Media Talking Points In The McClellan Story?

Newsbusters has a story up about Katie Couric accusing Ari Fleischer and other former administration officials of using White House talking points in response to questions about Scott McClellan’s book

Couric insisted “it sounds as if you all are operating from the same play book,” before asking: “Did you get together and discuss how to respond to this?”

Fleischer denied Couric's assumption: “No, I think that it's just that we all worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Scott for so long and we never heard Scott talk about manipulation, talk about propaganda.”

That’s kind of interesting considering that’s exactly what Chris Matthews accused Fleischer of on Hardball (sorry about the HufPo link but it’s the only transcript and video I could find)

FLEISCHER: I don't think this sounds like Scott. My point here is that this is not, it doesn't sound like Scott McClellan. And if Scott harbored these doubts, if he had any nagging questions inside him, the principled thing to do would have been not to accept the press secretary job. I find this book myself, to be puzzling. I think there is a lot –

MATTHEWS: That's the White House talking point, Ari. You're using the word puzzling. That is White House talking point.

FLEISCHER: Chris I just agreed with what Dana said. What's wrong with agreeing with what somebody says? It's an accurate observation. I think it shouldn't surprise you that people might agree.

MATTHEWS: The exact lingo you're using.

FLEISCHER: You said it and I agreed with it.

MATTHEWS: I find that there is an amazing synchronicity of reaction that sounds like it's regimental.

So is the media using the same talking points on how to go after people (or maybe it’s just Ari Fleischer) in the Scott McClellan story? Of course Couric and Matthews didn't get together and discuss this, it's just as liberals they share the same set of assumptions. Yet for some reason they are shocked that people who worked in the same administration share similar assumptions.

Even if they are using talking points, so what? It happens every day in politics.
Funny but I don't remember the media ever going after Democrats for using the same talking points yet for some reason in this case it's some sort of scandal.

posted by DrewM. at 09:31 PM

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