WaPo reporters ignore conservative oppo. to domestic spying, buying GOP idea that it's a partisan issue

In their eagerness to cover the political message from top GOP leaders, two Washington Post reporters dutifully reported that the Bush team is going to make the domestic spying a political issue in the 2006 elections. Ironically, the GOP leaders, Cheney and Mehlman, announced their plans at a conservative gathering hosted by a conservative opponent of the Bush domestic spying program. The Post forgot to include that detail.

Yesterday, Jim VandeHei wrote how Dick Cheney first announced that they planned to make the domestic spying program a major issue in the 2006 elections. Vandehei highlighted the VP's political threat against Democrats. That, of course, fits right in to the narrative about the spy scandal coming from the White House that this is just a partisan squabble:

Vice President Cheney suggested last night that the debate over spying on overseas communications to or from terrorism suspects should be a political issue in this year's congressional elections.

Speaking to Republicans gathered for the annual CPAC convention, Cheney said the debate over the National Security Agency surveillance program "has clarified where all stand" on an issue that has drawn criticism from congressional Democrats and some Republicans.

Today, Dan Balz gave Ken Mehlman's speech that same treatment:

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman yesterday accused Democratic leaders of wanting to deny law enforcement officials the tools they need to defend against terrorism and criticized them for challenging President Bush's program of warrantless surveillance of potential terrorists.

In a sharply worded speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Mehlman said Republicans do not question the patriotism of the opposition party leaders, but he added, "These are people we know love their country. The question is: Can they protect it?"

As both articles note, the speeches from Cheney and Mehlman were made at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). CPAC is sponsored by the American Conservative Union (ACU). The ACU is headed by David Keene. Keene is one of the conservative leaders who has publicly OPPOSED the White House domestic spying operation. Keene's statement was included in the press release put out by "Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances":

"The need to reform surveillance laws and practices adopted since 9/11 is more apparent now than ever. No one would deny the government the power it needs to protect us all, but when that power poses a threat to the basic rights that make our nation unique, its exercise must be carefully monitored by Congress and the courts. This is not a partisan issue; it is an issue of safeguarding the fundamental freedoms of all Americans so that future administrations do not interpret our laws in ways that pose constitutional concerns." -- David Keene, chairman, American Conservative Union

So, clearly, the opposition to the Bush domestic spying program is bi-partisan. Or as David Keene himself specifically said "this is not a partisan issue." But, you wouldn't really know that from the Washington Post's coverage. Balz tucked in one phrase in his story that said "Democrats":

have pointed out that the administration's covert surveillance program has even drawn challenges from some Republicans.

You need the Democrats to point out that Republicans oppose the domestic spying program? That fits again nicely in to the idea that this is a partisan issue.

How about the fact that the force behind CPAC has challenged the program? The idea that Cheney and Mehlman went to David Keene's conference to say they are going to make domestic spying a political issue against Democrats when David Keene has already spoken out against the program...now that's interesting...but not for the crack team of Washington Post political reporters. It's just easier to say the GOP will use the issue against Democrats.