Perception is Often Reality
Jul 21, 2008 Political
It is of little consequence that some things are absolutely true if people do not see them that way. When John McCain said that it would be OK to have troops in Iraq for 100 years he clearly stated that it would be contingent upon them not getting shot at and likened a presence to the ones we have in Europe and South Korea. Still, through deliberate distortions, many Americans think McCain wants a 100 year war in Iraq. It does not matter what the reality is, it is how it is perceived.
The Obama campaign is indicating that the fact that a reporter from the New Yorker did not get a seat on his plane for his campaign trip through Europe and the Middle East had nothing to do with the satirical cover the magazine published. The campaign asserts that 200 reporters applied for 50 seats and Ryan Lizza of the New Yorker did not get one. This might be the absolute truth but the perception is that the lack of a seat was retribution for the cover. It is reported that Obama has great respect for Lizza and the piece he wrote in the New Yorker was favorable toward the candidate.
In reality though, it does not matter if this was the luck of the draw and perfectly innocent because it will be perceived as a deliberate payback for the magazine cover. If the Obama campaign really had no ill will toward Lizza (or the magazine) then it should have made sure he had a seat so as to remove all doubt about payback. This would be the most prudent way to show there were no hard feelings.
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Tags: Obama, plane, retribution, ryan lizza, seat