Right Wingers Try to Blame the Media for Economic Insecurity

[marmar]

from AlterNet's PEEK:



Right Wingers Try to Blame the Media for Economic Insecurity

Posted by Amanda Terkel, Think Progress at 7:39 AM on March 3, 2008.

Mary Matalin echoes a popular right wing talking point.



Yesterday on NBC's Meet the Press, host Tim Russert pointed to a new CNBC poll showing that 83 percent of the American public rates the U.S. economy as only fair/poor. Right-wing strategist Mary Matalin tried to brush off that number, stating that most Americans are nevertheless happy about their personal finances.

When liberal strategist Bob Shrum pointed out that her statement is false, Matalin switched to the well-worn tactic of blaming the media for the problem:

MATALIN: Well, there's an element of cognitive dissonance there, because if you ask them how their own personal finances are going, those numbers completely switch. Yes -- he's looking around. Those numbers are completely true. They absolutely switch on their own personal finances.

SHRUM: I think most people are getting very insecure about their personal finances.

MATALIN: That's because they're berated with these numbers.

Matalin is echoing a popular right-wing talking point. On Feb. 11, former White House adviser Karl Rove claimed that the "media has been beating the drum for years and years and years that the economy stinks. And after a while, that begins to color people's attitudes." Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) also recently tried to blame it all on the American people by saying that it's just "psychological."

Matalin's baseless assertion was quickly rebutted by her husband, Democratic strategist James Carville:

This is not something created by the media. These mortgages, these high energy costs, these pathetic employment numbers, the health care costs, food costs -- they're just killing people out there. They're not just being told that things are terrible. They're feeling this every day.

As Shrum pointed out, most Americans are insecure about their own finances. A recent Pew poll found that 53 percent rate their personal finances as only fair/poor, up from 49 percent in January. Additionally, 58 percent believe that their personal income is "falling behind" compared to their cost of living, up from 44 percent in January. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/78447/

[Warpy]

1. These yappers are the best friends we've got right now

because every time they say "Who do you beileve, great experts or your lying eyes?" you just know what the answer is going to be.

Even people with secure state jobs in houses that are almost paid for and who have decent stock portfolios are still passing closed stores and for sale signs, and getting news from friends and family about offshored jobs, unpaid health insurance claims, and unaffordable food and energy.

People are going to trust their "lying" eyes and ears this time. The ranters are going to find themselves marginalized for being such good soldiers for the rich and Republic.

[Vincardog]

2. This is what unrestrained "Free Capital" get you. 99% of the people living in poverty and 1/2 of 1%

rich beyond dreams. We learned this lesson in the 1930s how did we let it happen again?

[Hydra]

3. Because people bought the line

"It can't happen here!"

Seriously, I have no idea why people think the mega-billionaires won't economically rape them over and over given the chance. Their "better nature," perhaps?

[LSK]

4. I saw that exchange this weekend

I couldnt help but think that Mary was one of the most clueless people on earth. Why do these clueless idiots get TV spots is beyond me.

[SpiralHawk]

5. Right wingers try to avoid responsibility for their mess. Again. As usual.

They are trying to shift the blame from their own weasly souls....

Pathetic republicon homelanders.

All honorable Americans are learned the ugly truth about the republicon homelander weasels now.