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Fox News Calls Troop Increase "Escalation"
Has the White House language machine lost the support of its favorite news outlet when it comes to the terminology it prefers to use to describe the proposed increase in troop strength? Sunday afternoon on Fox News, anchor Rudi Bakhtiar used the following words in describing the "surge" proposal: "a rapid influx of forces," "a troop increase," and most glaring of all, "[if Bush] chooses to escalate the war." Yep, even Fox News writers are using the word "escalate" now. To watch the video, click here.
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I wouldn't get too worked up about the E word in this context. It sounds like the reporter was paraphrasing Pelosi.
January 9, 2007 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Most of the media outlets and its various talking-heads are calling this thing "escalation." I don't think it holds that much political mojo anymore.
January 9, 2007 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fox pundits would actually have preferred "kill the bastards," but it was family hour.
John
http://www.haberarts.com/
January 9, 2007 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Fox News is using the word that the adminstration wants used.
I thought Bush might actually do some good by, perhaps, ending sanctions and letting Iraqis move on with their lives but now they're stuck in a much worse quagmire than before.
So Bush and Fox News is appealing to our hope that "only one more BIG push" is needed.
It's a sad day and since Bush is polling lower lately, I think Americans are telling him: "games up."
January 9, 2007 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Since I'm prone to flight of ideas, my take home message in this clip is that reporters from CNN and other news outlets let FoxNews make statements that question the integrity their current networks because they may have to rely on Fox for future employment. (Bakhtiar used to be on CNN)
So far MSNBC seems to be the only news outlet willing to respond to Fox's wingnut bullying tactics (Scarborough and Olbermann). Parent network NBC reporter Andrea Mitchell did a total collapse when Bill-O asked her to name any consevatives on her network. This despite the fact that Bill-O attacks NBC News, MSNBC and NBC entertainment.
Yes an 18-24 month "surge" is an escalation. The Saddam Hussein hanging was a "public relations diaster". The facts do have a decidedly liberal bias (obviously stolen from Colbert, or was it Stewart?).
January 9, 2007 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
J. McCutchen
Make The Pyre Higher?
Just Say NO to the Surging in Bush's Loins!
Find a MoveOn Event Near You
January 10, 2007 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink