McClellan's Out: Who's Next?

It was so blatant, NPR pointed it out this morning: As President Bush was announcing staff changes Tuesday, press secretary Scott McClellan stood by his side as a silent symbol of the ineffective old guard.

Bush solved that problem later today with McClellan's resignation, just announced earlier today. A 35-year-old Texan who served as Bush's deputy press secretary when he was governor there, McClellan barely lasted three years after replacing Ari Fleischer in July 2003, departing less than 48 hours after revealing the incoming White House chief of staff's advice that staffers thinking about leaving should get out now.

It has been tough to gauge whether McClellan was simply an awful press secretary or he was made to look awful by the conduct of the administration. Forced to explain constant gaffes and problems -- the President's plunging approval ratings, the vice president's shooting accident, the continuing carnage in Iraq, the Scooter Libby scandal, the pressure to fire Donald Rumsfeld, etc., etc. -- the pudgy press secretary often looked more like a press punching bag, as reporters such as NBC's David Gregory made their reputations by taking apart his thin explanations and doubletalk during nationally televised press briefings.

As some are quick to note, presidential press secretaries rarely last longer than a few years in the job. But on the long list of Bush administration problems, an inability to communicate effectively with the press and the public scores high, making McClellan's imminent departure one of the adminitration's worst kept secrets this week.

Once McClellan has gone on to his cushy corporate executive position -- a lovely parting gift, if you ask me -- we can see whether his successor repeats the mistakes we've seen on his watch (telling reporters he went to bed on the night of Cheney's hunting accident unaware whether the vice president was shot? Riiight).

Among the rumored successors: Fox News employees Tony Snow and Den Senor. Really.

Disappointed Most by Al-Arian Deal: Local Media

News that former USF professor and accused terrorist Sami Al-Arian cut a deal allowing a relatively quick deportation left few people happy. Especially in local media.

From its start with a Tampa Tribune expose in 1995, allegations that Al-Arian helped run the Palestinian Islamic Jihad from a think tank he established at the university have divided the Tampa Bay area's two biggest newspapers.

The Tribune has pressed the question of Al-Arian's guilt aggressively, backing its initial revelations based in part on a 1994 documentary by controversial terrorism expert Steve emerson called "Jihad in America." The Times has often been skeptical of government prosecutors, sensitive to al-Arians claims he was an academic and vicitm of anti-Arab hysteria. Didn't hurt that the scoop of his PIJ activities came from the competition.

With this plea deal -- involving admission to lesser charges -- no one gets all they wanted, media-wise. The Tribune doesn't get the court verdict connecting Al-Arian to specific acts of terrorism, and the Times gets Al-Arian's admission that is snookered at least one reporter here and that his group did indeed pass money to a terrorist organization.

I think this prosecution also shows the danger of corner-cutting, post 9/11 legislation such as the Patriot Act, which seemed to only help the govenrment pull together an overly complex, 51-count indictment that couldn't convince jurors Al-Arian was guilty of anything but prosecutorial overreaching. Turns out, there's a reason for all those laws about gathering evidence: to help convince a jury the case is solid.

Bad prosecution. Lying defendant. An 11-year string of conflicted local news coverage. I have a feeling there's more than a few local media types who will be glad to see this case hit the rear view mirror.

Short Takes

Seems the new graphic look pioneered by WTVT-Ch. 13 for its News Edge 11 p.m. show has migrated to other markets. TV Newser web site reports WNYW in New York and KTVI in St. Louis are now sporting the new look, amid rumors all of Fox's owned and operated stations will get the makeover. And they say the Tampa Bay area is behind the times...

Comments

[formerly mr anonymous]

since you conclude both the trib and the times have presented distorted cartoon versions of the al-arian saga - in part, bec of competitive news jealousies by the early-scooped times - isnt that a bit sad? it leaves readers wondering exactly where the 'truth' lies. its always been a bit confusing to read the often opposing coverage by both outlets.i think the reality is that, for all the ink spilled over the years, neither paper ever truly sunk its claws into the facts of the case, instead settling for spinning and polishing a nugget here and there.in all, the handling of the story is an indictment of sloppy, at times incompetent, local media coverage.readers have not been well served.

[Anonymous]

As I've been saying over the past few days, al-arian is only one of the many criminals and terrorists championed by the ultra left wing SPT.Todays editorial that claims indignation over being fooled by al-arian is like being mad at eddie murphy because he told you he was white.It was obvious to most that al-arian is a rabidly anti-semitic terrorist sympathizer who supports blowing up Israeli kids. The fact is, the SPT doesn't care what he is. His case offered an opportunity to oppose the Bush administration. That's all that mattered. Like most on the left, the SPT prefers American defeat over Republican victory.

[Eric Deggans]

I think, the biggest challenge of the Al-Arian case was that it was much more complex than many in the general public wanted to accept.First, I think local news outlets were torn. On one side, were questionable experts and governmental authorities -- from u.s. officials to people from the Israeli government -- who were hyping Al-Arian's guilt. On the other side, were advocates for Al-Arian who were hyping his innocence. And because each side controlled large amounts of evidence in the case, it was difficult for journalists to sort through the ideology, conflicting agendas and community outcry.I don't agree that either side's coverage was cartoonish, but i do believe that neither newspaper fully wrapped its arms around the story and got to the bottom of what happened during Al-Arian's time at USF. and as I said in my post, I think the sense that the government was ginning up its case with questionable tactics helped feed press skepticism about their conclusions. I think the fact that he wasn't convicted of a serious crime -- even his work funneling money to PIJ was probably legal when he did it -- indicates that the government never reached the point where it could prove the most significant charges against him.We have lamented al-Arian's dishonesty in previous editorials, by the way. So its not local media's finest moment -- but i know a lot of quality journalists at both papers who worked hard to try and cover the issue well. Dismissing their work as cartoon versions is, i think, too cavalier...

[Anonymous]

Two things...How about a little local interest story on Indian Rocks Beach? What the hell is the construction project that has the beach so torn up?Second, how about some investigative reporting on the Duke farce? I read today that one of the kids has ATM records, phone records, electronic key records, and a statement from a taxi driver that all place him somewhere else at the time of the alleged rape.These kids are having their lives destroyed by a DA who is bowing to political pressure from black activists.

[Anonymous]

re: duke.before jumping to conclusions on "evidence" the defense is leaking, you might want to read this really informative article with lester munson on the duke issue. munson is both a lawyer and journalist.The defense can't resthey eric:per tony snow, isn't he still fighting (i think colon) cancer? i can't imagine someone who is in remission would take a high-pressure job like that. it would almost be delayed suicide.i mean, he has really aged in the past year or two. i'm confident his battle with cancer has a lot to do with that.per mc clellan: how can one really judge a competent press liason? aren't they pretty confined to what their boss allows them to do?

[Anonymous]

Concerned Dukie,The woman is a known prostitute in Durham. This doesn't make rape right but it kinda makes you wonder if it could have been a transaction gone bad.I think as a society we need to stop the finger pointing and prepare for the acquital riots.

[Anonymous]

I think as a society we need to stop the finger pointing and prepare for the acquital riots. ROTFLMAO!!!