Tony Snow's Version of Reality

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow's version of reality: "Earlier, speaking to reporters, Snow, continuing the administration's media focus on the war on terror, accused some in the Democratic Party of saying 'we shouldn't fight the war' and 'we shouldn't apprehend al-Qaeda' or even 'question al-Qaeda.'" [link]

What kind of world is this when the White House Press secretary can utter statements that push the boundaries of propaganda to the outer limits of creativity, and yet go unchallenged? How could Snow have mischaracterized even more egregiously; by stating that democrats rendezvous with aliens from pluto?

If by the first of the three quick quotes by Snow above, he is referring to the Iraq war, then yes, many democrats, some republicans, and a majority of Americans think that our efforts to transform Iraq -- a nation no more connected to al-Qaeda before the war than 40 other countries by the White House's own accounting -- have been counterproductive, poorly managed, and perhaps an ongoing mistake. That perception has little to do with al-Qaeda, as opposed to the view that our efforts in Iraq have not been properly framed, sold to the world, or managed; may not be able to play much of a role in how Iraq's warring ethnic factions play out; are diverting us from focusing on catching al-Qaeda and preventing a what is becoming a troubling resurgence of the al-Qaeda base operations and Taliban in Afghanistan; and enabling radical terrorist cell recruitment. It's a point of view.

But Snow's subsequent statements, that because of this, or because some democratic leaders (including many who would focus much more heavily on capturing al-Qaeda) have different ideas with respect to how best to minimize, root out, and eradicate this loose network of anti-Western terrorist cells that pose the real challenge that we face, somehow believe we "shouldn't apprehend," or "even question" al-Qaeda, are simply beyond the pale. ...As beyond the pale as it gets. But yet all too frequent in what is becoming a country rapidly dominated by inane rhetoric over reality, even as our policy understanding seems to go further and further awry.

Snow's statements are also incredibly insulting to democrats. It is a huge wonder they take it.

But Snow's statements also raise the question as to "why?" Why must he so egregiously mischaracterize reality in order to support his points? (Why must the RNC today?)

As for anything that does not support Snow's spin in general? "Democratic talking points." Including Facts.

Speaking of "democrats who take it," NBC reporter David Gregory, in this same briefing, had an interesting comment. Snow, according to this Editor and Publisher article, gave Gregory some grief, who responded: "You can do that to the Democrats; don't do it to me."

What was Snow doing to him? Answering his question by saying it "was a democratic argument," then taking continued issue, accusing Gregory of being rude, and pointing his finger at him when Gregory insisted that Snow not dismiss what Gregory felt was a legitimate question that way. Apparently, in the new world of spinspeak, not actually repeating republican talking points, or asking questions, and insisting on answers (in other words, a reporters job) is "being rude."

For the record, what was Gregory's question? He asked, given that the public, as he suggested, may well wonder, why the President did not admit more failings on the administration's part.

Was this democratic spin? Or was it a fair question for an administration that has established an abysmal record in the eyes of many, yet seems to shirk from ever taking accountability despite making statements and promises that have repeatedly turned out to be wrong, or not kept, or simply untrue. There seem to have been a lot of mistakes made. It would seem that if it was simply democratic spin by Gregory, Tony Snow could have simply answered it by saying that there have not been many failings on the administration's part.

Presumably even Mr. Snow could not say this with a straight face.