Washington Times Propagates False Headline: ‘Senate Rejects Iraq Pullout’

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/19/wtimes-headline-iraq/

Washington Times Propagates False Headline: ‘Senate Rejects Iraq Pullout’

In today’s paper, the Washington Times blatantly mischaracterizes yesterday’s Senate vote that failed to end the conservative filibuster over the Levin/Reed Iraq redeployment bill. In a front-page blaring headline, the Times reports: ‘Senate Rejects Iraq Pullout‘:


The headline is false and misleading for a couple of reasons.

– First, the vote taken by the Senate yesterday was not a “rejection” of the Iraq redeployment bill because the bill was not a vote on redeployment. Instead, it was a vote to end the conservative filibuster. Having failed to receive the necessary 60 votes, the Senate was unable to move to a final vote on whether or not to pass the Iraq redeployment legislation.

– Second, a majority of the Senate voted in favor of proceeding with the Levin/Reed bill. The final tally was 52-47. That’s hardly a rejection of an “Iraq pullout.”

Only the Washington Times would be brazen enough to say a majority of the Senate voting to proceed with a bill to change course in Iraq was actually the “Senate rejecting Iraq pullout.”

Atrios, Media Matters, and David Kurtz have caught other media distortions of the Senate’s action.

[bryant69]

1. Yeah - it is deceptive

While superficially accurate - certainly when Democrats pulled of similar acts during Bush's judicial nominations fights, they were not described at the Senate.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[meegbear]

2. Fox Noise did it too ...

No surprise here.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/07/18/fox-news-twists-the-senate-iraq-vote/

[MiniMe]

3. I wish that the republican daddies had pulled out

[underpants]

4. I think that the people are reading through this

I really really do

[Lone_Star_Dem]

5. If I recall the original AP headline said, "Senate Republicans Reject Iraq Pullout Plan"

Blurring of the facts in such a way as the WT has done here is deceptive at worst and shoddy journalism at best. What it isn't is factual.

[stirlingsliver]

6. Rev. Sun Yung Moon Has Spoken

The Washington Times is owned by Rev. Sun Yung Moon (The Korean guy who thinks he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ).

Why anyone looks at, reads, or cares what the Washington Times says is beyond me.

[JacquesMolay]

7. Man, that is f***ing dishonest ...

... that's the System closing ranks - the military-industrial complex and the media can't countenance our leaving Iraq. It, of course, should read, 'GOP desperately filibusters to prolong Iraq'.

[babylonsister]

8. Yep, and it's going on all over the country; we know why there's

30% of people who support these criminals; it's articles like this that convince them.