Posted by
The Valletta Papers on Wednesday, September 06, 2006 10:01:07 AM
They can dish it out, but they sure can’t take it! It’s almost funny to watch the familiar scenario unfold, but it happens often enough to be an old joke. Liberals and the media (sorry to be redundant) attack, criticize, denigrate, and even mock the Bush Administration only to fall to pieces like cheap glass when the administration responds. Just in the past day or two, several examples have come forth, but a quick and humorous one will illustrate my point.
Yesterday, according to Editor & Publisher, Presidential Press Secretary Tony Snow got into a little verbal bout with NBC reporter David Gregory. Tony Snow, in speaking about the war on terror, blamed "some in the Democratic Party" of saying "we shouldn't fight the war" and "we shouldn't apprehend al-Qaeda" or even "question al-Qaeda."
David Gregory, a renowned liberal whiner, went on a lengthy rant claiming “that the public may wonder why the president's statement and report today on the war on terror did not admit more failings on the administration's part.” Tony Snow, in his response, noted that Gregory had nicely summarized "the Democratic point of view." Gregory took offense with that comment. The rest of the interchange is interesting, but a few lines will give a flavor of the tension.
Q Actually, Tony, I don't think that's fair, if you look at the facts. If you look at the facts.
MR. SNOW: Well, I do, because -- no, because, for instance --
Q No, no, no. No, I don't think you should be able to just wipe that, kind of dismiss the question --
MR. SNOW: Well, let me --
Q It's not a Democratic argument, Tony.
MR. SNOW: Let me answer the question, David.
Q But hold on, let's not let you get away with saying that's a Democratic argument.
MR. SNOW: Okay, let me -- let's not let you get away with being rude. Let me just answer the question, and you can come back at me.
Q Excuse me. Don't point your finger at me. I'm not being rude.
MR. SNOW: Yes, you are.
Q Don't try to dismiss me as making a Democratic argument, Tony, when I'm speaking fact.
MR. SNOW: Well, okay -- well, no --
Q You can do that to the Democrats; don't do it to me.
MR. SNOW: No, I'm doing it to you because the second part was factually tendentious, okay? Now, when you were talking about the fact that it failed to adapt, that's just flat wrong. And you will be -- there has been -- there have been repeated attempts to try to adapt to military realities, to diplomatic realities, to development of new weapons and tools on the part of al Qaeda, including the very creative use of the Internet. So the idea that somehow we're staying the course is just wrong. It is absolutely wrong.
I did not see the exchange and it’s hard to tell from print whether or not Gregory fell apart emotionally or threw a tantrum as he has previously done. What is clear from the exchange is that liberals like Gregory can dish it out, but they sure can’t take it.