Campaign 2004: First Democratic primary held online as Republicans raise another $4 million overnight

I voted again today, not at the polls this time but online at MoveOn.org's Online Democratic Presidential Primary. MoveOn is a political action committee with hundreds of thousands of members, many of whom joined during the build-up to the invasion of Iraq. If you're already registered at MoveOn, you have until midnight Wednesday (U.S. Eastern Daylight Time) to vote via the ballot you should have received by e-mail. If you're not registered at MoveOn, don't worry: there's lots more football left to be played before this game ends sometime in the hours, days, weeks, or months after the polls close in November, 2004.

Those who want George W. Bush to remain in the White House until 2008 have been busy as well; yesterday they raised $4 million at a Manhattan fundraiser; no word on the cost to the city, state, and federal governments, or private enterprise, of the traffic disruption and extra security for the occasion. Here's an excerpt from the Associated Press coverage of the event, used here under the principle of fair use:

Sept. 11 looms large in NYC fund-raiser, where Bush banks $4 million

Bush was careful not to directly mention the Sept. 11 attacks or the demolished World Trade Center in his campaign speech here. Aides have said they won't use the attacks as campaign fodder. But the fight against terrorism that was prompted by Sept. 11 loomed large in his speech about 80 blocks from Ground Zero.

Mr. Lindlaw, his editors, their editors and their editors and their editors' editors all seem to believe what they hear from these unnamed "aides" over what they hear for themselves. The "aides" say Mr. Bush "won't use the attacks as campaign fodder." But the AP (and the rest of the press corps) quotes him saying, "terrorists declared war on the United States of America...." Do Mr. Lindlaw or his editors imagine Mr. Bush was talking about a different occasion when "terrorists declared war on the U.S."? Do they expect US to imagine it?

Here's how the story went by the time it got to India, this from The Hindu Online Edition:

Bush camp sets aims high

WASHINGTON JUNE 24. The U.S. President, George W. Bush, took his anti-terrorism message to New York but was careful not to mention the attacks of September 11, 2001 in his fundraising that brought his campaign an additional $4 millions.>>

The story did not mention Bush's mentions, or as the "aides" and press corps say, non-mentions, of the 9/11 attacks.

Even the Washington Post is following the "aides" spin on the story:

Some of the president's stock applause lines had more resonance than usual in a city where residents are surrounded by reminders of Sept. 11, 2001. "Terrorists declared war on the United States of America -- and war is what they got," he said.

"Policemen and firemen and people who wear our nation's uniform,are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself," Bush said. "Once again the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day."

At least the Post allowed for the possibility that the "aides," if not their boss, will face criticism for his use of that event and its victims for his own political purposes.

Meanwhile, the group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting is calling attention to underplayed reports of the White House's attempt to link its policy to the Sept. 11 attacks, a story those "aides" aren't talking about.