Should the AP help the Dems? My Opinion

The Associated Press must believe the Democrats are not doing a very good job attacking President Bush. Why else would the AP run a story: Bush Leaves Out the Bad News in Iraqi Poll? (Dec. 19, 2005)

It’s not news that President Bush is using poll results that suggest his policies are succeeding. Presidents of both parties always do that, just as the opposition party always points to poll results that cast doubt on the President and his policies.

News organizations are supposed to report what the President and his opponents say about polls, and let voters decide between them. And surely the Democrats are up to attacking Bush’s use of poll results.

But while the AP's news story sounds like the sort of thing you expect from Democratic Leaders Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi, it's all from the AP itself:

President Bush is making selective use of an opinion poll when he tells people that Iraqis are increasingly upbeat.

The same poll that indicated a majority of Iraqis believe their lives are going well also found a majority expressing opposition to the presence of U.S. forces, and less than half saying Iraq is better off now than before the war.

Now if Reid and Pelosi had made those remarks, it would have been reasonable and informative for the AP to ask questions such as: “Do either of you know what percentage of Iraqis support the immediate withdrawal of American and coalition troops from their country?”

But how can the AP ask the questions and report when it’s making the statements?

That question deserves consideration. Personally, I hope the AP stops trying to help the Democrats.

The AP and the country will both be better off if the AP develops into an unbiased news organization.

Readers’ Note: I’m pretty sure the AP would want me to say it already is an unbiased news organization.