Chuck Todd: It's Not Media's Job To Correct GOP's Obamacare Falsehoods

[phantom power]

"Reporting" in the sense of activities involving the checking of facts, or investigation, is apparently no longer a thing.

Like Atrios says: "When they say things like this, I just...I really have no idea what they think their job is. They're saying they're just middlemen in a propaganda contest, dutifully repeating whatever is told to them by 'sources.'"

MSNBC host Chuck Todd said Wednesday that when it comes to misinformation about the new federal health care law, don't expect members of the media to correct the record.

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 health care law has long been shrouded in misinformation, a point that Obama himself made in an interview Tuesday with Telemundo. A poll Tuesday showed that support for the law among Republicans was higher when called by the Affordable Care Act, its official title, rather than "Obamacare," a term used derisively by Republicans that has gained widespread usage.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/chuck-todd-it-s-not-media-s-job-to-correct-gop-s-obamacare-falsehoods-video

[kentuck]

1. Just "middlemen"...

You're right. That's what they think they are.

[deutsey]

39. Or "mouthpieces"...

[DURHAM D]

2. Perfect example of why people don't trust the corporate media. eom

[leftstreet]

3. The Democrats had 5 years to explain this clusterfuck

People STILL don't have a clue

He's right, it's not up to the media

[Doremus]

5. The Fourth Estate has an important role in the longevity of representative Democracy.

They must investigate and report facts. Stenographers are useless to us. Worse, if they're all we've got, our system of government is toast.

[leftstreet]

13. Indeed

But the article in the OP isn't about investigative journalism

It's about reporting what politicians are saying

[Doremus]

46. Reporting what politicians are saying is a tiny portion of the Fourth Estate's proper function. nt

[Schema Thing]

6. Actually, yeah, it is up to the media to report accurately

which includes REPORTING inaccuracy. Reporting inaccuracy is not repeating inaccuracy, but rather, pointing it out.


The GOP would stop lying if every time they did it, a reporter said "but isn't that a lie?", or, "but that isn't true according to facts X,Y,Z".

When a politician lies, that, in itself, should be news.

[leftstreet]

9. They 'accurately report' the lies of politicians all the time

In that way, they're doing the job I guess

[frazzled]

10. They have, and I get it

But that's not even the point of this issue regarding Chuck Todd.

The point is, whatever factual information the Democrats give about the law and its provisions is offset by lies told by Republicans. If the media doesn't feel it's their job to analyze what is being said about the law, and to report when a falsehood is being touted, of course people are confused. Lies and facts become the same.

It is absolutely the media's job to point out when a statement that is made is either unsupported by the facts or categorically wrong. If Chuck Todd doesn't think that's his duty as a reporter, then we are screwed.

[Fawke Em]

50. No he's not.

I'm a former newspaper reporter. It IS the media's job to report fact and educate the populace.

Thus the name, "journalist." Journalists chronicle - or "journal" - factual elements in time.

[Uncle Joe]

4. I haven't expected anything from the corporate media other than obfuscation and

mass dumbing down attempts for years.

Thanks for the thread, phantom power.

[factsarenotfair]

7. The President needs to explain to the American people that "the news has been cancelled,"

as Randi Rhodes puts it. I really wish he would.

[11 Bravo]

8. So Chuck just admitted that he's a fucking stenographer.

[lsewpershad]

18. Indeed

[calimary]

20. Bingo.

What more needs to be said? I'll bet if the talking points were trending the other way, he'd have different take on it.

Another FABULOUS opportunity to badmouth the President, 'eh, chuck?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Chuck you are in the wrong business then

[malaise]

12. Then whose fucking job is it?

[SCVDem]

25. That would be Jon Stewart

and Stephan Colbert.

Chuck Turd should resign in disgrace.

[malaise]

29. Isn't that the truth?

[tosh]

14. Curious about his credentials as a "journalist",

I checked his Wiki page: "Todd attended George Washington University from 1990 to 1994; although he majored in political science and minored in music, he did not graduate.[4]"

and " He received the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition for his work in journalism from Marymount University during its sixty-second commencement ceremony.[8]

Marymount University?? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marymount_University

No credentials found. Surprise!!!

[truebrit71]

15. Reason #78 why Fuck Toad is to journalism as Bieber is to Beethoven...

...

[old guy]

16. As usual, Todd succeeds in making a fool of himself.

Will it be noted anywhere but in places like this? I doubt it. If this doesn't prove beyond any doubt how worthless he and others of his "profession" are, nothing ever will. I have said before and will say again that the corporate media has done much more damage to this nation than any terrorist group.

[joeybee12]

17. Lazy SOB's...knr

[adieu]

19. Wrongo, Mr Todd

I don't want Obama "selling it" anymore than I want the GOP to sell their side. It IS the role of the fourth estate to verify, debunk, confirm, or refute claims made by anyone, especially those in the first and second estates.

[JaneQPublic]

21. Today's TV journalists deal in opinions, not in facts.

Or, in Chuck's case, it's opinions dressed as "analysis."

[benld74]

22. Chuckie isn't part of the Media, he is part of the GOP, lock, stock and barrel!

[1-Old-Man]

23. Chuck Todd is about the most worthless tool on the TV - tool being the key word

[dickthegrouch]

24. Why does the DCCC keep asking for donations?

I keep getting solicitation calls for money to counteract GOP lies. It's the country's fucking policy. The government should pay to counteract this shit, not ME.
If the GOP can't read, educate them.
I'm so sick of this.

[Cali_Democrat]

26. Chuckles is an unmitigated disaster

What a fucking useless empty suit.

[Ilsa]

27. Bernstein! Woodward! Please explain to

Chucky the concept of sources, verification, etc.

So anyone can call the media and unleash a bogus story, maybe something sensationalistic, and do so with confidence that it could be reported without any verification of facts?

Maybe we should call msnbc with more episodes of Diaper David Vitter, and some imaginary stuff about other crazy rethuglicans. (Since he's not bothering to fact-check.)

[avebury]

28. If they are not interested in reporting the truth, then

why on earth should anybody watch/read their reporting? I have no interest in just having lies perpetuated. The MSM might as well on the way of the dinosaurs - extinct.

[0rganism]

30. he's half right

The president and Democrats in general do need to take a more active role in explaining this thing, and countering the GOP's extremely effective anti-ACA messaging. Agree with him on that point.

However, his willingness to shirk his own responsibility as a fact checker and go with the "he-said-she-said" attitude is completely disgusting.

[deutsey]

41. +1

[nyquil_man]

31. I was about to say that the media act like referees,

but even a referee will call out a team for cheating. The media just say, "Wow, that was some great cheating!"

[Bradical79]

47. How about referees from pro wrestling?

They play act as referees but their real purpose is to put on a good show. It's all about ratings and entertainment.

[nyquil_man]

48. That's a damned good metaphor. nt

[leftyohiolib]

32. i remember stephanie miller had him on her show - chuck todd is god as she used to say

[Jefferson23]

33. Is he really too dumb to understand what he has revealed about the MSM? I wonder.

What a shame it is that a Democratic politician did not call him out on why it is most
definitely his God damn job to correct any distortions, and bring to the forefront with
facts to confront him regarding the history of the 1996 telecommunications act and
the damage done from it.

I would appreciate someone taking this fucking schmuck to task on air and grill
him.

I can't stand how insulated tools like him get away with the most egregious
claims that it's not his job.

Fucking bastard, this makes me furious.

on edit for clarity.

[LynnTTT]

34. So why do we need Chuck Todd and others?

If all you're going to do is set up representatives of the GOP and then the Democrats, what's the point?
Chuck/Mika/Gretchen/Shep etc can just say "the topic of the day is ACA/deficit/budget/taxes/gun control etc. The give 28 minutes to each side and Chuck can call in from the beach.
Of course, Rachel maddow does ask real questions, point out the falsehoods, call out the hypocricy. That's why I almost admire the occasional brave Tea Party'er who shows up.

[alcibiades_mystery]

35. The further Sophistic tendency of the media

The truth does not exist. Rather, it is nothing but presentations of the truth, and their effectiveness. So Todd can say " it's the President of the United States' fault for not selling it." There is no truth, for Todd. Just different gradations of "sell." The media simply reflects on these sells; they have no interest in truth, which doesn't exist anyway. Postmodern reporting, ain't it grand!

[Blue Owl]

36. Then I have no use for Chuck Todd's media

Last edited Wed Sep 18, 2013, 03:52 PM - Edit history (1)

[Scuba]

37. He's in the PR business, so what did you expect?

[MinM]

38. This is why the Jon Stewarts & Stephen Colberts

are trusted more than the Chuck Todds and David Gregorys.

[deutsey]

40. It's all a big club

and you ain't it, to quote George Carlin.

[Whisp]

42. mawaaahahahaha! It's not my fault, no! *feet stomp. What a little cretin know nothing.

That is why we are not hearing the goods things about ACA, even on 'left' MSNBC (ha!)

Todd is/was/will always be a lowlife asshole water carrier for the GOP, but what about the other hosts on the many other shows MSNBC has on all day, who parrot each other with the same usual nonstory all freaking day long in different voices.

Why can't they take this on, I mean, like the 'progressive' Rachel Maddow (although I think she has made a half hearted effort in exposing some of the GOP lies, but this needs to be addressed frequently, not whenever she decides to do a show or two and get progressive applause for it while she holds up her book)

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

43. Well, he does inform us what the soup of the day is at the White House.

C'mon, what would your day be like if you didn't have that info?

[IronLionZion]

44. Meanwhile Ali Velshi advertises that his staff read every word of the ACA

and can answer any question about any part of it accurately. That's on Al Jazeera, a station that actually has some useful reporting.

[Gothmog]

45. Chuck Todd is an idiot

I am not surprise by his comments

[Cha]

49. Chuck Toad's job is not to get anything right.. he's just there to pick up his fucking

paycheck.. 'cause he carries water for his goprickmeisters.

But, in spite of pinheads like toad promoting gopropaganda.. they lose..



http://theobamadiary.com/

[Jackpine Radical]

51. For those of you who don't believe in reincarnation and karma, take note--

Josef Goebbels has apparently come back as a toad this time.

[dem in texas]

52. I rank Chuck Todd right up there with Sen. John Cornyn

Every time they open their mouths, something stupid comes out.

[OneGrassRoot]

53. wow. K&R n/t

[krawhitham]

54. K&R

[Octafish]

55. Demonstrates Chuck Todd isn't a journalist or a Constitutional scholar.

He knows nothing about the First Amendment or the Constitutional responsibility of the press.

As he's on tee vee working for COMCAST, he's an entertainer, a lousy one at that.

[grasswire]

56. why can't we force the dumping of Todd?

Collectively, we have a lot of power.