CBS’s Pelley Chafes: ‘Only Budget Cuts and No Relief for Those Suffering in This Economy’
Framing a shortcoming in the debt deal as a liberal would and does, CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley on Tuesday night regretted the how “the last time the President and the Congress compromised on a major spending bill, Republicans got tax cuts and Mr. Obama won an extension of unemployment benefits,” but this time “there are only budget cuts and no relief for those suffering in this economy.”
The missing action by Congress: Extending unemployment benefits beyond the 99 weeks authorized last December. The victim CBS showcased, however, is guaranteed payments through this December – another five months/20-plus weeks -- so is hardly in any immediate danger and thus made an odd choice for CBS to highlight.
Reporter Dean Reynolds focused his entire story on that unemployed woman in Chicago who railed against the politicians in DC, presumably mostly the conservatives: “I truly, truly don't understand both the hubris in it and the lack of compassion and empathy, I don't understand where these people come from.”
Reynolds explained “she was hoping there would be something in the legislation that dealt with chronic joblessness, and specifically with jobless benefits. Hers run out in December.”
Reynolds, who of course never considered any argument against a further extension, concluded by assuming Congress cannot pass an extension sometime in the next five months: “There are nearly four million Americans who have had their unemployment benefits extended once or twice, and who may now lose them at the end of this year.”
From the Tuesday, August 2 CBS Evening News:
SCOTT PELLEY: The last time the President and the Congress compromised on a major spending bill, Republicans got tax cuts and Mr. Obama won an extension of unemployment benefits. But in this latest compromise, there are only budget cuts and no relief for those suffering in this economy. We asked Dean Reynolds to look into this.
DEAN REYNOLDS: The sigh of relief in Washington over the debt deal dissipated long before it could reach Davlin Street on Chicago's north side where 59-year-old Kevin Kalmes lives alone in her foreclosed home, paging through a bumper crop of August bills and wondering what Congress was thinking.
KEVIN KALMES (SP?): I truly, truly don't understand both the hubris in it and the lack of compassion and empathy, I don't understand where these people come from.
REYNOLDS: Unemployed as a production manager since March of 2010, she was hoping there would be something in the legislation that dealt with chronic joblessness, and specifically with jobless benefits. Hers run out in December.
REYNOLDS, TO KALMES: Staring into the abyss?
KALMES: Yeah. I mean, how, I have no clue, I have no clue what will happen.
REYNOLDS: The extension of unemployment benefits to 99 weeks came last December.
KALMES: I always felt good when I had my car because I kept telling everybody at least I could live in my car and go places and everybody would just be chagrined at that. But I had to surrender my car. So now literally when this place is gone, I have no place to live.
REYNOLDS: And Kevin’s story is hardly unique, Scott. There are nearly four million Americans who have had their unemployment benefits extended once or twice, and who may now lose them at the end of this year.
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Comments
How much more of my money do you want to give to other people?
Submitted by Red Jeep on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 9:33am.
How 'bout closing a few Dep'ts of This and That, like Energy and Education, that are worthless and play with the savings.
(Did you know that if you are a Baby Boomer or older you were taught without the benefit of the Dept' of Education?)
Those who have been collecting unemployment benefits will soon
Submitted by johnsonl on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 10:06am.
exhaust them. Those are the very same people who are going to march on Washington, D.C. and demand that Obamao resign. Hungry, homeless people, rioting in the streets. How opportune for this adminstration to declare an emergency and forego elections!
Some......
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 4:13pm.
Some would refer to that as a "target-rich environment". Others might just use it as an excuse "to declare an emergency (aka "security crisis) and forego elections".
Bigger Story for Pelly:
Submitted by Comrade Jim on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 10:15am.
Big Government and Big Debt caused Big Unemployment and the "suffering in this economy."
Correct
Submitted by Ed Gregory on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 10:23am.
And lousy ratings by his predecessor cost her the job. If Pelley continues on this course, he, too, will feel the sting of "suffering in this economy."
Huumm
Submitted by Joe C Camel on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 10:28am.
We can not hire help locally. Reason.....because they make more money on unemployment and.....working off the books while on unemployment. Cleaning, construction, computer work, all say the same thing. Hard to grow a business when the young today think like this. Now, we wonder why there are so many illegals working in jobs. Seriously, they are taking the jobs Americans will not perform, due to an absolute belief they are owed something. Oh well, we raised them to be this way.
As they say....a picture's worth a thousand words
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 10:30am.
Well, okay, a picture plus thirty words.
Sums it up neatly, wouldn't you say?
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
What is truly sad...
Submitted by Conservator on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 11:22am.
... is how ignorant the progressive media elites remain. They still believe their bias opinions can influence Americans. They are targeting Republicans/Conservatives and Tea Partiers, you know those terrorists, while attempting to promote Obama's 2012 reelection bid. It kind of gives me a "tingle up my legs" to read and watch these progressive ideologues because the only way Obama can win is if there's a third party candidate targeting Conservative Republicans and the Tea Party voters. Otherwise, Obama is toast.
Kevin??
Submitted by Schofield Kid on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 3:23pm.
I don't blame people for not hiring a woman named Kevin!! But seriously, she seems like a pompous d-bag.
Where does the left.....
Submitted by almostacowboy on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 4:13pm.
find these talking heads with these made-up names?
Obama raised Federal spending
Submitted by deerjerkydave on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 4:30pm.
Obama raised Federal spending by a whopping 28% since he came into office. If increased Federal spending is the solution then shouldn't our economy be booming by now? Maybe Federal spending doesn't have the stimulative effect those on the left think it has. Certainly this type of thinking is way over the heads of those in the liberal media.
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"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State Governments are numerous and indefinite. -James MadisonSo taxes *are* relief?!
Submitted by Quasi-socialist on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 6:52pm.
This debate was (supposedly) about thinning the margin between outgo and income. What a curious thing if the Dems did all this bomb-throwing with an eye toward getting more income to spend just a little bit more?
All these' out of the closet
Submitted by Barack Must Go on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 9:40pm.
All these' out of the closet ' left wing zealots in the MSM ought to make a pledge to give 25% of their annual to their fellow down trodden libs, to prove their not simply full of _____.
That Was Quick
Submitted by IrateNate on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 10:04pm.
"Budget cuts only, and no relief for those suffering out there." WTF? Have they blown through that $900 billion already? Got to be a new record, even for Democrats...