Finding balance where there is none is one of our media’s many chronic maladies. Today, much of the mainstream media is reporting on a “squabble” over the timing of Obama’s jobs speech before Congress.
The Washington Post’s Rosalind Helderman writes a story of two boys behaving badly:
Helderman then composes some perfectly parallel paragraphs: “Republicans complained” and then “Democrats complained.” Then a paragraph of Boehner critiquing Obama. Then a paragraph of a Democrat critiquing Boehner. Then “the kerfuffle would seem to indicate both sides will return to Washington recharged to renew their partisan battles instead of the chastened to end them.”
It’s so balanced it could walk a tightrope.
It’s also an inaccurate account of the situation. What happened was this:
Months ago, Republicans scheduled a presdential debate for Wednesday night, Sept 7. Fully aware of this, Obama scheduled his jobs talk for Wednesday night, September 7. But the “jobs talk” isn’t just a standard talk. Obama wants to address a joint session of Congress — something which Congress has to agree to.
White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley called Boehner yesterday morning and asked about the Wednesday night time slot. Boehner didn’t object at first, but before Boehner could confirm, the White House publicly announced the Wednesday night time.
Boehner then wrote a polite letter to Obama asking him to reschedule. Obama did.
So, it sure looks like Obama was behaving like a petty bully, trying to crowd out the GOP debate. He was also apparently breaking protocol by going public before negotiating a time with the Speaker. Boehner’s crime was politely objecting when the President tried to railroad him.
That’s not “partisan rancor.” That’s the President playing ugly politics and the Speaker objecting.
