WHY I HATE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The most democratically important vote in the history of Iraq has just concluded. The initial report is that the constitution passed and that the Iraqis now have a constitution. The delegates worked negotiated and compromised their differences just as the US Delegates did in writing the US Constitution. Yes there was an effort to scuttle the vote by some Sunni clerics. The effort failed, but the constitution and the people of Iraq succeeded.

Was this hailed as a great success by the Associated Press NO! Had they reported the vote as a success, it would have been favorable for President Bush, and AP couldn’t have that. It was reported by AP as the Sunnis falling short in defeating the constitution.

Reporter: Lee Keath, Associated Press Writer
Headline: Sunnis Appear to Fall Short in Iraq Vote

Notice it wasn't a headline praising the success of the vote but finding the negative of the
Sunni failure.

First Sentence: “Iraq's landmark constitution seemed assured of passage Sunday after initial results showed minority Sunni Arabs had fallen short in an effort to veto it at the polls.”

Notice the absolute negativity of the sentence rather than the success of the passage. It was though as the reporter was unhappy with the result that the Sunnis failed to destroy the constitution.

Second Sentence: The apparent acceptance was a major step in the attempt to establish a democratic government that could lead to the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Notice: “The apparent acceptance....” again it reads as though Keath is unhappy about the Sunni failure “....was a major step in the attempt to establish a democratic government that could lead to the withdrawal of U.S. troops.” Next Keath mentions, as in passing, that it’s a major step in the effort to establish Democracy not for the success of the Iraqis, and then immediately says it could lead to U.S. troop withdrawal.

If Keath had been writing about voting approval of the American Constitution he probably would have written that “Royalists failed in their effort to stop the approval of our constitution in the 13 colonies which went to war against Great Britian.”

Writing like this from AP is common. It is biased, focuses on the negative at a time of great hope and possibility. Shame on the Associated Press’ biased and prejudicial reporting.