CNN photojournalist declares, "That's a nice feeling" to get a wink from Bush
CNN's Mark Walz declared, "That's a nice feeling" when President Bush "gives you a wink."
During the January 14 edition of CNN's On the Story, the cable network aired a clip of CNN photojournalist Mark Walz, who covers the White House, in which he said, "That's a nice feeling" when President Bush "gives you a wink." Walz's comment came during his explanation of his role at CNN, where he noted that "covering the office of the president" is "the most rewarding part" of his job.
CNN business news anchor Ali Velshi introduced Walz when he said: "[CNN White House correspondent] Suzanne Malveaux ... knows better than most of us that it takes a team to cover the White House for CNN. Let's look behind the scenes, behind the camera with CNN photo journalist Mark Walz. He's on the White House beat." During a video montage of Walz at work on CNN shoots, Bush in various locations, and overhead shots of the National Security Agency (NSA), Walz described his work:
WALZ: What I find most rewarding about the job is covering the office of the president. Everything that he does is history, and we are there to record history. There are often little gems where you get recognized by the president. He gives you a wink. That's a nice feeling.
From the January 14 edition of CNN's On the Story:
VELSHI: CNN is on the story. Suzanne Malveaux is on the story of the president's week, and she knows better than most of us that it takes a team to cover the White House for CNN. Let's look behind the scenes, behind the camera with CNN photo journalist Mark Walz. He's on the White House beat.
WALZ: The most important part of my job is to get the shot, to be at the right place at the right time. Monday, the president visited North Glen Elementary School in Glen Burnie, Maryland. We also flew there on a helicopter. And, during our flight, we happened to look out and we were flying right over NSA [National Security Agency]. And with NSA being in the news, you know, we knew that was an important shot. We're very much a team at the White House. We have, you know, our correspondents and our producers and then we have our technicians, you know, the guys who I rely on to do their jobs; and they do their jobs very well. What I find most rewarding about the job is covering the office of the president. Everything that he does is history, and we are there to record history. There are often little gems where you get recognized by the president. He gives you a wink. That's a nice feeling.
The other right-wing media mogul you should worry about
Palin's book and Obama's bow: a media week to forget
Media Matters: The Palin chronicles
"Dear diary, today you-know-who gave me a wink and I just went all mushy inside!!!!!!! He is SOOOOOO cute!!!!! I think he may be The One!!!!! Prom is coming up......!!!!!" - M.W.
Notice how its always men who publicly admit they get a warm fuzzy feeling in the presence of Bush . . . that's just a little creepy . . .
Don't get me wrong, I love MMFA, and you expertly point out media bias. But is this an example of something egregious? The fact that a photojournalist enjoyed having the President of the United States wink at him? I don't agree with a word the man says, but I'd still remember if I was near him and he acknowledged me. I think we'd find it pretty funny if a conservative watchdog group reported that an example of liberal media bias was a news reporter saying the same thing about a Democrat. It's really not all that insulting.
If some restraint is used when reporting on media bias, our argument is made much stronger.
I don't see the need to have this type of bias. I seems to me that this weak example has the effect of watering down other solid examples.
The only reason I would see for an item like this is if it were part of a larger pattern of CNN to lionize Bush. I don't see that, yet. It seems to me that this guy could really be middle-of-the-road and just has a lot of respect for the office of the Presidency.
Fame is a powerful influence on people. I remember a long time ago when I was in D.C. I saw Michelle Lee out in public, and there were some people asking for her autograph. What show was she on? I don't think I even knew then. But I still remember it.
Does CNN have better things to cover? Sure. Otherwise, I'm not sure I see the problem either. What's he supposed to say? Anybody who doesn't really have strong feelings against Bush would probably feel the same way.
I agree with you completely. Love MMFA, but I find this such a waste. In the risk of sounding like the loathable fat one: Ditto!
Has MMFA lost it? I suggest you set standards for your monitors, story gatherers and refuse to use some of the pathological over-sensitivity they display.
This type of a catch could be expressed as an "Aside" and it wouldn't affect the misinformation caught, but it does need to be separated and given less prominence. Otherwise, the entire mission of MMFA falls on it's face by looking amateurish.
a pinch on the butt would make him absolutely melt!
Sycophant!
This has to be the most useless example of conservative bias in the media I have ever witnessed in my life.
So, this guy's career is to cover the White House and he feels good when the President acknowledges him. Is our Democracy unraveling?
But the Right Wing liars have, for years, hammered us about the "liberal media", pointing to questionable statistics about reporters' voting habits. What we have here is a probable Bush sycophant (as Pick of the Litter has pointed out). If a reporter voting for Kerry is noteworthy, isn't it noteworthy that a journalist goes all wobbly when our FratBoy-in-Chief winks at him? (Bush is the kind of guy who winks at store clerks and waitresses. The fact that this photographer thinks it means anything calls his intelligence into question).
The MEDIA make their decisions of "what to cover", and so does MMFA.
CNN covers a photojournalist's warm feelings towards the president. This is what's called "human interest" propaganda, the propping up of a president, a "humanizing" aspect which he actually LACKS in real life. In real life, Bush is seen ONLY by well screened and coached audiences, "CAPTIVE" audiences of military and kids, and NO confrontations with those who disagree with him.
This item, small by itself, is yet another piece of the overall picture of the Media's doing the bidding of the Bush White House.
Compare this revential coverage to the coverage of Howard Dean, at a campaign rally where he was REALLY connecting with his audience. Dean was creamed by the media, using doctored and out of context repetitions of his "scream".
Yes, it's another example of MEDIA BIAS. And it's important to cover it AS MUCH AS IT IS DISPLAYED.
If the media quit running these Valentine pieces, they won't get covered by MMFA. That sounds entirely fair, eh?
Agree with you Tex. To others, if you look at this story in isolation, you miss the point. This Bush wink/human touch story is relevant because it is part of a growing pattern with CNN of propping up the ultra-conservative agenda, often with misinformation (re: other MM stories) . This story just has a different style but in conjunction with other CNN reports, works to accomplish the same goal.
If Chris Matthews says something like this, it's something to be concerned about. If it's the guy holding the camera, it's irrelevent. I know if I'd been standing around waiting to get a shot of Bush walking off Marine One, having him wink at me would be "nice."
This has no place here - save your energy cataloguing worthy examples of misinformation.
A man enjoys his job. Good for him. Most people wish they did.
Is this really a case of the Media failing to do their job? Unlike ANOTHERAMERICAN, I don't find this amusing but I agree with his sentiment that this is a silly waste of energy.
You have a worthy goal, so don't marginalize yourselves!
Yeah, I think on the heels of CNN hiring Bill Bennett and Glen Beck, this puff piece about the photographer bonding with Bush is important. It's not the photographer's opinion that matters, it's that the CNN editors made a story out of this. The inadvertant result, of course, is the implication that those press guys following this tyrant around are groveling for his approval.
OK, perhaps that's an overreach. So whether in and of itself it's right wing bias, it's certainly burning up airtime that could be used to report on the Downing Street Memo, or touchscreen voting in Ohio, and other stolen elections.
Hoping for a "wink" reveals a desire to PLEASE. Bush has cultivated a fan in this photographer, and by itself is not noteworthy ... unless you consider that a "journalist's" JOB is to be impartial and show no favor.
This photojournalist covets the approval of this president. One wonders what this photojournalist would do if Jack Abramoff walked up to Bush, and gave him a hug and a kiss and a bag of money. Would the photojournalist capture the moment, and risk the displeasure of his subject? Would the photojournalist instead resist clicking the picture, hoping for another friendly "WINK" from his new best friend?
The depths of the Rightwing's control of the MEDIA is a vitally important story. The high profile conviction in New Jersey of a Republican elections op has been scantly reported, but the BIGGER story is that election corruption is spread coast to coast.
BIG stories always start out as small stories, and often seem disconnected until it all "comes together". Nixon was brought down by a "3rd Rate Burglary", which, by itself, was a yawner of a story. The incidious infiltration of partisans into our major media is a BIG story. The evidence mounts, and each new instance adds fuel to the conclusion.
Those words also came to my mind regarding CNN's little ditty about the White House photojournalist. I can see how posters would find this MMFA story frivilous but including it does nothing to "marginalize" MMFA's other work, though too many of this type could dilute the real stingers.
Wonder if this could be the same photojournalist who got those fabulous shots of Bush on the aircraft carrier in his well-fitting "Mission Accomplished" uniform?
"Hoping for a "wink" reveals a desire to PLEASE."
Not necessarily. It's just recognition from a powerful and famous person. There's a sociological line separating those who are famous and those who are not, it's like a different type of class. Anyone who does not actively dislike Bush and his policies would probably say something similar, wouldn't you imagine? I think the entire basis of this post, this "desire to please" is an unbased assumption. It may be true, but there is nothing to prove it.
I think most people understand the effects of power and fame, and so I don't even expect that most people would even take this as showing allegiance or even real approval for Bush, just respect for his office.
Does CNN have better things to cover? Yes. But they do run puff pieces, and I still don't see what anyone expects someone to say in this guy's situation. Imagine if he said "I dislike his policies but it's an honor to cover his office", the MRC would scream liberal bias, and they would be wrong. Unless I see a pattern of similar items, I think this as an example of conservative bias is equally baseless.
Though it is not that a photojournalist would tell a strange thought, it is significant that CNN finds this to be the right way of looking at Bush.
I find it insane for someone to be joyful about this.
I have to agree with earlier posters. This story is a waste of MMFA's time and weakens the important message put forth in other coverage.
As already stated, if this story is part of a larger tendency on CNN's part to aggrandize Bush's image, then please aggregate these multiple examples into a single (much more powerful) story about CNN's general problem.
This story, by itself, is not an issue at all. Bush, no matter how incompetent or misguided, is still the president. Let's not go throwing stones at people for simply showing him respect and admiration. Let's save the fight for those who blindly support his failed policies.
I have always thought it weird, the way people fawn over GWB, and defend him, no matter what. To me, it just further illustrates that there is a "cult of personality" surrounding this man.