The Media War Corollary of Why Corporations Donate to Both Parties Before Elections
Dear Editor [of the New York Times],
Having read your paper carefully each day for over two years, I've become interested in the news you find "Fit to Print" in a given day. Let's take Sunday for example. I was pleased with the editorial taking a stand against the upcoming game plan for Iraq, even if your concerns for opposing war were not all the same as mine. I also appreciated former President Carter's reflection on "just war" criteria, as well as comments about the first strike being felt by the United Nations. Then there was the considerable, may I say surprising, coverage of Agent Coleen Rowley (see "Agent Who Saw 9/11 Threat Says F.B.I. Remains Ill-Prepared"). You made me smile on Sunday.
On Tuesday, though, you feature the silhouette of an F-14 Tomcat against a lovely lavender sunrise or -set. (Once the oil wells are burning, skies won't be so pretty.) Just right of the photo the heading reads: "U.S. Says U.N. Could Repeat Errors of 90's." (Because government spokespersons conflate Kosovo and Iraq—very different situations—it's ok to lead with this?) Next, we have the results of your poll with CBS purporting to show movement among the American people toward a war-without-the-U.N. position. How well the aforementioned items accompany the beautiful (heroic) photo!
What a difference a day can make! Did President Bush call the publisher on Sunday evening? Today it appears that the editorial staff are prepared to ride a few of the thousand or so, taxpayer-supplied missiles with Saddam's name on them to Baghdad (as Slim Pickens's character felt patriotically inclined to straddle that nuclear warhead in
Dr. Strangelove). Talk about hedging your bets!
The most egregious item in Tuesday's paper is the poll. Having worked for a marketing services firm, I know all about polls and won't bore you by reiterating what you know as well. The only caveat I'd like to raise is this: of the scientifically culled informants, did you ask any if they thought Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11? I rest my case.
Regards,
posted by Paul at 5:34 PM
