Did ABC News Bury the Lede?

Before Part 1 of the the Gibson-Palin interview aired, ABC News teased it by making it about war against Russia. Ben Smith, however, correctly notes that in this respect she was stating the obligation of mutual defense of NATO members.

It seems to me the lede should have been something about Gov. Palin's lack of familiarity with something that's been talked about for years in foreign policy circles: the Bush Doctrine. Marc Ambinder calls the exchange Palin's "deer in the headlights" moment. I haven't seen the video yet (UPDATE: it is here), but here's the relevant portion of the transcript:

GIBSON: Do you agree with the Bush doctrine?
PALIN: In what respect, Charlie?
GIBSON: The Bush -- well, what do you -- what do you interpret it to be?
PALIN: His world view.
GIBSON: No, the Bush doctrine, enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war.
PALIN: I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hell bent on destroying our nation. There have been blunders along the way, though. There have been mistakes made. And with new leadership, and that's the beauty of American elections, of course, and democracy, is with new leadership comes opportunity to do things better.
GIBSON: The Bush doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense, that we have the right to a preemptive strike against any other country that we think is going to attack us. Do you agree with that?
PALIN: Charlie, if there is legitimate and enough intelligence that tells us that a strike is imminent against American people, we have every right to defend our country. In fact, the president has the obligation, the duty to defend.

Is this not more newsworthy than the Russia comment? I expect the Obama campaign to pounce on the Bush Doctrine issue more than Russia. I wonder why ABC News did not highlight it.

Comments

[wunderkammers]

Frankly, I think the fact that ABC decided to do the Palin interview in a "mini-series" style format had an impact on the choice of a lede. After all, if they had slammed Palin for a "deer in the headlights" response regarding the "Bush Doctrine" right at the top, the interviews might have been dismissed as another example of "gotcha" journalism.

[sueno]

Considering Gibson did the interview, I'm surprised
they didn't cut that part out.

[reelcobra]

I guess you missed the article by Krauthammer (or didn't read it because he's one of those nasty conservatives), but he's the guy who invented the term "Bush Doctrine" and even he said the question was unanswerable.

But I appreciate your desire to keep Palin in the news.

We're all getting bored with the "hope" and "change" stadium speeches anyway.

[research]

Bush Doctrine: 2004 edition:

"Deterring aggression and coercion must be anticipatory in nature to prevent the catastrophic
impact of attacks using biological, chemical or nuclear weapons on civilian
population centers in the United States or in partner nations. The Armed Forces
have the capability to exercise flexible deterrent options (FDOs)"

Preemptive war,

or as we call it:

World War Forever

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2005/d20050318nms.pdf .

And we Americans call a presidents national strategy his "Doctrine". Duh.

[research]

Bush's
"The
National Military Strategy
of the
United States of America"

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2005/d20050318nms.pdf

Is THE BUSH DOCTRINE.

Understand????

Why can't you Conservatives get a clue?

[Photofarm]

There isn't one " Bush Doctrine " that everybody uses. I've heard of several over the last 8 years. Gibson is the one that came across as the bad guy in this case.

[research]

Yes there is ONE Bush Doctrine. I linked to it below.

Are all you conservatives so ignorant?

[courtb]

There is enough of a concise Bush Doctrine that I had to read it and write a paper on it for my American foreign policy course in college a few years ago. Therefore, every person in my class is now more informed than our potential vp.

[CaptainStormfield]

This Bush Doctrine thing just plays into Karl Rove's Buzz.

People are identifying with Palin for different reasons that have nothing to do with issues or experience.
Guys want to screw her while she shoots their gun.
Women think she is "spunky"? Jeez.. I dont get this at all.
Find a way to deconstruct those.
Then you'll be doing some good.

[noamjunior]

some ideas
some white people need any excuse they can not to vote for a black guy
people listen to right wing radio and are unthinkly influenced by it

[contemporarymom]

They didn't highlight it because Charlie was wrong. Look it up.

[noamjunior]

rather than shift the burden to me for your empty claim- why dont you explain what you are talking about and back it up with proof?
...............................................
.........................

[research]

Why don't you read it yourself:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2005/d20050318nms.pdf

Charlie was right.

[jcandrsn]

most americans aren't in "foreign policy circles". you're making a mountain out of an mole hill with her not realizing that the Bush Doctrine had a specific meaning. I assumed what she did, that it was merely his world view. Both are worthy of despising.

[Danigirl65]

Actually, a true "reformer" would have admitted her ignorance and asked specifically what Charlie was asking. She tried to bluff and blew it.

[VOTER]

Sorry, Charlie!

Too little given you had the first chance to interview Yup,Yup.

Charlie, did Sarah convince you she is ready to become VP and possibly President?

Can't hear you...........................................................

[piper1233]

What i find most disturbing is her attempt to fake her way through the Question. She could have said that she was not familiar with it. and when it was explained to her she could have said it was the terminology not the actual position that she was unfamiliar with. It was clear that she was told that the interview would be friendly.

[Wigelah]

It's ok if people don't know what the Bush Doctrine is. It's not ok if someone a heartbeat away from the Presidency of the United States doesn't know what it is. That's a bit of a problem.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Yup yup!

[XME]

Of course they did...I mean, who cares if SHE thinks she's ready and qualified. Anyone can say that...it's about what WE think, and that makes items like her lack of knowledge of the doctrine, etc. way more important that whether she thinks she's qualified.

Hey...I think I'm ready and qualified! Now will you elect me???

[Jaid]

Islamic fundamentalist, protect the country, do what ever is necessary to protect the American people. uh uh yes charlie. Islamic fundamentalist. protect the country, do what ever is necessary to protect the American people. That's the extent of her repertoire. I will be a war president, I will protect the American people for the Islamic fundamentalist. Will the American people rescue us from Bridge to Nowhere Palin and McSame? Please.

[standforpeace]

I agree. The sad thing is that the Republicans will twist her inability to forthrightly answer most of the questions put to her into a discussion of the sexism of those who have the nerve to comment on her poor performance. This is the worst case of sexism I've ever seen. Because Sarah Palin is a hockey mom who reminds many Americans of themselves or their wives or mothers, she gets a free pass on not knowing basic and critical things like what the Bush Doctrine is. As a woman, I want to ask my fellow Americans, do you take your children to doctors who know only as much about medicine as you do? Do you take your car to a mechanic who knows as much about cars as you do? Or do you look for folks who are experts in these areas? There is much evidence that folks in the current administration did not know some of the basics about the Middle East before embarking on their Iraqi adventure (for instance the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims). Do we really want to put someone so close to the White House because she reminds us of ourselves, including sharing the limited knowledge that most Americans have about the world and American foreign policy.

[UnknownSoldier]

Rick I guess the Debate Debacle did do anything to your opinion of ABC News. Here is a hint, They don't know what News is.

I have Flag Pins for sale if you need any.

ENOUGH!!!