Hiding the dead
The Bush administration has taken this policy to an art form. In four years of carnage, only one batch of American flag-draped coffins made it to the public. Bush doesn't go to military funerals of those who die for his "noble cause" because he wants us to forget about them. He only mentioned them for the first time this August, when forced to do so by Cindy Sheehan.
The White House couches this policy as out of respect for the families. What a crock. Honoring them as they arrive in the light of day, instead of sneaking them in under the cover of darkness, would be respectful. Hiding them is a cowardly ploy to avoid responsibility and more importantly to prevent the public from witnessing the collateral costs of incompetency.
Now the White House spin team use the same empty premise, for the same reason, to bar the American press, in America, from photographing the destruction and carnage in New Orleans. Since when is it the government's job to censor a free press?
Clearly the public is interested in the story and wants to see the footage. The WaPo reports news programs ratings and specials that dealt with the disaster are enjoying uncharacteristically high ratings. Not good for a president whose approval ratings are at an almost record-breaking low.
The White House couldn't get its emergency preparedness agents into a dying city for a week. Now pressing on two weeks later, we have a combined law enforcement/military presence approaching 40,000 strong to deal with a reported 10,000 remaining survivors. Most of them are not lawbreakers.
The city is so secure, it's described as resembling a war zone. The press has been exhibiting an unusual streak of independence since the disaster struck. So why is the White House keeping out the press now, unless they want to "manage the perceptions." Is this the freedom the terrorists are supposed be hating us for?
The White House couches this policy as out of respect for the families. What a crock. Honoring them as they arrive in the light of day, instead of sneaking them in under the cover of darkness, would be respectful. Hiding them is a cowardly ploy to avoid responsibility and more importantly to prevent the public from witnessing the collateral costs of incompetency.
Now the White House spin team use the same empty premise, for the same reason, to bar the American press, in America, from photographing the destruction and carnage in New Orleans. Since when is it the government's job to censor a free press?
Clearly the public is interested in the story and wants to see the footage. The WaPo reports news programs ratings and specials that dealt with the disaster are enjoying uncharacteristically high ratings. Not good for a president whose approval ratings are at an almost record-breaking low.
The White House couldn't get its emergency preparedness agents into a dying city for a week. Now pressing on two weeks later, we have a combined law enforcement/military presence approaching 40,000 strong to deal with a reported 10,000 remaining survivors. Most of them are not lawbreakers.
The city is so secure, it's described as resembling a war zone. The press has been exhibiting an unusual streak of independence since the disaster struck. So why is the White House keeping out the press now, unless they want to "manage the perceptions." Is this the freedom the terrorists are supposed be hating us for?
posted by Libby Spencer at 7:22 PM
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