Spinonymous sources: Wash. Post grants anonymity to White House source relieved that Republicans support Bush

In a March 10 Washington Post article, staff writer Peter Baker wrote the following: “A senior White House official, speaking not for attribution in order to discuss political strategy, expressed relief that on the biggest policy issues -- Iraq above all -- most congressional Republicans still back [President] Bush.”

Baker gave no indication of how “express[ing] relief” constitutes “discuss[ing] political strategy.” Nor did he say why a White House official required -- or deserved -- anonymity in order to say something positive about his boss.