Staunch Defense And Daring Offense

If there were any doubt that certain elements of the mainstream media have taken sides in the midterm election (and, really, there isn't any doubt, but play along with my hypothetical for a moment), those doubts can be dispelled by reference to two NY Times articles in the last two days.  In one they play defense; the other represents offense.

In the first article the NY Times, water buckets in hand, rushes to extinguish the firestorm created by Sen. John Kerry.  They do so by burying his remarks deep in the story, then inaccurately transcribing and presenting the actual remarks.  These are simple statements, and it should be a simple thing to just write what the man said.  Don't try to soften his remarks for your sensitive audience, and don't bury those remarks so central to the ongoing controversy where only the few and the proud would read them.

In the second article the Times does one of the things it has proven to do so well - disclose classified national security information.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 — A classified briefing prepared two weeks ago by the United States Central Command portrays Iraq as edging toward chaos, in a chart that the military is using as a barometer of civil conflict.

The writers then continue to paint a miserable picture of Iraq for the next umpteen paragraphs, until this, in the second to last paragraph.

The chart does note some positive developments. Specifically, it notes that “hostile rhetoric” by political and religious leaders has not increased. It also notes that Iraqi security forces are refusing less often than in the past to take orders from the central government and that there has been a drop-off in mass desertions.

We wouldn't want those bits of good news too near the top.  Mario Loyola (ht: Michelle Malkin) has a really good final question in his list.

And while we're at it, I would love to understand why the law doesn't prohibit the propagation of strategic national secrets in wartime — which has always been understood as treason.

So one article on defense, one article on offense, and both articles against a common opponent - the Bush administration.  The Times has made itself an unofficial media arm of the DNC.