See the easy connection? Iraqis bobbing up and down to Hussein's lead; flash to anti-Am^H^Hwar protestors.
Or, the commentary on "Anti-American" protests, with images of effigies of the Shrubya.
Just now, the reportage on France noted that the demo wasn't anti-American, but anti-Shrubya. OK, so it's a slight improvement.
But then there was the little collage of images I saw last night, right after one CNN show wrapped up: billowing smoke from the World Trade Center towers and people fleeing. Again, the easy, subtle connection that plays on the viewer: Images of anti-Am^H^Hwar protestors. Images of 9.11.
Steve, these guys have egos. Stoke them a little first. Bashing them with a direct, "You're biased" or whatever does not do us any good. These people are humans just like you and me. Treat them with a little respect, make the assumption that they are not purposefully enemies of the anti-war protestors (even if they are). The crits will go over a little better. They may flip us the bird in the end, but you can walk away knowing that you took the high road.
Seems to me is that they HAVE been or are portraying themselves as blind=sided by a ground swell of anti-war protests. They were so sure war was going to break, and so intent on 0wning #1, that they hadn't devoted any energy to looking at anti-war activities and protests that have been going on since shortly after 9.11. And even if they weren't blind-sided, they may be playing this as a bunch of spontaneous world-wide protests. I don't think that will hurt us in terms of how it's portrayed.
At any rate, Be careful out there this weekend!
Kelley