Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 24, 1993 TAG: 9301250263
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
STICKS 'N STONES
GEORGE BUSH and many of his supporters were convinced that America's big, bad, liberal media conspired to evict him from the White House and boot him back to Texas as a private citizen.It may be conceded that some in the media seemed to relish Bush-bashing. But he surely had the most to do with his defeat.
And America's media are, in fact, pussycats.
By comparison, anyway.
Last week, the Iraqi media - in keeping with the demeanor of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein - let fly the mother of all editorial attacks on Bush as the ex-president turned the keys to the Oval Office over to Bill Clinton.
Losing the presidency was not sufficient punishment for Saddam's archenemy, hissed the Iraqi government newspaper al-Jumhouriya.
"Commit suicide," it urged Bush.
To avoid any confusion as to its editorial position, it went on to appeal to God to make Bush "blind, cripple him, ax his hands and strike him dumb."
Not to be outdone, other state-sponsored newspapers and television also slung invective in celebration of Bush's retirement. "Iraq's symbol shines and Bush collapses," gloated one newspaper.
Some Iraqi gloating is to be expected. After all, the president whose popularity ratings soared to record highs following his Desert Storm "victory" over Saddam, was sent packing by American voters. Saddam, once called "another Hitler" by Bush, remains defiantly in power.
Clinton, we hope, will understand better than his predecessor the dangers in personalizing foreign policy.
Americans, we hope, will appreciate the benefits of a free press, uncontrolled by government.
And Bush, we hope, will find it in his heart to forgive the critics at home for slights against him, real or perceived. The Iraqi News Agency is calling for someone to cut off his head and kick it around like a football.
We never said anything like that.