One telling example was how GOP congressmen and right-wing operatives in 1999-2000 linked Vice President Al Gore to the compromising of U.S. nuclear secrets to China, when the secrets were compromised years earlier under Ronald Reagan. [See Consortiumnews.com's "How America Fell."]
But a striking fact of the early Obama era is that--with only a few exceptions--Washington has changed very little, systemically.
The right-wing media remains the dominant megaphone; the same inept talking heads fill the air on CNN, CNBC and--for much of the day--on MSNBC; Republicans will say or do anything to sabotage a Democratic administration; and Democrats are still mesmerized by the pleasant mirage of "bipartisanship."
The hard reality for Obama, the Democrats and the progressives is that as long as they ignore these systemic features, especially the power of America's right-tilted media, the Republicans will always have the edge in framing the issues--and thus limiting the choices for the future.
Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His latest book, Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush, was written with two of his sons, Sam and Nat, and can be ordered at neckdeepbook.com. His two previous books, Secrecy & Privilege: The Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq and Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth' are also available there. Or go to Amazon.com.
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