Media failing again on Healthcare Reform

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Once again, mcjoan is doing a yeoman's job over at Daily Kos with this post Media Failing Again on Healthcare Reform

First we had AP's zombie numbers, and now we've got cable news, and conservative pundits, all abuzz about testimony yesterday afternoon from CBO Directo about the healthcare reform bills in the works.

Under questioning by members of the Senate Budget Committee, Douglas Elmendorf, director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, said bills crafted by House leaders and the Senate health committee do not propose "the sort of fundamental changes" necessary to rein in the skyrocketing cost of government health programs, particularly Medicare. On the contrary, Elmendorf said, the measures would pile on an expensive new program to cover the uninsured.

His statement has been trumpted all over the news, but unfortunately, the traditional media isn't reporting anything beyond that statement, including follow-up testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee in which he walked his statement back. The blogospherci healthcare wonks give you the full story that doesn't fit into the traditional media's narrative.

Continue reading Daily Kos

This is complicated, expensive, and confusing business. But those reporting on it, and those serious about actually making real reform–reform that's worth doing, owe it to all of us to give us the full story.