If You Want Hard Data On The Economy…

Don't expect to get it from the Associated Press. Captain Ed has some hard data that shows exactly what kind of a hit piece the AP has delivered. He notes that the story replaces hard numbers with anecdotes.

As we approach the midterms, the media will attempt to kneecap Republicans on one of the issues where they can point to real success: the economy. Over the last three years, as the last of the tax cuts came into force and provided more incentive for investment, the economy and job growth have both erupted, resulting in one of the biggest booms over the last twenty years — and this just after the 9/11 attacks designed to crush our capacity for growth. In doing so, media sources will avoid talking about real data and go on a search for individuals experiencing hard times, arguing a standard that no economy can be good for the nation as long as a few individuals have not prospered from it.

Meet Liz Sidoti, who takes that approach in a release today from the AP, one that will no doubt be reprinted in thousands of client newspapers by tomorrow. Her piece, titled "GOP talk of vibrant economy rings hollow," follows this tired and dishonest playbook to the letter:

Go read the whole thing. I read the AP story and was going to beat it up myself, but the good captain has already done a masterful takedown and has the hard numbers to back it up. This is just another case of the Democrats wanting to talk about the Sale of Two Cities.

• 

  By Robert, Monday, 18 September , 2006 @ 1:38 pm

  You don’t judge an economy on anecdotal evidence.

  You start billion-dollar wars off anecdotal evidence.

Other Links to this Post

1. Flopping Aces » Blog Archive » The AP Talks Down The Economy — Monday, 18 September , 2006 @ 12:48 pm