Froomkin explained it in his column yesterday. See, the White House press corps basically just take dictation. Bush and Rove know that's what they do. Sure, every now and then the reporters act tough, but, in reality, they've become White House stenographers:
Rove's approach was very much on display yesterday at Bush's Rose Garden news conference.This is why CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, a White House reporter, just spews the White House talking points when she's over at the Situation Room. Too many reporters never question what they've been told. If they do question Bush, they'll be accused of being having a liberal bias. Apparently, that's a bigger faux pas than doing a bad job of actually reporting.
The president's current weakness is profound. His war in Iraq appears to be a colossal failure, and as a result the public has turned against him and wants the troops home and safe.
But to hear Bush talk, it's the Democrats who are the party of failure. It's the Democrats who are defying the will of the people. And in the latest, truly dazzling talking point unveiled by the president yesterday, it's the Democrats who would keep the troops in harm's way.
What Rove can still count on, in spite of everything, is that the president's assertions make it into the headlines no matter how dubious they may be -- and that all too many reporters prefer uncritical transcription to the kind of tough but fair analysis that would be required to put what the president says in context.
That's also why the Bush administration can lie to the media over and over. The White House knows the press will never call them "liars." It's almost too easy.
Rove plays the White House press corps for patsies. And, they are.
