The media politics of 9/11

For 30 months, September 11 was a huge political blessing for President George Bush. This week, the media halo fell off.

For 30 months, 9/11 was a huge political blessing for George W Bush. This week, the media halo fell off.

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Within the space of a few days, culminating with his testimony to the September 11 commission on Wednesday afternoon, former counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke did serious damage to a public-relations scam that the White House has been running for two and a half years.

We may forget just how badly President Bush was doing until September 11, 2001. That morning, a front-page Philadelphia Inquirer story told of dire political straits; his negative rating among the nation's crucial independent swing voters stood at 53%, according to the latest survey by nonpartisan pollster John Zogby.

On September 12, Bush's media stature and poll numbers were soaring. Suddenly, news outlets all over the country boosted the President as a great leader, sometimes likening him to FDR. For many months, the overall media coverage of President Bush was reverential.

With intimidation in the air, all but a few mainstream journalists tamped down criticisms and lacquered on adulation. A kind of war-mentality sheen covered public surfaces. Guided by Bush's top strategist Karl Rove, the administration strived to exploit the tragedy of 9/11 at every turn.

In the aftermath of the Iraq invasion, as the extent of prewar lies forced the Bush administration into a defensive crouch, reliance on images and rhetoric about September 11 was more important than ever.