The media and politics 193reporters to present its distorted view of the situation in Iraq to Congress
and the American public.
Although there are limits to the freedom of the American media, it is
undoubtedly the freest in the world. There is a multiplicity of media in the
United States, all with some importance in the political process. The media
is as pluralistic as the rest of American society. There is, therefore, the op-
portunity for extensive criticism of the political leadership of the country,
which may be attacked simultaneously by different groups of many political
colours. Government may attempt to manage or manipulate the media, but
its pluralist character, the multiplicity of the outlets, and the fact that ulti-
mately government cannot control the press, radio or television mean that,
in the end, lies or distortion will be revealed. The addition of the internet to
the range of information sources available makes it even more likely that,
however much administrations may stray from the truth, in the end, truth
will out.
Further reading
Alterman, E. (2005) When Presidents Lie: A History of Official Deception and Its Consequences,
New York: Penguin Books.
Graber, D.A. (2006) Mass Media and American Politics, 7th edn, Washington, DC: CQ
Press.
Hershey, M.R. (2001) ‘The Campaign and the Media,’ in G.M. Pomper (ed.) The Elec-
tion of 2000, New York: Chatham House.
Kerbel, M.R. (2005) ‘The Media: The Challenge and Promise of Internet Politics,’ in
M. Nelson (ed.) The Elections of 2004, Washington, DC: CQ Press.
Tedford, T.L. and Herbeck, D.A. (2005) Freedom of Speech in the United States, 5th edn,
State College, PA: Strata Publishing.
Western, J. (2005) Selling Intervention and War, Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity Press.
Websites
Blog for America: http://blogforamerica.com
Daily Kos: http://www.dailykos.com
D.C. Bloggers: http://DCbloggers.com
Rush Limbaugh: http://www.rushlimbaugh.com