Latching onto Republican talking point, media report "do-nothing" Congress, not GOP obstruction

[marmar]

from Media Matters:


Latching onto Republican talking point, media report "do-nothing" Congress, not GOP obstruction

Several media outlets have reported recent claims by Senate Republicans, President Bush, and members of his administration that Democrats are currently presiding, or may soon preside, over a "do-nothing Congress" without challenging the claim in any way. These claims are apparently part of a strategy laid out in a "talking-points memorandum" reportedly "circulated" by Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) that advises Republicans to attack congressional Democrats for their supposed lack of legislative accomplishments. In fact, Republicans have blocked Senate action at an unprecedented rate -- apparently putting into action a strategy that Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-MS) described as "obstructionist."

A July 24 Washington Times article reported that Kyl was "meeting with members" of the Senate Republican Conference "yesterday and today to disseminate a message critical of Democrats for endlessly debating the Iraq war, stalling judicial nominations and squandering time on at least 300 investigations of the Bush administration." The article also reported that Kyl had "circulated" a talking-points memo to Republicans that "criticize(d)" Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) "for letting legislative priorities languish." Kyl, Lott, and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) reinforced this message during an afternoon press conference (subscription required) on July 24 in which they criticized Democrats by asserting that "we (Congress) are literally doing nothing," in Cornyn's words.

But according to a July 20 McClatchy Newspapers article, "This year Senate Republicans are threatening filibusters to block more legislation than ever before," as Media Matters for America documented. These actions are consistent with the acknowledgement by Lott in an April 18 Roll Call article (subscription required) that the GOP is employing an "obstructionist" strategy in the Senate: "The strategy of being obstructionist can work or fail. ... For (former Senate Democratic Leader Tom) Daschle (S.D.), it failed. For (then-Senate Minority Leader Harry) Reid, it succeeded, and so far it's working for us." Further, a July 26 Washington Post article quoted Republican Rep. Ray LaHood (IL) praising Democrats' recent legislative accomplishments and bipartisanship. According to the article, LaHood stated: "The first quarter was not so good, and that's why they're not looking so good in the polls, but this quarter is looking very good for them. They can send their members home crowing about their accomplishments, and they've done it in a bipartisan way, which is exactly what they promised to do." Nevertheless, various media outlets duly repeated this message without challenge over the next several days:

During the July 26 edition of MSNBC Live, congressional correspondent Mike Viqueira reported on the Senate Judiciary Committee's decision to subpoena White House senior adviser Karl Rove. Viqueira stated that Democrats have "some major legislation pending," but he repeated without challenge the Republican claim that the Democratic Congress is "not getting the job done for the American people":

VIQUEIRA: Well, the Republican line on this, including just now from the White House and the spokesman there (press secretary) Tony Snow, has been consistent over the last few weeks and that is simply this: The Democratic Congress is so interested in investigating the White House and the administration that they are not getting the job done for the American people. That they have gotten very few things passed in this Congress, outside of a minimum wage. In fairness, we have to say there is some, there are some major legislation pending over the course of next eight days before the four-week congressional recess. But Tony Snow says that this Congress is failing to tackle the important issues, and they are more interested in getting headlines than passing legislation.

During the July 25 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, correspondent Jack Cafferty asserted that the 110th Congress "has accomplished next to nothing":

CAFFERTY: The Democrats have been in control of Congress for seven months now, speaking of being in control of your own demise. What do they have to show for it? A hike in the minimum wage. That's about it. And wouldn't you know they went out yesterday, pat themselves on the back, celebrating the first minimum wage increase in a decade with a rally across from the Capitol. I mean, is that really necessary?

It's nice they increased the minimum wage, but, I mean, this is kind of overdoing it.

Now, there's a piece in The New York Times that suggests that they're going to have to get a lot more than that done in order to avoid the do-nothing label that they stuck on the Republican Congress that preceded them. So far, if there was a race for worthless, the 109th and 110th Congresses would be dead even.

Despite the fact that they have accomplished next to nothing, in a week and a half, they're going on vacation for a whole month, just like the Iraqi parliament plans to do. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://mediamatters.org/items/200707280005?f=h_latest

[Robbien]

1. The Democratic party has known about GOPer echo chamber

since the 90's. We all knew about the GOP echo chamber since the 90s. Did the DC Dems do anything about it, like develop one of their own. No.

In fact even today the DC Dems are doing everything they can to not have an echo chamber. Dean over at the DNC is willing to build one, but the DC Dems squeeze him out of everything. The Dem netroots are a ready made good start. DC Dems have run as fast as possible from their base.

What did the DC Dems do to beat the drums on their strategy of GOPer Obstruction, they put out a paid press release and went on the Sunday talk shows. Kerry made a speech on CSpan. Same press procedures they've been following for the past two decades.

The press goes with the GOPer bigger louder echo chamber drumbeat.

[VP505]

2. This article

makes a very good case for WHY Reid needs to make the RePukes stand for their filibusters and hold more all nighters. The MSM won't take the high road and report all the facts on why nothing is moving through the Senate, Reid should force it into the public eye. Calling attention to every block put on a bill, every filibuster threat and every parliamentary trick the Reich pulls. They (Dem Senators) can no longer allow the RePukes to keep framing all the news releases coming out.

[KoKo]

3. Sadly Cafferty admitted he's a Repug last week in a comentary he gave on Blitzer...

so his "seeming turn to the left" means NOTHING when he calls us "Do Nothing Dems" it takes away from his being the "supposed" liberal/Populist guy that Wolf turns to when he takes a break from pumping "Terra" and how we should "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Iran." :-(

[AX10]

5. Do you have a link?

i.e: "Cafferty admitted he's a Repug"

[KoKo]

8. Check Blitzer Situation Room Archives...I think it was Wednesday NIght

he said that on the 5:00 p.m. est edition. Or Google it...sometimes you can find a quote like that from Google.

[Gloria]

4. Don't worry! Our ace media whizzes will counter this framing everytime they

go on TV and in the press!!! :sarcasm:

I did have one happy moment a couple of weeks ago when Edwards talked about the obstruction of the GOP.....

[windy252]

6. Believe it or not,

I have more faith in most of the American public to have a rough idea of what's actually going on, even if our media won't report it.

[BlooInBloo]

7. So what? DUers think the same thing. Glass houses and all.

[pepperbear]

9. Isn't "When in doubt, blame it on the Democrats in congress" part of the GOP rule book?....

You know, right up there with "Bipartisanship only applies as long as we're in the minority."