Posted on 09/25/2004 6:55:14 AM PDT by jerod
WACO, Texas - President Bush (news - web sites) opened several new scathing lines of attack against Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites), charges that twisted his rival's words on Iraq (news - web sites) and made Kerry seem supportive of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).
It was not unlike the spin that Kerry and his forces sometimes place on Bush's words.
He stated flatly that Kerry had said earlier in the week "he would prefer the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein to the situation in Iraq today." The line drew gasps of surprise from Bush's audience in a Racine, Wis., park. "I just strongly disagree," the president said.
But Kerry never said that. In a speech at New York University on Monday, he called Saddam "a brutal dictator who deserves his own special place in hell." He added, "The satisfaction we take in his downfall does not hide this fact: We have traded a dictator for a chaos that has left America less secure."
Bush attacked Kerry for calling "our alliance 'the alliance of the coerced and the bribed.'"
"You can't build alliances if you criticize the efforts of those who are working side by side with you," the president said in Janesville, Wis.
Kerry did use the phrase to describe the U.S.-led coalition of nations in Iraq, in a March 2003 speech in California. He was referring to the administration's willingness to offer aid to other nations to gain support for its Iraq policies.
But Bush mischaracterized Kerry's criticism, which has not been aimed at the countries that have contributed a relatively small number of troops and resources, but at the administration for not gaining more participation from other nations.
Bush also suggested Kerry was undercutting an ally in a time of need, and thus unfit to be president, when he "questioned the credibility" of Iraqi interim leader Ayad Allawi.
"This great man came to our country to talk about how he's risking his life for a free Iraq, which helps America," the president said in Janesville. "And Senator Kerry held a press conference and questioned Prime Minister Allawi's credibility. You can't lead this country if your ally in Iraq feels like you question his credibility."
Bush repeated the attack later in the day and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) echoed the message in Lafayette, La. "I must say I was appalled at the complete lack of respect Senator Kerry showed for this man of courage," Cheney said.
Kerry's point was that the optimistic assessments of postwar Iraq from both Bush and Allawi didn't match previous statements by the Iraqi leader, nor the reality on the ground, and were designed to put the "best face" on failed policies.
"Facts can be stubborn things," said Kerry spokesman Phil Singer. "When there's a gap between the reality and the words coming out of the White House, we are going to point them out."
That's not to say Kerry hasn't been playing fast and loose with Bush's words.
Just Friday, the Kerry campaign sent an e-mail to supporters entitled "He said what?" citing Bush's remark that he had seen "a poll that said the right track/wrong track in Iraq was better than here in America."
The e-mail from campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill accused the president of having "no plan to get us out of Iraq" and thinking "the future of Iraq is brighter than the future of America."
Bush has a plan for Iraq — Kerry just disagrees that it is working. And the president wasn't comparing Iraq's future to that of the United States, only accurately reflecting one recent survey in Iraq and the latest trends in America that asked participants for their assessment of the direction their countries are going.
After campaigning in Wisconsin, Bush settled into his ranch in Crawford, Texas, which will be his base of operations for several days as he crams for the first debate of the presidential campaign, to be held Thursday in Coral Gables, Fla.
The first practice session was expected to take place Saturday night, with Sen. Judd Gregg (news, bio, voting record), R-N.H., playing the part of Kerry for a couple of hours and a slew of Bush's most senior White House aides and outside advisers on hand, spokesman Scott McClellan said.
Bush Spends Little Time in White House
Halfway into that article, this was revealed:
Though the recent flurry has been particularly intense, it is typical of a tough schedule that is hardly new for presidents seeking re-election.
We're going to need to see the tape before we can judge the level of "gasps of surpise" from the audience. We already know about the journalist-manufactured "boos from the audience" when Bush wished well of Clinton during his operation.
Jennifer you ignorant sl*t. (couldn't resist)
Another editorial in search of a news article. (YAWN)
Ya got me ... the guy's smart enough not to come right out and say it, but that's the clear implication ...
This woman is no journalist. She is nothing more than a political hack for the Democrats. How in the world can these people live with their soul shattering bias and continue to present themselves as objective presenters of the news?
If you go to www.ap.org, click the link to send a press release. I did and sent the following for immediate release.
FROM: Citizens of at least the pretense of objectivity in journalism
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
In a desperate attempt to defend the indefensible, AP reporter Jennifer Loven, wife of a prominent Democratic Activist, has been caught putting an extremely Pro Kerry spin on the following Article. Initially it was believed that that the following article was indeed a DNC or Kerry Campaign press release. However, The Kerry campaign has denied any involvement in the creation of the following document, claiming that the use of our talking points was purely coincidental.
Bush Twists Kerry's Words on Iraq (APs take. Reporting the news and giving their opinion)
AP Wire | 2004-09-25 | By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
Posted on 09/25/2004 6:55:14 AM PDT by jerod
WACO, Texas - President Bush (news - web sites) opened several new scathing lines of attack against Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites), charges that twisted his rival's words on Iraq (news - web sites) and made Kerry seem supportive of deposed dictator Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).
It was not unlike the spin that Kerry and his forces sometimes place on Bush's words.
He stated flatly that Kerry had said earlier in the week "he would prefer the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein to the situation in Iraq today." The line drew gasps of surprise from Bush's audience in a Racine, Wis., park. "I just strongly disagree," the president said.
But Kerry never said that. In a speech at New York University on Monday, he called Saddam "a brutal dictator who deserves his own special place in hell." He added, "The satisfaction we take in his downfall does not hide this fact: We have traded a dictator for a chaos that has left America less secure."
Bush attacked Kerry for calling "our alliance 'the alliance of the coerced and the bribed.'"
"You can't build alliances if you criticize the efforts of those who are working side by side with you," the president said in Janesville, Wis.
Kerry did use the phrase to describe the U.S.-led coalition of nations in Iraq, in a March 2003 speech in California. He was referring to the administration's willingness to offer aid to other nations to gain support for its Iraq policies.
But Bush mischaracterized Kerry's criticism, which has not been aimed at the countries that have contributed a relatively small number of troops and resources, but at the administration for not gaining more participation from other nations.
Bush also suggested Kerry was undercutting an ally in a time of need, and thus unfit to be president, when he "questioned the credibility" of Iraqi interim leader Ayad Allawi.
"This great man came to our country to talk about how he's risking his life for a free Iraq, which helps America," the president said in Janesville. "And Senator Kerry held a press conference and questioned Prime Minister Allawi's credibility. You can't lead this country if your ally in Iraq feels like you question his credibility."
Bush repeated the attack later in the day and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) echoed the message in Lafayette, La. "I must say I was appalled at the complete lack of respect Senator Kerry showed for this man of courage," Cheney said.
Kerry's point was that the optimistic assessments of postwar Iraq from both Bush and Allawi didn't match previous statements by the Iraqi leader, nor the reality on the ground, and were designed to put the "best face" on failed policies.
"Facts can be stubborn things," said Kerry spokesman Phil Singer. "When there's a gap between the reality and the words coming out of the White House, we are going to point them out."
That's not to say Kerry hasn't been playing fast and loose with Bush's words.
Just Friday, the Kerry campaign sent an e-mail to supporters entitled "He said what?" citing Bush's remark that he had seen "a poll that said the right track/wrong track in Iraq was better than here in America."
The e-mail from campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill accused the president of having "no plan to get us out of Iraq" and thinking "the future of Iraq is brighter than the future of America."
Bush has a plan for Iraq — Kerry just disagrees that it is working. And the president wasn't comparing Iraq's future to that of the United States, only accurately reflecting one recent survey in Iraq and the latest trends in America that asked participants for their assessment of the direction their countries are going.
After campaigning in Wisconsin, Bush settled into his ranch in Crawford, Texas, which will be his base of operations for several days as he crams for the first debate of the presidential campaign, to be held Thursday in Coral Gables, Fla.
The first practice session was expected to take place Saturday night, with Sen. Judd Gregg (news, bio, voting record), R-N.H., playing the part of Kerry for a couple of hours and a slew of Bush's most senior White House aides and outside advisers on hand, spokesman Scott McClellan said.
It was deja vu all over again as I started reading this AP story. The wording and tone were almost identical to E.J. Dionne's (Columnist, Washington Post Writers Group) column about how Bush can twist and lie about Kerry's statements and positions and the press gives the President a pass. I was thinking they must have had lunch together and coordinated their attack.
Dionne says that the press and the President "nit pick" the Democrat candidates' statements for minor errors. (Using Algore as an example.)
When they receive their "talking points" faxes from the Democrat National Committee, these writers should at least try to change a few words to make their articles appear to be original.
As it is now, they appear to just type their byline on the Democrat handout and pass it along for printing.
I have a different take on this Jennifer Loven story. Let them editorialize the news at the Associated Press. They are discrediting themselves and the rest of the old media by showing poor journalism. The more media bias they exhibit, the closer they are to destroying the old media. Their credibility is one the line.
By the way, Dan Rather and Mary Mapes should stay on at CBS using this same logic. They are sinking the ship of the old media.
And the Kerry campaign ought to know - they've tried to squash so many facts over the last few months.
I saw this on aol homepage, it's unbelievable that this gets printed as 'news'. Should read: 'Kerry digs hole'
A copy of my letter to the AP.
Ms Loven says that Kerry twists words also, but since she and the AP are supporters of John Kerry they will make a headline that will bash Bush. As the story goes on it is more and more evident that we have a far left-wing supporter of the Traitor Kerry pushing a political agenda like Dan and Mapes.
Sick, when will you low IQ left-wing democrat media learn that the American people will no longer believe you when you manage the news to support your political agenda.
Get another job where you can prostitute your integrity without harm to the country.
Your "news release" to the AP is hilarious! Great job! I plan to send a press release to them soon!
My problem with such bias in the syndicated press wires is that their crap goes out all over the country and into local papers. Their mischief is far more pervasive and less identifiable to our neigbors than a copyright byline story. The headlines are designed to tell a fraudulent story to those who are just skimming through their local paper.
Ah. This is what we call the "Ratherizing" of the AP.
The documents are fake, but the story's true.
Uh-huh.
E-mail I just sent to info@ap.org
RE: .....Bush Twists Kerry's Words on Iraq
AP Wire | 2004-09-25 | By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
I am having a difficulty separating your news reporting from your op-ed pieces.
Which of your writers are assigned to new reporting and which are assigned to writing opinion columns.
Ms. Loven's and Mr. Fournier's writings leave me a bit confused because they seem to be presented as News reports and do not appear on my newspapers op-ed page.
Is it possible for you to attach something to the headline of the story that would help your readers distinguish between those articles you are presenting as 'news' i.e. factual accounts of events and those which are 'opinion' i.e. an individuals interpretation and personal thoughts about events?
Please, I am not trying to be sarcastic or asking a rhetorical question; their really many of us who read a lot of news sources who reprint AP material and it is difficult for us to know weather the report we are reading can be trusted or weather we need to continue research to determine the real facts.
Thank You
Ah, how refreshing--no bias at AP, right? (/sarcasm)
That little article turned up on my Yahoo news this morning, and I wasn't sure whether to laugh or be furious over it. In one way, it's so biased it's almost funny. But deep down, the truth is that they're so biased over there at AP that they couldn't hide it if they tried. Now that's infuriating.
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