The Third Way is "concerned" about all this populist talk

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. I'm concerned about bias in AP reporting

The language used in that piece seems to constantly denigrate anything vaguely left of centre, and praise the centre or right:

"Crist is taking a hard turn left " (which consists of supporting the centrist, Heritage Foundation-originated Obamacare healthcare compromise, and popular medical marijuana and gay marriage - but that's 'hard')

"He has embraced President Barack Obama's health care law even as many Democrats distancing themselves from it." - Are many Democrats distancing themselves from Obamacare? Which ones? I think this is actually a lie.

"He has called for an increase in the minimum wage, something he once voted against" - the 'flip-flopper' argument

"In seizing on the issues and rhetoric animating activists" 'seizing' is a negative word. 'Rhetoric' tends to be negative these days too.

"whether his new party's ascendant liberal wing is gaining momentum or overreaching" - 'overreaching' is negative too.

"His appeals to economic populism could be particularly potent, with Florida voters identifying the economy as their chief concern this year." - OK, that's positive ...

"Still, Crist's approach concerns some Democrats." ... but it's immediately torn down with the concern trolling the OP highlights.

"""us-versus-them, people-versus-powerful rhetoric" could hurt Democrats in the most contested states. "That will work with a slice of the base, but that will not resonate with the kind of swing voters " - but 'us' is always identified as a sizeable majority - up to 99%. Swing voters are always in the 'us' category. Here we see that 'rhetoric' is considered bad.

"Liberals such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren favor an aggressive populist approach over the centrist economic strategy that President Bill Clinton used to revive a moribund party two decades ago." - 'aggressive' is negative, but centrism 'revives'.

"Republicans say such moves jeopardize economic gains in a fragile recovery. They would streamline regulations and provide training and education initiatives benefiting the private sector." - what Republicans say is not disputed. 'Streamlining' is positive; the writer did not use a word like 'cut'. He asserts, not in quotes, that their initiatives would have benefit.

Then we get 4 paragraphs laying out Scott's policies in positive terms, but saying that the voters are apparently ungrateful.

"unaffiliated voter. "I don't believe in handouts, but the divide is getting bigger between the haves and have-nots."" - so an unaffiliated voter would seem to support a higher minimum wage - it's not a 'handout', because it goes to people working, and it's a move to make employers pay their basic employees enough to actually live - if they want a functioning human to work for them, then they need to pay for that. But, although this proves the Third Way "that will not resonate with swing voters" claim is BS, this hasn't been put near that in the article, where the refutation would be more obvious.

"Crist's platform also helps him boost his standing with skeptical activists in his new party and endears him to wealthy Democratic donors. But some voters aren't as sold on that kind of economic populism."

'Activists' and 'wealthy donors' are the baddies here, and Crist is said to appeal to them. But 'voters aren't sold'. No mention at all in this article that "Crist Tops Florida's Scott On Almost Every Measure, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters See Crist Better On Top Priority - Economy", or "UF poll: Floridians interested in governor’s race; Crist leads Scott by seven points". Seems those swing voters like Crist, including on the economy - not just gay marriage and medical marijuana.

Then we have a quote from a small-business owner, apparently to represent the 'not sold' view. But again, it says "You want people to have a drive and not hang on to the free stuff they get. But I would also like to see some options for the poor." A minimum wage rise is not 'free stuff'. Crist is not proposing 'free stuff'.

The final 3 paragraphs grudgingly acknowledge a minimum wage rise is popular with everyone (even a majority of Republicans, the Quinnipac poll shows). But they've run with the 'concern' headline, and pushed that to the front, while the wishes of the Florida voters appear several paragraphs after quoting Scott saying it's a 'lie' to say it would help people. There's no quote from any Democrat to say that a rise would help people.