Krauthammer: Media Love Reporting Nonexistent Civil War Between Republicans and Tea Party
As we've seen so far this year, the media on every vote that takes place in Congress love reporting about a supposed civil war between regular Republicans and members of the Tea Party.
Charles Krauthammer on PBS's "Inside Washington" Friday night noted the press continue harping on this despite it not being the case (video follows with transcript and commentary):
COLBY KING, WASHINGTON POST: Boehner could not have gotten it done without the Democrats, who held back to see how much he could produce, and that’s sort of a harbinger of things to come. Boehner does not have full control of his conference...
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: But the Democrats don't, either. Their split was even larger.
KING: He’s the Leader.
KRAUTHAMMER: Pelosi voted against it.
KING: It’s his House.
NINA TOTENBERG, NPR: Theirs was larger, but it was controlled, as it were.
TOTENBERG: The interesting thing, I actually think we will have a government shutdown, probably not over the debt limit, but maybe in the fall. There is a certain amount of brinksmanship going on here, and especially I think by people who have not been through this. I think John Boehner completely understands that this would not be good for his Party, that the president tends to win these battles, and, but he may not be able to control his folks, and I, you know, I really thought last week we came perilously close to having a shutdown.
GORDON PETERSON, HOST: You were surprised there wasn’t a shutdown.
TOTENBERG: I was surprised.
KRAUTHAMMER: The media love the story line of the civil war among Republicans, between Tea Party and regulars, and they keep reporting it again and again – a civil war. It doesn't happen. But it won't stop them from reporting it as a future occurrence, until it happens.
First to Totenberg's point about the split in the Democrat party being "controlled," as Politico reported Thursday:
House Democratic leadership split yet again, this time on a vote to fund the government through September.
Hours Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi voted "no," a few hours after she told reporters she felt "no ownership" over the deal. The No. 2 Democrat in the House, Steny Hoyer, voted for the spending bill.
The Sacramento Bee went further on Friday:
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's power waned just a little bit more this week, the latest comedown for a 71-year-old politician who lost her gavel.
Some fellow Democrats are deserting her. She was absent from recent high-stakes negotiations that averted a government shutdown. Her chief deputy, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, seems primed for more prominent deal-making.
Even as the House on Thursday approved a major budget-cutting bill, Pelosi took herself out of the action.
"I feel no ownership of that, or responsibility to it," Pelosi said of the budget-cutting bill. [...]
"There are divisions in the (Democratic) caucus," said Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, "and I don't know that she's put a great deal of effort into dealing with those divisions."
Sound "controlled" to you?
As for Krauthammer's point about the media's fascination with a nonexistent civil war, he was spot on.
If one Republican doesn't vote with the majority, GOP-hating press are going to blame it on the Tea Party and Boehner's supposed lack of strength as Leader, and they're going to doing it regardless of whether or not it actually happens.
Meanwhile, divisions within the Democrat Party will be dishonestly depicted as "controlled."
Got that?
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Comments
Dr. K is right as always
Submitted by michiganruth on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 12:19pm.
but tea partiers can help change the narrative by NOT getting bent out of shape when someone like Boehner has to make compromises to get things done. that's the way the grownups do it in Washington, and we have to be ok with that.
There's compromise then there's sellout
Submitted by HeavyChevy on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:06pm.
Boehner sold out. And no we don't have to be "ok" with that.
ditto
Submitted by wizardjr on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 4:57pm.
.
"when someone like Boehner
Submitted by ckc1227 on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 12:03am.
"when someone like Boehner has to make compromises to get things done. that's the way the grownups do it in Washington, and we have to be ok with that."
Right...cuz, like, that's worked out so well to date. That's why we have no debt and budget surpluses as far as the eye can see....because the grown ups made compromises in order to get things done, lol.
Sheesh, this country is doomed.
Every time a compromise is
Submitted by Rowane on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 8:35am.
Every time a compromise is made with the Democommies in congress America either goes further in debt or loses more freedom.
I say to hell with compromise with these morons, they only "compromise" with conservatives when they get their way.
You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. (Aaron Tippin)
Divisions on right vs divisions on the Left ??
Submitted by Gary Hall on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 12:25pm.
While the MSM notes, from time to time, that Obama is experiencing a little discontent from his left, they'd never tell it like it is - it's a war zone out there folks - between historic Democratic principles and radical unions, MoveOn.orgsters, Kosters, Mother Jonesers, black congressional caucusers, MSNBCers, Pacifica Radioers, and NPRers. They all think that Obama is hanging out way to the right of center - and they are "mad as hell."
(;~/ gary
Ironically, there SHOULD be more pronounced GOP splits
Submitted by gopcongress on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:36pm.
Ironically, their SHOULD be more pronounced vociferation by the Tea Party members over compromising tendencies of the linguine-spined GOP leadership. Indeed, if one listens to Rush or Levin, the vitriol felt by most constitutionalists is very transparent toward Boehner and his lieutenants like Cantor. But the difference is that the press is trying to portray it as rank and file republicans are supporting Boehner, while in reality it is the other way around.
"The news and truth are not the same thing." -Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER
Not a civil war
Submitted by zenman1661 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 1:37pm.
The relationship between the tea party and the Republicans is not a civil war. Its more like a parent (tea party) trying to make their teenager (Republicans) grow up and do the responsible things
And most of us know how hard
Submitted by Rowane on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 8:39am.
And most of us know how hard it is to get a teenager to grow up and be responsible, especially if they've been indoctrinated in public school.
You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. (Aaron Tippin)
Yes, well....for the Main Line GOP....it's tough love
Submitted by Blonde on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 11:38am.
....that's on the menu, and they know it.
Tough love means the Tea Party tells them either toe our line, or get elected without us. Even Boehner knows he can't continue to be the Speaker without the Tea Party. And I'm extremely proud that my rep, Allen West, voted no on the compromise. As did 59 others.
If we can manage to get another 75 Tea Party members of the House, we'll marginalize the old guard GOP. I'd like to see the leadership positions taken away from them, in the House and the Senate (presuming we'll take that back, the dems have 23 members up, reps only 10, the numbers are in our favor). Jim DeMint would make a fine Senate Majority leader.
As Palin said in Madison, and said it first to the old guard GOP, and then to Barack, "game on" (BTW, if you haven't seen her speech, go watch it at BigGovernment, speech of the decade thus far). Palin also told them to "fight like a girl", obviously meaning herself and Michele Bachmann.
I have said before that I'd like to see Allen West stay in the House for a few terms, but I'm beginning to think it's time for him or someone like him (Ryan) to step up. He may be the only way forward at this point. The Donald is great as a feint right now, taking the heat and drawing attention to the fakir in the Oval. But he's not the one.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
civil war is what you want
Submitted by g00se99 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 2:20pm.
Business as usual politics is the problem. Compromise is the problem. Standing firm and doing what is RIGHT is the solution. If that means civil war, so be it.
civil war
Submitted by kinijane on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 2:23pm.
Zenman........you are so right, just wish the democrats would grow up too, they act like little kids calling names, picking on anyone that does not share the same opinion and will not do their homework and get with the lessons.
If there were a Civil
Submitted by ironchefofmunchies on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 2:49pm.
If there were a Civil War-then the only way the Republican Party could hope to win is by co-opting the entire agenda of the Tea Party.
The Tea Party IS what the Republican Party CLAIMS to stand for (they quit fighting for it long, long ago). And people are not going to settle for less than the real thing any more.
NINA TOTENBERG??? WTF
Submitted by lockestep on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 3:22pm.
I will never understand how this woman has a job as a news analyst. She has no education and her biggest claim to fame is that she was fired for plagerism. I am sure she is intelligent and logical, but sometimes when I watch and listen to her, if feels like she is laboring just to think. I know that this is just an issue of communication style. but it gives me a headache all the same.
→ WTF
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 3:31pm.
Is that short for Winning The Future?
Catchy slogan.
wrong Charlie...
Submitted by wizardjr on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 5:01pm.
The conservative voters HAVE been in a civil war with the GOP for decades trying to get the RINOs out and more conservatives in. If they cave again by 2012 I am going to start a Consitution Party and screw all these talking heads that throw up their hands in horror at the idea. I'd rather have a minority that was rabidly constitutional in their politics than a majority of RINOs.
Nope, I think not!
Submitted by bmac50 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 5:17pm.
Not a sell out just not what I was looking for. No funding for the troops would have been a disaster and that was avoided. There's time left to defund so now it's time to get rid of some Democrats so things can get done. With both Houses under Republican control the President has little room for his way.
Washington Week
Submitted by jaywl on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 7:22pm.
I just watched Was Week on PBS (self imposed punishment it seems) and the group said much the same. 59 Republicans will never bend, those are the Tea Party members they said. It was as if they were dividing the Congress into the sane and insane. Overall, the Non-Partisan show.....spent 28 minutes explaining how brilliant Obama is, how he twists the Republicans in knots, how brilliant Obama is, etc. The other two minutes was led off by this comment (on Republican aspirants) by the host Gwen Ifil "So lets tick off some of these presidential wanna-bees, ...I can't even keep track of who is in the race and who is not." If you ask Ms Ifil if she treats all with equal respect I am sure she would say yes. They don't even know how biased they are.
If there isn't an all-out war brewing between conservatives...
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 10:10pm.
...and the spineless GOP RINO leadership, somebody needs to start one.
And soon.
Obama's Marxist agenda is rolling along at full steam. Shooting spitballs at it isn't going to cut it.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Judging from Palin's Wisconsin speech
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sat, 04/16/2011 - 10:32pm.
she's loading the gun and getting ready to fire the first shot in the war.
She already pulled the trigger, Rad.
Submitted by Blonde on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 11:41am.
And aimed squarely at the RINOs with her first shot.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Yeah, both barrels
Submitted by MacWell on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 5:50am.
I have to say that her speech was the most (presidential) that I've heard so far.
Watch that lady.
I think we should all start
Submitted by Rowane on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 8:47am.
I think we should all start locking and loading and getting ready for the battle to come. Anyone who thinks the Democommies will play fair have their heads in the sand, they've cheated b4 and will do it again.
You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. (Aaron Tippin)
X
Submitted by serfer62 on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 2:58pm.
I am at war with the DC GOP. Right now the RNCC is selecting candidates over local choices...again. I will donate to Tea Party candidates ONLY and contest all DC GOP selections.
Gov Palin POTUS in '12
Col West House Speaker in '12
Sen Rubio Majority Leader in '12
Any other suggestions?
That's why the National Committees Get Nothing From Me
Submitted by Tenebrous on Sun, 04/17/2011 - 6:15pm.
I can't trust them to do the right thing. If I have $$, I give to the candidates directly. Sure, there will be waste at that level, too, but it doesn't cause as much damage as putting money into a slush fund for the NRSC and the NRCC to do whatever they want with it.
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