Zinsmeistering reality

aei.org

What do you do if you're Karl Zinsmeister, the newly appointed chief domestic advisor to Pres. Bush and a lowly newspaper, local to your city, publishes a profile of you that includes quotes that now embarass you? What kind of quotes you ask? Like,

People In Washington are morally repugnant, cheating, shifty human beings.

Or, how about:

A significant number (of journalists) are whiny and appallingly soft.

Well, your response is you simply change the blasted piece. Repost it to a bigger forum (how about the American Enterprise Institute's magazine) with your quotes nicely burnished.

Why let a little thing like reality get in your way...power and perception go hand in glove in what is the latest Bush rework of the English language...let's call it zinsmeistering. The Washington Post wonders tongue-and-cheek what Zinsmeister could do to all unfavorable reporting.

Of course Helen Thomas has to ask Tony Snow about this. Editor and Publisher carries their exchange.

The Syracuse New Times, which carried the original interview is thinking about possible legal action, according to Editor and Publisher.