Burying the lede to protect Obama.
In its story on Obama’s blatant bait and switch on same-sex partner benefits, the Associated Press blatantly buries the most important fact of the story. (Ace of Spades has more.)
In a story oddly titled “Obama fends off criticism from gay supporters”, AP writer Philip Elliott spends seven full paragraphs apologizing for Obama’s slow progress on gay rights issues and reporting on anger of gay rights groups over his complete disregard for them once he won office.
Finally, in the eighth paragraph, Mr. Elliott mentions that Obama, who had just yesterday promised benefits to same-sex parterms, will not be granting health insurance. HEALTH INSURANCE. Isn’t health care a fundamental right to Obama?!? Hasn’t he been droning on incessantly for two years about the importance of healthcare?
Shouldn’t this blatant, gaping hole in Obama’s barely 24 hour old promise be the lede, not the throw away eighth paragraph?
Mr. Elliott then goes on to say that several “powerful gay fundraisers withdrew support” from an upcoming DNC event. This brings into question the AP’s curious headline. First, how has Obama fended off any of these criticisms? If anything, he has inflamed them by once again by promising one thing and delivering bubkis. Second, if people are critical of Obama, and they have “withdrawn [their] support,” can they, in any sense of the word, still be called “supporters?”