Reporters on occasion are like carnival barkers, offering more than they can deliver in an attempt to lure the unwitting into the tent. And when that happens, we here at Campaign Desk leap into our Better Business Bureau mode and try to hold the culprits up on display.
In today’s Washington Post, Jim VandeHei dons his straw hat and sleeve garters, and offers us this lede, in a story headlined “Doubts Linger as Kerry Advances”:
John F. Kerry has shattered fundraising records, unified an oft-warring party and pushed past President Bush in some national polls. Yet many Democratic voters, officials and even members of Kerry’s staff express an ambivalence — or angst — about their presidential candidate that belies this strong public standing.
“Angst?” Who could resist angst. So, into the tent we go. Uh-oh. Duped again. The only thing close to angst that we could find in the lengthy page-one story is this paragraph:
Kerry adopted a cautious approach to this campaign, anticipating that factors outside his control, such as Iraq and terrorism, could alter the race at any moment, a top aide said. A senior Kerry adviser, who requested anonymity, said this has left many on the staff “wanting“, both in terms of strong leadership and inspiration. (Emphasis added.)
“Wanting?” We’re left feeling like a 12-year-old who discovers that El Hoppo, the Living Frog Boy, was really just an old guy in green leotards.
–Susan Q. Stranahan
Susan Q. Stranahan wrote for CJR.