"They strike on Capitol Hill. And no domestic program is safe. They're . . . the Evil Republican Spending Slashers!"
Just like "It's a Wonderful Life" at Christmas time, the MSM trots out the reruns of the "Evil Spending Slashers" every time a Republican president proposes to increase entitlement spending by less than some liberals would like.
With the spunky Contessa Brewer hosting in the studio, and reporter Patty Culhane braving the global-warming induced cold wave on the White House lawn, MSNBC ran a classic of the genre this afternoon. At one point the graphic below was displayed, warning of domestic spending "cuts" in a number of programs.
But when you read the fine print, as in this AP article, you find that, for example, the "cut" in Medicare is actually . . . a 6.7% increase. The "cut" is only from a theoretical increase of 7.6% that had apparently been earlier proposed. The article also reveals:
"Bush also calls for reducing Medicaid spending by about $25 billion over five years, which would just slightly dent the more than $1.2 trillion the federal government will spend on health care for the poor over the next five years."
But that didn't stop MSNBC from accusing President Bush, as you'll see in the scroll at the bottom of the first screencap, of "slashing" spending.
The liberal Democrats dutifully play their role in this horror film - with the MSM casting them as the good guys, of course. From the AP article: "Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., described the Medicare and Medicaid proposals as 'declaring war' on the poor."
Pass the popcorn. It's going to be a long budget process.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Arghhh here comes the "R
February 5, 2007 - 17:08 ET by HumanEventsArghhh here comes the "Republican wants to cut such and such for the poor, elderly, etc." again!
That was the MSM and Bill Clinton's game in the mid 90's. "Republicans want to cut medicare". But it was just not increasing it by as much as the DemocRATS wanted. Liar Bill Clinton even himself had initially talked about not increasing the spending by as much and said, "so when you hear all this talk about cuts, let me caution you that that's not what's going on." Ah but when the GOP led Congress actually wanted to not just talk but implement this as part of the Contract with America, Liar Bill yells, "The Republicans want to cut medicare!"
This fraud from Clinton and the MSM worked a decade ago. No reason it won't work with "we the sheople" now too.
These entitlement programs ar
February 5, 2007 - 17:09 ET by aeroThese entitlement programs are going to cripple our economy, sooner rather than later. The difference between 6.7% growth and 7.6% growth is "too much" and "way too much." Bush should have known he'd be villified for this budget no matter what and gone for a truly aggressive reduction in growth. It's not like the public could hate him much more right now anyway. I'm disgusted with the Republican leaders who know the train wreck we're headed for with these unrestrained entitlements and don't have the guts to educate the public and make a change.
entitlements
February 5, 2007 - 18:17 ET by iveseenitallWhen it comes to entitlements, nothing is too much for the Demos. Do I hear the words " raise your taxes" coming our way?
NEVER,NEVER turst a liberal
Ancient Paradym: "How
February 5, 2007 - 19:23 ET by ucAncient Paradym: "How does a laisez faire economy manager actually get credit"?
Slashing Medicaid $'s - 1993 to 2012
February 5, 2007 - 19:38 ET by Gary HallMedicaid. Federal spending, actual and proposed (2008 forward) Let's go to the numbers - White House Budget 2008.
in $ billions
1993 - 75.8
1994 - 82.0
1995 - 89.1
1996 - 92.0
1997 - 95.6
1998 - 101.2
1999 - 108.0
2000 - 117.9
2001 - 129.4
2002 - 147.5
2003 - 160.7
2004 - 176.2
2005 - 181.7
2006 - 180.6
2007 - 191.9 est
2008 - 201.9 est
2009 - 216.4 est
2010 - 232.7 est
Wow - look at those cuts in Medicaid spending!
gary hall .....gary; do
February 5, 2007 - 19:42 ET by ww thumpergary hall .....gary; don't you understand... to the dim ratt's it should be at least twice as much! :-) ww v Being "Politcaly Correct" with ISLAM will distroy America......V
Hmph. How DARE you commit act
February 6, 2007 - 09:17 ET by sarcasmoHmph. How DARE you commit actual journalism, Gary!?!?!??!!!
JMR
ROFL Yeah those wascally wepu
February 6, 2007 - 17:03 ET by HumanEventsROFL Yeah those wascally wepublicans have weally scwewed the elderly out of their Medicaid! huh huh huh huh huh!
Spending "cuts"
February 5, 2007 - 22:26 ET by nkviking75Gotta love the MSM. The "cuts" in spending (usually a reduction in the rate increase) are draconian, and yet these spending cuts are too small to make a dent in the runaway deficit. To paraphrase the old Burger King jingle, "have it both ways, have it both ways..."
NASA is getting a $1 billio
February 5, 2007 - 23:03 ET by blogonatorNASA is getting a $1 billion increase for manned space exploration. In this day and age, where we're fighting terrorists abroad, should we really be spending money on a return trip to the moon? Where's the fiscal restraint?
If choices have to be made, N
February 6, 2007 - 09:28 ET by dscottIf choices have to be made, NASA is not the place do it, they at least are a creative innovation bed for new technology that benefits everyone on the planet. If there are cuts to made in science, then cut the funding (billions of $$$) for Global Warming studies, this is a total waste of tax payer money.
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
When a "cut" is really an inc
February 6, 2007 - 08:27 ET by sarcasmoWhen a "cut" is really an increase once you get to the fine print, it causes people like me to be very short with those who cluelessly wonder why mediabias sites like this exist. Why SHOULDN'T NB exist in these hyperbiased circumstances??
JMR