Broder Spun By the Spinners
by geri
Thu Oct 14th, 2004 at 18:46:43 GMT
I went to the Wash. Post web site this morning and found an early edition of David Broder's column mistakenly linked beneath the Tom Shales headline. (This has since been fixed.)
The difference between Broder's first version of debate analysis and a later edition, arrives in the form of a negative slant on the Cheney quote, which he picked up from the spinmeisters.
In the early edition, he references the question on gay 'choice' with no strong reaction to the Cheney line:
"Kerry, citing Vice President Cheney's lesbian daughter as an example, said he believes sexual preference is a given and the proposed amendment is unnecessary and unwise."
In the second version of the article (properly linked from the Broder headline), all his original words remain, except, 2 changes are made. Look at the spin he has inadvertently picked up:
"Kerry said he believes sexual orientation is a given and the proposed amendment is unnecessary and unwise. But his awkward reference to the lesbian daughter of Vice President Cheney was quickly condemned by Lynne Cheney as "a cheap and tawdry political trick."
The second change he made may have been an effort to be "fair and balanced" (If I criticise Kerry, I need to criticize Bush somewhere). He added this paragraph toward the end of the column:
One awkward moment for Bush came when Schieffer asked if the minimum wage is due for an increase. Kerry jumped on the issue, saying that it is the lowest in purchasing power it has been in 50 years and promising to "fight tooth and nail" to raise it. Bush mumbled a line about supporting a GOP alternative and then switched the subject to education, offering it as the long-term solution to the problems of employment and wages.
It reminded me of the Dean concession speech in Iowa.
None of the reporters in the Val Air ballroom that night reported, or even commented, on Dean's scream. But, looking at later versions of their stories you will see 'They'd Been Spun' by the larger web of negativity that the cable news networks were spinning.
Posted by Hannah at October 14, 2004 05:31 PM