I’m not sure why anyone was shocked, shocked that White House news producers staged a teleconference this week featuring President Bush and properly rehearsed American and Iraqi soldiers to tout the pockets of success in their fight against Islamic jihadists and Iraqi insurgents. After all, these same producers have staged almost everything Bush has done since he began his excellent adventure to become president of the United States in 2000.
The only difference here is that we got an inadvertent glimpse behind the curtain to see these crafty wizards manufacturing the news that they wanted the President and his soldiers to present to the American people on this newsworthy occasion.
Embarrassing – yes! Shocking – no!
Click here for a detailed transcript of what the image above depicts, appropriately, in cartoon fashion.
Not to be outdone, however, on the very morning they reported the scandal of the White House manufacturing news, the NBC TODAY “show” was caught manufacturing a bit of news of its own. In this instance, a reporter with an obvious flair for the dramatic, Michelle Kosinski, thought it would be far more newsworthy for her to been seen paddling a canoe in 3 inches of New Jersey flood waters than simply walking through it as most sensible people would.
Indeed, this point was made with hysterical clarity when, at precisely the moment Kosinski went live to repeat the breaking news of “flood waters so high that one needs a canoe to get around,” two completely disinterested men ruined her report by walking into camera range – displacing water with the evident ease of a child having a splashing good time in a rain puddle in his backyard.
Embarrassing – yes! Shocking – no!
Click here to see the video of the intrepid Kosinski doing her live audition for a role in the sequel to Broadcast News.
Note: The next time you see one of those fearless reporters risking life and limb in a hurricane to bring you the news that it’s, ur, “pouring rain and the winds are blowing something fierce,” don’t be surprised to learn that just outside camera range is one of those big fans blowing gale force winds at him – just for dramatic effect.
And, that’s the news folks…stay tuned!
News and Politics
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