Framing the Issue: "Domestic Spying" Part II
Debate Over News Use of Term 'Domestic Spying'
The often obnoxious Newsbusters raise an interesting question over the media's use of the term "domestic spying," referring to the administration's surveillance of certain people and places within the U.S. What do you think? Should the media use the term "domestic spying" or something like "intelligence gathering," "covert domestic anti-terror practices" or the like? No political screeds here - let's discuss the term. by Steve Safran
posted on 01/26 | link | discuss (13)
This is one site you should bookmark and check every day. (I do!)
Early Show Still Up In Arms Over "Domestic Spying"
I know how hard it is to write a headline that's accurate and short and grabbing. But we really should shoot for all three -- accurate, short and grabbing. I don't think 'domestic spying' makes it.
General Michael Hayden, former NSA director, speaking to the National Press Club on January 23
On CBS, The Early Show opened this morning with a discussion of the NSA's electronic surveillance program on Al-Qaeda suspects that it continues to call "domestic spying." It was the first item teased at the open. Rene Syler:
Less than a minute later, as they introduced the various stories they'd be covering, it was mentioned again. Julie Chen:
As we noted, President Bush has been defending his covert program to spy on Americans, and we'll have the latest on that in just a moment.
Again, it was less than a minute later when they got into the news, and here we go again. Harry Smith:
Let's get right to our top story. Domestic spying, the President's surveillance program has ignited a national debate on civil liberties vs. national security.
They then went to a report from Bill Plante, who told us that
The White House issued another of its rebuttals titled Setting the Record Straight. This one challenges those who call the program domestic spying.
That challenge obviously hasn't work yet. In fact, CBS is actually showing a fair degree of contempt for the White House by acknowledging that and continuing to call it "domestic spying."
The attorney general repeated the administration argument that the surveillance is authorized by the congressional War Powers act of 2001.
Plante acknowledges that the White House is arguing that this program is legal, constitutional, and authorized by congress. And then finished with this:
The President's case comes down to this. The assertion that the spying helps prevent terrorist
attacks.
Finally, we get to the story. And here's Rene Syler again:
This is the fourth mention of the program. In one of them, briefly, has it been mentioned that the wiretaps are on "international calls to and from the US." Here again, it's ignored. "Domestic spying" is an obviously inaccurate term that CBS continues to insist on using. (To their credit, they did have Bay Buchanan on this morning, and she called them on it - "I want to go back to how you introduced this segment. What you said is inaccurate. You suggested it was domestic spying. It is not.")
If CBS had been paying attention at the National Press Club on Monday when General Hayden spoke, they might have been able to figure it out. As I noted at the top, he made it clear that "domestic spying" did not work as an accurate headline for what's going on. He also made another great point in that speech that even CBS should have been able to understand.
I've taken literally hundreds of domestic flights. I have never boarded a domestic flight in the United States of America and landed in Waziristan.
Posted by Lyford Beverage on January 25, 2006 - 08:20.
COMMENTS to the NEWSBUSTERS Site
bigtimer (January 25, 2006 - 11:52) Says:
If I were giving advice to the Conservative side, I would advise to stop going on all these shows and let them argue with theirselves. They are getting nowhere and it is getting old. They are the enemy within this country. Their day is coming soon to who leaked what to the enemy along with alot of other depts in the govt. and members of the Congress. War Power Act passed by Congress in '01 means nothing to them, you can repeat it over and over and they still eat the pages. Pathetic little critters.
I am sick of defending let alone listening to these traitorous cowards who are in slathering desperation to regain power by 2006...not I repeat not going to happen. I wish we could put them all on an island somewhere on the Aluetians and let them fend for theirselves and let the enemy rescue them...al Qaeda to the rescue!
These varmits need to be banished from the good population....ever heard of a controlled hunt?
RJ (January 25, 2006 - 12:03) Says:
I am sick of defending let alone listening to these traitorous cowards who are in slathering desperation
Hear, hear, BT. The liberal elite are hollow ideologues, undeserving of respect.
For Democrats, it's not about truth, it's about the agenda...and the agenda is to "get" President Bush, even if it harms the United States...
Okay. To me these comments are a little severe. But this is a good way to make a judgment about what kind of a blog Newsbusters is. I'd call them "right wing", which goes a little past conservative on the left-to-right politcal spectrum.
Next, we have comments from readers of LostRemote, and their thoughts on the Newbusters piece. Not as strident as Bigtimer.
COMMENTS from LOST REMOTE: Debate Over News Use of Term 'Domestic Spying'
1) Posted by Brad at January 26, 2006 06:15 AM
There may not be a good term. The "Domestic Spying" issue doesn't really qualify as such b/c we are talking about someone in the U.S. talking to someone across the globe. Maybe "intel gathering involving U.S. citizens."
By the way, would a legal wiretap done by the FBI be considered "domestic spying"?
2 Posted by Kev at January 26, 2006 07:01 AM
I believe the term "domestic spying" does apply because the government is doing just that: spying on U.S. citizens within our borders. It does not matter if the alleged terrorist is communicating with someone on the other side of the globe; they are still in the U.S. and they are the ones under surveillance. "Intel gathering involving U.S. citizens" sounds like U.S. citizens are actually participating in the intelligence gathering.
And yes, I believe a legal wirtap by the FBI would be considered "domestic spying". The legality of the act may not be morally wrong, but I believe the term still applies.
3 Posted by Rik at January 26, 2006 09:15 AM
I would propose that the term "domestic spying" is far too broad in scope and has a decidedly negative connotation. I think a more specific term would be appropriate for this discussion. I am a little surprised that there isn’t an official term…perhaps because it is difficult to read on a prompter (something like “domestic trans-national surveillance”).
In addition, can anyone confirmed that US Citizens are the primary or “significant” targets of this surveillance? Wouldn’t much of the monitored traffic be from resident non-citizens in the US?
Finally, there is a larger issue here…is the importing/exporting information (via phone or email) subject to search as would be physical items that are shipped internationally?
4 Posted by Rocker at January 26, 2006 10:11 AM
The word "spy" is inherently pejorative, if you are honest. Calling it "domestic spying" is also misleading IMHO, if not inaccurate, if in fact the taps are triggered by overseas-initiated calls (as opposed to monitoring people domestically). We don't know that yet...perhaps we should wait to find out.
5 Posted by at January 26, 2006 11:35 AM
I think it is too vague.
Anyone know where the news divisions fall on this? Is CNN using the term, but fox or MSNBC not.
6 Posted by at January 26, 2006 01:15 PM
The White House is insisting on the term "international" rather than "domestic." Of course, "international" does not necessarily include any activity inside the US, which is the controversial part the news is referring to. And since it is the domestic part of the equation that is newsworthy, I think it's reasonable to talk about warantless domestic spying. It's also important to include "warantless," since domestic spying is fine as long as there's a warrant, and no member of Congress has suggested otherwise. It's the fact that the WH chose not to get the warrants that makes this an issue, because now there's no independent party who knows who really was spied on and what the evidence was that, um, warranted them being spied on.
7 Posted by Rico at January 26, 2006 01:19 PM
The White House is also spinning it as "Terrorist Surveillance Program," or something like that. Because if it's against the terrorists, it must not be illegal.
8 Posted by Jonathan at January 26, 2006 02:34 PM
"Domestic spying" is misleading because it implies that the government is spying on domestic calls, when it's actually going after international ones. Of course, "international spying" is too vague...
We need something that makes it clear that they're tapping calls between the US and suspected terrorists. Can't think of a good term at the moment, but "domestic spying" is clearly a bad one.
9 Posted by Elizabeth at January 26, 2006 02:59 PM
The issue here is that people in the U.S. are under surveillance, so I think the term "domestic" needs to stay. It's the "spying" that's controversial. I agree something more specific is needed. Perhaps "surveillance" or "wiretapping" would be better.
10 Posted by A Concerned and Utterly Stupefied Citizen at January 26, 2006 04:22 PM
How about, now here's an idea... they follow the tenets of the fourth amendment and not spy on anyone in the US without reasonable cause AND a court approved warrant.
Hey, maybe that's what they should do -- obey the laws of our constitution!
Nah, just put semantic lipstick on the pig and ram it down our throats under the guise of "terrorism!"
Yeah, that's their ticket. And boy are they punching it!
The fact remains that this was started well before 911 and was so wide in scope that it tapped upwards of MILLIONS of US citizens. Terrorism? How bout "Domestic Politically Biased Spying."
11 Posted by aidian at January 26, 2006 04:42 PM
Domestic spying is justified because it is "spying" ... covert intelligence gathering for national security purposed.
warantless domestic wiretaps is my more precise, but not more acurate, and it's an akward phrase.
12 Posted by Chris at January 26, 2006 07:58 PM
I stopped myself from typing that term just a few days ago. It strikes me as too inflammatory in much the same way that "refugees" bothered people after Katrina. I think it may be applicable, but its use distracts from the rest of the story.
13 Posted by Alyssa at January 27, 2006 05:40 AM
If the government is spying on people IN this country, by definition that is 'domestic' spying. I'm open to using 'surveillance' instead of 'spying'.
It's an important issue, though. It's okay for blogs to want to spin things one way or the other. But from the MSM (main stream media) we have come to expect things to be unbiased.
posted by Mr. Mac | 7:06 PM
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