March 12, 2005
The Shameless "Debate" on Social Security Reform (and something on North Korea too!)
The White House follows a practiced formula for each of the meetings. First it picks a state in which generally it can pressure a lawmaker or two, and then it lines up panelists who will sing the praises of the president's plan. Finally, it loads the audience with Republicans and other supporters.
The night before the event, the chosen participants gathered for a rehearsal in the hall in which the president would appear the next day. An official dispatched by the White House played the president and asked questions. "We ran through it five times before the president got there," Darr said.
And to think that the people were actually outraged over Rumsfeld's embarrasment by the Tennessee National Guardsman last December.
Not as though this is the first time that the White House has shamelessly combined politics and theatre. As the post notes, this was quite a successful model during the campaign as well. And let us not forget the nice photoshop work on that campaign ad last year. The pun may be old, but whatever it takes, indeed.
Finally, in keeping with the East-Asia focus of this blog, and just so there are no accusations of partisian hackery, here's a link to a story from WaPo's arch-nemesis on Secretary of State Rice's unapologetic stance towards North Korea after labelling them an "outpost of tyranny."
Fair and balanced.
# posted by Saru : 5:14 PM
