Targeting Democrats

Targeting Democrats

What exactly was behind the whole Nancy Pelosi wants a big plane story? You\’ve
really got to wonder when you investigate the bottom line. Not right-wing radio\’s
bottom line, but the real truth of the matter, which has nothing to do with
what you hear on Fox \”News\” or Rush Limbaugh. Is the Pelosi plane
story an isolated situation or something that fits a pattern? You can likely
guess where I\’m going.

So I thought I\’d share this piece by Eric, because as he wrote me in his email tonight,
though I\’ll paraphrase here, it just might be worth some time to contemplate. It\’s not just about Speaker
Pelosi with the DC hack pack. The truth of the matter is that…

Beltway journalists love to mock Democrats The Pelosi story was reminiscent of the pointless 2001 press frenzy over the number of gifts the Clintons accepted as they left the White House. And about Bill Clinton\’s haircut on Air Force One that allegedly caused delays for everyday travelers at Los Angles International Airport. And how environmentalist Al Gore, we\’re told, wasted precious river water in order to produce a campaign photo-op. And how Sen. John Kerry (D-MA.) advertised his elitist tendencies by ordering green tea at a restaurant during a 2004 campaign stop. All those stories were … stupid — but kind of entertaining. Meaning, they were completely trivial pursuits that focused exclusively on image and portrayed prominent Democrats as power-hunger hypocrites, which is a news angle that remains a Beltway evergreen. Journalists adore the Democrats-are-hypocrites narrative so much that they often refuse to allow the facts get in the way of the storyline. (The Washington Post published nearly 50 references to the Clinton haircut in 1993, despite the fact government aviation records later confirmed not one single passenger was delayed at LAX.) The recent Pelosi plane commotion simply carried on that unfortunate tradition. … .. The Pelosi smear: Stupid — but kind of entertaining by Eric Boehlert

Below are some other links if you\’d like to follow this one particular farce.
But while you\’re surfing remember that this is just about Pelosi\’s plane. Eric\’s
article offers much more. You can also check out the tags at the top of this post, because when Pelosi came into office and then went on to back Murtha, the corporate hack pack was merciless.

Now imagine what you could find if you went back to Bill
Clinton\’s days and investigated all the ways the DC hack pack targeted a Democratic
president. Why does this matter? Imagine another Democratic president and you\’ll
get the picture.

Double
standard

Pelosi: I\’ll fly commercial

White
House Defends Pelosi Plane Request

Yet another
article from ABC

House
Speaker Pelosi accuses Pentagon of double-standard towards first female Speaker,
leaking lies about her

White
House defends Speaker Pelosi…No really!

FACT
CHECK: Washington Times Publishes False Report On Pelosi\’s Use Of Military
Aircraft

CNN Champions
Pelosi Smear, Covers False Washington Times Story Six Days Straight

Media did not challenge
claims by GOP staff about use of military aircraft

THE
PLANE, THE PLANE