I need some help understanding this post from The Hill. I read it twice, and both times did a double take at how it subtly rewrites history into a frame that benefits Republicans. A week back from vacation has given sufficient time for the island vibe to be replaced with hair-ripping annoyance over the ease with which lies are perpetuated.
Jared Allen writes:
The GOP plan calls for the top officials from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Association of Homebuilders and the National Association of Manufacturers to gather with leading House Republicans in the Capitol to help the GOP craft part of its America Speaking Out policy agenda.
After reports of the business and trade group meeting surfaced, Democrats predictably went on the attack -- in a release, the DNC chided Republicans for holding a "Lobbyists Speaking Out" forum.
Republicans appeared to buckle somewhat from the latest round of pressure. Shortly after news first broke of their initiative, GOP leaders announced plans to livestream the meeting, rather than hold it behind closed doors.
In recent months, Democrats have been relentless in their attacks on Republicans for coordinating their efforts -- political and policy -- with business leaders.
Really? They have? Where have I been? Not only have I not seen relentless attacks from anyone, I certainly haven't seen it on this front. Not even a little bit. But let's just say Jared and I have a different idea about what the term "relentless" means, and move on to the next square.
It has only been in recent weeks that Republicans have begun to fight back with just as much force and vitriol.
Although top Republicans, including Boehner and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), were furious with Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) for apologizing to BP, Boehner hasn't taken much other criticism lying down.
Instead of apologizing or backtracking from his comparison of the financial regulatory reform bill to "killing an ant with a nuclear weapon," Boehner dug in.
Got that first line there? The one where "as much force and vitriol" is used, flipping the frame to suggest that Democrats are the party of force and vitriol and Republicans are merely responding?
Was Jared around for the mad tea party town halls last year? Did he miss the death panel discussions? The "hell, no" rant from John Boehner before the final health care vote? Did he miss Virginia Foxx's rants or the teabagger protests with Bachmann, Boehner et al on the Capitol steps? The Fox Gang? Rushbo?
And Jared, nothing says vitriol quite like some dude standing at a town hall where the President is speaking with a gun and the words "It is time to water the Tree of Liberty" on his t-shirt. Or a Hollywood celebrity suggesting the President is trying to start a civil war. No vitriol there, nope, no sirree.
...with as much force and vitriol...
As much force and vitriol. Let that sink in, that nonsense that Mr. Jared Allen thinks emanates and begins with the Democrats. The Republican vitriol of October, 2008 wasn't vitriol at all, if you're Jared Allen. Surely it must be untrue that Sarah Palin stood in front of Tennessee teabaggers-to-be and dogwhistled every lunatic on the planet with her statement that candidate Obama was "palling around with terrorists...".
Surely it's not vitriolic to continually suggest this President is not a legitimate United States citizen, is it, Jared?
This is a perfect example of a non-story: Report the Democrats' plan to shine light on Republicans' reliance on the US Chamber of Commerce and corporate business interests to write and support their platform. Flip the frame so that it reads like Republicans are reactive to an onslaught of attacks by Democrats.
Forget who has ramped up the vitriol and frame it as Republicans "getting tough".
Forget who drove the country into the ditch and frame it as Democrats being "anti-business."
Forget that teabaggers and Republicans share the same identical DNA.
Forget reality. Rewrite history. Do it as casually as if you were flicking an ant off the nuclear weapon before firing.
Thank you, Jared, for another Sunday lesson in non-journalism. For all of you readers, I recommend a chapter of Over the Cliff as a palate cleanser. For Jared, I suggest a semester-long course in the art of vitriol extraction from teabags.
