White House Press Corps Belatedly Rediscovers Spine
You've probably read all about it. But there's too much jaw-dropping material in the transcript of the July 11 White House Press Briefing to make it into any news or blog report. Read the whole thing for yourself. It won't take more than five minutes if you can just keep scanning.
One of the lighter moments:
QUESTION: Considering the widespread interest and the absolutely frantic Democrat reaction to Karl Rove’s excellent speech to conservatives last month, does the president hope that Karl will give a lot more speeches?
MCCLELLAN: He continues to give speeches.
He was traveling this weekend talking about the importance of strengthening Social Security. And he’s continued to go out and give speeches.
posted by Undersecretary to the Deputy Commissariat at 11:52 PM
1 Comments:
I had a discussion with the Laird recently about the rhetorical effectiveness of impugning manhood- fortunately this also works for women.
For example, a hypothetical TV argument on unions at Walmart- "So you're saying that we sheepishly do whatever giant companies want, keep silent, and like any little girl do exactly what we're told to do, not band together as men and women in a union to ask to share fairly in the wealth we are building for others. You, sir, sound like an fearful old woman, nagging American workers not to rock the boat."
The White House Press corps has improved enormously since their manhood was impugned after the obvious failure of not calling BS on the Iraq war.
It is the greatest fear of conservative men to be thought effeminate, and there is nothing more unmanly than not questioning and doing what you're told all the time. I am told that Republican precinct meetings are very much one leader dictating what will happen and quiet following sheep.
The point to be driven home: to speak up and to question is manly, to conform and just go along is weak and girlish. (A great word, "girlish" - not directly insulting but all the more devastating. Example - Karl Rove's girlish fear of responsibility and consequences is keeping him silent while the woman he confided in sits in jail.)
A vulnerability to be vigorously exploited.
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