I am actually rather annoyed with the Press Corp about this one.  It’s obviously an accident and there are more important things for the Press to spend its time on—i.e. the “cartoon riots” and the newly published Abu Graib photos.

My wife and I were discussing this and we came to the conclusion that the White House has been so adamant at maintaining secrecy, that the Press Corp will jump over every little sliver of information that gets through.  The fact that it took a day for the White House to make it public is not a big deal, but it’s also characteristic of a wider culture of secrecy in the administration that the Washington Press Corp may well be “punishing” the President.

Anyway, this is about the only time you’ll hear this liberal defending this administration from the press, so enjoy it and don’t get used to it. 

I’m enjoying it, although my take on the reasons behind it are different.

I think it is caused by frustration that all the other perceived scandals have not left much of a mark on the President, and the far left has picking up any possible piece of ammunition to attempt to shoot him with.  Unfortunately (for them), I think this kind of approach merely innoculates the administration against future attacks, be they silly like this one or if they have some legitimacy.

It is not all that different than what some on the extreme right did (and still go) with former President Clinton.  He had some very real scandals, but people went off on stupid things which didn’t help their cause at all.  (And it still makes them look silly today - at least in my eyes.)