CNN's Baghdad correspondent Michael Ware crossed the line today with this statement about John McCain and other Republicans who are visiting Baghdad: "Essentially they're here to view the impact of the surge on the Baghdad security plan and essentially to sell its merits to say that, yes, it is having an impact and to take that message home to an American people desperate to hear signs of progress..."
Ware thus claimed that McCain is not conducting a good faith fact-finding trip, but instead will report that the surge is having a positive impact regardless of what he actually observes. Essentially (to use Ware's term), he's saying that McCain is just a pitch-man who is prepared to lie about life and death matters of the utmost importance to Americans. Ware, of course, provides no basis for this accusation, which appears to be the result of a grudge he holds because McCain disagreed with CNN's Wolf Blitzer about the impact of the surge.
The facts show that if McCain reports that the surge is having a positive impact in Baghdad, he will be correct. But that's not really the point. When a reporter escalates a disagreement about the facts on the ground to allegations of bad faith on the part of those who disagree with him, that reporter is, to take the most charitable view, burned out. When the allegations are against a patriot of John McCain's stature, they are even further out-of-line. If CNN were a credible news organization, it would reassign Ware.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. your quote in paragraph 1 does not support your "claim" in paragraph 2...but i admire your spin...since no proof of "heckling" has shown up,you come up with a 'worse than hecling",unsupported by anything...
david at 3:34PM on Apr 2nd 2007
2. First: Thank you Paul Mirengoff.
Second: CNN for a quality service, you have no room for yellow journalism. It is very important that you keep your own backyard in order.
Rterrin at 8:18AM on Apr 9th 2007
3. That was the most non-sensical that I have ever read in my life.
MS at 3:51PM on Apr 2nd 2007
4. I have been looking for transcripts of the news conference and can find no evidence there was any heckling. Do you wish to retract this statement, or have I just failed to find the evidence...like the mystery of the WMD?
Ron Rouintree at 3:59PM on Apr 2nd 2007
5. I THINK THAT THIS REPORTERS CONDUCT ON CROSSING THE LINE IS UNEXCUSABLE AND HE SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY CALLED BACK TO THE USA WHERE HE SHOULD BE INSTANTLY FIRED.
IF CNN TOLERATES THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR, THEN I WILL HAVE NO REGRETS IN SWITCHING TO FOX NEWS IN A BLINK OF AN EYE.
Julio A. Shea at 4:01PM on Apr 2nd 2007
6. 81 listed as killed in march. i think that surge means a surge in casualties. what a waste!!!.
a.j.goldsmith at 4:02PM on Apr 2nd 2007
7. maybe he crossed your line, but not mine. mccain want the war to continue on, no matter how much he has to lie, Ware has been there along time McCain only 6 or 7 times. and only when he wants to prove something, like Rumsfield was doing a great job. I,ll listen to Ware, over McCain. on McCain first intervie on the 27 he made it sound like a walk in the park. WHAT A JOKE.
CAROLETOWNSEND at 4:03PM on Apr 2nd 2007
8. What the ....? There was no heckling going on or even in the piece you have on line...so what are you trying to pull? McCaine went there, wore flack, guarded by troops and secured from the air by blackhawk helecopters and felt perfectly safe walking the streets of Baghdad...who wouldn't?
Robbie at 4:10PM on Apr 2nd 2007
9. I thought Ware's comment was typical of the liberal mouths. They never have anything postive to say about anything or anyone, unless its a democrat. McCain would not in a million years lie about his observation of things in Iraq and anyone who says he would should be ashamed of themselves.
JEAN at 5:46PM on Apr 2nd 2007
10. John McCains claims about the safety in Iraq being better because of the surge is pure nonsense. Michael Ware was right to report the real truth. Of course its safe to walk around with five helicopters flying overhead and 100 soldiers protecting you. Let old John stroll alone down any Iraqi street safely and then we will believe him. Until such time,we will believe the reporters.
Richard at 6:28PM on Apr 2nd 2007
11. Right on Ware!!!!! McCain has lost it and has cracked up.
Gerald Hudson at 4:47PM on Apr 2nd 2007
12. Ware should be ashamed of himself.but then those people have no shame. His comment was so wrong and so hate motivated. McCain is a honorable man with the total interest of this country and wants to win this war. I applaud McCain and I think Ware is pure disgusting.
Ware's accusations about McCain or that McCain would remotely report the wrong information is just pure politics and outragious. I don't respect Ware for his outburst of hate. I do respect Sen McCain 100 percent. Ware was pure disgusting and hard to stomach. Someone should have put duct tape on his lieing mouth.
Emily at 4:21PM on Apr 2nd 2007
13. Ware lives in Iran;Mccain is a visitor.
Juan Paredes at 4:37PM on Apr 2nd 2007
14. I am sure, John McCain with his few days visit can analyze the situation much better than a reporter who has been observing the situation there for years, even stared death in the face. Mirengoff, did you pass the bar?
Rudy
rudy mees at 5:48PM on Apr 2nd 2007
15. Ware and his network CNN are notorious lying pond scum. CNN HAS HAD AN ANTI ADMINISTRATION AGENDA FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, WHY WOULD ANYONE BELIEVE THEM OR NBC, ABC OR CBS. tHE LIBERAL MEDIA WOULD NOT AND HAS NOT TOLD THE TRUTH IN YEARS. tHEY DRIVE THE NEWS NOT REPORT THRE NEWS.
tHAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
luqe110 at 4:47PM on Apr 2nd 2007