Inside the real Spin Room

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The spin room - oily engine of the political meat grinder
By Jerry Lanson

The spin room. It's a concept so integral to modern presidential politics that a friendly debate organizer outside the press room directs traffic. "Spin? That building," she instructs, pointing toward a sign marked - yes - "Spin Center Media Entrance."
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"I've often wondered what goes into a hot dog," wrote author William Zinsser. "Now I know and I wish I didn't."

His words resonate. Close up, what some refer to as the "pageantry of American politics" seems sweatier and slicker, a cross between a rugby scrum and a barnstorming sales pitch, with each candidate and handler trying to stay "on message," and each reporter manipulating that message, pushing to get the right sound bite on the evening news or to flesh out that story "angle" for tomorrow's paper.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1212/p11s01-coop.html