Washington Post Blogger Must Not Read His Own Paper

Washington Post blogger Greg Sargent, who writes under the by-line The Plum Line, criticizes pollster Whit Ayres for suggesting that the failed Times Square bomb incident gives Republicans a political opportunity.

Sargent closes his blog with:

Ayres is the GOP equivalent of prominent Dem pollster Stan Greenberg of Democracy Corps or John Podesta of the liberal Center for American Progress. If Greenberg or Podesta had explicitly said after the capture of the Shoe Bomber under Bush that it presented Dems with a political opportunity, you can bet that some folks would have made a lot of noise about it.

Here’s what Greg misses: The “Dems” don’t necessarily have to overtly declare a “political opportunity” as long as they have the Post and other MSM outlets to exercise the opportunity for them.

For example, here’s a January 2008 WaPo blog by Andrew Cohen who writes under the by-line Bench Conference:

Jose Padilla, the once-upon-a-time-but-not-really “dirty bomb” suspect, was sentenced today in federal court in Miami to 17 years and four months for his role in a terror conspiracy that barely got off the ground. The sentence is shorter by far than the 30-years-to-life sentence recommended under the federal sentencing guidelines.

Why the break for the guy introduced to us in 2002 as the face of terror? Easy: U.S. District Court Judge Marcia G. Cooke, a Bush appointee, was never convinced that the government had a strong case against Padilla and two other convicted in the case. As she said today, “There is no evidence that these defendants personally maimed, kidnapped or killed anyone in the United States or elsewhere.”

The government’s lawyers opposed her every step of the way, but Cooke did what she could to even the playing field for the hapless Padilla, a former Chicago gang member. But in the end had to accept an unseemly quick verdict rendered by a jury of Floridians rushing to get out of court after a long trial. She was a genuine judge in a kangaroo court case; a model of reality in a sea of surreality — and if you don’t believe me, just ask the CIA officials who destroyed interrogation videotapes that were material and relevant to Padilla’s defense.

Since when was Padilla ever the “face of terror?” That’s Osama, isn’t it? And never mind that the “hapless” Padilla and two co-defendants were, in an “unseemly quick verdict.” convicted by a jury of participating in a conspiracy to murder, maim or kidnap. Cohen’s clear intent was to ridicule the prosecution, belittle the jury, and imply that justice was not done. Sure sounds like he was conjuring up a “political opportunity.”

As for Greenberg and Podesta:

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, just minutes before learning of the terrorist attacks on America, Democratic strategist James Carville was hoping for President Bush to fail, telling a group of Washington reporters: “I certainly hope he doesn’t succeed.”

Carville was joined by Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg, who seemed encouraged by a survey he had just completed that revealed public misgivings about the newly minted president.

“We rush into these focus groups with these doubts that people have about him, and I’m wanting them to turn against him,” Greenberg admitted.

The pollster added with a chuckle of disbelief: “They don’t want him to fail. I mean, they think it matters if the president of the United States fails.”

Minutes later, as news of the terrorist attacks reached the hotel conference room where the Democrats were having breakfast with the reporters, Carville announced: “Disregard everything we just said! This changes everything!”

The press followed Carville’s orders, never reporting his or Greenberg’s desire for Bush to fail.

So it was okay for Bush to fail until the Twin Towers came down, at least for awhile anyway.

And let’s remember that Podesta – along with the New York Times – jumped on the Democrat bandwagon calling for the impeachment of Federal Judge Jay Bybee for his involvement in writing memos arguing for the legality of alleged torture.

Already on record supporting [Jay] Bybee’s impeachment or resignation are: Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Senator Russ Feingold, the New York Times, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the Courage Campaign, Progressive Democrats of America, Bruce Fein, Common Cause, Democrats.com, People for the American Way, The World Can’t Wait, ThinkProgress, Crooks and Liars, Digby, Scott Horton, After Downing Street, ImpeachBybee.org, Jeremy Scahill, Dave Lindorff, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Senator Patrick Leahy, American Freedom Campaign, National Lawyers Guild, John Podesta, MoveOn, Veterans for Peace, National Accountability Network, Code Pink, Velvet Revolution, and the Salt Lake Tribune.

So please, Greg, don’t whine about political opportunists. Makes you sound silly.