No More]

... mistakes were made...

The only real mistake made was dragging out the initiation of war so long that Saddam was able to hide all the WMDs in Syria and elsewhere.

[manwiththehands]

I'm still scratching my head. :-)

[Brad from Tennessee]

If you are Lt. (JG) John Kerry in Vietnam and you are the sole author of the after-action reports for your boat, even fairy tales can come to life.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"If these are accurate stories written by legitimate people then I don't think there's anything wrong with that," McCain told NBC's "Meet the Press."

Even if these were false stories written by intelligence assets in the Iraq theatre to disinform and harrass the enemy, I don't have a problem with that.

[HardStarboard]

>>>...the FAKE 9/11 Commission report, the silencing of Able Danger members ...<<<

Speaking of that....did Tim Russsert ask either of the 911 Commission co-chairs he had on Meet The Press today about Able Danger?

I'd be suprised if he did. I'll bet there was a prior agreement with the "snakes" not to bring it up!

[bdfromlv]

smith did some idiot reasoning and knows nothing about psyops or the history of the news and propaganda.

[listenhillary]

Rush Limbaugh: Propaganda from Saddam Was Fine with Press

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1533424/posts