Massaging Voter Opinions
Reported by Eleanor - July 1, 2004 -
At least two-thirds of John Gibson's Big Story (July 1, 5:00-6:00 p.m. ET) was devoted to today's appearance of Sadam in an Iraqi court. Gibson asked questions like, "Can Sadam be held responsible for crimes committed in his name as head of state," with the conclusion that he can be held responsible for civilian deaths that he ordered. The main theme of the show was to raise questions about the value of a "fair" trial for someone as bad as Sadam.
A second Sadam topic was the death penalty. Gibson asked if anyone cares if the French and Germans think the reinstallation of the death penalty to accommodate Sadam is unfair, but he didn't care about getting an answer.
A third issue raised was the fact that Sadam's lawyers are in Jordan, with speculation that they are afraid to come into Iraq with no security, and noted a request for an international trial by Sadam lawyers and family. There was no concern that Sadam appeared in court today with no legal defense. Gibson said he might be put on the stand to "run his mouth." James Woolsey, lawyer and former CIA Director, said they should let counsel represent him (Was there a question about that?), but put him in a soundproof booth where he cannot be heard. "Don't let him rant. A trial is not a bully pulpit."
Gibson asked how the Sadam trial might affect the White House, and argued that "Tenet, not Bush made the mistake about WMD, remember the "slam dunk?"
Dr. Mahdi Al-Bassam, whose family was brutalized by Sadam, said he believes Sadam will be exonerated if lawyers defend him.
Before each break, Fox ran a different anti-Sadam email, emphasizing that we shouldn't worry about giving Sadam a fair trial, because he didn't provide any kind of justice to his victims.
Gibson ended the show with a commentary, "Sadam looked pretty good for a jailbird, and he still had some juice." Then Gibson cited a laundry list of Sadam's sins, ending with, "Hold your breath you anti-Bush viewers out there, but Sadam also worked with bin Laden and al Qaeda."
Comment: The obvious intent of this program had nothing to do with news. It was a blatant attempt to convince any doubting viewers that a fair trial with legal representation for Sadam is optional. No doubt the fact that Sadam came to court today without a lawyer has raised some eyebrows. Whoever is pulling the strings here, has no concern for world opinion, but the opinions of voters need to be massaged via Fox.
