Based On Zero Evidence, Associated Press Declares That Support For Pelosi Syria Trip Is "Minority" View
April 5, 2007 -- 12:15 PM EST // //
This Washington Post editorial on Nancy Pelosi's Syria trip flagged by Think Progress and Atrios is indeed awful. But I think I've found a piece of journalism on the trip that's even worse -- indeed, it may even lay a fair claim to being the single worst piece of journalism yet on this whole story, which would be quite an achievement given the absolutely dismal performance of the media on it.
It's this Associated Press piece, which reports that support for Pelosi's trip is a "minority" view. The evidence of this? The opinions of two Republicans and one Democrat. That's it. Seriously. It says:
''I believe Speaker Pelosi has a right to go to Syria,'' [Bill] Richardson said in an interview with The Associated Press while campaigning in New Hampshire. ''She's the speaker of the House. She's delivering a tough message in support of Israel and support of U.S. policy.''''We should be talking directly to Syria,'' he said. ''If we're going to resolve our problems with Hezbollah and advance the Middle East peace process, we should talk to Syria and deliver them a tough message and possibly initiate sanctions against Syria for not being cooperative. Delivering a tough message and seeing if there's common ground is better than not talking.''
But that view was clearly in the minority.
Aside from Bill Richardson, whose views on the trip were taken into account to support this conclusion? Here's the full list:
(1) Mitt Romney(2) Michael Bloomberg
Yep -- that's it. If you don't believe it, check for yourself.
Come on, now. A minority of what, for Christ's sake? Presidential candidates? Probably evenly split along partisan lines. Federal officials? Is there really any doubt that a majority of them support Pelosi's trip? After all, Dems now control both Houses of Congress -- remember? -- and even some Republicans back the trip.
More broadly, support for engagement with Syria is not a minority view when you solicit the opinions of that marginal group of people known as the American public. A CBS poll taken in December, for instance, found that a majority -- 51% -- favor engaging Syria, while only 40% oppose it. Another poll from December similarly found that 52% favor engagement with Syria while only 28% oppose it.
Look, stories like this AP effort are only useful as a window on the mindset of many in the press. Indeed, judging by the coverage of this trip, the only place where a "minority" thinks the Syria trip's acceptable is in the traditional media. And as happens all too often these days, this is way out of step with what's actually happening politically in this country, as well as what the American public actually thinks.
Update: Slightly edited from original.
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