Media uncritically repeated Republican criticism of Democratic national security plan
SUMMARY: The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, and Knight Ridder uncritically reported Republican criticism of the Democratic national security proposal, including a claim by Vice President Dick Cheney that the proposal was "totally inconsistent" with the Democrats' past behavior.
On March 29 and March 30, several news outlets uncritically reported Republican criticism of the recently released Democratic national security platform titled "Real Security: Protecting America and Restoring Our Leadership in the World," including a claim by Vice President Dick Cheney that the platform consisted of initiatives that were "totally inconsistent" with the Democrats' past behavior. Stories in the March 30 editions of The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, along with wire stories from the Associated Press and Knight Ridder, printed Cheney's statement, which he made during an interview on the Fox News Radio's The Tony Snow Show. In addition, citing Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) during the March 29 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume, chief Washington correspondent Jim Angle reported that "Republicans were somewhat bemused, noting the Democrats proposed things everyone favors along with policies already being pursued." However, none of the reports noted a crucial fact undermining the criticism by Cheney and other Republicans: The Democratic platform contains numerous proposals that Democrats have pushed but that have been blocked by Republicans, including Bond.
One primary facet of the Democratic plan is the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission, which include enhancing security at ports, borders, airports, and other mass transit systems. In its final report, released in December 2005, the 9-11 Commission issued a national security report card that criticized the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled Congress for failing to enact most of its recommendations to improve national security.
Further, congressional Democrats have repeatedly stressed the need for greater port security and have urged Congress and the administration to act on the issue in recent years, only to be rebuffed by Republicans, as Media Matters for America previously noted:
- In March of 2005, 37 Senate Republicans voted against an amendment proposed by Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT) to the 2006 budget bill to restore $565 million in cuts to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) first-responder programs, provide $150 million in port security grants, and provide $140 million for hiring 1,000 more Border Patrol agents.
- In September 2004, 45 Senate Republicans voted to remove an amendment proposed by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to the 2005 Homeland Security appropriations bill adding an additional $150 million for port security research and development grants.
- Congressional Quarterly reported on September 14, 2004: "During a week and a day of debate, Democrats were turned away on more than a dozen amendments that would have added $20 billion to" the 2005 Homeland Security appropriations bill. CQ specifically noted: "An amendment by Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., to add $350 million for rail security was struck down on a point of order, 43-51."
- In July 2003, Republicans in the Senate voted unanimously to defeat an amendment to the 2004 Homeland Security bill, proposed by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) that "would have allocated $292 million to local fire departments and to efforts to improve security measures at chemical plants and ports," according to the July 25, 2004 edition of National Journal.
- Newsday also reported in a November 14, 2002, article on DHS creation that "On port security, Senate Democrats had tried to add a charge on imports to raise approximately $600 million a year for added security, but they were blocked by House Republicans and the maritime industry."
From a March 30 Washington Post article by Chris Cillizza and Dan Balz:
Republicans immediately attacked the Democratic plan, with Vice President Cheney arguing that Democrats' "behavior has been totally inconsistent with what they're now promising they're going to do."
Many of the items in the Democratic statement echo themes Kerry advanced in the 2004 presidential campaign, but party strategists believe that they are now in position to capitalize on public disenchantment with the war in Iraq and with declining confidence in Bush as a wartime leader.
From a March 30 Los Angeles Times article by Ronald Brownstein:
In statements and interviews, GOP officials charged that Democrats had belied their tough talk by challenging Bush on some national security issues, including his approval of a domestic surveillance program that operates without obtaining court warrants.
"Their behavior has been totally inconsistent with what they're now promising they're going to do," Vice President Dick Cheney said in a radio interview.
The Democratic plan was released at a rally attended by dozens of the party's most prominent figures. Amplifying an increasing Democratic campaign theme, a series of speakers accused Bush of mismanaging the nation's defense and foreign policies.
From a March 30 Associated Press report by Liz Sidoti:
Republicans did not let Democrats portray themselves as stronger than them on the GOP's signature issue.
''Their behavior has been totally inconsistent with what they're now promising to do," said Vice President Dick Cheney. Interviewed on Fox News's ''Tony Snow Show," Cheney said that he did not believe Democrats had a credible plan for tracking down bin Laden and that their plan to move US forces out of Iraq this year ''would be a strategic retreat."
''It makes no sense at all to turn Iraq over to the terrorists," Cheney said. ''We can succeed in Iraq. We can complete the mission."
From a March 29 Knight Ridder report by Steven Tomma:
"We are uniting behind a national security agenda that is tough and smart, an agenda that will provide the real security President Bush has promised, but failed to deliver," said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
In response, Vice President Dick Cheney told Fox News that the Democrats had no real plan to catch bin Laden and that their proposal for Iraq would amount to a retreat. He also said that their promise of a strong defense was contradicted by their past opposition to extending the Patriot Act.
"Their behavior has been totally inconsistent with what they're now promising they're going to do," Cheney said.
From the March 29 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:
ANGLE: The 2006 elections shifted into high gear today as the Democratic Party launched a broad attack on the president and Republicans over national security.
SEN. HARRY REID (Senate Democratic leader, D-NV): We're uniting behind a national security agenda that is tough and smart, an agenda that will provide the real security President Bush has promised but failed to deliver.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (House Democratic leader, D-CA): Democrats are committed to protecting our power, to protect the American people and defend freedom for our people.
WESLEY CLARK (former Democratic presidential candidate): After 9-11, the American people looked to the president for leadership, for security. But what they've been given is incompetence.
ANGLE: What do Democrats propose to do? They lay down all sorts of things.
PELOSI: Democrats stand together to ensure unparalleled military strength, to defeat terrorism and stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction.
ANGLE: Comments like that and their document, "Real Security," talks about rebuilding a state-of-the-art military, suggesting an increase in its size or the amount of defense spending. The Democrats also criticized Republicans over the war on terror.
SEN. JACK REED (D-RI): We need to do more to defeat terrorists and stop the proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons. We will keep the focus on al Qaeda and hunt down Osama bin Laden.
ANGLE: The Democratic document also calls for elimination "terrorist breeding grounds by combating economic, social and political conditions that allow extremism to thrive." Republicans were somewhat bemused, noting the Democrats proposed things everyone favors along with policies already being pursued.
BOND (R-MO): They want to eliminate Osama bin Laden, destroy terrorist networks, finish the job in Afghanistan and eliminate the threat posted by the Taliban. Good idea. That's exactly what George Bush, this administration and his Republican supporters in Congress have been working on.
from the right is media (except fox) adds critical comments to any story adverse to the right. Couple this with the complaint from the left that fox critically comments on stories adverse to the left. Shouldn't the media (both sides) just report (except for the editorial page) and let us decide?
Who gives the left's point of view other than Air America?
Ed Schultz
Then they broadcast the Repug response to it.
It's the yellow brick road to facism, if not already there.
It should be a hint to how strong America is at its center that the NeoCons have TOTAL power of the government and near total control of the Media, their propaganda spews 24/7 from nearly every direction, AND STILL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE are seeing Bush for what he is: A lying failure.
Can you imagine how frustrating it is to have Bush reluctantly agree to a "MEDIA BLITZ" to bolster his sagging numbers, speaking publicly (which he reportedly hates) to "explain" his Iraq strategy ... and none of it WORKS? His numbers remain dead in the water. How can that be? How is it resorting to the desperation move of a bully-pulpit assault has had NO impact on his approval?
The answer is simple. The most important number is whether Bush is TRUSTED. He had that for the first three or so years, so he could improve numbers just by talking. NOW, he is NOT trusted, so nothing he says is going to help him.
So we have the spectacle of the Rightwing propagandizing the American Public from all of Government and almost all of Media, and the American People ain't buying it. GOP policy is seen as a universal FAILURE, GOP "leadership" as a joke. The Republicans have screwed up everything they have touched, and Americans are MUCH WORSE off than they were six years ago.
The media continues to admire the wonderful robes of the Emperor, and the masses are pointing and laughing. The illusion is no longer accepted.
Yes, in spite of a massive propaganda campaign, the cons' numbers are in the toilet. Some observations:
FOR ALL OF YOU THAT BEMOAN HOW STUPID THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE -- THEY FIGURED IT OUT IN SPITE OF AN ALMOST TOTAL MEDIA PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN. So Michael Moore was right -- if you tell people the truth, they'll know what to do. They don't hear the truth.
FURTHERMORE, keep in mind that twice they didn't elect Bu$h in spite of this media campaign.
And, THE REPUGS ARE INCREDIBLY WEAK AND NEED A HUGE PROPAGANDA MACHINE and HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY and DIRTY TRICKS to stay in power.
But most importantly, IT IS ONLY THE FACT THAT THE DECOYCRATS ARE A FAKE OPPOSITION and CONTINUALLY PROVIDE SUPPORT AND COVER TO THE REPUGS that we have this situation. I'm not talking rank and file -- you folkss figured it out. If you folks were running the Decoycrats, the Repugs would have been buried by now. THE DECOYCRAT LEADERSHIP HAS THE SAME OWNERS AS THE REPUGS.
Vote third party, or welcome total facism.
I say we just take back our PARTY. Why should we give up our party like half of the Repubs did. The Democratic Party is MY Party. I am ashamed of its leadership. But I not am ditching it. I still believe in the philosophy and tradition of the Party and I am not going to sit around and let it get hijacked like the Republican party was .
I am going to fight for my party and I ask all you guys that keep harping about third party. WHERE HAS THAT GOT YOU? HELP US TAKE BACK THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. Face it- the system is stack against a third party. Remember the Dixiecrats in history. They tried and failed . BUT they did not give up. they joined the Repub and took it over. Think about it. STRONG THURMAN was the one of the founders of the DIixiecrats and is now one of the great Repubs. Third Parties take a lesson. They have the deck stacked against a third party so join us in taking over the DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Both these parties started off as third parties, so don't buy the propaganda that third parties can't make it.
Secondly, you'll never take back the Democratic Party if the leaders know you'll keep voting for them. Why should they.
LET'S FACE THE REALITY -- AFTER BEING KNIFED IN THE BACK BY THE DECOYCRATS SO MANY TIMES...
you who still vote for the Decoycrats BASICALLY PREFER THE ILLUSION OF OPPOSITION OVER ACTUAL OPPOSITION ITSELF. You prefer the illusion of democracy over actual democracy. And as a result, we're getting more and more dictatorship. You've got nobody to blame but yourselves.
"By MARTIN CRUTSINGER, AP Economics Writer
The Commerce Department reported Friday that personal consumption spending rose by a tiny 0.1 percent last month, the weakest gain in six months. It followed a huge 0.8 percent surge in January that had reflected a mild winter that lured shoppers to the stores to spend their Christmas gift cards.
Personal incomes rose by 0.3 percent in February, less than half the 0.7 percent jump in January. The January increase had been boosted by federal government pay raises and cost-of-living adjustments for millions of Social Security recipients.
Orders to U.S. factories edged up a slight 0.2 percent in February... Factory orders had fallen by 3.9 percent in January.
The smaller rebound in February was driven by rising demand for commercial aircraft and other big-ticket durable goods, which were up 2.7 percent last month....
Even with the slowdown in consumer spending and income growth in February, analysts believe the overall economy will show a significant rebound after slowing significantly in the final three months of last year.
Many analysts are looking for the gross domestic product, the total output of goods and services, to race ahead at an annual rate of 4.5 percent or higher in the January-March quarter after slowing to a meager 1.7 percent growth rate in the fourth quarter of last year.
The 0.1 percent rise in spending in February was slightly above Wall Street forecasts while the 0.3 percent rise in income growth was a little smaller than the 0.4 percent rise that many economists had been expecting.
Consumer spending is closely watched since it accounts for two-thirds of total economic activity.
Disposable incomes, the amount left after paying taxes, rose by 0.2 percent last month after a 0.6 percent January gain. That left the personal savings rate unchanged at a negative 0.5 percent in February, the same as the January reading.
An inflation gauge preferred by the Federal Reserve showed consumer prices excluding food and energy rose by just 0.1 percent in February after a 0.2 percent increase in January. Over the past 12 months, consumer prices were up 1.8 percent, the same increase as in February but an improvement over a 2 percent rise in December.
The Fed on Tuesday boosted a key interest rate for the 15th consecutive time and signaled that more rate hikes were possible as the central bank seeks to slow economic growth enough to keep inflation under control.
Many economists believe the federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge each other, will be pushed to 5 percent at the Fed's next meeting in May. After that, many analysts believe the Fed will move to the sidelines and keep rates unchanged for the rest of the year.
______________________________________________ By JEANNINE AVERSA WASHINGTON - The economy ended 2005 like a lamb and is roaring back like a lion, a resounding rebound that economists say will lead the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in the months ahead.
The fresh forecast from the National Association for Business Economics has gross domestic product growing at a robust 4.5 percent annual rate from January through Marc _______________________________________________
Housing is up also Tex. What index are you getting your numbers from? I know it is the oldest trick in the book. Keep telling others and yourself that things are bad. It will become a self fulfilling prophecy.
[link to www.epi.org]
I can only assume that these statistics are cherry-picked misdirections or are false. Corporate profits up hugely, wages stagnated or falling. I suppose someone could go through in detail and rebut each and every one, but that's been done with your posts before...
and it's a waste of time. You've been discredited before, and doing it again adds nothing to the conversation.
The "liberal" press that is always ragging on the conservatives comes through again. Of course they have the perfect out, just reporting and not editoralizing. Cheer up. Think how bad it would be if the press was conservative.
Remember how they reported the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" during the 2004 election? They were just reporting and nothing more. In a pig's eye. Every "Hardball" mentioned them complete with their web address a dozen or more times. I figured Chris Matthews must have owned stock in their web site. I also suspect the Dan Rather's, TANG caper was a setup to take the heat off candidate Bush's Viet Nam draft dodging. Rather was retiring anyhow.
Anything can be fixed even a world seriese. Are the media managers above being fixed? We have the best government money can buy and it will stay that way baring a miracle.
you may have uncovered a gold nuget among all that gravel, "the wisdom of the people." I like to think of it that way but I'm afraid it's the "lack of attention" and not wisdom at all. The media blitz was a failure for some reason, just what is not clear.
But what IS clear is that in spite of the MSM blitz, Bu$h has lost ground.
Imagine how the average person would feel if they knew the truth. There's a difference between not having an attention span and being kept from the truth. You'd be surprised how much being told the truth increases people's attention span, especially when it directly affects them as it does now.