re: #316 Dark_Falcon

Woodward has decades of experience in reporting and analyzing the presidency. The White House replied because than experience causes people in DC to take Woodward seriously. But to call him “willfully wrong” is to call him a liar, and that’s high risk strategy that could easily backfire on the president.

Disagree about the high risk and backfire.

The risk is that large numbers will be dismayed by the uncivility and condemn the president, calling HIM the liar. As opposed to the large number who will condemn him and call him a liar because he’s black/democratic. The difference in size of the respective “large numbers” is very small.

On the other hand he establishes a bright line support of his already existing position and denies this new back-avenue attack.

And finally, while you and I and just about everyone else knows “willfully wrong” means he was lying it’s still not as blunt and offensive as using the word “liar.” It can be parsed, some face can be saved.

Add to this the fact that for several years now - since prior to Bush’s presidency - Woodward’s “journalism” seems to rely heavily on the Rather standards of professionalism.