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"We need to get to the bottom," Hinchey said, "of the whole business of manipulating the media that has gone on in the context of this administration." So the fake CBS documents, which could have ended Bush's re-election bid had they not been exposed as forgeries, were in fact another example of the White House manipulating the media rather than being part of the opposition's attempt to smear Bush. It's all so clear now.

And it's not just the media Hinchey wants to involve; no, Hinchey wants the U.S. Congress to get in on the act, too.

"The Congress is not doing its job," he said. "This is something that ought to be investigated by the Congress of the United States." If Hinchey is really interested in discovering who is attempting to manipulate the U.S. news media, he ought to keep his eyes open when he shaves.

He asserts with a straight face that a congressional probe into whether the White House is behind the forged CBS documents based on nothing other than his reading of an amorphous blob of circumstantial evidence is a responsible thing to do, though his staff cannot explain exactly why Congress has any jurisdiction in the matter.

"I think it's very responsible of me to speculate about where this manipulation is coming from," he told CNN. "I think it's important to speculate about it," he said. "I think it's important to discuss it," he said. "I think it's important to try to stimulate the investigative agencies to look into this," he said.

I think he needs to take a long vacation.

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The Peter Principles explores issues in national and local politics, U.S. culture and the media. It is written by Peter Roff, UPI political analyst and 20-year veteran of the Washington scene.

Copyright © 2001-2005 United Press International

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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