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Wahington Post got the hint
It looks like the Washington Post got the hint and stopped burying the al-Maliki story, with this Dan Balz headline:
Obama Makes War Gains: Maliki's Embrace of Withdrawal Timeline Confounds McCain
Which appears to be the "standalone story" that Greg Sargent was asking about. In it Balz even corrects their previous blunder (emphasizing an alleged eight month difference in their comments as the most significant thing).
Then on Monday, after Maliki met with Obama, his spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, said the Iraqis were working toward a deadline that would call for U.S. combat forces to be out of Iraq by the end of 2010, at most eight months after Obama's timetable [emphasis mine]
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Comments (15)
This is great news. I love it when the media report the news. The actual news.
July 22, 2008 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
As do I. But that can't happen too often. After all, as Stephen Colbert has noted, reality has a liberal bias. :-)
July 22, 2008 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just don't hold your breath waiting for the next installment.
July 22, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just don't hold your breath waiting for the next installment.
July 22, 2008 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd. Nice catch.
July 22, 2008 1:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks. I wish I'd caught the typo in my headline.
July 22, 2008 1:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
So, here's the question: At what point are these MSM outlets finally pressured into simply reporting what is - giving up their spin? Where is the tipping point and what are the forces applying it? Seems to me that a big part of the dynamic is when competing outlets are reporting the real story and the holdouts start to look silly by holding onto their spin.
July 22, 2008 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Very fine questions, Carol, and a very fine answer.
July 22, 2008 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, Rip. So, maybe part of our SCAAMD strategy can/should be, when we see stories that are being blatantly mishandled, to find a source that is reporting it well, and then make sure that presentation gets lots and lots of favorable comparisons to those who are misrepresenting the issue. Do that boldly, loudly, vocally, PUBLICLY - in a manner that creates sufficient embarrassment, that the offending MSM outlets revise their approach post haste.
July 22, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now THAT'S activism you can believe in. :-)
I suggest putting together a mailing list of both MSM and Internet news sources, and every time that scenario you describe comes up, blast out the accurate story to each and every one.
The news biz being what it is, someone's bound to look into it. Then the "echo chamber" effect may do the rest of your work for you - even for a tone-deaf rag like WaPo.
July 22, 2008 2:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, we could assemble a resource list like this and put it up as a Google doc, as Raider suggested earlier (and I'm trying to assemble in a less abbreviated form).
Then, when anyone sees something actionable, they can put out an alert, with recommended action, here and on other like-minded sites.
July 22, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is this the "Blind Pig Finds Acorn" thread?
Old WaPo: Nixon Aides linked to Watergate Cash
New WaPo: Prexy ID's burglars as Cubans,
Translator: "Looking for good cigars."
July 22, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is that the Waaaaahshington Post? [Note spelling in your headline.]
July 22, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, er..that was a totally intentional pun on my part.
Ok, no it wasn't, but I do like your interpretation.
July 22, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting article. Notice how they managed to quote McCain, McCain's campaign, Dana Perino, and Adm Mullen 6 or 7 times (all derogatory quotes), but included not one quote from Obama, his campaign, or other Obama friendly folks, under a headline of "Obama makes war gains"? He may be making "gains" but the Wapo doesn't seem to think it's necessary to back up that assertion with actual people who believe that. Crappy, lazy reporting, as usual- even when it's right!
July 22, 2008 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
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