Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Fear And Loathing At the Washington Post

I love the Washington Post. After endorsing Harris Miller over Jim Webb in next Tuesday's Virginia Democratic Senate Primary, the Post can't help but try to tip the scales a bit, in the guise of "news".

So today the Post headlines an otherwise very positive Marc Fisher column on Webb--much more positive than his column on Harris Miller a week ago--with the subtle title: "A Reagan Man Reaches Out to Virginia Democrats." Clever, Posties.

Then, just to be sure the black community didn't miss the dig, the Post's editors conveniently placed a "news" story right above Fisher's column, headlined "Webb Is Scrutinized On Affirmative Action."

Scrutinized by who? Such "news" stories don't just materialize on their own; nor are the timing and placement of such articles random--the Post's editors decide all that, in this case no doubt in cahoots with an all too eager Miller campaign. The point of all this, of course, is to mobilize African-American voters in Virginia to turn out against Webb (which effectively means cementing six more years of George Allen, unless, god forbid, he becomes President!)

To be sure, the Post did try to be "fair and balanced" in its story on affirmative action. Why, if you just read all the way to the very last three (out of 22) paragraphs, you will finally learn that Webb has been endorsed by two very prominent African-American Virginians--Del. Donald McEachin of Richmond and civil rights leader Milton Reid.

Oh, and did this lengthy Post news story say anything about Harris Miller's position on affirmative action? No. But don't worry, if he wins the primary you can be sure George Allen will clobber him with the issue among Virginia's independent voters.

(The Curmudgeon was grateful to Marc Fisher for explaining the origin of Webb's "born fighting" campaign slogan--it's the title of his best-selling book on the Scots-Irish [sorry Marc, not Scotch--you drink that]. Unfortunately, a lot of folks find the slogan a bit obscure.)

By the way, here's a nice little unauthorized Webb flyer put together by one of my fellow Arlingtonians: http://www.raisingkaine.com/Images/WarnerWebb.pdf

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