In his weekly Friday column confusingly titled “Media should offer Bush a mea culpa,” USA Today founder Al Neuharth contended “many of us in the media owe a mea culpa to Bush -- and to you -- for failing to properly inform” him and the public “of the possible consequences” of Bush's “major misdeeds.” We've lacked enough critiques of Bush policies? Bush, Neuharth condescendingly opined, “simply did not understand much of what he did as the self-proclaimed 'decider'” and “he listened too much to his two worst advisers, Vice President Cheney and the forgotten former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.”
He scolded journalists for having “failed to warn” of the Iraq “ mistake” and for how “most journalists (including me) failed to warn adequately what the credit card craze and home buying binge might lead to. Bush couldn't comprehend it.” Thus, “many of us in the media owe a mea culpa to Bush -- and to you -- for failing to properly inform of the possible consequences of those major misdeeds.”
In the “Other views on Bush legacy” below Neuharth's column, former New York Times reporter Alex Jones, nor Director of Harvard's Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy, maintained: “The press owes a mea culpa, but not to Bush, who disparaged and ignored news he didn't like. It is owed to the public.”
An excerpt from Neuharth's January 9 “Plain Talk” column:
....Bush's departure will have widely varying thoughts from his admirers (there are still some), his critics (there are many) and his sympathizers (a growing number).Count me among the latter two. Here's why:
- He simply did not understand much of what he did as the self-proclaimed "decider."
- He listened too much to his two worst advisers, Vice President Cheney and the forgotten former secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
- He didn't listen enough to his dad, the former president who understood it better.
I voted for "W" the first time he ran for president, as did 50,456,002of us. But I wised up before he ran for re-election.
Iraq was the main reason....
Most journalists failed to warn of that mistake....
Likewise, domestically most journalists (including me) failed to warn adequately what the credit card craze and home buying binge might lead to. Bush couldn't comprehend it and others in the government ignored or encouraged it.
Many of us in the media owe a mea culpa to Bush -- and to you -- for failing to properly inform of the possible consequences of those major misdeeds.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
A man whose time has passed
Sat, 01/10/2009 - 23:34 ET by d1carterA man whose time has passed him by...
I think
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 08:06 ET by 10ksnookerLiberals are born without brains. This fellow illustrates that point exactly. Now that they don't have Bush to kick around, they need to have Bush to kick around, because in the end it is they who are stupid. Or at the very least, thinks everyone is an Odummer stupid voter.
The 2009 budget belongs to Democrats, the first stimulus belongs to Democrats, the TARP bailout belongs to Democrats and none of it has done a damn thing, as was predicted by Republicans.
The collapse of the housing industry belongs to Democrats.
As will the next stupid do nothing make work bailout will belong to Democrats. It won't take long for the people who have a brain to figure out Odummer is stupid. I doubt Odummer voters will ever figure that out, such is the way of the brain dead.
And no, Cuba is not a prosperous nation, it is a pit of misery. And no Venezuela is not a prosperous nation it is the next up and coming pit of misery. It's what happens to all the liberal dreams for a Communist utopia, they turn into pits of misery and then gulags.
Come on The naive One, lets see what you got. Show us the chumpy plan, no hiding behind the teleprompter anymore. Do you think chumpy knows people remember what he said yesterday and it is not the same as what he is saying today?
Neuharth... Stick
Sat, 01/10/2009 - 23:43 ET by bigtimerNeuharth...
Stick it.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
The arrogance of this man...
Sat, 01/10/2009 - 23:58 ET by Army BratThe President should have consulted with everyone before making any decisions.
If only he had consulted with the press, we would never have failed in Iraq. It's a wll known fact that members of the media have second sight or at least a crystal ball.
Oh wait... I'm pretty sure that whole situation in Iraq is lookin pretty good now. So the warning regarding Iraq would have been???
What the Iraqis do with their freedom is another matter.
He should have consulted "his dad". I just don't know what to say to that...it's so damn stupid. As if he never consulted with the ex President, his father.
Cheney and Rumsfeld...poor advisers? Get a clue Neuharth.
President Bush and a bunch of Republicans tried to head off the housing mess when they got called "racist", by all your Democrat buddies twit.
Apparently all of the worlds ills could be avoided if those darned journalists would just speak up.
Happy Trails...
Hey, at least he is blaming
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 00:18 ET by motherbeltHey, at least he is blaming the media for something!
Those self-appointed guardians of the free world failed in their duty?
A great example of a journalist's sense of self-importance.
Well, Al, now we know who to blame when things go wrong!
Journalists and economics
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 00:06 ET by nkviking75Likewise, domestically most journalists (including me) failed to warn adequately what the credit card craze and home buying binge might lead to. Bush couldn't comprehend it and others in the government ignored or encouraged it.
Mr. Bush is the only President in US History to hold an MBA, so I'd be willing to bet he had a pretty good idea what the economic climate was like. Unfortunately, he didn't always make the right choices. But he was not oblivious to the problem.
As for warnings from journalists, there are endless examples of reporters who clearly do not understand the realities of economics, even when they hold Nobel Prizes in the field. And Mr. Bush could not turn things around by himself, especially when saddled by a Democrat majority in Congress.
Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!
Neuharth's paper is
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 00:09 ET by nadadhimmiNeuharth's paper is virulently anti-2nd Amendment for the "little people", while he himself carries a concealed weapon for his OWN protection. Kind of like Rosie O'Donnel and John Melancamp. These "elites" think they know what's best for us, the serfs. He can take a flying f#ck at a rolling do-nut.
nada, you seriously need to
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 00:20 ET by motherbeltnada, you seriously need to clean up your language here. This isn't DU and it isn't welcome.
I hope the administrators give you a warning and kick you off if you refuse to comply.
Yes motherbelt, I promise
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 12:05 ET by nadadhimmiYes motherbelt, I promise I'll be a good boy. Now may I have my supper please?
Some people want to blame
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 00:23 ET by mostlymoderateSome people want to blame Bush for everything. Is Obama going to be blamed for everything that happens under the sun on his watch? I doubt it.
Failed to warn = didn't think it was a mistake at the time
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 00:46 ET by KC MulvilleWho are they trying to kid? This is the most craven, self-serving, asinine argument they could possibly present. They're trying to portray it as if they knew Iraq was a mistake (because of their superior intelligence and wisdom?), but for some mysterious reason, they "failed" to warn everyone.
The media didn't "know" anything.
The media went along with the prevailing wind; when the wind changed, they suddenly "remembered" everything differently.
If we take USA Today at their word, we'd have to believe that USA Today had good reason to know that Saddam wasn't a threat. But they had no good reason. They knew nothing. For them to come back now and pretend that they did ... simply leaves the question as to why they didn't speak up? Which gives them 2 choices:
Either they're cowards for knowing the truth and "failing" to do anything to stop the "disaster" ... or ...
At the time they didn't know anything, either.
And what Neuharth is saying, whether he realizes it or not, is that he'd rather that the public view him as a coward than as a dunce. In my opinion, he's both, and the only question is which he's more of.
I have no respect for this fool and coward.
This whole thing is bizarre.
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 01:08 ET by thebutlerdiditThis whole thing is bizarre. What is supposed to be the point? What is the resolution? I hate sound disparaging to someone elderly, but does he have alzheimers? I'm being serious here. It truly makes zero sense. If your going to try to rewrite history, I think it helps to be coherent.
It appears the sooner USA
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 02:04 ET by ConservativeRexIt appears the sooner USA Today closes it doors for the last time, the better off the USA will be.
This kind of BS we can get any day of the week from the European press. I'll be damned if we need it from this sorry excuse of an American.
The preening, brass-necked
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 06:37 ET by Jack BauerThe preening, brass-necked elitist arrogance of the likes of Neuharth is truly mind-blowing.
#1. The brazen assertion that it is the "job" of a reporter to "warn" people, as if it's their "judgement" that the whole world is waiting for.
#2. The underlying assumption that is the job of hacks to lecture on just about anything under the sun, as if they have some special and superior insight
Have you ever met a journalist? Maybe someone you went to school with, or to college with? Believe me, they are no brighter than the rest of us, and some are plain dumb.
Just look at Mr Neuharth. They do, howver, have a very high opinion about themselves.
Well said, Jack! The
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 07:54 ET by motherbeltWell said, Jack!
The preening, brass-necked elitist arrogance
I called it a journalist's sense of self-importance.
I like your version better!
thanks mother -- my
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 08:59 ET by Jack Bauerthanks mother -- my brother's a journalist now sub-editor on a big regional newspaper.
Some of the stuff he tells me about his lazy, boozing, fatuous, dim colleagues.
There IS a reason why reporters regularly head polls on the lest liked profession.
Just shut up and REPORT. I don't need some jerk who went to journalism school to make up my mind for me,thank you very much
I thought this guy was
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 12:26 ET by RR GOPI thought this guy was retired?
BTW, did he ever own up to fathering that baby girl outside of marriage, or is that a badge of honor amongst Liberals nowadays?
Funny how so many of these World War II veterans are so Liberal-theirs was the only righteous war America fought since the Civil War in their way of thinking . "Greatest Generation". Well, thanks to them we got the whiny, Communist heavy "Baby Boomer-later ME" generation.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
Make Up for It
Sun, 01/11/2009 - 21:27 ET by Lee BoggsSo Al, will you do a better job at informing us of Obama's misdeeds?
the Iraq “ mistake”
Mon, 01/12/2009 - 15:27 ET by wizardjrHow the hell is winning a mistake???
There were some strategic and tactical mistakes. Every battle and every war are strewn with them. Whose flag is still flying on the battlefield at the end is all that counts militarily.
I can't think of a better ending to Iraq than the current situation. The Iraqis are in control. We are pulling back while providing support. The towel heads have left tens of thousands of dead on the field and have little stomach for the fight any more.
Works for me.