Sunday Rapid Response: "Heads held high"

The following media action alert courtesy of the Oregon branch of the Rapid Response Network.

Oregon Report — Sunday, October 30, 2005

1. Bush White House: “Heads held high”
2. Oregonian public editor on the deaths in Iraq
3. Conservatives take aim at academic freedom
4. Salem House Republican creates fishy (and failed) 527 for Bush

1. Bush White House: “Heads held high”
"Bush looks past rough week to '06: Heads high" [original NYT version]
The front page of the Oregonian features this NYT story on Bush’s plan to regroup. Guess what? It won’t be by apologizing contritely (as Brooksie recommends in today’s column), or by cleaning house and getting rid of ethically compromised staff, or by fixing the mess in Iraq—but by nominating a hardline conservative Supreme Court and “cutting spending” (i.e., programs like Medicaid and food stamps while maintaining tax cuts for the wealthy).
(The article uses the magic phrases “cut government spending” and “pork barrel spending” but makes only a passing reference to Democratic/centrist opposition to cuts in “social programs” and no reference at all to the tax cuts.)
Oh yes, their heads are held high.
letters@news.oregonian.com
letters@nytimes.com

2. Oregonian public editor on the deaths in Iraq

Readers see importance of war milestone

Arrieta-Walden starts by highlighting the views of the pro-war few—heaven forbid the majority of his reader advisor board who oppose the war would have their views mentioned first! (Don’t want to offend those poor beleaguered pro-war righties, would we?)

Then he talks about the disparity in placing coverage of Iraqi deaths on the last page and the difficulty in pinning down a number “in part because no official agency tracks them.” He draws this conclusion:
”Given the wide disparity of those figures [between US and Iraqi casualty tracking], the placement [of a story on Iraqi deaths on the last page] was understandable.” I would argue that the disparity of information and lack of focus on Iraqi death and suffering merits first-page coverage—the problem is there hasn’t been a reporter or media outlet in this country who has had the guts and integrity to consider it a newsworthy story.

But, today we do have that coverage. We learn today that—surprise!—the Pentagon has been tracking Iraqi casualties all along: Military releases rough accounting of Iraqi casualties by Sabrina Tavernise of the NY Times. Here is another recent story by the same reporter: Rising Civilian Toll Is the Iraq War's Silent, Sinister Pulse

Kudos to: tavernise@nytimes.com [this address is a guess; be sure to cc: letters@nytimes.com to be sure it gets thru]

Meanwhile, a military dad’s pro-war LTE in today’s O. makes the bizarre claim that those opposing the war are celebrating the 2,000th death:
”Sounds like there will be a party to celebrate the political football of the death of the 2,000th U.S. service member in Iraq. Does that signal the full-court press for the cut-and-run crowd? After all, anything worthwhile or desperately necessary isn't worth too much effort or too much degree of difficulty, is it?”
With all due respect, and sincere gratitude for his sons’ service—WTF???
Who is partying? Every death is cause for grief and sadness.
What is “worthwhile” or “desperately necessary” about the mess in Iraq?

letters@news.oregonian.com
letters@nytimes.com
publiceditor@news.oregonian.com

3. Conservatives take aim at academic freedom

Picked on by their profs: Some conservative students are complaining that liberal professors push their political agendas in class

Of course professors, of any political leaning, should respect the opinions of their students. But respect, and academic freedom, cuts both ways. Legislating and placing restrictions on how college classes are taught—based on the complaints of a few aggrieved students— is not the answer. Common sense and courtesy are all we need.

Your thoughts: letters@news.oregonian.com

4. Salem House Republican creates fishy (and failed) 527 for Bush

Opponents question Dalto's fundraising committee for Bush

Sleazeball alert! Sounds like it’s time to clean house in Dist. 21 (South Salem).
SJ LTE submission form here. (Those outside the Salem area won’t get published, but it’s still worth writing.)

Never give up.
_____________________________________
Oregon RR is a group of volunteers dedicated to advancing the principles of
balance and truthfulness in the media.
www.rapidresponsenetwork.org/web.py/or/

To contact us:
or@rapidresponsenetwork.org

Technorati Tags: Progressive Action Alerts Campaign Reform Legislative Watch Media Watch Political News & Commentary Marion County National Oregon