Global War on Terror Watch: Michael Gerson Shames Media for Revealing SWIFT Anti-Terror Program
President Bush and “Wordsmith” Michael Gerson
The Examiner: Bush advisor shames media for revealing anti-terror program
A top adviser to President Bush said Wednesday that poor judgment, not liberal bias, caused the New York Times to reveal anti-terrorism programs, for which the paper should be ashamed.
“It’s not a matter of liberal bias – it’s a matter of judgment,” Michael Gerson told The Examiner in his West Wing office. “Everyone in our society, including the press, has a responsibility to the public good, to the public interest.
Flap agrees in part. Bill Keller of the New York Times is a biased lefty MSM hack and because of his inherent distrust of politicians including President Bush exhibited extremely poor judgment in publishing the story.
“And I know that there are many reporters in this town, and many news organizations, that would be very hesitant about running this story,” he added.
Gerson, best known as the author of Bush’s most memorable speeches, was referring to last week’s disclosure of a program to track international financial transfers by suspected terrorists. The Times first published the story, prompting the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times to follow suit.
Earlier this year, the Times also published a story exposing a Bush administration program to track the international phone calls of terrorism suspects. Administration officials say such disclosures have undermined the war against terror.
“Even in the elite media, even in what people regard as the liberal media, there is a sense of restraint on issues like this, in many places,” Gerson said on his last day on the job. “That should maybe shame the people who don’t share it.”
Flap wishes Gerson well in his new life outside of the government – even though he is WRONG on this assessment of the New York Times and Bill Keller.
And why did the SWIFT Program Matter?
Read John Hinderacker over at Powerline: Why SWIFT Mattered
Read it ALL
Graphic Courtesy of Michelle Malkin
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Global War on Terror Watch: Piling on the New York Times?
Global War on Terror Watch: Eric Lichtblau of the New York Times Explains SWIFT Scoop
Los Angeles Times Watch: Patterico and Danziger Dump the Los Angeles Dog Trainer
Global War on Terror Watch: Dear Mr. Keller – Why?
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