AP Hits Republican Obstructionist Pinata for Rejected Senate Jobs Bill
In the media’s eyes, Republicans might as well wear hockey goalie masks and run around with chainsaws.
In a June 24 AP story titled “Republicans Kill Senate Jobless Aid Measure,” writer Andrew Taylor paints Senate Republicans as obstructionist villains for “killing” the Democrats’ job bill that would have extended unemployment benefits for people who’ve been out of work more than six months.
“’The president has been clear: Americans should not fall victim to Republican obstruction at a time of great economic challenge for our nation’s families,’ Gibbs said in a statement.”
Not until paragraph 10 did
“Democratic leaders said they bent over backwards to accommodate the demands by Republicans for a smaller measure.”
While
John R. Lott Jr., Senior Research Scientist at
“If you give people more benefits, you’re going to have people staying unemployed longer,” Lott said. “Most people get jobs right before their benefits run out, so when you extend unemployment, you’re just shifting the ‘bubble’ of people finding jobs.”
On rare occasions, the media have noted the negatives of unemployment benefits but more often they perpetuate the idea that Republicans are obstructions. Additionally, they continually showcase victims of unemployment but never go into detail about how cutting unemployment benefits could be a hidden blessing.
Like this article? Sign up for “The Balance Sheet,” BMI’s weekly e-mail newsletter.
