Debating "Defeatist"

By: Matthew Felling
Topics: 4th Estate Debate

(CBS)

A testy exchange popped up this week in the new White House Briefing Room between Tony Snow and CBS News' chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod. Public Eye reached out to Axelrod for his insight on the incident.

On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow and I engaged in an exchange that sparked some interest. The subject was political support for the President on Iraq coming on the heels of several Republican defections. To set a baseline for the questions, I asked Tony if in his view Republican support was eroding. He said he wasn't sure. We then had this exchange:

--

Q: Are you at all worried that, as sort of these basic questions are answered and the answer that comes back is not exactly, and it's not black and white, it's gray, and all -- are you worried that the American people listen to this sort of debate and perceive you and the White House as isolated and out of touch on this?

MR. SNOW: No, no more than I think that they look at you and think that you guys are focused on defeat.

Q: Wait a minute, that's not my question at all.

MR. SNOW: You just asked me if I'm clueless, and I'm asked if you're a defeatist.

Q: Wait a second, hang on. You have Republicans -- Voinovich, Lugar, Domenici -- people who are involved in shaping a new course for the mission, and they are leaving the President. Every time this gets asked about, you tell us, no, that's not what happening. When people listen to this back-and-forth, do you think the inference many Americans draw is, the White House is the last place to get the fact that the Republican Party is leaving them?

MR. SNOW: No, I think the White House is the last part trying to say, public opinion polls are not what the war is made of. Military actions on the ground, the brave sacrifices of Americans, the actions of Iraqis on the ground, the changing and shifts of tides of public opinion based on the fact that Iraqis are standing up and putting their lives on the front line, those are the things that ought to be guiding Americans' opinions.

As seductive as it may be to look at polls, or even to look at -- look, you're absolutely right, there's a lot of skepticism among Republicans. As I told you, they're getting an earful from constituents. But it's also important for us to remind people that the alternative to war is not peace, in this case. The alternative to -- the alternative, if you leave right away, is cataclysmic, and I think you'll find a lot of Democrats and Republicans agree.

So when you have a tough situation -- we're not trying to deny the political difficulties. I mean, that would be foolish. But on the other hand, what we're trying to do is to share with the American people the fact that there's a whole lot more going on than speeches in the well of the Senate. There are things going on in Baquba, and there are things going on in Basra, and there are things going on in Baghdad, and there are things going on in Anbar, and there are things going on in Mosul each and every day. And none of that seems to penetrate.

And so part of it -- we'll accept part of the blame. But if you want to ask what's going on in the war and who's got a clue about the war -- part of this has to do with taking a look operationally at what's going on. And, again, we'll accept -- I'll accept part of the blame, because a lot of the important pieces of information that would make Americans proud somehow have not poked through, and we'll do a better -- we'll try to do a better job.

Q: I want to be really clear in saying that, reporters asking questions about Republicans and what they're doing on the Hill does not make us defeatists.

MR. SNOW: No, any more than my answering your questions makes me clueless.

Q: I didn't say you were clueless.

MR. SNOW: Oh, I'm sorry, the American people thought we were clueless.

Q: I'm asking you --

(Ed Henry of CNN took over the questioning here.)

Q: How do you suggest the press is focused on defeat, which is what you just said a moment ago --

MR. SNOW: No, what I was --

Q: No, no, no, but that's what you said. So, go ahead, explain what you said.

MR. SNOW: No, what I was doing is that there was a caricature of our position and I responded with a caricature. And I believe I said, no more -- I said that that was not true.

Q: Okay, so it's not --

MR. SNOW: Okay, so go back and look at the opening phrase --

Q: So, just for the record, the press is not focused on defeat? Do you want to clear that up?

MR. SNOW: Yes, but I'm saying that sometimes you get accused of it.

--

I've been asked since the exchange if I was angered. No, I wasn't. I don't think anyone was questioning my patriotism. However, knowing that the country is engaged in a passionate debate, knowing the power of language, and knowing that too often asking questions of our leaders is construed in some quarters as being "anti" -- "anti-military", "anti-administration", or "anti-establishment", I just wanted to be as clear as possible. Tony and I sort of patted each other on the arm after the briefing was over. He's a wonderful guy. He's got his job to do -- which at this point includes defending an unpopular President -- and i've got mine. I just wanted to be sure everyone knew -- if someone calls me "defeatist" they are dead wrong -- and they'll get a fight. Every time.

20 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 20 Comments


by mattcat25 July 16, 2007 2:49 PM EDT: I believe that the major problem plaguing our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan is the Bush Administration%u2019s Privatization of these Military Operations. The Private War Contractors seem to be dictating our course and billing for services rendered at a rate exceeding rational results. War shouldn%u2019t be based on good business deals in lieu of a comprehensive foreign policy. Thus far the Bush Administration has $pent $443,622,100,000 with profits seemingly surpassing the rational of the mission and lives of our troops.; Reply to this comment


by phoenixandy July 16, 2007 2:52 AM EDT: Another thing One_American, it's the Democratic Party, not the "Democrat Party". You need to learn to be respectful and not a stupid jerk.

And refer to the White House correspondent as either "Jim" or "Mr. Axelrod". Calling people by their last name makes you look like a real ******.

Partisan conservatives like you make me sick. If people like you left my country, America would be the most respected country in the world and we would no longer have anything to fear from Osamsa bin Laden or al-Qaida.; Reply to this comment


by phoenixandy July 16, 2007 2:43 AM EDT: One_American, you're full of it and you know it. You always like to put a conservative spin on everything. It's never the Republicans' fault, always the Democrats' fault. People like you, One_American, are responsible for all the problems this country has. With people like you, I'm starting to think America is no longer worth fighting for. I will respect my country again when people like you are no longer in charge.; Reply to this comment


by one_american July 14, 2007 5:46 PM EDT: Mattcat25:

The Bush Administrations so-called "unilateral path" was supported wholeheartedly by the Democrats after 9-11 - until about 6 months later when the Democrats decided that Bush was looking too much like the leader that Bill Clinton never was or ever could be, and seeing how the Democrats wanted political power above all else, including deposing a murderous dictator and threat to Middle East peace (Saddam Hussein), winning a war against terrorism, U.S. national security, and especially above any spirit of "bi-partisanship", they had to give in to their corrupt political instincts.

The truth is that the Bush Administration reached out to the Democrats from the first days in office, and in return, the Democrats have been trying find some way to tear down the Bush Presidency ever since.

This is most likely because the Democrats wanted desperately to position themselves to "re-take the White House", and to take revenge for Clinton's long 8-years of a miserably failed and humiliating Presidency.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 July 14, 2007 1:34 AM EDT: "Liberals are losing their war against America.
They just don't know it yet."
Posted by One_American at 08:02 PM : Jul 13, 2007

This is the entire problem, we%u2019re all fighting with each other instead of acting in a unified manner against the contravening powers. The entire world was unified against Arab terrorism after the WTC attack on 911. The unilateral path taking by the Bush Administration has put the US in the quandary we all find ourselves in today.; Reply to this comment


by one_american July 13, 2007 11:02 PM EDT: Liberals are losing their war against America.

They just don't know it yet.; Reply to this comment


by feelfree1 July 13, 2007 9:13 PM EDT: CitizenUSA,

Re: "Poor Tony. He's a good guy with a tough job..."

Sure thing. Not unlike Joseph Goebbels.; Reply to this comment


by citizenusa-2009 July 13, 2007 9:10 PM EDT: Poor Tony. He's a good guy with a tough job..defending the indefensible. He's smart enough to recognize what's going on but unable to do anything other than parrot what his boss feeds him. If his health was better, I'd wager that he would not be afraid to look elsewhere. Just my opinion.; Reply to this comment


by matt-b3 July 13, 2007 8:59 PM EDT: Oh my God,
I cannot believe that our intellectual press has been sucked into this game, coming down to the level that this administration wants us to be at, a football match, a "win vs defeat" spirit

The truth is so glaring and staring at us, everybody knows this war is for nothing and about nothing and everybody wants out of this war including president Bush
But Bush's ego wants to wait it up a little until next President comes does the dirty work of withdrawal

The sad thing is while we enjoy debating this 'Defeatist' issue inside our fancy press rooms sipping on our aromatic coffee

In the very same time, mothers are still trying to comprehend the meaning of life without with their war-lost children trying hard to dry their eyes from endless tears, not knowing these tears spring from their chattered hearts and not their eyes

In the very same time, maimed people struggling to mentally cope with the fact that they are now different

In the very same time millions and millions of dollars are being squnadered on building and running killing machines ..; Reply to this comment


by citizenusa-2009 July 13, 2007 8:46 PM EDT: Poor Tony. He's a good guy with a tough job..defending the indefensible. He's smart enough to recognize what's going on but unable to do anything other than parrot what his boss feeds him. If his health was better, I'd wager that he would not be afraid to look elsewhere. Just my opinion.; Reply to this comment