Dean has been (rightfully) happy about the great turnout in Iraq today. Of course, he's right that the MSM would find a negative spin. CNN, for example:
President Bush today called Iraq's historic election a "resounding success" as Iraqis "take rightful control of their country's destiny." With polls now closed, Iraqi officials are reporting a higher turnout than expected, despite a spate of attacks and threats aimed at disrupting the vote. At least 25 people were killed and more than 70 wounded in a string of attacks.
First sentance: Bush is happy too.
Second sentance: turnout is "higher than expected." (as opposed to the rumored 70%+ we've seen cited elsewhere)
Third sentance: yep, gotta bring up the terrorists insurgents.
Call it the speed-bump method of spinning the news; each successive sentance is progressively more negative. Also note the complete absence of context, either in the lede or the body linked above.
So instead of reporting that attacks (and casualties) were damn near non-existant, with an excellent turnout, CNN instead quotes Bush, then implies with two down-twists to imply that he's being over-optimistic again.
Feh.
Comments (4)
Speaking as an American, two thoughts occured to me -- one lofty, one more pragmatic:
Posted by Ara Rubyan | January 31, 2005 5:56 PM
Posted on January 31, 2005 17:56
Agreed, on both counts. Unlike some bloggers we know {g}, I'm not 100% certain this will succeed.
But that will always be true for any great endeavor. One never knows. I read in the paper recently that they've recovered a Jamestown skeleton from 1604. Those poor bastiches got wiped out two or three times before the Virginia colony truly became established.
Posted by Casey Tompkins | February 1, 2005 9:42 AM
Posted on February 1, 2005 09:42
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