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http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/8925.html I suppose I should give the Bush gang credit. They can't govern, they can't tell the truth, they can't fight a war, they can't write a coherent budget, they can't respond to a disaster, and they can't keep the nation safe, but they sure as hell know how to coordinate a media smear of a war hero. Kudos to Rove & Co. — we've found your one skill. How ridiculous is this? Matthew Dowd, the pollster/strategist for the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign, told MSNBC's Chris Matthews that Kerry "just misspoke" and "in no way" did he think Kerry intended to insult U.S. troops. Moreover, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), whom no one would describe as a moderate, said on Hardball, "Well, of course, this is a perfect example of politics in America … The President wants the people to perceive of having maligned our troops…. I think John Kerry's right. He's making a defense of himself. He's saying, 'Look, I was not maligning the troops, I was maligning the President of the United States.'"
James Carville summarized this nicely: "Kerry botched a joke, they botched a war."
There's no great mystery here. Kerry misspoke and said something he didn't mean. But Republicans, desperate and without an agenda or vision for the future, have nothing else to say. The Bush gang, and their allies, literally want to create a massive political scandal out of a comment that didn't make any sense, and which Kerry didn't even mean to say.
Worse, the news networks treated this as if Kerry had shot a man. CNN and MSNBC devoted hours of coverage to a mistaken comment, apparently egged on by a White House which is so ashamed of its own record, it prefers to devote its energy to a verbal miscue of a man who isn't even on the ballot this year. One gets the distinct impression that the media is overcompensating — after weeks of bad news (actual bad news) for the GOP, news outlets are treating the Kerry slip as a huge deal. All in the name of "balance."
If merit dictated news coverage, what, exactly, is the story here? A senator flubbed a joke while criticizing the president, then explained what he actually meant. It's worth about two paragraphs at the bottom of an AP round-up of election coverage. Instead, the White House manufactured a scandal where none existed.
James at the Swing State Project had exactly the right idea last night.
If the GOP wants to play that game, fine. Remember this nugget, from an August 2004 Bush speech? "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
Everyone had a big laugh over Bush's verbal gaffe two years ago. Did you see John Kerry and the Democratic Party issuing press releases calling on Bush to cease his treasonous war against the citizens of the United States of America? No, because to do so would be completely ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as the sanctimonious, dishonest drivel that Tony Snow and George Bush are trying to feed into the media narrative tonight. Excellent analogy. Imagine if Dems played by GOP rules. Bush accidentally says that his administration "never stops thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people." Immediately, CNN and MSNBC show "Breaking News" updates about the president's admitted desire to hurt Americans. Bush said so himself! He can't deny it; we have the video of him confessing his own commitment to harm the United States! It must be true! When will Republicans publicly repudiate the traitorous president? How can he be trusted ever again? Why does Bush hate America?
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