Is the Media Missing the Point? More importantly, are we? The problem with the Armstrong Williams story is that it's "the Armstrong Williams" story. The focus should be on the White House.
I don't have a very high opinion of Armstrong Williams, and he's certainly disgraced himself, but I'm not sure what he really did that was so wrong. I mean, he supported the No Child Left Behind bill anyway. If someone offered me $240,000 to go around the country writing and talking about something I already believe in, I'd take it like a shot. What makes this is a story is that it's the White House who paid him.
Williams is facing
appropriate professional consequences, but that's really missing the point. Every time we attack Williams, we're giving the White House a gift. Think of it like Watergate. Williams broke into the hotel, sure, but we've got to follow the money.