Stupid journalism tricks

While it's true I've become fond of some in the White House Press Corps, Chip Reid is not on that list. Why, you ask? Stupid horserace/hesaid-shesaid pieces like this.

The defensive tone was clear right from the top of his remarks today when he said: "The potential devastation to the Gulf Coast, its economy, and its people require us to CONTINUE our RELENTLESS efforts to stop the leak and contain the damage." (Emphasis added.)

And who can blame him. The potential political downside to a disaster is huge. Just ask George Bush. The White House, and most who have closely compared the responses, say this spill has little similarity to Katrina.

So in other words, "most people" aren't making the comparison, hard as the media tried to make this "Obama's Katrina." But Chip hasn't given up hope on that meme.

This disaster is going to play out over a very long time, and as it gets worse there certainly will be efforts by others -- out of frustration over lost livelihoods and environmental damage, and for purely political purposes -- who will try to shift blame to the administration.

And eventually some of it may stick. The president is already working hard to make sure that doesn't happen.

Yeah Chip, "some" lazy excuses for journalists will try to make that crude stick to POTUS, but the only one that will end up looking oily is Chip himself. It's so obvious that they're just trying to punish the White House for not showing their supremely entitled, gatekeeper selves the proper deference. I swear, sometimes I think "reporters" like Reid are a greater danger to civil society than the terrorists.

[More posts daily at The Detroit News]