Media uncritically repeated Republican criticism of Democratic national se

Thu, Mar 30, 2006 7:30pm EST

Media uncritically repeated Republican criticism of Democratic national security plan

Summary: The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, and Knight Ridder uncritically reported Republican criticism of the Democratic national security proposal, including a claim by Vice President Dick Cheney that the proposal was "totally inconsistent" with the Democrats' past behavior.

On March 29 and March 30, several news outlets uncritically reported Republican criticism of the recently released Democratic national security platform titled "Real Security: Protecting America and Restoring Our Leadership in the World," including a claim by Vice President Dick Cheney that the platform consisted of initiatives that were "totally inconsistent" with the Democrats' past behavior. Stories in the March 30 editions of The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, along with wire stories from the Associated Press and Knight Ridder, printed Cheney's statement, which he made during an interview on the Fox News Radio's The Tony Snow Show. In addition, citing Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-MO) during the March 29 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume, chief Washington correspondent Jim Angle reported that "Republicans were somewhat bemused, noting the Democrats proposed things everyone favors along with policies already being pursued." However, none of the reports noted a crucial fact undermining the criticism by Cheney and other Republicans: The Democratic platform contains numerous proposals that Democrats have pushed but that have been blocked by Republicans, including Bond.
One primary facet of the Democratic plan is the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission, which include enhancing security at ports, borders, airports, and other mass transit systems. In its final report, released in December 2005, the 9-11 Commission issued a national security report card that criticized the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled Congress for failing to enact most of its recommendations to improve national security.
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http://mediamatters.org/items/200603310001

Is any one expecting anything different?

is still important work. I am glad media matters is doing it.They also get people to write in and complain to the media.