Accurate Headline, Misleading Lede

In a reversal of most science-related stories from the AP, we have an accurate statement in the headline, but calculated spin in the lead sentence:

US Cutting Back Efforts to Monitor Global Warming With Satellite System

By JOHN HEILPRIN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. scientists will soon lose much of their ability in space to monitor for global warming, a confidential report to the White House warns.

The lede reads like a partisan statement about the opposition's plan to increase spending, when they're actually proposing a plan that cuts spending at a slower, or lower, rate. Here, we had a plan to put 6 satellites in orbit, but are now cutting the number to 4, because the old plan now costs twice as much as the original budget. But the lede makes it sound like the Bush Administration is shooting satellites out of the sky, because it doesn't want those pesky scientists to discover the "truth" about those melting ice caps. John Heilprin needs to get some tips from the writers on the political beat. Calling the authors of the confidential memo "U.S. scientists" doesn't add that extra sauce of the administration not listening to agency heads who care more about prophetic doom than job security. However, brownie points awarded for laying the decision at the feet of the Defense Department, instead of NASA and NOAA chiefs who were also involved. Keep practicing! Remember, that "truth to power" narrative works extremely well for those "censored" scientists who somehow show up quoted in all your articles.