Mainstream Media Ignores S&P Attack On Republicans

[thomhartmann]

Mainstream Media Ignores S&P Attack On Republicans
By Thom Hartmann

Have you seen, anywhere, in any media, or even heard reported or repeated on NPR, the following sentence?

“We have changed our assumption on this because the majority of Republicans in Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues, a position we believe Congress reinforced by passing the act.”

It’s right there on Page 4 of the official Standard & Poors “Research Update” – the actual report on what they did and why – published on August 5th as the explanation for why they believe Congress – and even the Gang of Twelve – will be unable to actually deal with the US debt crisis.

Perhaps it’s just lazy – the bullet points at the beginning of the report don’t mention the Republicans or taxes, but instead just say, for example (part of one of six quick bullet-points): “he downgrade reflects our view that the effectiveness, stability, and predictability of American policymaking and political institutions have weakened at a time of ongoing fiscal and economic challenges…”

In order to figure out that one of the reasons why is that “Republicans in the Congress continue to resist any measure that would raise revenues,” a hard-working reporter would have to read to page four of the eight-page report. It’s just too much effort for most reporters?

Although they do also mention this in the very first sentence of the report: “We lowered our long-term rating on the U.S. because we believe that the prolonged controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and the related fiscal policy debate indicate that further near-term progress containing the growth in public spending, especially on entitlements, or on reaching an agreement on raising revenues is less likely than we previously assumed and will remain a contentious and fitful process.” (Italics mine)

Or could it be that many reporters – and virtually all of the television talking heads – are themselves relatively high income-earners who don’t relish the idea of higher taxes?

Or could it be that reporters are afraid that if they report the actual language of the S&P Research Report, then Republicans will punish them by denying them “access” – i.e. refusing to show up on their programs – which is the career and show kiss-of-death for radio and TV programs that rely on big-name politicians to work?

I don’t know the reason, but it’s fascinating to see all the huffing and puffing about the S&P downgrade of America’s debt that all seems to be working so hard to avoid mentioning that critical sentence.

Inquiring minds want to know…

(The entire report as a PDF is at: http://www.standardandpoors.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobheadername3=MDT-Type&blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobheadervalue2=inline%3B+filename%3DUS_Downgraded_AA%2B.pdf&blobheadername2=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobheadername1=content-type&blobwhere=1243942957443&blobheadervalue3=UTF-8> http://www.standardandpoors.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobheadername3=MDT-Type&blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobheadervalue2=inline%3B+filename%3DUS_Downgraded_AA%2B.pdf&blobheadername2=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobheadername1=content-type&blobwhere=1243942957443&blobheadervalue3=UTF-8

[RainDog]

1. I saw this today - American media is LYING (again) to the American people

and not just Fox News.

[emulatorloo]

2. Media is in collusion with the GOP. Either intentionally or because they are too afraid of being

Called "liberal"

[SpiralHawk]

3. US corporate media (R) is worse than Pravda ever was in the USSR

In terms of misinformation, missing information, and distorted information. The Republicon-owned corporate media is at WAR against the Truth and what is decent and honorable in America.

[boxman15]

4. The myth of the liberal news media

Rightwingers in power have done a very impressive job of shifting the mainstream news media to the right, all while convincing many in the public that what they are listening to is liberal propaganda. Those who buy it are drawn to even more blatant are even more right-wing drivel. So basically, save for a few good progressive voices on TV and decreasingly influential magazines and newspapers, the choice in the MSM is between right-leaning news and conservative propaganda.

[OHdem10]

5. Who runs the country??? We are permitted to think we do.

The Merger of Business and the Government with Business
really in control---Fascism.

Fascism is an economic system from the Right. I am not
speaking of Totalinarianism. That comes later.

Does it not give one pause for a Ratings Agency to
grade us on our Politics. Yes, our Politics
ars a sorry lot, but it takes the Market to
correct things???

[TomCADem]

6. The Corporate Media Narrative - Blame Democrats, Give Republicans A Free Pass

The narrative runs deep. Would we seriously be suffering from the artificial debt limit crisis if it were not for Republicans in the House? Also, if President Obama simply ignored the House and the debt limit, then this would have given rise to a constitutional crisis and possible impeachment which would have also been destabalizing. Yet, even the left gives Republicans a free pass, and blames Democrats for trying to prevent the U.S. from defaulting while Republicans get very little flack for even daring to mess with the debt limit.

Think about it. A major party threatened to put our nation into default, which threatened the entire world economy. It is mind boggling, yet Republicans are given a free pass on this act of economic terrorism.