While following BHO’s whirlwind profile around Europe and the Middle East, I archived a Reuters story titled Irais say they like Obama, divided on his policies”. This link is from a story dated 6:20AM, July 20th, 2008.
By 6:40AM, an ADVISORY: Baghdad story on views on Obama is withdrawn.”
The BAGHDAD item headlined “Iraqis say they like Obama, divided on his policies” is withdrawn. The story was transmitted in error.
What’s the deal? Perhaps Reuter’s felt it was politically incorrect. Certainly raised my eyebrows, which was why I archived it. Apparently after interviewing a couple dozen of Iraqis “across the country”, perhaps it did not portray the Iraqis well.
By Khaled al-Ansary and Mohammed Abbas
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is popular among Iraqis.
In two dozen interviews across the country, many told Reuters a black man would understand their plight.
~~~“I support Obama. I think he is the best for Iraq and for the world … if McCain wins I will be devastated,” said Mustafa Salah, an office worker in the southern city of Basra.
Hisham Fadhil, a doctor in northern Kirkuk added: “He is much better than others because he is black and black people were tyrannized in America. I think he will feel our suffering.”
~~~Kamiran Mohammed, from Kirkuk, said he visited the United States recently as part of a polling watchdog to study elections. Obama would be good for Iraq, not McCain, he said.
“When I was in the United States I found Democrats are more peaceful and avoid wars,” Mohammed said.
I guess Mohammed didn’t study American history while here… otherwise he would have know that Vietnam and the Bosnia/Kosovo/Yugoslav warfare were all Democrat wars.
More from the “transmitted in error” story…
Indeed, Iraqis are divided over Obama’s plan to withdraw U.S. combat troops within 16 months if he wins office. Some say the policy is overdue while others are opposed because they feel Iraq’s security forces are not ready.
“What Obama said about pulling out U.S. forces is just for political gains. It is unrealistic,” said Munadhil al-Mayyahi, an independent politician in Basra.
~~~“The face of America was spoilt by the Republicans and Bush. A McCain win means Bush stays,” said Zainab Riyad, a teacher.
Questions about Obama’s heritage — he is a Protestant Christian but his Kenyan father was raised a Muslim — and whether this background would lead to better U.S. policy in the Middle East drew a cynical response from most Iraqis.
Obama’s campaign has sought to dispel rumors he is Muslim.
“Frankly, Muslims in our society have not done anything for us,” said Mohammed Sadeq, who owns a mobile telephone store in Baghdad. Another Iraqi pointed to wars between fellow Muslims.
Others were dismissive of the U.S. presidential election in general, more concerned with the struggle of daily life in Iraq.
“For the moment I’m thinking about getting enough electricity. I do not believe either candidate will change the situation in Iraq,” said Abdul-Mahdi Hadi, a Basra teacher.
(Reporting by reporters in Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk and Kerbala, Writing by Mohammed Abbas: Editing by Dean Yates and Matthew Jones)
Certainly the different statements don’t support that Iraqis particularly “like” Obama in overwhelming numbers. And most definitely finding Iraqis – who know little of him, basing their judgment on his being black and thereby more empathetic – gives the impression that the “man on the street” in the country harbors racist feelings. It does give one pause for cause to perhaps have a second thought or two when anyone wants to drive home a point with Iraqi opinion polls. But I find it hard to believe this random set of quotes from Iraqis is indicative of the nation as a whole.
But all in all, quite curious as to why the story was pulled… Then again, it’s Reuters. So all bets are off for logical, or ethical, reasons.
UPDATE: Mentions of the disappearing Reuters story at Newsbusters here, and at at Sweeness & Light here.
Story still posted in full at MSNBC, and The Boston Globe.
Vietnam era Navy wife, indy/conservative, and an official California escapee now residing as a red speck in the sea of Oregon blue.
The average White American has SOME racial guilt. Cannot avoid it with the media. However, I would bet that this article pushes that edge alittle too far.
What racial guilt? None of my ancestors were slaveowners. My ancestors were Swiss peasants who on two occasions in the 20th century alone nearly starved to extinction, and 90% decimated by the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1919.
I owe NOTHING to NO-ONE about being blond and blue-eyed.
Reuters got too much heat; they were front and center on the story, so they backed off. It was the Reuters piece that was on the distribution list for the White House that was mistakenly sent to media ‘outsiders’ instead of ‘insiders’.http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/07/maliki_obama.html
They did the same thing as Maliki, went silent.
Come to Chicago! It is sick. NONE of these yuppies / liberals here should feel bad about anything, yet all their hearts are bleeding.
Doug you are too quick on your own trigger yet again. Your WH “conspiracy” theory is not even close to the target.
The WH aid e-mail refers to a story about the Spiegel interview with Maliki… a completely different story called Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan – magazine”. That was dated yesterday.
This is a completely different story, with bylines. Try again…
But if you do find anything on THIS story, do let us know. I’ve found nothing yet. Can only guess because the “flavor” don’t sound so good….
Ah yes, I see; you are correct– I should have read your post closer. I assumed you were still on the other earlier topic.
My bad!
No problem, Doug.
It was probably sent before something like a simple fact check was done. Maybe after a couple of phone calls and not getting ahold of the people interviewed, the editor could have pulled the story on the lacking of evidence those people exist. The press doesn’t need more imaginary people living in Iraq. Even if the editor did find they existed, there has to be questions if they belong to Anti-American organization, had loved ones die in the hands of the U.S. or was even interviewed by the reporter instead of the reporter taking names out of the phonebook.
Anyhow it looks like an Obama propoganda piece rather than a newsworthy story. Nothing happened so it’s not a news story. It’s a few people’s opinions at best so it’s not a poll. It could be an opinion piece that got dumped in the news section which is a big no no for a straight news wire.
Reuters accomplieshed their goal. They got the story out there and now the perception is that Iraqis in overwelming numbers support Obama. They quickly pulled the story before the blogs could call them on it and spoil their goal. Just the usual dim trick. The whole thing is a tissue of lies and the name of the reporter should have been a clue.
Not really on topic I suppose but just a small observation…
I wonder how many people owned mobile telephone stores under Saddam’s rule. I also wonder how many of them would dare talk to Reuters about a U.S. presidential candidate/race back then.
No matter what one may think of the current situation and the past handling of the Iraq war – it sure seems a lot better post Saddam.
Pulling the story as a result of concern over accuracy would be a brand new thing for Reuters. I can’t imagine that would have anything to do with its plunge down the memory hole. But as loathe as the media is to relate facts, it is, on rare occasions, forced to face them. If our straight arrow, non biased MSM is to succeed in its mission to install the Obamessiah in the White House, the constant reporting drumbeat of blacks gushing about how great a black president would be….well, to say that day after day, month after month of it might just have a teeny negative impact on white voters has to be of concern to media types who figure everyone in flyover country still believes in a good lynching before bar-b-que. Better not stir up the knuckle-draggers. So although media elites will spend the next 5 months telling us that any white who doesn’t support Obama is a racist pig, they would much prefer to handle this journalistic enterprise themselves, rather than risk trusting the message to Mohammed or Theotis.