BREAKING: AP Dragged Hook, Line and Sinker in GOP Fishing Turney!

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/breaking-ap-dragged-hook-line-and-sinker-in-gop-fishing-turney

Here’s one of those things that drive me to distraction but I at least enjoy flagging to everyone’s attention when it’s so egregious. Mitch McConnell is now claiming Republicans have somehow been hoodwinked, double-crossed, done dirty by Democrats springing ‘linkage’ on them: Basically, that the White House and the Democratic caucus will support the bipartisan mini-infrastructure bill as long as they can put the rest of their plan in a reconciliation bill.

Then I noticed an AP reporter, apparently new to the White House beat, flagged a new AP story with this: “This is the catch for the WH on the infrastructure deal right now: Senators who were part of the bipartisan group were never told of such an explicit linking of the two packages, the two people familiar with the discussions said.”

The article itself, by Lisa Mascaro, manages to be even more credulous.

Livid and “blindsided” over President Joe Biden’s refusal to sign a bipartisan infrastructure deal without passage of his broader priorities, Republican senators Friday were frantically considering options as the future of the sweeping compromise appeared in doubt.

The pressing question here is why the Associated Press has insisted on keeping its reporters locked in sensory deprivation chambers for all of June. Linkage, as discussed above, has been an explicit condition for Democrats for a couple weeks and stated constantly and publicly. What’s more, linkage has nothing to do with Republicans. Lindsey Graham squealed, “no deal by extortion.” But Democrats aren’t asking for any Republican votes. So how is Lindsey being extorted? Linkage is all about Democrats participation in a reconciliation package. So who’s being extorted?

*snip*

[lindysalsagal]

1. The good old "move The Goalposts" strategy.

Wonder who, exactly, this is supposed to enrage? Because even donors need good roads and bridges....

[TheRealNorth]

2. The AP has become a reliable mouthpiece for Republicans...

They just repeat whatever the Republican say, regardless of whether it is true or not, and that's the "news". Been that way since 9-11.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

3. "You figured out a way to keep us from f*cking up your plans, and worst of all...

...you told us about it up front."

Elections have consequences. So does having a president who has decades of experience in how the Senate rules works.

I wonder if he'll work the voting rights bill into the must-pass omnibus appropriations bill. Let's see the QGOP filibuster that one!