The Corporate Media Sheep Talking Point About Recovery.Gov - Accuracy!!!

[TomCADem]

Have you noticed that regardless of which media outlet you look at the take is almost exactly the same whether it is Fox News or the Associated Press. The recovery.gov job numbers are not accurate, therefore the Obama administration is inflating job numbers. Some media outlets do note that errors are often inadvertent due to typographical errors that do not alter the job creation numbers, and others do note that the Federal Government largely relies on the numbers provided by the grant applicants. However, shouldn't the story really be on whether jobs are being created, rather than focusing on errors that are mainly attributable to typographical errors?

Most mainstream economists agree that the stimulus is helping to save and create jobs. Also, is there really an alternative to disclosing the information provided by the grant applicants? Should we withhold such information until it has been independently verified?

In other words, it is disheartening the degree to which the media as a whole simply bleats the same agreed upon narrative again and again.

I think it is a better idea to disclose the numbers provided by grant applicants, rather than withholding them until they have been "verified." The alternative is the Bush administration, which would vigorously hide any "drafts" from the public.

[lxlxlxl]

1. the double edged sword of putting transparency where there is none

you turn the light on in a cave, and you will probably find snakes.

What standard does the press have in evaluating things like recovery.gov? if 1 out of 10000 are found to have an error, is that significant? of course it isnt, but it is considered 'politically fair game' what is dangerous is that this type of behavior encourages zero-transparency government, and makes the party responsible for 'turning on the lights' responsible for any shit that people see. It's a game where the country gets screwed on good governance in return for a couple of cheap news cycle repetition points. It's also the reason why the GOP is still in business, and why their position as the 'know-nothing' 'do-nothing' party still succeeds.

no matter what you do as a democrat that thinks government has to do /something/ is that it will be never good enough for the people who want it do /nothing/ and dont care if it fails

[TomCADem]

3. Exactly! The Whole Point Of Transparency Is To Uncover Errors And Improve!

If government were perfect and error free, who would need transparency? Yet, the press blasts reports based on preliminary numbers provided by grant applicants even if they contain nominal errors such as incorrect zip codes or congressional districts.

Quick! What is your congressman's congressional district?

Of course, as we discovered with cash for clunkers, if you insist on an overly high threshold of verification, then you end up creating bottle necks.

Of course, the media never discusses the trade-offs, and instead simply blasts away on isolated reporting inaccuracies.

[MrsCorleone]

2. It's just the latest republican/corporate talking point. They're all on message.

Check out rep Issa's think tank tweets @darrellissa.

http://twitter.com/DarrellIssa

[lxlxlxl]

4. issa is a complete ass

should have heard him at the finance oversight with BoA officials....pure campaigning in his opening speech. made me sick.

[MrsCorleone]

5. Agreed. This asshat gets away with so much crap.

I attended his town hall, and it was packed with Glenn Beck/Limbaugh loons, all foaming at their mouths at the mere mention of "czars".
Bunch of brainwashed animals.

What was interesting, though, was the absence of Latinos & and military folks, which was odd since his district has an immense Hispanic population & and includes a major military base. Almost all in attendance were white retirees, those, I suppose, that are more apt to watch/listen to primarily RW media.