Media Lies Surrounding Obama and Rezko

March 16, 2008
Media Lies Surrounding Obama and Rezko

Obama should have had Friday's discussion 16 months ago. Asked why he didn't, he spoke of learning, uncomfortably, what it's like to live in a fishbowl. That made him perhaps too eager to protect personal information -- too eager to "control the narrative."

Less protection, less control, would have meant less hassle for his campaign. That said, Barack Obama now has spoken about his ties to Tony Rezko in uncommon detail. That's a standard for candor by which other presidential candidates facing serious inquiries now can be judged.

The Media: Sweet Little Lies

April 9, 2007
The Media: Sweet Little Lies

Before 9/11, however, the right-wing noise machine mainly relied on little lies. And now it has returned to its roots.

The Clinton years were a parade of fake scandals: Whitewater, Troopergate, Travelgate, Filegate, Christmas-card-gate. At the end, there were false claims that Clinton staff members trashed the White House on their way out.

Each pseudoscandal got headlines, air time and finger-wagging from the talking heads. The eventual discovery in each case that there was no there there, if reported at all, received far less attention. The effect was to make an administration that was, in fact, pretty honest and well run - especially compared with its successor - seem mired in scandal.

NY Times Allows Bush to Get Away With Lies About Soldier Salaries

March 29, 2007
NY Times Allows Bush to Get Away With Lies About Soldier Salaries

A March 28 New York Times article reported without refuting President Bush's false claim that the $6.4 million for "the House of Representatives' 'salaries and expense accounts' " -- included in the emergency supplemental bill for the war in Iraq recently approved by the House -- was "not related to the war and protecting the United States of America."

For an additional amount for "Salaries and Expenses", $6,437,000, as follows:

ALLOWANCES AND EXPENSES

For an additional amount for allowances and expenses as authorized by House resolution or law, 16

$6,437,000 for business continuity and disaster recovery, to remain available until expended: Provided, That the amount provided under this heading is designated as making appropriations for contingency operations directly related to the global war on terrorism, and other unanticipated defense-related operations, pursuant to section 402 22 of H. Con. Res. 376 (109th Congress), as made applicable to the House of Representatives by section 511(a)(4) of 24 H. Res. 6 (110th Congress).

NY Times Ignored Polls: Americas are Fed Up

March 29, 2007
NY Times Ignored Polls: Americas are Fed Up

• Contrary to the aides' assertion that the public "is beginning to see improvements on the ground in Iraq," a March 27 USA Today/Gallup poll found that 65 percent of respondents felt the increase in the number of U.S. troops in Baghdad is either "not making much difference" or making the situation there "worse." Moreover, a March 17 Newsweek poll found that 61 percent of respondents think the U.S. is "losing ground in its efforts to establish security and democracy in Iraq."


• Contrary to the aides' claim that the public "is willing to give Mr. Bush's troop buildup a chance," the March 17 Newsweek poll found that just 32 percent of respondents favored "Bush's decision earlier this year to increase the level of U.S. troops in Iraq," while 64 percent were opposed to it.