Here’s another one of those wonderful examples of how the Old Media will use a headline that makes a stark claim about how rotten Republicans are for opposing a Democratic plan while at the same time conveniently ignoring the opposition to the same idea among Democrats.
This time it is the “partisan divide” in the healthcare debate. The Times tsks Republicans for solidly lining up to oppose Obama’s wild grab for nearly 20 percent of the nation’s economy through his healthcare plans. Yet not once does the Times mention the many areas in which Democrats are disagreeing with Democrats on Obamacare. The Times makes it seem as if there is no dissent among Democrats and it is only those meanie Republicans holding up the wonderfulness of Obamacare.
The Times starts out with a headline that focuses on partisan obstruction: “Health Care Vote Illustrates Stubborn Partisan Divide.”
The story then goes on to talk of how Republicans in the Senate are standing against Obamacre. This is true, of course. Senate Republicans are standing fairly strong against Obamacare at this moment. But, the story is told as if this is all there is to it. The headline, for instance, seems to state as fact that healthcare is only being held up by a “partisan divide.” But the truth is there are many Democrat voices expressing worry over Obamacare, too.
The most outspoken group of Democrats nay saying the current debate is the Blue Dog Democrats in the House of Representatives. Last week these 40 Democrats sent a letter to Speaker of the House Pelosi saying that they could not support the House leadership’s healthcare bill unless major changes were made.
Not only that, but even a Big Labor bigwig expressed his lack of support for a part of the Democrat’s healthcare agenda with the idea of taxing healthcare benefits. Teamsters President James P. Hoffa recently warned Democrats that if they tired to tax employee’s healthcare benefits, he’d turn against them.
These are but two examples of many, not that the Times mentions any of this.
The point here is, the sea is not smooth as glass on the Democrat side for healthcare as it might seem if The New York Times is your only source on the facts.
Lastly, I’d like to point out one more nice little example of a bias in rhetoric employed by the Times in this story.
The bill, which aims to make health insurance available to all Americans…
The thing is, insurance is already available to all Americans. Just pony up the cash and it’s yours.
Anyway, the biggest problem with this NYT story is how incomplete it is. One gets the vague notion that the only opposition to healthcare is coming from recalcitrant Republicans. The truth is, though, there are deepening disagreements coming from both parties about the efficacy of healthcare “reform” emanating from the Democratic leadership and President Obama.
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Comments Policy
If all of the Republicans
July 16, 2009 - 07:22 ET by NewsbusterbrownIf all of the Republicans in Congress were vaporized today, the Democrats still have all of the votes to pass whatever legislation they wanted. If they still can't get what they want, then it's their problem.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
As usual, they want
July 16, 2009 - 08:33 ET by motherbeltAs usual, they want "cover."
Which proves that they're not all that certain that this is going to be a rousing success.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
New Obamacare poster
July 16, 2009 - 07:27 ET by ricklailThis just out. A new publicity poster for Obamacare. I don't know how to make it larger.
For those that remember, The Witch Doctor song.
Here are a bunch of recent Obamacare posters
Semper suprene nitens
North Carolina now has the worst government money can buy.
Sort of reminds me of
July 16, 2009 - 07:54 ET by kgSort of reminds me of personal accounts on social security several years ago. Did the NYT consider that partisanship?
"DumbAssity of Dope"
I received a copy of the letter and
July 16, 2009 - 08:09 ET by RD Kingthe list of members from my local affiliate here Volusia Patriots. It looks like that only 40 signed on but the memebership is about 59 so and this reads as if all members signed on. I think there may be a few members who need some outside pressure to get on board and help stop obama.
Hi All,
Attached is a calling for significant changes to the health care
legislation. You can read a copy of the letter here: http://www.house.gov/melancon/BlueDogs/Letter%20on%20HCR.html
Here’s the total list of Blue Dog Democrats who signed a
health care letter: http://www.house.gov/melancon/BlueDogs/Member%20Page.html
Please apply pressure
NOW!
"No Recovery until Nobama!!!!!" me and at least 59,934,786 other Americans.
Although I'm glad they are
July 16, 2009 - 08:41 ET by motherbeltAlthough I'm glad they are resisting the current bill, their reasoning is B as in B, S as in S.
We share President Obama’s deep commitment to passing comprehensive,
deficit-neutral health care reform that lowers costs for American
families and businesses, increases the quality of care provided, and
expands access for every American
HAHAHAHA
Every American already has access to health care.
Deficit neutral??? Lowers costs??? Increases quality???
ROFL!!
Where in the world has a government-run system even come within shouting distance of any of those things????
They also believe that
wind and solar energy will provide high-wage jobs and increase profits and grow the economy.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Floyd the Barber Declines Surgeon General Appointment
July 16, 2009 - 08:09 ET by SickofLibsFloyd the Barber Declines Surgeon General Appointment; OysterCare™ To Set New Tone
In homage to the simpler (and less costly) days of medicine where the local barber doubled as the town doctor, President Obama tapped Mayberry, North Carolina's Floyd the Barber to serve as the next Surgeon General. Floyd declined, noting prior commitments to the greater Mt. Pilate area.
Floyd stated: "Well, gee, I, I, I don't know, I was honored to be considered, but, but, I'm not too up on policy and stuff. And who would take over the shop? Opie did graduate Barbering School, but he's out there in Hollywood now making them moving pictures. And Goober is a total f*ckup, Otis is worthless after 11 am, Howard Sprague is doing 15 in the Supermax for extortion, Aunt Bea still ain't been turned loose from the nervous hospital, so I'm kinda stuck here."
An Alabama country doctor was then named as Obama's number 2 pick for Surgeon General. Breaking with prior SG selection criteria, the nominee was selected not for her administrative, policy skills or educational background, but rather her long standing commitment to accept shellfish as payment for services rendered. The Administration believes this will set a new tone for the incoming healthcare overhaul.
Under the new Obama healthcare plan, now renamed OysterCare™, the new SG has announced her intention for the plan to accept six dozen oysters or a ten pound bag of shrimp as payment for three office visits or a fairly comprehensive physical (above the waist only). Shrimp must be cleaned and all oysters must be alive and thoroughly rinsed. Those with fresher shellfish will move to the front of any waiting lists, which are not expected to exceed three years. Those living in areas without access to local shellfish may be permitted to render fresh small game such as squirrel, rabbit or raccoon as payment for services. (All pellets and/or BBs must be removed.)
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, speaking while on a three month hiatus on an undisclosed tropical island, declined comment on the SG nomination. Gupta was the Administration's original SG pick, but did not accept, citing his current $10 million annual income and side job as CNN medical expert/star.
Dr. Nancy Snyderman, MSNBC's new up-and-coming medical star, noted she would have accepted the appointment but would rather remain in NYC hobnobbing with MSNBC broadcast celebrities such as Ed Schultz and comic Keith Olbermann.
It's the Dem's ball
July 16, 2009 - 08:55 ET by easygoerPartisan divide? Dems have the largest congressional majority since the days of LBJ. They just want cover. Complete poltical cowards.
headline for NYT
July 16, 2009 - 09:19 ET by m1xramI propose we use one headline for all future NYT articles or at least as a standard preface...
Imagine Googling NYT a year from now and having thousands of these articles show up. Well, if they're still in business, that is.
Alternate suggestions?
He has already failed... his country.
July 16, 2009 - 09:37 ET by jessieHLucky thing WE aren't the fools that the govt. & the MSM think WE are. Unlike congress, WE read. WE study. WE watch. And WE need to watch to keep these idiots from hurting themselves.
Us, too
July 16, 2009 - 10:48 ET by StarAZHurting themselves--and us. If they jam some mess thru, they won't revisit it...We will just have to drag around like squashed roaches trying to cope with what they have wrought. They won't have it--they won't care.
Strange Data
July 16, 2009 - 09:41 ET by slickwillie2001The American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think-tank, put together some data showing how our nation's spending on veterinary care compares that for our (human) health care. The rate of increases over the last 22 years are surprisingly similar.
The Price of Innovation: http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com
A Dog in the Healthcare Fight: http://blog.american.com/?p=2991
So we hear much anguish from DC over 'the rising costs of health care'; do we know to what we attribute those increases? Democratics claim it is rapacious health insurance companies; -not for dogs and cats. Republicans claim it is because of lawsuits. Not many of those for Muffy and Rover. Democratics claim it is because we all get stuck with the costs of health care for the uninsured. Not that many illegal alien dogs wandering into ERs.
Maybe we are spending more on health care for our dogs and cats and ourselves simply because we can. (Insert old dog-joke here.) We are more affluent so we take better care of ourselves and our possessions. Maybe it's because there are so many new drugs available for ailments previously untreatable. Maybe it's because of all those spiffy machines like MRI's. Maybe there is no crisis.
In usual Washington fashion, we are rushing to fix 'a problem' before understanding what causes the problem. (Cap and Trade anyone?) This doesn't seem difficult to me. Let's unearth treatment and billing records of two batches of people with common ailments, one batch in 1989, one in 2009, and compare.
Plenty of us are wondering
July 16, 2009 - 10:43 ET by StarAZWE are hoping some brave Republican or Dem will squash this bum's rush to nowhere. Ask some questions! What does any of this mean to an individual?
What if you can't afford what these people think is reasonable--$500 a mo or whatever? Do you turn in tax forms--how long does that take? Do you get assigned a lower or no rate? Even Medicare people pay a hundred...more if they want real coverage. Will there be controlled supps to the so-called govt plan? Will this take yrs to become available? Will it be like the loan modifications--sort of not really happening on an indiv basis? Can docs refuse this plan? How can they refuse Medicare (40% do)? Why doesn't this crap cover all the uninsured? If it is so great, why will we even need Medicaid? Why is that still in place? I could list 50 more! Did these committees even have hearings? This pres has a hospital 100 feet from his office, he probably has never seen an EOB in his life (well, maybe since his kid's allergic), who knows... Tell us how this will WORK--in reality, in the ER when the woman with the clipboard sort of inquires about how you plan to pay while you lie there crying...Will we even see a bill or will some sarcastic "public servant" mock our questions by hiring another speed reader?
Intentional Destruction/Betrayal
July 16, 2009 - 11:35 ET by cvgbuckeyeAll this rigamaroll has nothing to do with healthcare. Nor does Cap &Trade have anything to do with a clean earth. Nor does the stimulous package(s) have anything to do with saving the economy. Nor does the surge in Afghanistan have anything to do with defending America. NONE of Obama's projects have ANYTHING to do with providing for the welfare of America. Nor does all this apologizing for America while overseas do anything but betray Obama's cynical motives to betray and destroy my country.
IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HIS INTENTIONAL DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA.
This is an intelligent man. It would take a perfect imbecile to believe that all these programs will help America and he is no imbecile. He knows exactly what he is doing.
What this is all about is REPARATIONS on STERIODS. This man has been reared trained,groomed and elected for one thing and that is to tear America down from the inside; destroy America's economy and hence America's ability to maintain her armed forces and her national defense.
He and all of his anarchists are convinced that they can carry out this plan with the trumpeting of a national media gone mad for him, the misguided woman voter (63% still strongly support him) and a youth vote that does not see any danger and could care less anyway. The Democrats have proven, so far, to be as dumb as we suspected and are also going along with it.
Here is what is scary. Sometime within the next year, anyone who writes, says or thinks anything like this writing will be jailed for it. One year ago, if I heard anyone say what I have said here, I would not recommend jail but the nut house with all the other Black Helicopter People.
Obama truly believes that he has been annointed by Allah to rise to the most powerful position in the world, tear America down and when successful, the disadvantaged, the poor, the minorities will rise from the ashes, under his leadership and they will rule the world. All the current leadership in America and all middle and upper class people will rightfully become the slaves.
IF this national healthcare business passes, we may be beyond the point of return.
God help this great nation to rise up against Obama and all those who stand with him. God Bless The United States of America. We must immediately ask the question, "Do you stand with Obama or do you stand with me and The United States of America"?
Talk about hollow threats
July 16, 2009 - 11:29 ET by general companyTeamsters President James P. Hoffa recently warned Democrats that if they tired to tax employee’s healthcare benefits, he’d turn against them.
Really, and where will you turn to Hoffa? Dont get me wrong, I appreciate the threat, I just doubt them sincerity. Obama is giving the unions all they could ever hope to get with Card Check and the representation he is giving them in his own czar cabinet, not to mention the new power he has granted them is GM, but yet he is going to turn against them? Talk about a bridge to far?
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
When will Obama take over the CBO
July 16, 2009 - 14:19 ET by general companyThey keep crapping in his cornflakes
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
There's a Partisan Divide, alright.
July 16, 2009 - 16:38 ET by CobraManThere's a Partisan Divide, alright. The Democrats all want "free" health care, and they want Republicans to pay for it!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
How does that go?
July 16, 2009 - 18:51 ET by general companyWhoop, there it is!!
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg