By Sam Frescoe
http://samfrescoeproject.blogspot.com/
#SamFrescoe
What headlines tend to catch your attention? For me, I’m
drawn to geo-political headlines before others. I pay particular attention to
the mentioning of American national security leaders. In the case of this
article, the particular headline mentioned two American leaders: The President
of the United States, and the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“McCain slams Trump in Munich
speech without using his name” [1]
Normally I look past sensational headlines such as this one.
However, given the influence of Senator McCain, and the Senatorial difficulties
being faced by the Trump’s administration, I elected to review the article. As
a result, I increased my understanding of the Munich Security Conference and my
distrust of the Associated Press.
The Problem
I am writing about the article titled “McCain slams Trump in
Munich speech without using his name” because I want to show you how the
Associated Press, in this case, purposefully deceived its readers and the
public at large.
Getting Started
Context matters. In the case of the article, the context is
that of the Munich Security Conference of 2017. Given the headline, particular
attention was paid to Senator McCain’s remarks by the author and his publisher.
Munich Security Conference
Over the past five decades, the
Munich Security Conference (MSC) has become the major global forum for the
discussion of security policy. Each February, it brings together more than 450
senior decision-makers from around the world, including heads-of-state,
ministers, leading personalities of international and non-governmental
organizations, as well as high ranking representatives of industry, media,
academia, and civil society, to engage in an intensive debate on current and
future security challenges.[2]
The intention of the MSC is to
address the topical main security issues and to debate and analyze the main
security challenges in the presence and the future in line with the concept of
networked security. A focal point of the conference is the discussion and the
exchange of views on the development of the transatlantic relations as well as
European and global security in the 21st century.[3]
The Author – The Publisher
The article was published by the
Associated Press on behalf of Richard Lardner,[4]
reporter for the Metro DC and Politics.[5]
Lardner is connected with in 620 publications over the course of authoring
16,129 articles.[6] He
is further described as an international investigations reporter for the
Associated Press. Prior to working for the Associated Press, he was the general
manager of Inside Washington Publishers' Defense Group in which he published
six defense newsletters that covered budgets and programs of the U.S. Defense
Department.[7]
The article seems to be written in
an emotional rhetorical style. In my view, it seems clear that this article was
purposefully designed to appeal to fear, anger, and disgust. While the logical
fallacies contained within the article are many, there are some that stand out:
appeal to ridicule and spite, red herring, and character attack. The rhetorical
device being used is an appeal to a specific audience.
McCain
At the time of the article, Senator
McCain was acting in the position of Chairman of the Senate Armed Services
Committee.[8]
What Was Told
“McCain
slams Trump in Munich speech without using his name” AP, The Big Story
The author, and by extension the publisher, seems to desire
connecting the following: McCain’s concern about the security of Western
values, that Trump questions the value of NATO, and that SECDEF Mattis is
breaking from Trump.[9]
To this end, an article was posted to the public. Within the article, the
author makes the following claim: Republican Sen. John McCain has delivered a
withering critique of President Donald Trump in a speech that highlights
fractures within the GOP as the new administration struggles to overcome a
chaotic start.[10] The
article was reposted by several additional news outlets: The Associated Press,
Fox News, The Boston globe, ABC News, The New York Times, The Palm Beach Post,
US News, CBS, Business Standard, Financial Express, and others.[11]
What Was Said – What Was Done
Senator
McCain’s remarks were posted for public viewing on YouTube.
The MSC was held for three days, 17-20 Feb 2017 in Munich,
Germany. On 17 Feb 2017, the MSC began and McCain provided his remarks.
- McCain’s remarks were posted to YouTube by Live Satellite News under the title “John McCain takes Shot at Trump at Munich Security Conference”.
- Lardner’s AP article was published as “McCain slams Trump in Munich speech without using his name”.
On 17 Feb 2017, the Associated Press, on behalf of Richard
Lardner (an AP reporter) asserted the following claims.
- “Republican Sen. John McCain has delivered a withering critique of President Donald Trump.” [12]
- “Republican Sen. John McCain has delivered a speech that highlights fractures within the GOP.” [13]
- “The new [Trump] administration struggles to overcome a chaotic start.” [14]
Garbage In – Garbage Out
Given the seriousness of the issues claimed, let’s see how
well they stand up to a basic analysis.
Claim-1 – Withering
Critique – On/Near 17 Feb 2017, the Associated Press, on behalf of Richard
Lardner, asserted the following: “Republican Sen. John McCain has delivered a
withering critique of President Donald Trump.”
In my view, Lardner attempts to support his claim with the
following statements:
- “The Armed Services Committee chairman never mentioned the president's name while lamenting a shift in the United States and Europe away from the "universal values" that McCain says forged the Western alliance.”
- In his speech, McCain said "more and more of our fellow citizens seem to be flirting with authoritarianism and romanticizing it as our moral equivalent." [15]
After viewing the YouTube record, I am able to support the
following challenges.
- First, and foremost, stating that McCain “never mentioned the president's name” does not provide sufficient license to connect McCain’s remarks to the President. Lardner and the AP have a significant integrity problem.
- Senator McCain was not lamenting, nor did he lament. Lamenting means to express oneself in a mournful, sad, or melancholic manner. To lament (verb) refers to an act of mourning, or expression of grief. It is clear for all to see, that McCain was not lamenting, nor did he lament.
- The “fellow citizens” remark was stated by McCain in his speech. Given its placement within the speech it seems clear that McCain was referring to the past and not the present. McCain offered the observation as a result of prior complacency, not as a result of current conditions.
Furthermore, the video presents further evidence contrary to
the claim.
- McCain stated, “I know there is profound concern across Europe and the world that America is laying down the mantle of global leadership. I can only speak for myself, but I do not believe that that is the message you will hear from all the American leaders who cared enough to travel here to Munich this weekend.”
- McCain stated, “Make no mistake about it. These are dangerous times, and you should not count America out.”
- McCain stated, “That more and more of our fellow citizens seem to be flirting with authoritarianism and romanticizing it as a moral equivalent.”
None of these statements amount to a withering critique of
President Donald Trump.
Claim-2 – GOP
Fractures – On/Near 17 Feb 2017, the Associated Press, on behalf of Richard
Lardner, asserted the following: “Republican Sen. John McCain has delivered a
speech that highlights fractures within the GOP.”
In my view, Lardner did not attempt to support his claim
with additional statements.
However, the video does present evidence contrary to the
claim.
- McCain aligns himself with the Vice President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Advisor. – Examination of those referenced, provides support for the following conclusions: all are Republicans; three were selected by Trump himself; two were properly elected to office; two were approved by the Senate to take office.
McCain did not deliver a remark that “highlights fractures
within the GOP.”
Claim-3 – Struggling Administration
– On/Near 17 Feb 2017, the Associated Press, on behalf of Richard Lardner, asserted
the following: “The new [Trump] administration struggles to overcome a chaotic
start.”
In my view, Lardner did not attempt to support his claim
with additional statements.
However, the video does not present evidence contrary to, or
in support of, the claim. Additionally, at the time of posting, the Trump
administration had existed for 28-days. Finally, in my view, the Trump
administration is actively realigning staff, and pushing through the Senate
confirmation process for several key cabinet members. Both challenges, staffing
and confirmation, are reasonable and expected for any newly seated President.
Conclusion – Given
the preponderance of the evidence, I conclude that all of Lardner’s claims are
without merit. Furthermore, given the facts recorded, his claims are an
outright fabrication and a breach of trust with the American public.
“So What?”
In my view, the Press is granted special protections that
reflect the special trust placed in its profession. Simply stated, because of
its special rights and protections, the Press has a duty to accurately present
the facts regardless of the matter addressed. Clearly, Lardner and the AP
failed to preserve the special trust placed in their profession.
Additionally, given the historical record claimed by Lardner
and the AP, there is little doubt that this article was intentionally written
to create an emotional effect. In short, they published tabloid trash loosely
guised as factual enough.
An Alternative Assessment
On/Near 17 Feb 2017, Senator McCain, Chairman of the Senate
Armed Services Committee, while speaking at the Munich Security Conference,
reaffirmed America’s commitment to support and defend western civilization (The
West). However, his comments were not exclusively that of praise. McCain’s speech is available
at this link.
McCain recounted a historical summary of the founding of The
West (western civilization). A key feature of his summary was a reiteration of
western values: universal values, rule of law, open commerce, and respect for
national sovereignty and independence.
McCain tempered his summary by pointing out several
shortcomings occurring within the last decade. He framed his comments in terms
of The West in general and America specifically. McCain’s comments are
paraphrased below.
- An increasing turn away from universal values and toward old ties of blood, and race, and sectarianism.
- The hardening resentment seen towards immigrants, and refugees, and minority groups; especially Muslims.
- The growing inability, and even unwillingness, to separate truth from lies.
- That more and more of our fellow citizens seem to be flirting with authoritarianism and romanticizing it as a moral equivalent.
- May of our peoples, including [Americans], are giving up on the West. They see it as a bad deal, and that we may be better off without it.
McCain, in his view, offered several causes for the
shortfalls stated.
- Complacency leading to mistakes
- At times we tried to do too much, and at others we failed to do enough
- We lost touch with many of our people
- We’ve been too slow to recognize and respond to their hardships
However, McCain did conclude his remarks with several
statements of faith in the The West and its future; and even express the
willingness to fight.
- “I know there is profound concern across Europe and the world that America is laying down the mantle of global leadership. I can only speak for myself, but I do not believe that that is the message you will hear from all the American leaders who cared enough to travel here to Munich this weekend.”
- “Make no mistake about it. These are dangerous times, and you should not count America out.”
- Our adversaries want the West to decline and fail. “This is their goal. They have no meaningful allies so they seek to sow decent among us; and, to divide us from each other. They know that their power and influence are inferior to ours. So they seek to subvert us; and erode our resolve to resist; and terrorize into passivity.”
In my view, upon reflecting on McCain’s remarks, and
considering the breadth and depth of the MSC, I am willing to offer the
following conclusion. On/Near 17 Feb 2017, Senator McCain issued a verbal
statement signaling to the international community that the United States is
going to set a new course of action in favor of Western civilization guiding
principles.
Going Forward
America is an exceptional nation, and worthy of the
leadership role and its challenges.
America was founded on an exceptional idea. Simply stated,
that idea is that every citizen is of value. For this idea to hold true and
transcend the generations, personal responsibility is mandatory. For without
it, a citizen would not possess human value; and, as a result, neither would
their thoughts, desires, deeds, or the tangible results thereof.
America champions an exceptional way. America was founded on
the ideal of individual self-governance. To that end, the Founders ratified a
Constitution that codified an arrangement of national government with
enumerated and constrained powers. It happens that the Constitution and Bill of
Rights codify a republic form of limited government, according to the consent
of The People.
Given the history of America, in my opinion, we can lead the
way forward, addressing the shortfalls of the past, and create effects in the
world that are good while not compromising principle.
Your View
Your thoughts and perspectives are important. I invite you
to tell me what you believe with the comment section.
© 2017 – SamFrescoeProject.Blogspot.com
– All Rights Reserved
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Lardner. “McCain slams Trump in Munich speech without using his name”. The Associated
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