Conspiracy Alert: The White House statement that never was, but it is.
Posted by ALmod on June 10, 2009
Okay, so this is kind of a response to this blog post (h/t to The Snake Pit). It popped up on my RSS feed, and it got my attention.
Before I begin, let me just say that this particular blogger could easily be grouped with those who broke the hero-shot non-scandal– which I promptly made fun of. When you take a look at his typical fare, it pretty much falls in line with what Bob McCarty and Michelle Malkin are pumping out.
Now, I will give the writer that, at the time of this post being written, he is correct in that the release does not appear on the White House website. Does this spell conspiracy? Not exactly. Some press releases are distributed to certain media outlets, some are televised, and some are distributed through electronic feed. If something was distributed to the major news outlets but not placed on the feed or website just yet, well it wouldn’t be the first time that something like that had happened on the White House website or any other website for that matter.
Do I agree that the matter was handled differently than the Tiller murder? Yes. Do I agree that the statement came later than it should have? Yes. Do I think it shows that President Obama “disrespects” or “DOESN’T care about his troops” or “DOESN’T appreciate his troops”? No. Particularly since it’s not unusual for any president to be occasionally late with a statement– particularly this one and not just on this matter. Besides, there are worse things that he could have done that would have been far more disrespectful to dead soldiers than taking a few days to release a statemtent. But depending on which way you lean politically, the question of respect is a matter of opinion.
Did the media report differently on the two issues. Yes, and they should have. They were, in fact, two totally different issues that should have been handled differently. Whether or not they media did a good job of that or not is another matter of opinion, and it depends on who you read and consider to be your media source. Either way, the president has no control over how the mainstream media covers these things, as no public official ever should.
The part that is a matter of fact is whether or not the White House released a statement. Did they or didn’t they? It’s as clear cut as that, and the writer says that they didn’t. There’s the fact in this posting, and whether or not he got it right is going to heavily play into whether or not the rest should probably be considered to be credible analysis of the president’s actions. So on the author’s suggestion, both AP and CNN came up with the exact same lie at the exact same time and participated in a conspiracy to cover up Obama’s failure to release a statement. At face value, the suggestion already sounds absurd.
But then I also look to Fox News for my media “checks and balances.” Leaning heavily to the right, Fox News would be and should be the first to jump on any perceived conspiracies regarding such a matter. But as it turns out, Fox News reported on the same statement. So now according to the writer’s suggestion, CNN and AP both reported on a statement that doesn’t exist, and Fox News is helping them in their conspiracy to make Obama look good. Let me repeat that. Fox News is part of a conspiracy to make Obama avoid embarassment. Tell me when that starts to sound a bit off.
To the writer’s credit, he did include a half-sentence to suggest that Obama “is playing favorites with whom he sends his statements.” It’s not so much a matter of that so much as when you want to get something out, it’s not unusual to fax it to a few larger news outlets and then let it spread out from those sources. And it’s quite possible that the statement will be posted on the website (the source of the press release feed, to which I am also a subscriber) but simply hasn’t been yet. It could be as simple as an oversight made by any number of people, but none of that makes this a conspiracy.
CJ said
The President released another statement publicly through email and on WhiteHouse.gov about the killing of the security guard at the Smithsonian today by a Christian extremist nutcase, but still no release about the killing of Private Long by a Muslim extremist nutcase.
ALmod said
And yet, CJ, while I understand your frustration with this being handled differently, it is STILL not proof that a statement was never released on the other attack as you insinuate. It’s just simply not a mass conspiracy, and if it was, Fox News certainly would not be in on it. Even if they were conspiring to cover for the president on a matter, to waste such time and energy for evil plotting over something as simple as a statement of condolence would be just plain silly.
Again, as I stated and as you yourself implied, there are various ways to release a statement, and it’s quite possible that this one was just sent to the major media outlets– of which you are not considered to be one. And again, it wouldn’t be the first time for any president (or even a CEO) to do things this way. It wouldn’t be the first time that it took the president a few days to release a statement, either.
Does the president have half-wit, hair-brained moments? You betcha! We can talk all day about that idiotic (and thankfully abandoned) idea to have injured combat vets pay for their own treatment. We can talk all day about the just-as-absurd idea to pass a national sales tax. But when you waste time and energy trying to come up with conspiracies that don’t exist, you make yourself a source that people will take less seriously on the issues that do exist. And the fact that folks are taking opposition to the president less and less seriously makes this president a very dangerous man. Don’t help him out.
BrokeSnake said
My particular issue with this is there has not been any public statement made to provide for the security concerns of people, not withstanding any respect due to a uniformed member of the Armed Services who was gunned down just because he was in uniform. I do contract work for the sector and nothing has come down through the channels about any sort of enhance security level or standing perhaps because it has been overshadowed for some reason in the White House’s to do list. This is what is unacceptable to me.
CJ said
I interviewed a Senior White House official this afternoon over the phone and he can’t find any public release either. He’s “sure they sent one out, but me and Gibbs were overseas when this happened” and doesn’t know why the statement wasn’t released through normal channels, if at all.
When I asked him to provide me with the official statement, all he could do is link to Google’s AP story where the statement was published. I don’t believe this is a conspiracy by any means. I think it’s a President and staff that simply don’t have the troops’ best interests at heart. We’re supposed to die for our country.
ALmod said
CJ
ALmod said
CJ, just as I mistakenly created a response and hit the “submit comment” button a little early, I can see how mistakes can be made. But I fail to see how any failure (if one was made at all) to make a public statement of condolences means that the president and staff “don’t have the troops’ best interests at heart.” If that’s the conditions for such a claim, then the Bush team would have overstepped that boundary LONG ago. How many troops died under his watch where he failed to release a White House statement bearing the names of each and every one?
A senior White House official (conveniently unnamed) is not the only source of information, and again, it’s quite possible that something was just faxed to major news channels. Nit picking over how something was released instead of just acknowledging it exists makes you seem desperate, makes me want to take you less seriously, and again, it helps the president become more and more dangerous as I can’t take criticism of him seriously. Please just quit helping him.
Snake, the reason why there was no increased security concerns is because this guy acted as a “lone wolf”. When someone acts out on their own, and there is no evidence toward an organized effort, then there’s no need to spread further fear and panic with increased security measures.
BrokeSnake said
Come on now, increased “panic”. I can’t buy that. This is a legitimate security concern for uniformed personnel CONUS. There should be a chain of command emphasized release of information that should start in the White House to prevent future incidents of this type. Proaction not reaction.
CJ said
ALmod, how often are Soldiers killed in the United States by extremist Islamic fundamentalists? This isn’t an every day occurrence. Our troops should feel safe and protected at home. I understand and don’t expect press releases every time a troop is killed in Iraq. It would be nice, but doesn’t make much sense. I don’t even expect statement when Soldiers commit suicide, are killed in car accidents, get shot in a random act of violence, etc. But, when a declared enemy of this country attacks our military within our own borders and the President sees fit to release statement about baby killers, I absolutely expect a statement.
But, we’re getting off course because according to the AP, a statement WAS released. Where was it? When was it sent out? To whom was it sent? If it was an official press release as the AP suggests, why isn’t it posted on WhiteHouse.gov with all the other press releases? These are legitimate questions about our media and Executive Branch of government.
ALmod said
How so do you believe it to be a legitimate security concern elsewhere? Do you think that this was part of a larger attack that is any greater than any normal threat by Muslim extremists? If not, then why on earth would you need more security? Do you think that the attack last week on the Holocaust Museam means that the Birmingham Civil Rights Museam should have more security? Why do you think those secruity levels should have been raised on a national level rather than on a state/local level?
The reason this particular situation made the news is because it is rare. If it is so rare that we have fewer people dying to such attacks than to, say, suicide or lightening strikes, then it seems to me that we’re doing a pretty good job keeping folks protected as is. One incident with no real organized effort isn’t enough to make me think there’s a major hole here (or a need to further strip away our civil liberties while using “security” as an excuse).
“ALmod, how often are Soldiers killed in the United States by extremist Islamic fundamentalists? This isn’t an every day occurrence.”
CJ, that’s precisely my point to Snake in the above. Statistically speaking, you are more likely to die of suicide or the flu in the United States than from a terrorist attack. That includes in 2001. Of course, his concern with our continued security against such attacks implies that maybe you are wrong in how rare it is. The two of you should really talk.
Perhaps we have our own measure of what is absolutely expected. You expect a press release for not every soldier killed, but one for the events which YOU deem to be appropriate with no real measure of standard– meaning that if it hadn’t been this incident you’d have probably found some random other to complain about. I’m not so concerned with a formal press release, but I do believe that letters of condolences to family members of a war you started should at the very least be signed rather than mass produced and never even thought about. I’m sure you’d have had no issue had they also been delivered by UPS.
But then you go right back to insinuating that nothing was ever really released and then go back to your conspiracy theory– one which Fox News had to participate in to be true. It’s a theory that you backpeddle on in responses to this very posting before going right back to where you started, which tells me a little about your resolve on this issue in comparison to the simple desire to get in a political jab at any cost. The fact that you continue to push that makes you less and less credible in any criticism of this president.
I do so hope this president doesn’t really get out of line with something serious, because nobody is going to listen to the warnings when the right is pulling this crap on the more trivial matters. If he does get away with something of that magnitude, I’m placing the responsibility for it squarely in your lap. You are the one who created the conditions for it to happen.
BrokeSnake said
Because it’s not rare, it’s new. All trends have to start somewhere, and I fear this becoming one because of the ease of access available and the determination of those willing to terrorize in new ways. We have been lucky here in America to somehow escape the sort of attacks that plague other countries continually and I wish I knew why. I hope it last, but like in law enforcement, it is a constant struggle to stay abreast and ahead of the criminals. And by security, I am not necessarily talking about t-barriers and concertina wire, just information and media coverage to raise awareness because it is deserving.