President Bush is suffering from Plame damage

Now that we have media confirmation  that the leak of Plame’s identify was not a Bush/Cheney conspiracy to silence war critics, it might serve us well to examine the damage done by the media to this administration.

The media unquestionably provided a consistent drum beat of allegations of corruption surrounding this matter. I could provide innumerable links to examples, but you can google it yourselves just as well.

But what was the real damage and is it calculable? Interestingly enough, there are numbers that show what the damage was to the President’s credibility. Polling Report has a page devoted to the Plame leak case. Let’s review:

ABC/Washington Post asked in September of 2003:

"The U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether someone in the White House broke the law by identifying a former diplomat's wife as an undercover CIA agent. The former diplomat claims this was done to punish him for criticizing U.S. policy on Iraq. Have you heard or read anything about this situation, or not?"
          Yes    No 
09/03 68%   32%   

So over two-thirds of American’s had heard the allegation. Now compare that to the recent survey that indicated how few people could name two SCOTUS justices at only 24%. I bet Ford and Coca-Cola would love that kind of market exposure.

So how effective was the marketing of this lie? The same poll asked:

"Just your best guess, how likely or unlikely do you think it is that someone in the White House leaked this classified information: very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely or very unlikely?"
  Very Likely      Somewhat Likely      Somewhat Unlikely     Very Unlikely     No Opinion
  34                   38                          13                             10                       5

That’s right, the reporting was so damning that 72% of American’s indicated they believed the White House did it. Close to three-quarters of the United States populace were duped by the media reporting that the Bush Administration had done it in retaliation.

And it goes on; Pew Research in April of 2006:

"Last week, documents were released indicating that President Bush may have authorized his staff to leak pre-war intelligence about Iraq to the press in order to undermine war critics. How much have you heard about this: a lot, a little or nothing at all?"

  A Lot           A Little               Nothing   
  32                  46                     22 

So 78% of Americans heard that George Bush personally leaked documents to undermine war critics. Of course, the fact that it is not a leak since the President has de-classification authority was not included in the question. The really interesting part is now that we know for sure that the administration didn’t go after Plame, how did people determine that these documents indicated the President did it? In other words, they were all just going off media reports that were wrong.

It goes on: USA Today/Gallup:

"Which of the following statements best describes your view of George W. Bush in these matters? He did something illegal. He did not do anything illegal, but did something unethical. OR, He did not do anything seriously wrong."
      .
  Illegal        Unethical       
     21            42               

A phenomenal 63% of the public believed the President acted at least unethically based on mainstream media reporting.

On it goes on and on from Bush to Cheney to Rove, poll after poll indicating a heavy majority of Americans were convinced by the media coverage that the Bush Administration had acted at least unethically. Another CNN poll reported that only a staggering 10% of the public believed the Bush administration was innocent on this matter.

Now contrast this to coverage of the Lewinski scandel in which President Clinton actually admitted to committing wrongdoing (eventually). Polling report

"As a result of his actions in the Monica Lewinsky investigation, do you think Bill Clinton should lose his license to practice law, or should he keep his license to practice law?"

58% of respondents indicated in May of 2000 that a lawyer should keep his law license even after committing perjury.

This is a phenomenal indicator of the power of the media to create a news story, form the reporting template, and hammer it in until it becomes ingrained as fact. Of course, it goes without saying the media owes some balanced coverage to offset the political damage the Plame affair created. Riiiiggghhhtttt.

A look at the President’s personal polling numbers show that they decline over the course of the unfolding Plame plot, but with other variables, such as perceived success in Iraq, we can not say for sure exactly what effect this story had. But we know enough to determine that the media promulgated a lie so hard and heavy that almost everybody heard it and absent any hard evidence, convinced the vast majority.

Thanks to The American Thinker for picking up this story. If you are new to my site, don't forget to check out my Fox News.com series, the Saddam Dossier.

Daily Pundit asks why the investigation even happened

Update: hearing that Rush picked up this article, thanks for reading it on the air. Is this a good time for a pledge drive? heh   Also, thanks to mens news daily for featuring it on the front page, and the small time bloggers (like me) who are linking.

Update II: Here is the transcript from Rush Limbaugh.com. What can I say? It's pretty darn cool....

Comments

[Kitty]

Rush just referenced this.

[auzerais]

What I'd like to know is why hasn't DRUDGE made any reference to this AT ALL!?!? Is the fake killer of JonBenet more important than the fact that the MSM has for 3yrs LIED about the Plamegate affair when it KNEW it wasn't true, all for political purposes of the LeftWing/DNC?
C'mon DRUDGE, cat got your tongue? Or are you now part of the lying MSM?

[Kim Abbott]

I cannot help but think that the Driveby Media knew that the truth about plamegate was coming out. Hence the frantic attention on Katrina and the administration's supposed mishandling of relief.

Opponents of freedom use words-not deeds
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20060828.aspx

[Spark]

This discussion proceeds as if Bush has no power. Of course, the MSM are skanks. Of course, they'll do anything to destroy a Republican president. But Bush has power, which he won't use. He could have shut this whole thing down a long time ago, through the pardon, if nothing else. But no, go ahead and let them ruin Scooter Libby's life. Bush can't be bothered, much less lead. He leaves us, the soldiers, his subordinates -- everyone -- twisting in the wind. His leadership is contemptible. At least Nero could fiddle.

[Richard]

Even though Bush has been exhonerated over the Plamegate affair, the blogger who said "at least Nero could fiddle" still blames Bush. Can you imagine the media outcry if he would have pardoned anybody. No matter what Bush does, he's wrong.

RR: for shear irony, try this, many historians agree that the Nero story is a myth, that he didn't even live in Rome when it burned. Was the NY Times around to carry the Rome burning story? heh

[Spark]

Richard, heh.

Re-read my post. I did not blame Bush exclusively, only for his share. His Clintonesque triangulations cause most of his pain. Do the right thing today, and the future takes care of itself. Reagan knew that. But no, can't have that: the media might squall. His cronies might bray. Let the Marines rot; I'll have an MBA day.

I invoked the Nero fable with two purposes in mind. The Bush point was well made; thus, your irked reply. Nit-picking at fables dodges the point, and demonstrates a struck nerve.

The Bush-bot chip is buggy; it loops without end. Try a different brand, and parse more carefully.

If Bush took constructive criticism from his friends on the right, his ratings would soar. But no, can't have that. The old media might roar.

[ray robison]

Spark, the Nero comment was mine as indicated by RR. And if you can not see the irony in your invocation of an aphorism that is mere myth in context of a just revealed myth involving another world leader, then well, perhaps you need some irony supplements.

[Spark]

Sorry, RR, didn't know that was you. The Nero myth is well known, and my point was still made. I find some irony in the fact Bush is actually here.

[Walton]

The media should be held resposible for distroying someones character. We should demand an apology from the media and stop buying their papers-boycott. They deserve to suffer financially. They will be coming after us next and if we do not stand up now we will all suffer.
Joe wilson knew what he was doing and shame on him. Wasting taxpayer money he should be made accountable and pay it back!!!!!! He is a terroist in my opinion and should be treated as such and put in prison!!! Underminding our leaders because of his hatered I am sure it had an effect on our military and the war on terror.

[Tim]

Why is anyone surprised? This stuff happens all the time when it comes to President Bush. These people and the MSM's are out to get him at any cost. They really are the enemy from within. I question their pariotism.