Shoe Tossing Media Darling Also Improves Bleak Shoe Economy

CNN, which long ago abandoned the concept of credible journalism, ran a story today regarding the attack by Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi on our nation's President as a feel good story about the shoe industry.

The title itself reveals that CNN reporters simply can't contain their giddiness when it comes to covering someone attacking the President:

Bush assailant kick-starts sales for shoemaker

The media are simply tripping over themselves in their attempt to uncover even the most loosely associated positive aspects of a physical attack on our President.

The piece reiterates the theme throughout the MSM in their attempts to glorify the incident and the reporter involved.  In fact, the following statement seems to be mandatory in every article which covers the topic: 

...Al-Zaidi has been hailed as a hero by many Iraqis...

Shouldn't that read ‘Al-Zaidi has been hailed as a hero by the American media?'

Another seemingly mandatory statement is the oft repeated line about Arab tradition (emphasis mine):

Shouting as he was dragged to the floor, the reporter called his shoe-throwing -- a traditional insult in Arab culture -- a "farewell kiss" to a "dog" who launched the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

One has to wonder if the Arab media is doing the same thing by injecting American culture into their reports, so their readers can better understand the other side.  Is Al-Jazeera reporting the aforementioned statement in the following manner?

Shouting as he was dragged to the floor, the reporter called his shoe-throwing - traditionally considered an assault in American culture -- ...

Just a thought.

Photo Credit:  AFP/Getty Images