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 3 of 4)
31. I think Sen McCain is mistaken in his take on the subject of the war. I've listened to CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Network and the main stream news media. To my dismay and alarm, we are losing, and losing badly. It seems we have learned nothing from our experiance in Vietnam..a sorry statement about the leadership of this country. I'm not sure about cut & run, we put these people in this mess, how can they possibly get out by themselves? We need real leaders now! Lets hope one steps up....now!
Patricia at 10:01PM on Apr 2nd 2007
32. Paul Mirengoof-could not possibly have cross checked his references on this one. The news conference is on the internet with McCain and Lindsay Graham both speaking, MINUS HECKLING> If anyone should be 'reassigned, it is Mirengoff.
Here is the link info to the conference:
http://rawstory.com/new/2007/CNN_reporter_slams_Drudges_charge-that_0402.html
Never do I enter and post more than once on these blogs, however Mirengoff is either responsible or irresponsible for blogging wholly incorrect information. NEVER AGAIN WILL THIS RESPONDENT BOTHER WITH HIS SIGHT, = 0 CREDIBILITY PAUL MIRENGOFF
Steve at 10:30PM on Apr 2nd 2007
33. McCain is no more than a War Mongering, Bush Loving Liar!! Not a patriot!!
Tony J at 10:37PM on Apr 2nd 2007
34. Ware disputed McCain's statement that U.S. offcials have not in the past been able to travel from the Iraqi the airport to Bagdad, and that this was a new sign of recent progress in Iraq. For that Ware has been called 'lying pond scum', accused of being like other "surrender pussies" and promoting 'propaganda'. Seems to me other offcials have in fact been traveling for some time now, on the road from the airport to Baghdad --as did McCain, under heavy armored guard. So Ware believes McCain's is biased, cites evidence of why he believes that is so ... and that makes him a "surrender pussy', etc. Sounds like we need Borat 2, the sequel, lest we forget how moronic, naive and scary some people in the U.S really are.
d. webb at 10:37PM on Apr 2nd 2007
35. This analysis needs to be applied to O'Reilly and Hannity, et al at the Fox Noise Channel, where it would really do some good. Michael Ware is an honest reporter who's doing good work in dangerous territory. I appreciate John McCain's service and sacrifice to our country, but if Lyndon Johnson hadn't kept lying to the American People, long after he knew there was no hope for victory in Vietnam, many lives and limbs lost there would have been unecessary as would McCain's own imprisonment.
J at 12:19AM on Apr 3rd 2007
36. McCain is neither a credible observer of the war in Iraq, nor positioning himself to find a solution to the political gridlock in Washington.
Sure.. he served our Country honorably as a POW four decades ago. Yet, he is now no longer the thinking man he was just seven years ago during the 2000 election.
Yesterday, he was an independant opposed to Bush administration. Talk about a flip-flopper! McCain has become the new status-quo mouth piece for expansion of the Iraq War, more spending, and tragically more wounded and dead Americans, with no end but a civil war insight. Maybe he should spend less time making "unofficial declarations" on the Late Show with David Letterman, and less time on photo-op missions in Iraq. Instead.. spend more time thinking about how he can lead this country into a new direction.. meaning actually lead.
As for Mr.Ware, keep up the excellent reporting..!
Steven
Steven at 12:38AM on Apr 3rd 2007
37. McCain is neither a credible observer of the war in Iraq, nor positioning himself to find a solution to the political gridlock in Washington.
Sure.. he served our Country honorably as a POW four decades ago. Yet, he is now no longer the thinking man he was just seven years ago during the 2000 election.
Yesterday, he was an independant opposed to Bush administration. Talk about a flip-flopper! McCain has become the new status-quo mouth piece for expansion of the Iraq War, more spending, and tragically more wounded and dead Americans, with no end but a civil war insight. Maybe he should spend less time making "unofficial declarations" on the Late Show with David Letterman, and less time on photo-op missions in Iraq. Instead.. spend more time thinking about how he can lead this country into a new direction.. meaning actually lead.
As for Mr.Ware, keep up the excellent reporting..!
Steven
Steven at 12:39AM on Apr 3rd 2007
38. I think Ware's comments were right on and since
john McCain has decided to become just another
politican who will do anything to get elected,Ware
is calling them as he see them, right on.
Eugene at 12:59AM on Apr 3rd 2007
39. The comments made by Ware are a clear example of liberal biased reporting. His snickering is most unprofessional and annoying. He is not a good journalist.
ivan at 6:38AM on Apr 4th 2007
40. This Story Has About As Much Credibility As McCain's Assertion That "People Can Walk Freely Around Baghdad" We Saw How freely He Walked Around. Also Saw A Video of The press Conference In Question Without Any measure Of heckling(Unless You Call Pointed Questions being Asked of McCain By The Middle East Reporters Heckling)....Just More Spin(Propaganda) Produced By The Right Wing of America. Drudge Is Just Another Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh Or Even An Ugly Ann Coulter
JannetMoore at 8:06AM on Apr 3rd 2007
41. That freaking Ware was with an insurgent sniper team and WACTHED them hit one of our people and reported on it (yea look it up)) so screw him and the horse he rode in on along with anybody that looks like either one of their sorry-asses dig!
D.I.TUCKER at 4:48AM on Apr 3rd 2007
42. Ware made a legitimate comment - where does heckling come from? And how can MCcain go there for a couple of days and really know what's going on? I used to think MCcain was a level-headed and rational-minded person - he makes me sick/
David at 7:06AM on Apr 3rd 2007
43. mccain lied its that simple what are you people thinking .your not
peggy at 6:56AM on Apr 3rd 2007
44. he was in the green zone for gosh sakes did you all not know that ...they never ventured beyond it what a liar mccain is
peggy at 7:04AM on Apr 3rd 2007
45. Its easy to come into country, walk around with 100 soldiers protecting your butt, wear a flack jacket, visit a market when it has been cleared of everyone except the dignitary, look around and say, yes, everything is just fine, getting better. How about the 150 plus killed by suicide bombers? How about the 80 something GIs killed in March? If that is better I'd hate to see it get worse. Last comment. You folks that think war is go great? Enlist! Get your body over there and serve as a target. Then come back and tell us what you think about it?
Don Dishman at 7:44AM on Apr 3rd 2007