Wash. Post cited Karl Rove for assessment of public opinion on Iraq withdrawal

[babylonsister]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200703230002

Wash. Post cited Karl Rove for assessment of public opinion on Iraq withdrawal

A March 22 Washington Post analysis of House Democrats' efforts to link a timeline for withdrawing from Iraq to a pending war-funding bill mischaracterized the American public's views on withdrawal. The Post cited White House senior adviser Karl Rove's view that, in the Post's words, "the public is not confident about withdrawing, regardless of the conditions on the ground." The article did note that Democratic leaders are "emboldened by polls showing the war becoming more unpopular." But it did not mention that, contrary to Rove's claim, a majority of Americans actually favor withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq either immediately or within one year -- more than the percentage who favor tying withdrawal to "conditions on the ground," the language the Post attributed to Rove.

The analysis began by highlighting the "legislative battle" between the White House and the House of Representatives over Iraq policy:

With the House facing a critical vote on Iraq this week, the White House finds itself embroiled in a fierce legislative battle to keep money flowing to the war effort, with the outcome dependent on its ability to show real progress in Baghdad and keep Republicans in line behind its veto strategy.

Prodded by liberal activists and emboldened by polls showing the war becoming more unpopular, Democratic leaders have gone further than many imagined possible only a few months ago. They have united a cross section of the party behind a plan for a phased withdrawal of U.S. combat troops to be completed by August 2008, part of a war spending package to be considered today on the House floor.

snip//

The Post, however, did not give any indication that public opinion polls have shown that a majority of Americans favor withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, whatever the situation on the ground. Indeed, a March 9-11 CNN poll found that when asked when the United States should withdraw from Iraq, 58 percent of respondents said either "withdraw now" (21 percent) or "withdraw within a year" (37 percent), while 39 percent said "the U.S. should keep its troops in Iraq as long as is needed to turn control over to the Iraqi government." A March 2-3 USA Today/Gallup poll had similar findings. The poll asked respondents to choose from four options regarding troop levels in Iraq. Fifty-eight percent said either "withdraw immediately" (20 percent) or "withdraw in 12 months time" (38 percent), compared with 39 percent preferring to "withdraw, take as many years as needed" (26 percent) or "send more troops" (13 percent).

[youngdem]

1. Like asking Hitler about the Holocaust

[Joe for Clark]

2. I'll say this - the only people that should get to vote -

And I mean the ONLY people - should be the people with kids there.

Otherwise the vote is crap - isn't it??

Unless they want to send their kids.

Or draft them.

Joe

[Jackpine Radical]

6. That's nuts.I don't have kids there. I'd vote to get us out NOW.

I don't need kids there to tell me it's a stupid and immoral war. I learned all about that kind of war 40 years ago in the rice paddies.

[Joe for Clark]

7. You know your post made me think -

Thank you -

Yeah, lets let the Vietnam vets vote - they know well about such situations.

I trust them.

Joe

[tblue]

3. More like asking Goebbels what the Jews think of the Allies landing on Normandy

If I didn't know better, I'd think R*ve wrote that article himself and made WaPo print it.

[Joe for Clark]

4. That is funny -

You cracked me up - thanks!

Joe

[rodeodance]

5. ha ha. recall that Rove 'had the numbers' for the election??

[spanone]

8. WaPo was once a great daily....not anymore.

Novak alone proves that.