Tuesday, July 17, 2007

First-class journalism

Is it any wonder that Republican Don Manzullo keeps getting re-elected to Congress from the 16th District of Illinois?

Not when he can play some of the district's news media like freakin' violins.

Witness this piece on the Web site of the Northwest Herald in Crystal Lake, wherein the following two sentences lead the story:

The U.S. House of Representatives will consider a transportation bill this week that includes $250,000 to extend Algonquin Road west of Route 47. U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Ill., secured the money for the project, which he said would ease traffic congestion in one of the region’s fastest-growing areas.

But, of course, the bill hasn't yet been approved; hence, the money is not yet "secured." And when you do all the math, the money turns out to be only a little more than one-half of one percent of the total cost of the project.

And when you plow through the rest of the political B.S., you learn that the whole thing is in the beginning stages of a preliminary phase and that the project won't be completed for years, if ever.

You see, all a congressperson has to do is order some minion to issue a press release, and the local media -- or most of them, anyway -- will rush it into print or on the air, no matter if it's real news or not.

The so-called reporters on such stories are not much more than stenographers.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a joke rascal, but unfortunately it's par for the course with the media's handling of Manzullo. Why aren't we getting more on his stance on Iraq? Does he support the surge and the President's stay-the-course strategy? How does he feel about some of his fellow Republicans breaking rank? And what about other major issues? The media should ask him about stem-cell research, the deficit under Bush, development of alternative energy sources, higher fuel standards for U.S. vehicles, the curtailment of civil liberties, and separation of church and state. Instead we have a piece on the local district getting $250,000 in what I'm sure is a multi-million or billion dollar road bill that hasn't even been passed yet. It's not a matter of bias, it's a matter of incompetence. On both sides. You'd think Manzullo would be embarrassed to even mention such a pittance. And it's even more embarrassing that it gets reported.

The Rascal said...

So, he probably can't count on your vote next year, right?

Anonymous said...

I don't divulge that information Rascal. But it does appear that Manzullo will be getting more than token opposition next year from a democrat with tons of money to spend. It could be an interesting race.

The Rascal said...

Hmmmmm.