David Broder: Is This Thing On?

Appearing to be about as ready to write an Op Ed on press leaks as Cynthia McKinney is for press conferences and identity checks, the Washington Post's David Broder swung for the White House fence today but he struck out.

Referring to the recent terminations of employment for Mary McCarthy and White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, Broder writes:

Neither incident is entirely clear in its origins. McClellan said he asked to be relieved, but his stepping down was part of a continuing reshuffle ordered by the new White House chief of staff, Josh Bolten, who had made it clear he regarded press relations as a trouble area.

But Broder then goes on to write:

That is why McClellan suffered both burnout and a loss of credibility in his job.

So, which is it, Mr. Broder? McClellan was burned out and with no credibility, so he was let go in a manner which didn't reflect poorly on him, or you aren't sure why he was let go, but demeaning him to once again strike out at Bush, well, all's fair, I suppose?

Obviously you aren't suggesting he should have been kept on if he was burned out and no longer had credibility, are you? Should the Bush administration have taken out a front page ad in the WaPo to declare McClellan, burned out, not credible and gone - signed, President Bush ...?

Or, how about like most of us read or heard, Bolten said if anyone wanted to leave, now is the time. And McClellan ... left. Heavens, you are reacting as though he went duck hunting with Cheney, or something. And, oh, by the way:

The tension between the legitimate claims of secrecy and the need for public accountability remains, however, and in many respects has grown worse. The main reason is the reluctance of this president and his administration to accept a broad and continuing responsibility to keep the public and the press informed on the reasons for the policies they have adopted.

Policies? You mean like a David Gregory hounding McClellan over an unfortunate but ultimately silly hunting accident until McClellan all but lost it? Is that the type of policy pressure you think led to McClellan leaving? And that was Bush's fault? Why? For allowing the VP to go hunting at all?

The fact is the people Scott McClellan had to deal with everyday are seen by most objective observers as a ridiculous lot of self-aggrandizing buffoons. Who would want to deal with them for the rest of this four years after Scott McClellan's fine service of the past?

For the first few days after the action was announced, the agency and the White House let stand the impression that McCarthy had been a source for the stories about secret U.S. detention centers in Europe that won a Pulitzer Prize for The Post's Dana Priest on April 17.

Which story? The one from 2002 or 2005? But I digress. No, Mr. Broder, as usual, the press went crazy with the story just as they did when they were holding babies and crying for hundreds of people doomed to violence, riots and depravity which never existed in the Super Dome in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The question, Mr. Broder, isn't when is President Bush going to start being responsible to you. The real question is, when is the press going to start being responsible, whether to us, the American people, or for their actions in general, or for anything else? Because, just as Bob at CY points out, and most following the story already know, your Op Ed is woefully misinformed.

So, let's discuss accountability, Mr. Broder. The post could start by publishing only corrections from now until hell freezes over and I suspect you'd still be behind Bush on that score.

Comments

[MrsLevy]

"Must kill the messenger."

"Must kill the messenger."

"Must kill the messenger."

"Must kill the messenger."

"Must kill the messenger."

"Must kill the messenger."

"Must kill the messenger."

"Must kill the messenger."

"Must kill the messenger."

"Must kill the messenger."

Dan, you are too easy.

MrsLevy

[Dan]

Obviously, Ms. Levy, you have no heartfelt appreciation for the fine art of public political discourse. So, eef-off and die! ; )) ha

[hobo]

IMO, (once more for those who are slow), IMO, McClellen has been looking for an out for some time now. He, like Powell (as in Colin), has literally run out of gas for what to do with all the crap the number one [wannabe] shogun in the White House has been piping out. I suspected a few months ago that McClellens spin began to poop out trying to produce a convincing story of [whatever] happened. My thoughts are that a person of true integrity can't last in such an environment for very long.

[tester]

I'm not sure what is the worse job, being the president or being the spokesperson.

[aurora]

Cheney was drunk as a skunk. We all know it.

The press-gaggle was a joke. A reporter would ask a serious question and Scoty would repy with gibberous and call on a different reporter who would say, "Why don't you answer the previous question?" Then Scotty would reply, "I did answer."
Reporter, "No you didn't."
Scotty, "Yes I did."
Reporter, "Why don't you just answer the question?"
Scotty, "I already answered."
Reporter, "I'll ask the question again..."
Scotty, "I'm not going to reply to that because I already answered that question.
Reporter, "No you didn't."

What a joke. Now they have some moron from FOX NEWS the official voice of the Republican Party running the press gaggle. I can see it now, every serious question will get moronic replies like, "That's the kind of question I would expect from the librul hate-american crowd, next question."

[rwilymz]

"...Scoty would repy with gibberous..."

Gibberous?

How ironic.