Minister of Science and Chief Protector of the Faith

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

White House Approval of Torture Story Being Treated With Kid Gloves

 

I'm sure that anyone who has been following the story about how the White House specifically approved the usage of torture on detainees is aware of the tepid and stand-offish nature of the reporting on the revelation.

Last Wednesday, ABC News reported that, beginning in 2002, top officials in the White House specifically approved torture techniques, including waterboarding. On Friday, President Bush admitted that he, too, was aware of and approved the discussions. Yet the White House press corps has yet to ask the White House spokesmen a single question on the issue, in the three briefings held since the story broke. (Luckily, reporters had time to cover the Little League tee-ball all-star game and the President’s weekend plans to clear brush at his Crawford ranch.)

Dan Froomkin writes in the Washington Post this morning that the mainstream media is treating ABC's torture story as old news: "There was no mention of Bush's admission in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal or the Los Angeles Times. There was nothing on the major wire services. And nothing on CNN, CBS or NBC." Think Progress


The last time that I remember a media lockdown on a story this important was the "Operation Iraqi Freedom Document Portal", when Bush gave the secrets of building an atomic bomb not only to Iran, but to every evil empire in the world. The story lasted from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. (This ridiculous exchange actually took place on the November 3 edition of MSNBC News Live.) I still feel like everybody has forgotten the story, I fear that we shall just forget about White House approved torture as well.
 

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13 Comments:

At Tue Apr 15, 07:20:00 AM, Blogger Dave The Angry Rhode Islander said...

As you point out, our "media" is complicit in the crimes of our president and his administration. We are no better than the USSR was and the parallels between the two forms of government are getting remarkably similar. Torture, secret police, gulags, surveilence on citizens, and on and on.

 
At Tue Apr 15, 07:52:00 AM, Blogger Jess Wundrun said...

There's a petition from the ACLU at my place.

It's a small gesture, but it's something.

 
At Tue Apr 15, 08:16:00 AM, Blogger Randal Graves said...

I can't wait to read/see SOME!SAY!OBAMA!IS!A!MARXIST! 14,327 times in the next few days.

 
At Tue Apr 15, 08:59:00 AM, Blogger Claire said...

I actually first saw this story at Jess' place. How typical is that?

 
At Tue Apr 15, 09:05:00 AM, Blogger Spirula said...

Ramen! to Dave the angry Rhode Islander's comment on complicity.

MSM:"Oh look, flowers!"

 
At Tue Apr 15, 10:23:00 AM, Blogger Dean Wormer said...

Obama is a Marxist? Harpo or Chico?

Hunter wrote a great diary yesterday at Daily Kos basically pointing out how the t.v. talking heads are mind-numbingly stupid. This is just another example of them being distracted by a shiny thing.

 
At Tue Apr 15, 02:16:00 PM, Blogger dguzman said...

I guess maybe they are "distracted by a shiny thing" and they're repelled from covering any legitimate stories about this corrupt shitbomb we call Bushco because they don't want to smell the poo.

 
At Tue Apr 15, 02:29:00 PM, Blogger mwb said...

Neo-Con Heather #1: The White House never authorized torture. Spirited fraternity pranks at best. Clearly your hatred for America has overwhelmed your reason!

;-)

 
At Tue Apr 15, 02:32:00 PM, Blogger Dave The Angry Rhode Islander said...

Spirula, to be fair give that ramen to Zaius as he lampooned it so well in his post. Anyway, pho is my preferred noodle dish of choice.

 
At Tue Apr 15, 03:27:00 PM, Blogger Ubermilf said...

Seriously, if you want the slightest chance of reading an actual news story, read the Saturday paper.

Notice the difference in the stories printed when they think you're not reading.

 
At Tue Apr 15, 05:46:00 PM, Blogger Dave The Angry Rhode Islander said...

Ubermilf - I couldn't read your post as I was completely distracted by your picture, which is amazing. The only thing that could possibly be better than boobs with ice cream would be boobs with ice cream with bacon.

 
At Tue Apr 15, 08:52:00 PM, Blogger Distributorcap said...

dave LOL

look folks didnt you know that fat models, bowling scores, hillary doing shots, the elitist marxist, and of course the latest dish on american idol are much much much more important that torture

again the McCain-who-called-his-own-wife-the-c-word just said again he was against torture, after he voted for it....

 
At Wed Apr 16, 06:08:00 AM, Blogger Dr. Zaius said...

Dave The Angry Rhode Islander: That's not true! We are indeed better than the USSR! We have mmore chocolate cake, for example.

Jess Wundrun: I have signed it! Everyone else should too.

Randal Graves: Ha! It will read more like this: "(some!say!)OBAMA!IS!A!MARXIST!"

CDP: Yes, I first heard the story on the internet as well. It's very sad.

Spirula: Indeed! Both governments will drive you to drink vodka, as well.

Dean Wormer: Even the Daily Show covered the story. It's beyond belief.

Dguzman: "...Because they don't want to smell the poo..." The corporate media overlords act as a bathroom deodorizer for the administration.

MWB: Yes, and the media acts as the prom dance band "Big Fun"!

Dave The Angry Rhode Islander: Thank you, I love noodles! They go so well with chocolate cake.

Übermilf: I know, real news is always dumped on Friday afternoon. But this story broke on Wednesday!

Dave The Angry Rhode Islander: Oh! Two scoops please! ;o)

Distributorcap: I think that McCain's wife is a c-word, too. **creepy** Those that think that McCain is against torture have not listened to his speeches. That's torture!

 

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