It's Not Media's Job To Correct Falsehoods...

[Gonad the Barbarian]

about "Obamacare," according to Chuck Todd.
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/42529_Chuck_Todd-_Fact_Checking_Not_My_Job

There’s a feeling among many people I know that the US media has almost completely lost the thread, abdicating their responsibilities by reporting falsehoods as truth, refusing to fact-check, and generally treating journalism as a horse race in which the only thing that matters is who wins.

And today MSNBC host Chuck Todd made this attitude explicit in an appearance on Morning Joe in which he said it’s not his job to point out lies about the Affordable Care Act, because that would be helping President Obama by “selling” it: Chuck Todd: It’s Not Media’s Job to Correct GOP’s Obamacare Falsehoods.

During a segment on “Morning Joe,” former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) speculated that most opponents of the Affordable Care Act have been fed erroneous information about the law. Todd said that Republicans “have successfully messaged against it” but he disagrees with those who argue that the media should educate the public on the law. According to Todd, that’s President Barack Obama’s job.

“But more importantly, it would be stuff that Republicans have successfully messaged against it,” Todd told Rendell. “They don’t repeat the other stuff because they haven’t even heard the Democratic message. What I always love is people say, ‘Well, it’s you folks’ fault in the media.’ No, it’s the President of the United States’ fault for not selling it.”

The "liberal" (ie: corporate) media in action, only bothering to regurgitate what sells.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

I like the double-speak in that quote in which essentially Chuck Todd is stating that anything negative being discussed about Obamacare is automatically assumed to be a "falsehood" . Its a nice way of fighting for Obamacare without actually coming out in favor of it directly in that statement.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Maybe being caught selling Obamas strike on Syria may has made them shy.

 

[Jhhnn]

Maybe the myth of the so-called "Liberal Media" is a lie, huh?

 

[Matt1970]

LOL, we are not going to point any fingers at the liars, but it's the GOP.

 

[Matt1970]

Maybe the myth of the so-called "Liberal Media" is a lie, huh?

No, you are seeing it in full force right there.

 

[Doppel]

I watched the vid and it's a stretch to claim he meant this based on his small statement. What I got was not that he believes media shouldn't correct but rather the blame primarily rests with Obama for not selling it.

 

[Jhhnn]

No, you are seeing it in full force right there.

Remarkably dim, as usual.

If it's not the News Media's purpose to reveal the truth, then they have no purpose beyond infotainment, and should represent themselves as such.

"We're just here to entertain you between commercials, just like The Simpsons."

 

[shira]

I like the double-speak in that quote in which essentially Chuck Todd is stating that anything negative being discussed about Obamacare is automatically assumed to be a "falsehood" . Its a nice way of fighting for Obamacare without actually coming out in favor of it directly in that statement.

No, that's not what he's saying. It's actually well established that the right has lied about what Obamacare does and doesn't do. For example, the right continues to lie to the elderly that Obamacare will weaken Medicare and reduce their benefits.

http://swampland.time.com/2012/08/16/fact-check-obamacares-medicare-cuts/

The idea, however, that the Affordable Care Act struck a dangerous blow to Medicare that will change the program in fundamental ways is untrue. Under the new law, Medicare will remain a wildly popular, public single-payer health insurance system that provides comprehensive coverage to millions of Americans.

And . . .

http://www.factcheck.org/2013/08/obamacare-by-the-numbers/

The Republican National Committee claims that 8.2 million Americans can’t find full-time jobs “partly due to ObamaCare.” But that figure is the total number of part-time workers in the U.S. seeking full-time work. The RNC also claims 6 million retirees “will lose prescription drug coverage” under the health care law. But 6 million aren’t expected to go without drug coverage. Instead, they are expected to lose employer-sponsored drug plans and join other Medicare Part D plans instead.

These are just two of a list of 57 figures the RNC calls “ObamaCare By the Numbers,” a compilation the GOP has promoted in years past as well. Several items repeat old claims we’ve seen many times before. For instance, the RNC claims the law “cuts” Medicare by $716 billion, but that’s a reduction in the future growth of Medicare spending over 10 years, not a slashing of the current budget. And the RNC repeats the well-worn distortion that 800,000 “Will Be Cut Out Of The Workforce By ObamaCare,” a twisting of the Congressional Budget Office’s analysis that actually said there would be a reduction in labor primarily because people would choose to work less.

 

[monovillage]

Bwhahahahaha
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...he-red-line-on-syrias-chemical-weapons/?clsrd

"fact check" it's a joke.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

No, that's not what he's saying. It's actually well established that the right has lied about what Obamacare does and doesn't do. For example, the right continues to lie to the elderly that Obamacare will weaken Medicare and reduce their benefits.

http://swampland.time.com/2012/08/16/fact-check-obamacares-medicare-cuts/



And . . .

http://www.factcheck.org/2013/08/obamacare-by-the-numbers/

This is not the point I'm making. It is that Chuck Todd's statement is creating a situation in that any valid criticism of Obamacare is being lumped in with non-valid criticisms period and thus all of it is false by guilt of association. You can certainly point to claims made which are not valid by the GOP but other critiques outside of those claims which are valid should not be prematurely assumed to be painted with the same brush.

 

[sandorski]

They should just give every politician a camera that directly connects to the Satellite feed. Imagine the $ saved on Reporters and Camera crews.

To save even more $, have the feed go straight to Air. I'm sure there are enough windbags in Politics that would make it feasible to fire the Anchors, Pundits, and others. Just maintain a skeleton crew that makes sure Audio levels are fine, delay some feeds until later(first come, first serve), deal with other Technical issues.

It's what the Founders and early Press dreamed of! Isn't it? :hmm:

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Bwhahahahaha
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...he-red-line-on-syrias-chemical-weapons/?clsrd

"fact check" it's a joke.

Ouch.

 

[woolfe9998]

I like the double-speak in that quote in which essentially Chuck Todd is stating that anything negative being discussed about Obamacare is automatically assumed to be a "falsehood" . Its a nice way of fighting for Obamacare without actually coming out in favor of it directly in that statement.

Except that is not really what Mr. Todd said. Saying it isn't the media's job to correct GOP falsehoods about the ACA is not the same thing as saying everything the GOP says about the ACA is a falsehood.

 

[woolfe9998]

Bwhahahahaha
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...he-red-line-on-syrias-chemical-weapons/?clsrd

"fact check" it's a joke.

What, the "liberal media" criticizing Obama in lengthy op-ed fact check pieces no less? How can this be?

 

[sportage]

People have to remember all, and I mean all of today's media are owned by some sort of special interest. Not surprising they demand their opinions to reflect self serving slanted views.
This is not the news media of yesteryear.
Long gone are the days of Huntley & Brinkley.
Toss in a hefty serving of good old fashion tabloid news reporting for the sake of ratings.
Where the viewer has no idea what factual news is, except when items like Paris Hilton are concerned.
And so Paris Hilton becomes the news.

Trying to find any factual reporting that has real benefit of news worth to viewers is like drinking watered down kool aid.
Very little substance added, if any at all.
And people think Communist countries are censored.
It doesn't stop there.

 

[monovillage]

What, the "liberal media" criticizing Obama in lengthy op-ed fact check pieces no less? How can this be?

Come on Woolfie, Obama blatantly lied and this "Fact Checker" made up excuses for him and gave him a pass. It should have been a 4 Pinocchio winner. The "Fact Checker" lost any credibility he once had by this kind of blatant partisanship, he wasn't "checking facts" he was looking for excuses.

 

[DominionSeraph]

I don't see an audience for it. How are they gonna format it? As an information dump? Zzzzzzzzzz.
As a counter to right-wing propaganda? You risk boring a good chunk of your audience, presenting others a mental challenge they didn't ask for, and alienating those who live on it.

The Daily Show could get away with it on the expectation of an intelligent, involved, mentally engaged audience. But 24 hour news networks? Those are for background noise.

 

[colonelciller]

all mainstream media in the USA pushes propaganda and agenda... both on the right and left. neither "side" can point at the other without instantly becoming a massive and obnoxious hypocrite.

...and it works because americans are easily among the most brainwashed on the planet.
...and just about the only way to ever realize this is to move out of the country.

it is an extmely effective method of population control.

 

[BlueWolf47]

Why in the hell would anyone use cable news as their source of information anyways? It's only purpose is to get viewers and to entertain. When i read news i usually read about a certain issue from around 3 or more sources including a non US source.

One reason fox news has so many viewers is because their median age is over 65 which also tends to lean right. The older the viewer the less likely they will obtain their news from internet sources so cable news is the preferred choice. CNN and msnbc fight for a younger crowed that tends to use the internet as a source for news more than the 65+ crowed. CNN will likely maintain younger viewers but im not sure how long MSNBC will survive. They tried to be like the Fox News for the left who more and more don't get their news from television.

 

[DominionSeraph]

CNN will likely maintain younger viewers but im not sure how long MSNBC will survive. They tried to be like the Fox News for the left, but the left doesn't need a constructed bubble to tell them they're smart.

ftfy

 

[fskimospy]

This is just a different take on the idea that if the democrats say the earth is round and the republicans say it is flat, the article will be titled "views differ on shape of planet". Pointing out that one side is lying more than the other makes you biased apparently, even if it's true in this case.

What the media misses is that the right believes as an article of faith that they are victimized by the media and that is central to their world view. Nothing they do will change this article of faith.

 

[BlueWolf47]

ftfy

that sounds much better, thanks. :biggrin:

 

[glenn1]

It's Not Media's Job To Correct Falsehoods...
QUOTE]

Evidently so, considering the amount of exaggerations to outright lies that Obama and Democrats have told about Obamacare as well. I agree it's not the media's job to continually review the talking points of either side. I for one find the one cited example of "it's not a cut, it's a reduction in future spending" to be especially amusing coming from the Democratic side considering it's one of their most used arguments of all time.

 

[BlueWolf47]

Honestly, I have much more respect for a reporter who makes a mistake and takes the time to apologize and correct it than one who never makes a mistake. More than likely the later is making mistakes but has no integrity to correct himself.