Over the decade, the transformation of the NYTimes into a suprisingly key player in the Beltway-Republican smearing of Democrats has been truly scary.
This week, of course, saw the peudo mea culpas by the editors and Orkent over the WMD lies. This was, and is, a big story, of course, just like Whitewater, Gore's campaign and Wen Ho Lee.
However, I believe it is the little things that the NYTimes does to funnel RNC smear talking points into the approved "media narrative" of politics that are the most destructive---and least noted.
Today's NYTimes provides two small, but instructive examples of what we need to watch for:
First, this article (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/30/politics/campaign/30KERR.html) about Kerry's foreign policy had this small gem:
"...earlier this spring, he raised eyebrows with vague suggestions that he had met with foreign leaders who supported his campaign..."
Raised eyebrows? Among whom? Republicans and Beltway journalists, perhaps, but not most people who recognized that Kerry was merely pointing out reality.
Second, in a cheeky piece deep inside the front section (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/30/politics/campaign/30POIN.html) was this classic smear:
"...And some Democrats were impressed to see the response by Mr. Kerry, who has often been accused of indecisiveness..."
Accused by whom? Republicans and Beltway journalists perhaps, yet again.
Again, these are small little things. But the cummulative affect of weaving these RNC "talking points" into daily new articles, has a huge impact on how Democrats like Kerry are perceived by the public. As the election coverage heats up this summer, we need to watch for these little things and point them out, lest the Times destroys yet another Democratic candidate.