The AP, Washington Post, ABC, and others ran the exact same headline: “Rumsfeld Reaches Out to Democrats.” The lede makes it sound like Rumsfeld took a conciliatory, almost gracious, step in the Dems’ direction. He didn’t.
Defense Secretary Donald H. [tag]Rumsfeld [/tag]reached out to [tag]Democrats[/tag] yesterday, opening the door for them to retract their stinging indictment of him as Pentagon chief.
In a letter to Congress’s top Democrats, Rumsfeld said remarks he made Tuesday during a speech in Salt Lake City were misrepresented by the news media. Rumsfeld said he was “concerned” by the reaction of Democrats, many of whom called for his resignation and said he was treading on dangerous territory.
“I know you agree that with America under attack and U.S. troops in the field, our national debate on this should be constructive,” Rumsfeld wrote.
Rumsfeld’s letter to Dems is part of the same arrogance that prompted his controversial remarks in the first place. He sent party leaders a copy of his speech, suggesting that if they knew what he said (Rumsfeld assumes they do not), they’d no doubt want to retract their criticisms.
Not surprisingly, they don’t.
“We did read the speech, and he makes comparisons to World War II” that are unjustified, said Brendan Daly, spokesman for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.). “He needs to explain that. We stand behind what we said.”
Pelosi had said: “If Mr. Rumsfeld is so concerned with comparisons to World War II, he should explain why our troops have now been fighting in Iraq longer than it took our forces to defeat the Nazis in Europe.”
“It’s always been clear what Secretary Rumsfeld said,” said Rebecca Kirszner, a spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.). “What’s not clear is that he has a strategy in Iraq and to keep America safe. This letter doesn’t change that.”
Look, Rumsfeld knew what he was doing, lashing out at his critics as “quitters,” who “cannot stomach a tough fight” and are inclined to “blame America first.” It was painfully absurd and offensive, and deserved the rebuke it received.
For Rumsfeld to write Democrats a letter, offering them a chance to retract their criticism, is not an example of “reaching out”; it’s an example of taunting. The media probably ought to appreciate the difference.
Post Script: Speaking of the media, Michael Froomkin wrote the AP a letter about the shoddy coverage on this. It’s worth checking out.