Rumsfeld Denies He Slammed Media for Iraq Coverage

Donald Rumsfeld, appearing on Thursday's Larry King Live, was asked by King whether he felt the media coverage of the Iraq war contributed to its unpopularity. Rumsfeld responded, 'Oh, that's not a charge I would throw out there'. (paraphrased)

Really?

Rumsfeld Says Media Show Only 'Negative' Side of Iraq War

Rumsfeld blames media for Iraqi violence

Rumsfeld blames free media on info war

Rumsfeld: U.S. lags in the media war

Rumsfeld blames Aljazeera over Iraq

And those were found in a 2 minute Google search.

Update: Here's the transcript.

KING: Do you share the view offered by many that the media is to blame for the turn of events with regard to public opinion in Iraq, that the media, collective media, show only the bad?

RUMSFELD: Oh, you know, I'm not one to sit around throwing that charge around. I've got a lot of confidence in the American people. Over time they find their way to the right decision.

KING: Why are they so down on it now?

RUMSFELD: Well, because obviously, they hear a lot of bad news and it's not surprising. And it is -- war is an ugly thing. I mean, I don't think you'll ever find a popular war.