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1. Olbermann Plugs Dean's Attack on 'Authoritarian' Conservatives On Monday's Countdown, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann hosted former Nixon White House counsel and frequent Bush administration critic John Dean to promote his latest book attacking conservatives, titled Conservatives Without Conscience, which the Countdown host labeled "an extraordinary document." Olbermann, who has a long history of bashing President Bush's tactics in the war on terrorism, provided Dean with a sympathetic, non-challenging forum to argue that modern conservatives are moving the Republican party toward "authoritarianism" as Dean tagged some conservatives, specifically George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as having an "authoritarian personality," and labeled 23 percent of the population as "right-wing authoritarian followers" who are willing to "march over the cliff." Olbermann not only made his latest reference to George Orwell's 1984, but he also found relevance in bringing up Nazi Germany as he wondered if there had been similarity in the "psychological principles" in "Germany and Italy in the 30s," and, quoting a passage from Dean's book, brought up the possibility that conservatives might intentionally "provoke potential terrorists" in an effort to "maintain influence and control of the presidency." 2. Newsweek's Man in Baghdad: Iraq 'Doomed,' Bush 'Manages the News' Rod Nordland, the chief foreign correspondent for Newsweek magazine and their Baghdad bureau chief from 2003 to 2005, gave an interview to Foreign Policy magazine in which he declared: "It's a lot worse over here [in Iraq] than is reported. The administration does a great job of managing the news." He claimed individual reporters have been "blacklisted" because the military wasn't happy with their stories while they were embedded. He also suggested many in the military don't want to see how awful it is in Iraq because they're wishful thinkers, they don't want to see a "doomed enterprise," and are "victims of their own propaganda." 3. Philadelphia Inquirer: MRC 'Lies,' Makes 'Blatantly False' Charge The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday devoted an editorial to denouncing a MRC press release from last Thursday in which MRC President Brent Bozell, in criticizing the New York Times for disclosing a U.S. program to monitor financial transactions by terrorists, contended that "the track record proves the New York Times and [Executive Editor] Bill Keller are not 'neutral' but grossly biased against the U.S.-led war against terrorism." The Inquirer thundered: "Sometimes lies should be called what they are." The paper fretted that "his statement was part of an anti-Times frenzy whipped up by Republican strategists, then echoed ad nauseam by Pavlovian talk shows and blogs" and marveled: "What's amazing about Bozell's statement is that he sent it to hundreds of journalists' in-boxes, even though it is so blatantly false." The editorial, which attributed the criticism of the NY Times to election-year politics and mocked the idea that there's a liberal media, ridiculed the MRC, claiming that for the MRC "bashing the Times (and journalists generally) is a hobby." No, it's a full-time job. Olbermann Plugs Dean's Attack on 'Authoritarian' Conservatives On Monday's Countdown, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann hosted former Nixon White House counsel and frequent Bush administration critic John Dean to promote his latest book attacking conservatives, titled Conservatives Without Conscience, which the Countdown host labeled "an extraordinary document." Olbermann, who has a long history of bashing President Bush's tactics in the war on terrorism, provided Dean with a sympathetic, non-challenging forum to argue that modern conservatives are moving the Republican party toward "authoritarianism" as Dean tagged some conservatives, specifically George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as having an "authoritarian personality," and labeled 23 percent of the population as "right-wing authoritarian followers" who are willing to "march over the cliff." Olbermann not only made his latest reference to George Orwell's 1984, but he also found relevance in bringing up Nazi Germany as he wondered if there had been similarity in the "psychological principles" in "Germany and Italy in the 30s," and, quoting a passage from Dean's book, brought up the possibility that conservatives might intentionally "provoke potential terrorists" in an effort to "maintain influence and control of the presidency." [This item, by Brad Wilmouth, was posted late Monday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]
The Amazon.com page for Dean's book provides this summary, from Booklist, of Dean's premise which Olbermann found so compelling: Amazon's page: www.amazon.com Olbermann began his interview with Dean discussing a recent story about the criticism of the Bush administration by Republican Congressman Peter Hoekstra over the NSA spying controversy. After queuing up Dean to claim former Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, and author of Conscience of a Conservative, would decry the modern Republican party's course, Dean moved on to describe a study by various (unidentified) researchers who claimed many conservatives "fit with the authoritarian personality." Dean contended that a number conservatives "march in lockstep when they get the word from the authority they are expected to follow." The Countdown host then proceeded to bring up Nazi Germany and Italy's fascism of the 30s: "A lot of [the academic work] is very unsettling. It deals with psychological principles that are frightening and that may have faced other nations at other times in Germany and Italy in the 30s coming to mind in particular. How does it apply now? And to what degree should it scare us? And to what degree is it something that might still be forestalled?" Olbermann admitted to his overuse of "Orwellian analogies" as he compared al-Qaeda to the Two Minutes Hate from 1984 which served as "an enemy to coalesce around or the whole thing falls apart." Olbermann showed fascination with a passage from Dean's book which suggested that "neoconservatives and many Republicans" might be willing to deliberately "provoke potential terrorists" in order "to maintain influence and control of the presidency." Olbermann continued: "That's ominous not just in the sense that authoritarians involved in conservatism and now Republicanism would politicize counterterror here, which we've already argued that point on many occasions. But are you actually saying here they would set up, encourage terrorism from other countries to set them up as a bogeyman to have again that group to hate here, that group to more importantly afraid of here?" Olbermann went on to argue that "this all seems to require not merely venality or immorality, but a kind of amorality where morals don't enter into it at all. We're right, so anything we do to preserve our process, our power, even if it by itself is wrong, it's right in the greater sense." After Olbermann asked Dean whom he meant to label as "authoritarian figures," the Countdown host even voiced agreement with Dean's claim that Cheney and Bush are both authoritarian as Olbermann agreed, "Yeah." Olbermann then implied there was a need for hope that either Bush's followers would "wise up" and stop their "lockstep salute," or that they, apparently referring to Bush and other conservatives in the government, would turn out to be "fanatics" which will cause them to "screw up." Olbermann considered it to be a "lockstep salute" for Bush supporters to claim "of course there's WMD, of course there are terrorists, of course there's al-Qaeda, of course everything is the way the President says it." After inviting Dean to compare the Watergate activities of the Nixon administration to the Bush administration, Olbermann, bolstering Dean's credibility by referring to him as a "historian" and "a big part of history," wondered if America is "facing a legitimate threat to the concept of democracy." In conclusion, Olbermann gave his approval to Dean's book: "It's an extraordinary document." Below is a transcript of the portions of Olbermann's in-studio interview with Dean during which they discussed Dean's book, from the July 10 Countdown show:
Olbermann: "It's interesting there was so much personal in that letter from Mr. Hoekstra to Mr. Bush, that it seemed that there was as much offense taken that he personally, Mr. Hoekstra did not know what Mr. Bush's people were doing as any violation of law there. Does this sort of segue us into the topic of the book, that there's way too much personal going on here rather than politically professional?"
Newsweek's Man in Baghdad: Iraq 'Doomed,' Bush 'Manages the News' Rod Nordland, the chief foreign correspondent for Newsweek magazine and their Baghdad bureau chief from 2003 to 2005, gave an interview to Foreign Policy magazine in which he declared: "It's a lot worse over here [in Iraq] than is reported. The administration does a great job of managing the news." He claimed individual reporters have been "blacklisted" because the military wasn't happy with their stories while they were embedded. He also suggested many in the military don't want to see how awful it is in Iraq because they're wishful thinkers, they don't want to see a "doomed enterprise," and are "victims of their own propaganda." [This item, by Tim Graham, was posted Monday morning on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] (If you guessed that the Left was thrilled by Nordland's remarks, you'd be right. I found it as the top headline at Buzzflash.com, a seriously Bush-hating left-wing site.)
For the July 5-posted interview: web1.foreignpolicy.com
When asked how often reporters get out of the "Green Zone," Nordland said restrictions are "very severe," and the military doesn't tolerate criticism well:
The brief interview concluded with an inquiry into whether "journalists and the military seeing two different pictures in Iraq." Nordland said yes, the military people are deluding themselves: This is really nothing new for Nordland. He was strenuously comparing Iraq to Vietnam as a Keith Olbermann guest in 2004. See the September 24, 2004 CyberAlert: www.mrc.org In the summer of 2003, he insisted on NBC that "thoughtful, better educated" Iraqis would not kill Saddam, but put him on trial. See this CyberAlert: www.mrc.org As if the media would cover that fairly: www.mrc.org
Philadelphia Inquirer: MRC 'Lies,' Makes 'Blatantly False' Charge The Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday devoted an editorial to denouncing a MRC press release from last Thursday in which MRC President Brent Bozell, in criticizing the New York Times for disclosing a U.S. program to monitor financial transactions by terrorists, contended that "the track record proves the New York Times and [Executive Editor] Bill Keller are not 'neutral' but grossly biased against the U.S.-led war against terrorism." The Inquirer thundered: "Sometimes lies should be called what they are." The paper fretted that "his statement was part of an anti-Times frenzy whipped up by Republican strategists, then echoed ad nauseam by Pavlovian talk shows and blogs" and marveled: "What's amazing about Bozell's statement is that he sent it to hundreds of journalists' in-boxes, even though it is so blatantly false." The editorial, which attributed the criticism of the NY Times to election-year politics and mocked the idea that there's a liberal media, ridiculed the MRC, claiming that for the MRC "bashing the Times (and journalists generally) is a hobby." No, it's a full-time job. The text of the MRC's July 6 press release, "NYT's KELLER ADMITS MEDIA NOT 'NEUTRAL' ON WAR: NYT Leak Sparks Lawsuit and Investigation of U.S. Anti-Terrorist Program": Since publishing a highly controversial story about a secret U.S. program that monitors financial transactions as a tool to fight terrorism, New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller has defended the newspaper's actions, claiming that "one man's breach of security is another man's public relations." Mr. Keller has also now admitted that the liberal press is not "neutral in this war on terror." Indeed, the track record proves that the New York Times and Bill Keller are not "neutral" but grossly biased against the U.S.-led war against terrorism. And now, thanks to their liberal biases, the NYT's story on the anti-terrorist financial monitoring program has generated the following damage to the United States: - a federal class-action lawsuit against the program, alleging violations of financial privacy laws; - complaints filed in 32 countries alleging that the program violated European and Asian privacy laws; - and, the Belgian prime minister is calling for a Justice Ministry investigation into whether the program, based in Belgium, violated Belgian law. "If the New York Times wanted to undermine the U.S. war against terrorism and entangle our government and national security resources in protracted legal battles, instead of in battling America's enemies, the New York Times has succeeded," said Media Research Center President Brent Bozell. "Mr. Keller said it himself: The press is not neutral in the war against terrorism. The liberal media are opposed to this war and will do anything, including disclosing U.S. national security secrets, to stop the war and hand America's enemies a victory. "The Times's actions are despicable. It's time for a complete investigation of the New York Times and, if warranted, prosecution of the newspaper, its editors and its publisher." END of Reprint The press release is posted at: www.mrc.org Below is an excerpt from the July 9 editorial, "Times' bashers are reckless and wrong," followed by a retort, from the MRC's Tim Graham, posted by Romenesko. Sometimes lies should be called what they are. "Since publishing a highly controversial story about a secret U.S. program that monitors financial transactions as a tool to fight terrorism, New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller... has admitted that the liberal press is not 'neutral' in this war on terror. "Indeed, the track record proves the New York Times and Bill Keller are not 'neutral' but grossly biased against the U.S.-led war against terrorism." So fulminated conservative propagandist Brent Bozell of the Media Research Center last week. His statement was part of an anti-Times frenzy whipped up by Republican strategists, then echoed ad nauseam by Pavlovian talk shows and blogs. For these folks, bashing the Times (and journalists generally) is a hobby. This time, though, the rhetoric has ratcheted up beyond reason: accusing Keller of a heinous crime, treason. One talk-show host talked of sending the editor to the gas chamber. What's amazing about Bozell's statement is that he sent it to hundreds of journalists' in-boxes, even though it is so blatantly false. Here's what Keller and Los Angeles Times editor Dean Baquet actually wrote jointly in their papers July 1: "Make no mistake, journalists have a large and personal stake in the country's security. We live and work in cities that have been tragically marked as terrorist targets. Reporters and photographers from both our papers braved the collapsing towers to convey the horror to the world. "We have correspondents today alongside troops on the front lines in Iraq....We, and the people who work for us, are not neutral in the struggle against terrorism." The meaning is clear: Journalists -- who thrive and matter in free societies, but are prosecuted and vanish in authoritarian ones -- do not want Islamofascism to triumph. The controversy is not really about that, but this: how best to ensure that America endures as a nation upholding liberty and free speech. Should we have a government of secrets, surveillance and fear-mongering, one that Vladimir Putin could love? Or a government that tells its citizens most of what it is up to and stands ready to be held accountable for its deeds, one James Madison would applaud? OK. That's strong.... But how can citizens of a democracy debate such principles and nuances if they have no clue what their government is doing in their name? If it were up to President Bush and Vice President Cheney, you would know nothing about flaws in WMD intelligence, torture in American-run prisons or NSA snooping. Journalists exposed all that.... Here's another key point: Despite the screeching in the partisan blogosphere, these stories endangered no lives. They did not tell al-Qaeda anything it didn't already know. Richard A. Clarke, who led counterterrorism efforts for several presidents, confirms that point. Indeed, when it suited its mood, this administration has trumpeted its efforts to pierce terrorists' financial networks. The Times story actually reinforced a message the United States wants to send al-Qaeda: The swift, global ease of electronic banking is closed to you now. To move money, you must use slow, awkward means. Given all that, why this sudden, fierce assault on journalists? For an answer, look not to Baghdad but to Gallup. The polls portend a rough Election Day for Republicans in November. Being held accountable by voters for incompetence, arrogance, abuse of power, and greed is a scary prospect. The Karl Rove playbook for political jams advises: "Hype a villain to distract voters with fear." Can't use Osama anymore, because that would remind voters he's still a free man, as the Taliban rebound. Can't use Saddam. Can't use that hardy standby, "tax and spend" liberals; the GOP for years now has run the deficit-ridden, spendaholic show in Washington. Can't just blame "liberal media" bias, not when Fox News is No. 1 and Ann Coulter tops best-seller lists. So, up the ante: "Bill Keller is a traitor." This is false. This is mean. This is reckless and over the line. It should be denounced by any American who prizes the First Amendment and the ideals of civil, democratic discourse. END of Excerpt
For the editorial in full: www.philly.com The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial is a classic example of how the media elite arrogantly perceive themselves to be the First Amendment Personified, and any attack on them is an attack on the First Amendment, when attacking the press is part of the First Amendment. Does the liberal media elite of this country really mean to imply that the First Amendment should be abridged when someone says the New York Times is a public menace instead of a public service? The liberal media elite assumes the word of Bill Keller descends from Mount Olympus, and that no one can question his newspaper's quite obvious political agenda. No, they are not "neutral" in the War on Terrorism. No one would say they're for terrorist victory. But they have found large chunks of this war to be illegal, unconstitutional, unacceptable, reckless, repulsive, discriminatory, and most importantly, emanating from an administration they paint as a rogue regime that has no check or balance against its excesses â€" except for the "thoughtful, reasonable," utterly nonpartisan New York Times. That's a nice myth if you can sell it. The Inquirer is cynical to assume that this "sudden, fierce assault" is entirely focused on election politics. The MRC exposes liberal bias on every work day, even in lame-duck periods and off-year summer doldrums. And the line that Fox News is "No. 1" is a lame attempt to say the liberal bias issue is moot. Surely, the Inquirer isn't so addled they think that Fox News has higher Nielsen ratings than ABC, CBS, or NBC. Finally, the MRC does not attack media bias as a "hobby." Outraged conservatives have long supported us to the point where it's a full-time job. END of Reprint Graham's take is posted at: poynter.org
-- Brent Baker
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