E&P: AP's Bush 'Straw Man' Story: News Analysis Or Unlabeled Opinion?

AP's Bush 'Straw Man' Story: News Analysis Or Unlabeled Opinion?
By Joe Strupp
Published: March 22, 2006

NEW YORK Did a recent Associated Press story examining President George Bush's alleged tendency to use a "straw man" approach in his speeches cross the line from news to biased opinion? Or was it just a long-overdue, in-depth review of the president's public speaking approach?

The viewpoint, as often happens in Washington, depends on whose blog you are reading, and what you consider opinion and analysis. Still, the article by reporter Jennifer Loven sparked an interesting debate on the blogosphere, and in some newsrooms, over how such an examination of a public figure can cross the line from reporting to opining. Since the piece was not labeled a column, or even analysis, it raised some eyebrows as it veered into a sharp attack on Bush's use of such tactics.

The article has drawn reactions ranging from a supportive mass e-mailing from MoveOn.org to criticism by the conservative Powerline blog and American Federalist Journal. But an AP spokesman says editors want more of these types of wire stories.

The story, posted by AP last weekend, cited the president's habit of using phrases such as "some say" or "some believe" when introducing a viewpoint that challenges his own. One example Loven noted was Bush saying "some look at the challenges in Iraq and conclude that the war is lost and not worth another dime or another day." She also cited his recent statement that "some say that if you're Muslim you can't be free."

Loven then contends that "hardly anyone in mainstream political debate has made such assertions." But she notes that Bush, in presenting opposing views in such a "straw man" way, sets himself up well to fire back, often appearing in defense of his viewpoint or as an underdog....

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002234267

a stupid question!

.....NEW YORK Did a recent Associated Press story examining President George Bush's alleged tendency to use a "straw man" approach in his speeches cross the line from news to biased opinion? Or was it just a long-overdue, in-depth review of the president's public speaking approach?

"Jennifer Loven's story was one of an ongoing series of fact-checking stories that dig beyond the rhetoric. Editors tell us they want more of these stories."

Perhaps the few real journalists in the MSM such as Helen Thomas and K.O. are shaming at least a few of their lap-dog brethren into remembering why they got into journalism in the first place. Thanks for posting this. It is a nice way to start the day.

that are textbook cases of precisely what a 'straw man' argument is.

What's opinion about that?

on the American Federalist Journal blog, which are linked at the bottom of the Editor and Publisher article. Much blustering about the greatness and integretity of Bush, and the baseless partisanship of the AP. It is very disturbing -- what is it going to take to wake these people up?

Here's an example of Bush's straw man strategy from Tuesday's press conference.

I disagree.

End of third paragraph:

"But an AP spokesman says editors want more of these types of wire stories."

AP is saying this? Funny...it's news to people and editors in Vermont:

Graff's ouster linked to Leahy column

Barre Montpelier Times Argus, VT - 4 hours ago
By Katharine Q. Seelye New York Times. The forced departure of the Associated Press's longtime Vermont bureau chief may be linked ...

Reporter won't comment on departure

BurlingtonFreePress.com, VT - 21 Mar 2006
By Dan McLean. The chief Vermont correspondent for The Associated Press -- a journalist who has covered the state for nearly three ...

Longtime Vermont journalist fired without warning

Vermont Guardian, VT - 20 Mar 2006
By Shay Totten | Vermont Guardian. MONTPELIER — Longtime Associated Press bureau chief Chris Graff was dismissed without warning ...

Graff gone from Vt. AP

Rutland Herald, VT - 21 Mar 2006
MONTPELIER — One of the most venerable and well-known bylines in Vermont journalism departed Monday with the ending of Christopher Graff's tenure as head of ...

Graff gone from state AP bureau

Barre Montpelier Times Argus, VT - 21 Mar 2006
By Darren M. Allen Vermont Press Bureau. MONTPELIER — One of the most venerable and well-known bylines in Vermont journalism departed ...

Links page via Google news search of single word: http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20060323/NEWS/603230331/1003/NEWS02graff">graff (no quotes)

It's SOP for the right wing hacks. I scan across Limbagh from time to time and he does this virtually every time I hear him. He states some premise, postulates on the liberal viewpoint, carries that to an absurd extreme, and then argues against that imaginary position.

This has to be something cooked up by Grover Norquist. It has his fingerprints all over it. Just like his fingerprints around the neck of democracy that he is drowning in a bathtub.

And by the way, since some Republicans condone torture, and some of the torture in Iraq involved children, Republicans must condone child abuse, right?

Straw men are easy.

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Bush does use the straw man and Joe Strupp turns around and does the same thing Loven then contends that "hardly anyone in mainstream political debate has made such assertions."


Just who is the hardly anyone? Who are those guilty or innocent of this practice? Like Bush they are cowards and do not want to risk offense.

who feels he can pick and chose which laws he is going to follow.

SOME feel that the environment, the poor, the middle class, the economy, port security can balanced against the needs of corporations despite the laws that exist to protect these very things.

SOME feel that Christians should support a President who truly does not follow the example of Christ.

SOME support a reckless war of aggression in spite of worldwide apprehension.


AND
SOME think its appropriate to create straw men to distract from one's own political failings.

Robert Frost - Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.



Some say that W. is stupid. Some say he's not so stupid.

others say he is the greatest.

I love Colbert... and straw men.

This isn't the first time that Loven has called Bush on his BS. A couple of months before the '04 election, Bush was commenting on something that Kerry had said, and Peter Jennings took Bush to task for his distortions. I sent a clip of Jennings doing so to Loven, and she wrote a story.

I posted about it here, too, but I have no search function anymore to find the thread.

In academia, people are expected to cite exact sources if they are presenting someone else's argument (even if it's not a precise quote). If you can't produce them, how do we know you aren't making things up?

I suppose that if Bush had a bit of sense (or caution), he would have thrown in a few qualifiers, e.g. "some might be tempted to think".