{"id":243348,"date":"2016-05-13T15:35:42","date_gmt":"2016-05-13T15:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/newswire\/dangerous-white-house-propaganda-obama-team-gop-battle-over-iran-media-spin\/"},"modified":"2016-05-13T16:03:15","modified_gmt":"2016-05-13T16:03:15","slug":"dangerous-white-house-propaganda-obama-team-gop-battle-over-iran-media-spin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/latest-news\/dangerous-white-house-propaganda-obama-team-gop-battle-over-iran-media-spin\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Dangerous White House propaganda\u2019: Obama team &amp; GOP battle over Iran media spin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.rt.com\/files\/2016.05\/thumbnail\/5734e5d2c46188000e8b45c5.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p>        Mainstream media outlets in the US had a tough week after being accused of being puppets for the White House who, according to Republicans in Congress, used \u201cpropaganda\u201d to push the Iran nuclear deal.<\/p>\n<div readability=\"105.44078104994\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/msm.rt.com\/\"><strong>READ MORE: RT&#8217;S ultimate guide to mainstream media<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The ongoing blame game between the White House, Republicans, and numerous news organizations stems from a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/05\/08\/magazine\/the-aspiring-novelist-who-became-obamas-foreign-policy-guru.html?_r=0\">New York Times<\/a> profile of Obama\u2019s <em>\u201cboy wonder\u201d<\/em>, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes.<\/p>\n<p>It all started Monday during a speech by Senator Ben Sasse in which he criticized how Rhodes <em>\u201copenly brags about how the administration manipulated the media in the run-up to Obama\u2019s nuclear deal with Iran\u201d<\/em> with news outlets carrying particular narratives without question, which Sasse brands as &#8220;dangerous.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bN6WZ7O-CJg\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Fellow Republicans followed suit, in what appeared to be a planned attack, when the House Oversight Committee called for Rhodes to testify on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n<p>White House spokesman Josh Earnest slammed the suggestion that Rhodes should testify in a hearing on the Iran nuclear deal, during a press conference on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p><center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WcnXoXyjtKY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/p>\n<p>While <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailybeast.com\/articles\/2015\/09\/17\/putin-s-propaganda-tv-lies-about-ratings.html\">other<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2015\/dec\/27\/russia-propaganda-machine-gains-on-us\/?page=all\">media<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.spectator.co.uk\/2014\/12\/the-truth-about-russia-today-is-that-it-is-putins-mouthpiece\/\">outlets<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/putin-messaging-machine-propaganda-russia-today-media-war\/\">have<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/time.com\/rt-putin\/\">been<\/a> targeted by federal legislation for alleged propaganda, NYT journalist David Samuels described Rhodes as <em>\u201ca storyteller who uses a writer\u2019s tools to advance an agenda that is packaged as politics but is often quite personal.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The profile piece also describes Rhodes as being <em>\u201cthe master shaper and retailer of Obama\u2019s foreign-policy narratives,\u201d<\/em> and that he is <em>\u201cthe single most influential voice shaping American foreign policy aside from POTUS himself.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.8730158730159\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"6.5555555555556\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just a note on writing &amp; Ben Rhodes. Getting an MFA doesn&#8217;t make you a &#8220;writer.&#8221; Writing does. Books? Articles? At 38, seems a bit precious.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/stuartpstevens\/status\/730814268053000192\">May 12, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<p>In particular, Rhodes detailed how he shaped a narrative around the Iran nuclear deal\u2019s announcement and how the administration <em>\u201ccreated an echo chamber\u201d<\/em> of experts who<em> \u201cvalidated what we [the White House] had given them [journalists] to say.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.4029411764706\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"5.6117647058824\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Now I know why certain columnists were always late for Washington lunch events. Ben Rhodes took too long to write their columns.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mdubowitz\/status\/729071270227267590\">May 7, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.8735632183908\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"6.5574712643678\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">If I was handling media for Obama&#8217;s foreign policy legacy, I would not have let Ben Rhodes talk to David Samuels. A genuine disaster.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Shadi Hamid (@shadihamid) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/shadihamid\/status\/728386661424496641\">May 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<p><em>\u201cThis story of the White House\u2019s media manipulation is horrific and should be a screaming siren to us,\u201d<\/em> Sasse said.<\/p>\n<p>House Speaker Paul Ryan accused the administration of having <em>\u201cessentially misled the American people,\u201d<\/em> according to <a href=\"http:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/national-security\/279616-white-house-aide-called-to-hill-following-iran-comments\">The Hill<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.8100558659218\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"6.3351955307263\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The Republicans know how to control the narrative. They&#8217;ve repeated for decades they&#8217;re fiscally responsible. As such, people believe them.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Demin (@TehDeminz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TehDeminz\/status\/702975061280489472\">February 25, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<p>The irony of the Republicans taking aim at the media for gobbling up the Obama administration\u2019s <em>\u201cspin\u201d<\/em> was not lost on everyone. Some social media users pointed out that they are guilty of the same charge.<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.3714285714286\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"5.4857142857143\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">social media has become an ultimate weapon in the propaganda machine for both republicans and democrats<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 alex (@MartyrLaguna) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MartyrLaguna\/status\/730489142971236352\">May 11, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.3867924528302\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"5.5471698113208\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Haven&#8217;t seen Republicans spin this hard in years to say nothing. GOP are the masters of propaganda and messaging. Ryan\/Trump<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 kengpdx (@kengpdx) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kengpdx\/status\/730789663305142277\">May 12, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.260989010989\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"5.043956043956\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cher\">@cher<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ctchiappone\">@ctchiappone<\/a> Disgusting isn&#8217;t it? We no longer have a news network we have a propaganda network owned by corporate republicans.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CherokeeNative (@CherokeeNative3) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CherokeeNative3\/status\/730595780914876417\">May 12, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<p>Meanwhile, for the mainstream media\u2019s part, they appeared to use a two-pronged approach of defense and attack.<\/p>\n<p>A number of news outlets got their back up about claims that they were duped by the White House, some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/lifestyle\/style\/obama-official-says-he-pushed-a-narrative-to-media-to-sell-the-iran-nuclear-deal\/2016\/05\/06\/5b90d984-13a1-11e6-8967-7ac733c56f12_story.html\">repeatedly<\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/book-party\/wp\/2016\/05\/06\/why-the-ben-rhodes-profile-in-the-new-york-times-magazine-is-just-gross\/\">doing<\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/posteverything\/wp\/2016\/05\/09\/my-extremely-lukewarm-take-on-ben-rhodes\/\">so<\/a>, while <a href=\"http:\/\/nymag.com\/daily\/intelligencer\/2016\/05\/10-problems-with-nyt-mags-ben-rhodes-profile.html\">others<\/a> took aim at Samuels himself, including <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/politics\/archive\/2016\/05\/ben-rhodes-and-the-retailing-of-the-iran-deal\/481893\/\">previous<\/a> employers.<\/p>\n<p>The journalist was criticized for not being truthful about his own background and adding his own<em> \u201cself-serving spin,\u201d<\/em> according to <a href=\"http:\/\/mediamatters.org\/research\/2016\/05\/11\/ny-times-magazine-attacks-obama-administration-fact-free-allegations\/210359\">Media Matters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.8698224852071\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"6.5443786982249\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">If Ben Rhodes were as smart as David Samuels says he thinks he is, then he never would have cooperated with that profile.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mattyglesias\/status\/728895401273774080\">May 7, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<p>Writing for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.slate.com\/articles\/news_and_politics\/foreigners\/2009\/04\/why_israel_will_bomb_iran.html\">Slate<\/a> in 2009, Samuels detailed his <em>&#8220;rational argument&#8221;<\/em> for why Israel should bomb Iran, saying that it <em>&#8220;makes sense.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>He also participated in a panel at the Hudson Institute in 2015 which criticized the Iran deal, saying that he was <em>&#8220;startled by the lack of attention and clarity&#8221;<\/em> in what had been reported.<\/p>\n<p>Samuels was backed up by the New York Times editor though, saying they <em>\u201cstand behind the piece 100 percent.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>While those entrenched in the Washington DC\u2019s media circles and halls of power continue to spar over what is and isn\u2019t propaganda, the general public is already one step ahead.<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.6046511627907\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-cards=\"hidden\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"5.6162790697674\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">how the public is sold on an iran deal and everything else. as edward bernays wrote, it&#8217;s all propaganda: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Q3MMMQe2c1\">https:\/\/t.co\/Q3MMMQe2c1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Geoff Blades (@geoffblades) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/geoffblades\/status\/728599328005214210\">May 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<p>Social media users have called out both the Republicans and Democrats for using propaganda, as well as various news outlets for having their own spin, whether they admit it or not.<\/p>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.2265193370166\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"4.9060773480663\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Fixer_guy\">@Fixer_guy<\/a> I&#8217;ve never liked that so many newspapers &amp; TV channels are owned by so few corps. Do you feel it&#8217;s ALL propaganda? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/twittlesis\">@twittlesis<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Lady Isadora (@LadyIsadora) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LadyIsadora\/status\/730829681822437376\">May 12, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<div class=\"rtcode\"><center readability=\"1.3606557377049\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-conversation=\"none\" data-lang=\"en\" readability=\"5.4426229508197\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MSNBC\">@MSNBC<\/a> If you were actual reporters you would be asking that about the Dems and the Republicans. You are spin machines. Cheap propaganda!<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Anna Sanchez (@LiveAstrologer) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LiveAstrologer\/status\/729770813835116544\">May 9, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/center><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rt.com\/usa\/342930-white-house-dangerous-propaganda\/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=RSS\">RT<\/a>. This piece was reprinted by <a href=\"http:\/\/rinf.com\">RINF Alternative News<\/a> with permission or license.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mainstream media outlets in the US had a tough week after being accused of being puppets for the White House who, according to Republicans in Congress, used \u201cpropaganda\u201d to push the Iran nuclear deal. READ MORE: RT&#8217;S ultimate guide to mainstream media The ongoing blame game between the White House, Republicans, and numerous news organizations [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":243349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[519,18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-243348","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-newswire","8":"category-latest-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/243349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=243348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=243348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}