The Minister of Propaganda Speaks Out, Sorta

So I’m listening to a live press conference today with the Minister of Propaganda Scott McClellen, when I have a few insights. He was desperately trying to dance around a distinction between bad leaks, which are ones that hurt the White House politically and are used for “crass political” gain by Democrats, and good leaks, which are ones that help the White House politically and are made because they are “in the public interest.” The latter are therefore “public releases of important information” and not really leaks at all.

When the reporters attempted to get him to clarify this good leak/bad leak difference, he accused them of twisting his words and engaging in semantics (which, apparently, is a bad thing). When the reporters pointed out the Minister’s contradictions, he launched into a long semantic justification of his phrasing (which, apparently was a good thing).

The other major discussion the Minister of Propaganda had with the reporters was over questions citing a federal prosecutor’s release yesterday of testimony by a former White House Staffer that he had been told that the President had authorized the leak/release of previously classified information to a reporter. McClellan explained that the President could declassify classified information anytime he chose to do so, and refused to say whether a formal process was necessary for him to do this, or if he could just decide on a moment’s notice to declassify something. When pressed for details, the Minister insisted, as he has many times before, that he couldn’t comment on matters that were involved in ongoing investigations or legal proceedings.

It suddenly dawned on me that he will therefore never have to answer questions about any of the scandals surrounding the Bush Administration, because the investigations and legal proceedings will continue for the next several years! He will be safely retired and all the statutes of limitation will be expired before he will ever have to testify about his knowledge of the internal workings of the Administration.

Further thought also reveals the underlying Christian dualism beneath the Minister’s linguistic tactics. “Since” the President represents the Forces of Good, anything he does or says is good, and any criticism from the Forces of Evil (the Democrats, Greens, Libertarians, or anyone else who disagrees with the President) is “therefore” bad — end of discussion! White vs. black, right vs. wrong, no shades of gray allowed — let alone the full spectrum of deceit and incompetence demonstrated by this administration.

Would somebody *please* give the Democrats in Congress enough spinal transplants to enable the impeachment trials this nation needs? Just remember, “Impeach Cheney first!”

About Isaac Bonewits

World famous (or is that notorious) Druid/Wiccan/Heathen/Santarian author, speaker, pundit, etc. Google me to see what I've been doing with my life and what my friends and enemies think about me.
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2 Responses to The Minister of Propaganda Speaks Out, Sorta

  1. Stan says:

    Now I get it !
    I’ve often wondered why the Bu-shites were so dead set against stem cell research : They’re afraid somebody will start growing backbones for Congress !
    Here is a little item that warms the cockles of my heart by Greg Palast, of Buzzflash : http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=Convict_GANGSTER_GOVERNMENT
    Book ‘em Dan-o !

  2. Todd Covert says:

    Of course we’ve known we were in for a long, bumpy ride ever since “You either with us or you’re with the terrorists.” (For which, I have to say, I owe the President a debt of gratitude: If I had to pay him a royalty for every time I’ve used that comment in a class or workshop to illustrate what “dualistic thinking” means, I’d be a much poorer man…but I digress…)

    McClellan’s behavior puts me in mind of some letters to the editor I was reading the other day regarding coverage of the newly-revealed “Gospel of Judas” manuscript: The new text, of course, makes explicit what most rational people reading Christian myth always interpolated into the Passion tale, i.e., that Judas was the most important player besides Jesus in carrying out “God’s plan.” But the yahoos writing in to the paper (a tricky feat, really, for people unable to see beyond the ends of their noses), won’t be dissuaded from the tradition they were brainwashed in: Judas is a traitor and evil cuz…well, cuz he’s a traitor…and that’s the end of the discussion. Why? Because the Bible sez so. And that’s the “Good Book”…not just some document from centuries ago that somebody or other decided was important to save just cuz it said somethin’ about Our Lord Jesus and what he done…er…wait…brain confused…feeling sleepy…must eat Moon Pie…

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