President Bush walks from the Oval Office in this June 8, 2006 file photo. A top Bush advisor said poor judgment, not liberal bias, caused the New York Times to reveal anti-terrorism programs.
Posted on 06/28/2006 4:19:50 PM PDT by SkyPilot
Washington, D.C. - A top adviser to President Bush said Wednesday that poor judgment, not liberal bias, caused the New York Times to reveal anti-terrorism programs, for which the paper should be ashamed.
President Bush walks from the Oval Office in this June 8, 2006 file photo. A top Bush advisor said poor judgment, not liberal bias, caused the New York Times to reveal anti-terrorism programs.
"It's not a matter of liberal bias - it's a matter of judgment," Michael Gerson told The Examiner in his West Wing office. "Everyone in our society, including the press, has a responsibility to the public good, to the public interest.
"And I know that there are many reporters in this town, and many news organizations, that would be very hesitant about running this story," he added.
Gerson, best known as the author of Bush's most memorable speeches, was referring to last week's disclosure of a program to track international financial transfers by suspected terrorists. The Times first published the story, prompting the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times to follow suit.
Earlier this year, the Times also published a story exposing a Bush administration program to track the international phone calls of terrorism suspects. Administration officials say such disclosures have undermined the war against terror.
"Even in the elite media, even in what people regard as the liberal media, there is a sense of restraint on issues like this, in many places," Gerson said on his last day on the job. "That should maybe shame the people who don't share it."
Earlier this week, Times Executive Editor Bill Keller said his paper had no "animus" toward the Bush administration.
In a letter to readers, Keller complained about the "angry words of conservative bloggers and TV or radio pundits who say that drawing attention to the government's anti-terror measures is unpatriotic and dangerous." He questioned "why they are drawing so much attention to the story themselves by yelling about it on the airwaves and the Internet."
bsammon@dcexaminer.com
This is a very important story for us here at FR. The NY Times is at the "Rather-CBS-GuardGate" threshold.
The GOP on the Hill sees this now as "Win-Win."
Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post is saying the rest of the MSM is about to "pile on" the NYT.
Prediction:The NYT will issue a half hearted "apology" within 72 hours.
Denial runs deep at 1600 PA Ave.
"no liberal bias...." my a$$
Bill Keller, New York Times
Rinos always give them a pass.
No Turbin?? No Beard ??
No Al'Jiz credentials ??
We should hold a protest outside his house as a form of public shaming. A lot of his neighbors may not know a traitor is in their midst.
I'm ALL for a free media...
but not at the cost of our security.
The NY Times doesn't care about our security.
Gerson is being too kind here. However, by taking the 'high road instead of lashing outrage, he is baiting the Washington press corps to take the high road' too, pitting them against their collegues-in-arms at the NYT. Very clever, lets see if they take the bait.
Piling On the New York Times With a Scoop
The Times went too far this time, and even they know it. Keller made a statement today that he respects "critics" and he is backing away from criticism he had towards those who have pointed out the treason the paper committed.
Right now, there is a war going on in the apartments and offices of the NY Times employees (who work full time for the DNC).
They are damned either way now. They do not realize they don't have any friends left.
That comment of Kellers about his critics is infuriating.
I bet he was the kid with the best and most expensive bike on the block, and bitched it was the wrong color...
But fairly typical of a cornered Rat, wouldn't you agree?
I agree. When I first read his tirade, I thought it was the biggest meltdown since Howard Dean. I still think so.
We are about to witness a major media meltdown. I am not exaggerating.
The rest of the MSM have a love/hate relationship with the New York Times. There is this weird infatuation of genuflecting at the altar of "The Old Grey Lady" and her so-called wisdom. The rest of the MSM run stories only after the NYT "blesses" them.
There is also a hatred and jealousy associated with this incest.
The MSM might be evil, but they are not stupid.
Once they realize the NYT jumped the shark on this treason (and it is treason), they will run as rats to a sinking ship. They will label the NYT as "unclean" faster than an NPR listener at a Toby Keith concert.
The Congress is AFRAID to go after The New York Times and The LA Times!!!!! Weak sisters!! Hey Congress...these people are going to get us all KILLED!
What the alternate media need is a different wire source that reports the news from a more constructive point of view. As long as they are all commenting on the
AP etc we will be drowned in negativity.
Rat or weasel.
All of Capitol Hill is full of cowards. I know this because I worked at the Pentagon and we dealt with the "Leg" team on a daily basis.
1. RULE #1: No politician wants bad publicity.
2. RULE #2: No GOP Politician get favorable publicity
3. RULE #3: Payback is a Bitch
Almost everyone I spoke to on the phone in DC today told me that the consensus is that the NYT is in very hot water and they are desperately trying to find a way out of this mess that they themselves constructed.
And wasn't the Dan Rather affair an attempt by CBS to 'scoop' the ANG story from the Slimes, who were planning to publish it some two days after 60 Minutes broadcast it? .... We all know how well THAT story turned out for Danny boy and his minions at CBS!
Looks like the Slimes have still not learned the axiom that those who ignore history are destined to repeat it.
/grin
Same difference ... both part of the rodent family
Indeed.
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