a distinction without a difference?

Attacks by the liberal media on the Bush Administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina are becoming more and more extreme even as more and more information is uncovered that points to local and state officials as primiarly responsible for shortcoming in emergency response.

Time Magazine apparently scrutinized FEMA head Mike Brown's background to a degree not seen since the CBS "investigation" of President Bush's Air National Guard service came up with the now-famous forged documents that will always be associated with liberal reporter Dan Rather.

Here is a summay of what Time is reporting.


"Before joining FEMA, his only previous stint in emergency management, according to his bio posted on FEMA's website, was "serving as an assistant city manager with emergency services oversight." The White House press release from 2001 stated that Brown worked for the city of Edmond, Okla., from 1975 to 1978 "overseeing the emergency services division" In fact, according to Claudia Deakins, head of public relations for the city of Edmond, Brown was an "assistant to the city manager" from 1977 to 1980, not a manager himself, and had no authority over other employees. "


To the vast majority of Americans, the distinction between "Assistant City Manager" and "Assistant to the City Manager" for a job held about 30 years ago is not very significant. To a liberal Bush-hater, however, this is something to play as much as possible and all of the mainstream liberal media have publicized this as much as possible just like the CBS document forgeries.

It is interesting that the media are so concerned about details of a job title held by a Administration appointee almost 30 years ago but last year, during the Presidential election, they showed no interest in the issues raised about John Kerrys' Vietnam service which was the centerpiece of his entire campaign. In addition, Brown's service during last year's hurricane season was considered to be outstanding; shouldn't that record of recent service carry more weight than whether a job title from decades ago was accurately reported.