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Thursday, October 14, 2004
BLACK CAUCUS FOLLOW-UP. Kerry did blow
it on the Congressional Black Caucus, according to this
analysis by FactCheck.org. Some of
this stuff, though, is nitpicking and even a little misleading. For
instance:
- "Kerry wrongly claimed Bush 'hasn't met
with the Black Congressional Caucus.' He garbled the
organization's name, for one thing. It's actually the
Congressional Black Caucus, made up of 39 African-American members
of the House." Well, excuse me!
- "Kerry twice claimed 1.6 million jobs
have been lost under Bush, which is 1 million too high." Actually,
Kerry meant to say that 1.6 million private-sector jobs
have been lost. FactCheck is being accurate but misses the
point.
- "Kerry claimed Bush 'has taken a $5.6
trillion surplus and turned it into deficits as far as the eye can
see.' But the country never actually had a $5.6 trillion surplus.
The projected surplus Kerry was referring to was a 10-year figure
that was already made dubious by a weakening economy and a pent-up
Congressional urge to spend. The largest annual surplus actually
realized was $236 billion in fiscal year 2000, which ended a month
before Bush was elected." This is wrong? Not by my
accounting.
In theory, truth-testing the candidates'
claims is a great idea. In practice, it's surprising what a
subjective exercise it really is.
NEW IN THIS WEEK'S PHOENIX.
What's
next for WBUR Radio (90.9
FM)?
posted at 1:45 PM |
2 comments
|
link
2 Comments:
This morning on WBUR (during a local break in Morning Edition) I heard an underwriting spot for the Bob Edwards Show on XM Satellite Radio.
WBUR taking underwriting money to air a spot for a direct competitor to themselves? Either someone in their business department is convinced that satellite radio will fail miserably or XM is paying them a TON of money for the spot.
Or maybe just people at WBUR are being pennywise and pound-foolish. Wouldn't be the first time...
Actually, Kerry wasn't far off on the CBC reference. The caucus had do threaten to stage a media event at the White House gates to get a meeting on Haiti. No doubt that's what Kerry was referring to.
MEDIA LOG ARCHIVES
Dan Kennedy is senior writer and media critic for the Boston Phoenix.
