Soccer Dad

The shoe hits the fan

The media's been having a field day with the outpouring of contempt expressed towards President Bush across the Arab world in the wake of the shoe throwing incident the other day. Abe Greenwald noted something the other day though. It seems that the media is letting the Arab world speak for them. The saturation of coverage of shoe throwing shows what the gatekeepers' priority is. After all how much mention is made of this?

WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH traveled to sub-Sahara Africa in February he was greeted by large and tumultuous crowds of admirers - which mystified many of his critics, who believe that the animosity toward his administration abroad is universal. But polling data from the Pew Foundation shows something different: Approval ratings for the United States exceed 80 percent in many African countries, some with large Muslim populations. In Darfur, many families name their newborn sons George Bush.

The media are letting their reports speak for them. The absurdity of the media's fascination with shoe throwing was underlined by the awarding of the Libyan medal of courage to the show throwing Iraqi. Most of the folks who were shown to be expressing their contempt for President Bush wouldn't do it without their government's permission (or encouragement). And of course what would happen to any citizen of Libya who'd demonstrate such courage towards Qaddafi? And doesn't it say something that an Iraqi could attack a visiting dignitary without being fed feet first into a shredder?

IOf course America's enemies in Gaza joined in the festivities. Their children too. Of course they've had practice.

See more at Meryl, Snapped Shot and LGF.

Crossposted on Yourish.