Again, Woodward’s kneecaps are probably safe, but the challenge to his facts, and therefore to his character, was unusual, given Woodward’s stature. And, how, by the way, might Woodward come to regret it? Sperling’s words, though measured, could be read as: “You’ll never set foot in this White House again.”
When reporters lose access to the White House, it isn’t about being invited to the annual holiday party. It’s about having access to the most powerful people on the planet as they execute the nation’s business.But Woodward made himself a household name without access to the White House. He was a metro reporter when he was assigned to the Watergate break-in. He wasn't a White House reporter, or a political reporter, nor did he have access to the most powerful people in the Nixon White House as they executed the nation's business.
In contrast, what did Woodward do when he got unparalleled access to the most powerful people people on the planet? He transcribed their justifications for the invasion of Iraq without ever reporting that their claimed cause for war was a lie. And said nothing as the Bush Adminstration executed women and children and other Iraqi non-combatants based on that lie.
Woodward has been playing inside baseball for a long time, and I don't think it's accidental or unintended that he's done more than his share of whitewashing for the authoritarians in the last thirty years.
ReplyDeleteFor that reason, it's not surprising that he would try to elevate a mild admonishment into a threat. There's probably something else at work in this, maybe he didn't get what he wanted for that story or another one, and was miffed, or, the White House simply wouldn't hand him a quote that justified one of his predetermined conclusions.
Ah, well, you know what they say about auspicious beginnings....