Cheney vs. the Peaceniks

[maddezmom]

With President Bush kicking back at his ranch, the task of nipping a nascent antiwar movement in the bud fell to Vice President Cheney yesterday, and he went at it with his typical gusto.

~snip~

It was not, in a nutshell, a detailed, reasoned response to the increasingly forceful call for troop withdrawal.

Cheney, for instance, didn't discuss the administration's current military strategy, or the lessons learned since the invasion. He didn't describe in any detail either the current tactical situation or the mission objective. He certainly didn't discuss the merits and drawbacks of alternative approaches, or acknowledge the desire of many Americans to start bringing the troops home now.

What he did -- very much in keeping with previous White House strategy -- was try to marginalize any opposition to the war as being deeply unpatriotic.

Because that's much easier than arguing for the war on its merits.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/08/19/BL2005081900835.html

The text of the bigtime's speech:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050818-4.html

[wli]

1. pure Goering -style agitprop indeed

All he needs to do is attack them for being "unpatriotic."

And when I say "attack" I mean military and law enforcement.

[MoJoWorkin]

2. I was one of about 20 "Peaceniks" in Springfield, who

protested Cheney on Wednesday. We were under some shade trees, and were told we had to go to the opposite side of the street and stand in the broiling 95 degree sun. Many of us were retirees, as it was midday, and most people had to work. The police allowed non-protesters to walk (even a runner) on the "other side" of the street. But we were told we couldn't be there.Of course, Cheney went in by the back door. I am sure he "didn't want to ruin his beautiful mind." Oh, sorry, that was Babs who said that.
The CBS local news did excellent coverage. Showed a couple of Purple Heart Vets saying they were there mainly to get some answers on Veterans Benefits--once the soldiers came home. The news anchor asked the reporter if Cheney "had anything in common" with the vets, and she said "NO" he had 5 military deferments. I thought I would croak when she said that. They also gave us very good coverage.
The NBC affiliate "told" us how ALL the PHVets were FOR THE WAR, and had said they there to show support, and then cut to crappy coverage of us--like we were against the troops.

It is glaringly obvious by those two reports, as to how much media can affect the viewer by what is "reported".