The meldown of old-media credibility continues. Here we have a CNN reporter, covering a “tea party” event, who instead of conducting a normal interview with a participant, debates him, quite rudely (IMNSHO) and in a manner that makes it very clear where her own preferences lie. Be sure to read this unbelievable interchange and, if you have time, also watch the video.
In addition to the obvious lack of objectivity, note also the primitive quality of her arguments…”you’re eligible for a $400…” [stimulus payment, I presume she means], and “did you know that the state of Lincoln gets fifty billion dollars out of these stimulus — that’s fifty billion dollars for this state, sir!” Heck, why not make it five hundred billion and then you’ll really have an unbeatable proposition!
Note also the remarks of Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who blasted the “tea party” protests as “despicable” and shameful.”
“It’s despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful political stunt,” she added. “Not a single American household or business will be taxed at a higher rate this year. Made to look like a grassroots uprising, this is an Obama bashing party promoted by corporate interests, as well as Republican lobbyists and politicians.”
I’ve written about Rep Schakowsky before, in conjunction with the CPSIA issue and her unbelievably obnoxious letter to an individual who has been trying to point out the problems with this badly-drafted legislation and the damage that it is doing to small businesses and to consumers. Apparently, Schakowsky is as irritated by Americans expressing their opinions on economic policy and taxation as she was by a businessperson expressing a knowledgeable opinion about regulatory policy.
I note that Schakowsky’s degree is in elementary education. Nothing wrong with that, but what in her education and/or experience gives her the confidence to believe so absolutely that her ideas about economics are so entirely correct that disagreement with them is “despicable” and “shameful”?
When talking about terrorists and other national security threats, Democrats are all about “nuance” and “shades of gray.” When talking about American citizens who disagree with them on economic matters, the shades of gray go away, and everything must be portrayed in pure primary colors.
(Schakowsky link via Neptunus Lex.)
Our rulers, and their MSM enablers,have developed a real entitlement mentality, indeed we see something like Lord of the Flies.They can’t control their own appetite for corruption.
It is our role to be obedient subjects,do what we are told, and SHUT UP. I hope I am realistic on this,but I think they have jumped the shark with this.
The argument that the man has no right to protest because goodies are coming to Illinois reminds me of the obtuse nature of Franks’ complaints about Kansas. While those of a libertarian nature may want to keep more of their money and not mortgage their childrens’ futures, it isn’t a matter of money. That this tv person doesn’t understand that – assumes others are selfish – indicates much: what she thinks motivates others, probably what motivates her, probably how deeply she thinks others thinks. Indeed, the real question is: does she think others are motivated by such promises because she would be or because she would like them to be so that processes she believes in can be put into motion? There may be layers and layers – or there may only be the thinking of someone whose mind can only understand the simplest of motivations, ones based on instant (or at least immediatelky foreseeable) gratification.
My friends have no doubt become tired of my saying ‘we should rise up and slay these people, before it’s too late.” No one was willing to rise up with me. Now it’s too late.
tehag
Corrupt rhetoric.
A corollary of the “you’re eligible for $400” argument is the argument that there’s no reason to object to the Democrats’ spending, because Obama asserts that 95% of Americans will get a tax cut. This latter argument presumes that the 95% have no reason to object if the 5% are victimized (crude self-interest should trump any concern about fairness, justice or economic incentives), and that it’s reasonable to believe that an enormous jump in govt spending and borrowing will not inevitably increase taxes.
The dumbest part of Schakowsky’s comment was the one about no tax increases *this year*, as if people have no ability to think beyond 12/31. Very much like a sleazy car dealer, who tells you “no payments this year” and doesn’t want you to focus on the 30% interest rate that starts on Jan 1.
Tehag…I’m assuming that your comment is metaphorical.
I was there. It was energizing and peaceful.
Only the media (cnn) was a pain.
Bad people.
Worse, with the whole “teabagging” thing, I feel like Anderson Cooper and co have become Bevis and Butthead do the news. They have become sniggering pre teens.
What happened to actual news coverage? Not at CNN anymore.
The media other than Fox have been terrible. MSNBC, which has become the Democratic Party’s propaganda mouthpiece, was openly contemptuous and hostile.
I think that you have to look at MSNBC, and to a lesser degree to the other establishment-Left media, as a sort of Pravda. The way you interpret Pravda is by paying attention to what they cover and what they ignore, and to the vehemence of coverage. Extensive, hostile coverage implies that the subject of the coverage is both a threat to the establishment and too big to ignore.
The hostile media coverage of the tea-party protests is discouraging on an emotional level, as the media and their leftist political patrons intend it to be. However, if you step back and think about it it doesn’t seem so bad and indeed may indicate something good, namely that it’s taken less than 3 months for the new administration’s socialist policies to generate substantial popular opposition. This is a remarkable fact that reflects both the government’s extremism and the speed with which individuals can organize politically in the Internet age.
Let us try some real quick approximate math:
Population of the US ~3e10 (300,000,000 in conventional notation)
Population of Illinois ~1e7
Federal deficit (2008, 2009, 2010) 4T$
Or 133K$/person
Tax cut per wage earner $400 for 95% of the population.
Federal Spending in Illinois 50G$ or 5K$/person
In other words, in exchange for $400 in my pocket (not really), and $5000 to my favorite politician, who will steal the money, I am supposed be happy about picking up 133K$ of debt. Even at federal interest rates, the carry is almost 5K$/yr.
I am not surprised to find out that the media are innumerate. Nor am I surprised that the politicians make such lame arguments. But are we really that stupid?
Jonathan as for NBC, I hope you noticed this item in yesterday’s news:
CNBC SWEATS ‘OBAMA-BASHING’ by Richard Johnson in the New York Post on April 16, 2009:
The top suits and some of the on-air talent at CNBC were recently ordered to a top-secret meeting with General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt and NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker to discuss whether they’ve turned into the President Obama-bashing network, Page Six has learned.
“It was an intensive, three-hour dinner at 30 Rock which Zucker himself was behind,” a source familiar with the powwow told us. “There was a long discussion about whether CNBC has become too conservative and is beating up on Obama too much. There’s great concern that CNBC is now the anti-Obama network. The whole meeting was really kind of creepy.”
One topic under the microscope, our insider said, was on-air CNBC editor Rick Santelli’s rant two months ago about staging a “Chicago Tea Party” to protest the president’s bailout programs — an idea that spawned tax protest tea parties in other big cities, infuriating the White House. …
Congresscritter Schakowsky should keep her yap shut about tax issues, seeing as how her husband is a convicted tax cheat and fraudster.
Link:
8/31/2005 CHICAGO (AP) — The husband of an Illinois congresswoman pleaded guilty Wednesday to tax violations and bank fraud for writing rubber checks and failing to collect withholding tax from an employee.
Robert Creamer, a political consultant married to four-term U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, … was accused of swindling nine financial institutions of at least $2.3 million while he ran a public interest group in the 1990s.
Creamer pleaded guilty to one count each of bank fraud and failure to collect withholding tax. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped several other counts.
Robert,
Some of us really are that stupid. A lot of us, even now, aren’t paying attention. I suspect that, if the govt goes through with its plans, then even some of the stupid people will wise up, and a lot of the others will start to pay attention. Many people alive now don’t remember the ’70s, and there are some lessons that people will learn only through personal experience.
I read about the NBC meeting. I believe it. A few weeks ago Jim Cramer started bitterly criticizing Obama. Then suddenly he stopped doing it. It looked like someone told him to knock it off. The news about the NBC meeting confirms that this is what must have happened.
My comment was as metaphorical as
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants”
or
“Give me liberty or give me death.”
Note also the remarks of Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who blasted the “tea party” protests as “despicable” and shameful.”
The people gather to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Of course someone such as Schakowsky would find this despicable. Like most members of her party, she’s unfamiliar with concept, having never heard of it before, and unfamiliar with the words, having never seen them before.
From my lifelong reading in history, I’ve noticed that certain people always think “if only [insert name of rulers here] knew of our problem, our rulers would fix it.” It’s a charming, optimistic delusion. The problems exist by the will of our rulers and cannot be fixed by appeal to their kind natures.
tehag