David Broder wrote a column in last week’s Washington Post that, for me, summed up the sins of political journalism in this city. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the piece a lot and it made an important point. But it also highlighted how the media can take a set of facts, manipulate them a certain way and create a positive story or with those same facts, pursue another direction and completely trash a person, idea or organization. Spin matters, but people rarely ask if another story could be written with the same set of facts — it always could, but seldom is.
American political institutions pay a price for this poison parade. For example, constant negative spin is digging a deep ditch for congressional approval this year, according to several public polls. And while no one can change journalists’ demand for dirt, lawmakers’ approval might increase if the media didn’t foist its cynical lens on every picture it takes.
Mr. Broder’s piece, “Bargaining for a Health Care Breakthrough,” featured former Louisiana Democrat Sen. John Breaux’s activities aimed at finding common ground on this critical policy issue. It outlines a variety of forums that Mr. Breaux helped organize, bringing together diverse advocates to discuss improving health care. It noted the project received financing from drug maker Pfizer Inc. The Breaux project is a terrific initiative, funded by a company that deserves credit as a good corporate citizen, led by a politically savvy former senator. But columns like Mr. Broder’s, unfortunately — in tone, spin and language — too often are the exception in this town.
But what if the column was written differently — a more typical inside-the-Beltway mugging? Instead of the senator serving as a public-spirited “consultant,”hecouldhavebeen characterized as a “shady lobbyist” with only pecuniary interests. And the “good corporate citizen” would be portrayed as a “greedy drug company.” Finally, these small steps toward better health care could be called insignificant, merely symbolic efforts, when this country needs “comprehensive” health care reforms.
Of course that characterization is unfair — even untrue. Yet it happens every day with the constant emphasis on the negative.
Take the news last week about the budget deficit. A Wall Street Journal editorial summed it up well: “When tax revenues fall and budget deficits go up, it’s bad news. But when tax revenues rise and deficits decline, it’s still bad news.” Democrats complained that the unexpected tax revenue surge was from “non-withholding” income, like capital gains, bonuses and stock options, the editorial said, and may not recur. So instead of focusing on progress on the deficit, and maybe a mention that the “unexpected revenue surge” was predicted all along by Republicans, many media outlets got out their switchblades and carved out the heart of the positive news.
The Washington Post’s coverage reminded readers that, “Independent budget experts cautioned that a number of debatable assumptions underpin the White House’s deficit projection.” It concluded with an uplifting quote from Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid of Nevada saying the administration was “claiming credit for an F-plus in fiscal management.” That inspires confidence.
Strumming a similar chord this past weekend in the same paper, columnist Michael Kinsley wrote a venomous attack on former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his continuing role shaping policy in Washington. Instead of giving the former speaker credit for using his experience and ideas to improve health care (like Mr. Broder did with Mr. Breaux), Mr. Kinsley writes, “Gingrich may hold the record for being discredited in so many ways.” I guess cynicism sells, especially when the victim of the mugging is a Republican.
House leaders tackle health care next week, not by holding forums, but by passing several important pieces of legislation on medical malpractice, improving patient safety and expanding access by allowing associations to create health plans and increase choice by making it easier to purchase health insurance outside the state where you live. But get ready for another mugging in Spin City. If “health care week” gets typical negative coverage it will be slashed as symbolic and incremental — leaving even deeper wounds in Congress’ already scarred image. Unless of course more journalists like Mr. Broder seek better angels amid the rhetorical violence that terrorizes Spin City.
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