I know, but its the tone of it I was commenting on. the statement focuses on the assumption that the basic charges are legitimate.
at this point, even if the investigation provides a different explanation - it won't matter. the media has run with the story as if it were true, and the administration makes the same mistake over and over again - you have to be out there with an opposing point of view, some kind of rebuttal. if you aren't, then the spin from the MSM becomes the truth in the eyes of most americans. and if the story is later shown to be otherwise, its buried on page 30, and it dissappears from the news. hence, the damage is done.
The press will think it's worse than the truth no matter what. It's up to us to get the truth out when the actual investigation concludes. Our press sucks big time....let's fight them rather than pick on Bush, okay?
I understand what you're saying about the Administration, but he cannot rebut anything.
He could caution the media to wait and let everything play out. That would be an alternative. But he cannot give the slightest edge to the side that says these people are innocent or these people are guilty. You think he gave the edge to that they're probably guilty. I don't. He focused on news stories, rather than on any actual "facts" about the case or incriminating or exculpatory material.
At that time, the news stories were overwhelmingly suggesting that they are guilty. He reacted to that. Yes, it was a reaction, not a planned counteractive. It was all based on the Media basis of "oh this is horrible oh this is awful the Marines slaughtered some innocent civilians waaaaahhhhh waaaaahhhhh!" He said the stories were troubling. IF guilty they would be punished.
The media stories are driving this. You want Bush to drive it his way. He cannot do that. Cannot.