CNN covers criticism of Boehner's "small price" comment
The September 14 edition of CNN's The Situation Room featured a report on House Minority Leader John Boehner's (R-OH) September 12 response to CNN host Wolf Blitzer's question regarding the "$2 billion a week or $3 billion a week" spent in Iraq and the "loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month," in which Boehner said: "We need to continue our effort here because, Wolf, long term, the investment that we're making today will be a small price if we're able to stop Al Qaeda here." As Media Matters for America documented, CNN initially ignored the controversy surrounding Boehner's comments, but extensively covered Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) October 30, 2006, "botched joke" regarding President Bush and the Iraq war.
From the 4 p.m. hour of the September 14 edition of The Situation Room:
SUZANNE MALVEAUX (guest host): A comment that House Minority Leader John Boehner made right here in The Situation Room from Baghdad Wednesday has liberal bloggers and politicians up in arms. The Republican responded to a question from Wolf Blitzer about the cost and the loss of blood in Iraq. Boehner said it will be a small price if we're able to stop Al Qaeda. Internet reporter Abbi Tatton has been following this story, and Abbi, what did he say?
TATTON: Suzanne, it was Congressman Boehner's response to this question from Wolf that has people talking.
[begin video clip]
BLITZER: How much longer will U.S. taxpayers have to shell out $2 billion a week or $3 billion a week as some now are suggesting the cost is going to endure? The loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month, how much longer do you think this commitment, this military commitment is going to require?
BOEHNER: I think General Petraeus outlined it pretty clearly. We're making success. We need to firm up those successes. We need to continue our effort here because, Wolf, long term, the investment that we're making today will be a small price if we're able to stop Al Qaeda here, if we're able to stabilize the Middle East.
[end video clip]
TATTON: That video now reposted on liberal blogs, "a small price" the words they're zeroing in on. Democrats are demanding Congressman Boehner apologize. Sen. John Kerry writes online: "That comment was stunningly cavalier." Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, called it deplorable. And now Republican Sen. John McCain has weighed in, saying Boehner ought to retract it.
Congressman Boehner's spokesman said in a statement the congressman was referring to the amount of money spent in Iraq, adding "there isn't a member of Congress that appreciates the sacrifice of our troops more than Mr. Boehner." Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Abbi, thank you so much.
The story is all about those "liberal bloggers".
It's them, they're the ones "zeroing in on" Mr. Boehner's words.
Congressman Boehner's spokesman cleared it all up.
Mr. Boehner did not think the nearly 4,000 lives of our Sons and Daughters sacrificed in Iraq, to be a "small price" to pay...
He thought the 12 billion dollars per month, to be the "small price" to pay.
As for the nearly 4,000 lives of our Sons and Daughters sacrificed in Iraq?
Mr. Boehner (by way of his spokesman) wishes to be clear:
Mr. Boehner "appreciates" the sacrifice of those nearly 4,000 lives.
Read it for yourself... that's the clarification.
"The story is all about those 'liberal bloggers.' It's them, they're the ones 'zeroing in on' Mr. Boehner's words."
That's exactly what I was thinking as I watched this clip. They just used this as another opportunity to take a not-so-subtle jab at those meddlesome, irresponsible bloggers. In stories like these, the mainstream media frequently spits out the word "bloggers" as if they're using it as a synonym for "idiots." Their contempt for people who publicly voice their opinions is palpable. They pretend as though everyone who publishes something on the Internet is the equivalent of the mentally ill guy who stands on the street corner every morning screaming about JFK.
The "liberal bloggers" are now classed with "liberal Hollywood" and "liberal College Professors" and of course the "liberal media"... "liberal bloggers" are sort of a sub-set of the "liberal media" (or maybe it's the other way around).
"Liberal bloggers" are enemies to certain business interests, and the agents thereof, for being politically astute and informed, for being sociable and civic-minded, and for having the communication and language skills to effectively "sound the alarm" and rouse the American People, as to the influence those business interests and their agents hold, over our Federal Government.
And "liberal bloggers" have all of that in common with the liberal media and College Professors and Hollywood: astute, well-informed, social and civic-minded, and the leading edge in communication skills...
...in addition to "sounding the same alarm".
We're the enemies to those business interests and their agents, who design for themselves as great an influence over our Federal Government, as their money and their many tricks and tricksters can work.
You know who are the friends of those malicious interests?
The privately-owned hack and whore media, that's who.
And we're lucky that those hacks and whores take the time, to slander and libel our "liberal bloggers" now, as a threat to them and their employers...
It means we're effective, it means we're working... it means the alarm is sounding well, and we're being heard by many American People...
...it puts us "liberal bloggers" in good company.
Congressman Boehner's spokesman said in a statement the congressman was referring to the amount of money spent in Iraq, adding "there isn't a member of Congress that appreciates the sacrifice of our troops more than Mr. Boehner." Suzanne.
OK, a no apology, apology is just what I expected from the Good Ole Party, who has very few if any sons and daughters "paying the price".
IF THAT HAD BEEN A DEMOCRATE WOLF, THE RIGHT-WING MEDIA, REPUBLICAN PART WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE STORY BUT BECAUSE A REPULICAN SAID IT THEY DOWN PLAYED ITAGAIN!!!!!
However,
There are exceptions to the not my son/daughter goes to war.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-22-iraq-congress_x.htm
Interesting article, thanks.
It also shows the absolute power of the mind and pre-conceived notions to block reality. Relatives of right wing families as well as soldiers "soldier on" thinking it a noble cause.
It's tragic, really.
This is NO Blog Story ...
Wolf asked - - Is this war worth the money and blood?
The House Very-Minority Leader said it is a small price to pay!
Rest my case. Be sure to have a great day!
Sam I Am
This coverage does not seem to be anything on the scale of the negative press surrounding the "education-Iraq" affair with Kerry, but I am glad to see that MMFA reported an update on their previous story, rather than let "CNN ignored..." stand when the facts had changed. It shows responsible documentation and a commitment to accuracy.
"if we're able to stop Al Qaeda here."
That's the other part of this idiotic statement that is not getting much attention. He's perpetuating the GOP fabrication that Iraq is the "central front" on the "War on Terror", as if killing everybody in Iraq would somehow rid the world of terrorists. Meanwhile, Bush's nemisis, Osama Bin Ladin, mocks us from his hideout somewhere other than Iraq. I believe Osama has also referred to Iraq as central to his "Jihad". So, Bush and Osama...the Tweedledee and Tweedledum of World catastrophe, are in a pissing match over Iraq.
Essentially, Bush's Iraq strategy has dissolved into a face-saving measure. He's bungled his way into the worst foreign policy mistake in recent memory, but he insists that extracting ourselves from HIS mistake will "embolden" the terrorists, and give them a "safe haven".
First of all, how much "bolder" can the terrorists get? They don't fear us...they don't fear death...are we to believe that our efforts in Iraq are somehow intimidating them? As for a safe haven...would Iraq be any more of a safe haven than Bin Laden now enjoys? How many other Third World countries have widespread violence and dysfunctional governments? Couldn't they be safe havens, as well? Oh, that's right....most of them aren't floating on a sea of oil.