All three broadcast network evening newscasts recounted President Obama's charge that Rep. Paul Ryan is holding up a farm aid bill as the President campaign in Iowa, but only CBS's Nancy Cordes took the time to forward to viewers the Romney campaign's rebuttal that "Ryan voted in favor of a drought relief package that's currently languishing in the Senate."
On ABC's World News, correspondent David Muir set up Obama's complaint:
President Obama, meanwhile, with farmers in Iowa, whose fields are bone-dry from the drought, the President with his own volley telling farmers they should ask Paul Ryan about the stalled plan in Congress that would bring relief for the farmers.
Then came a clip of President Obama:
Paul Ryan might be around Iowa in the next few days. He is one of the leaders of Congress standing in the way.
On the NBC Nightly News, correspondent Peter Alexander recounted:
The President was also in Iowa targeting Ryan on an issue that is personal to voters in a state hard hit by a punishing drought.
The came a clip of the President:
So if you happen to see Congressman Ryan, tell him how important this farm bill is to Iowa and our rural communities. We've got to put politics aside when it comes to doing the right thing.
On the CBS Evening News, Cordes recounted the President's charge:
Touring Iowa's parched Missouri Valley, Mr. Obama suggested Ryan was working against a bill that could provide relief to struggling farmers and ranchers.
Then came an Obama soundbite:
So if you happen to see Congressman Ryan, tell him how important this farm bill is to Iowa and our rural communities.
The CBS correspondent then added:
The Romney campaign disputed that assertion. They note that Ryan voted in favor of a drought relief package that's currently languishing in the Senate, but, Bob, this is just the start of the Obama campaign's efforts to paint Ryan as the intellectual leader of an obstructionist Tea Party.
-- Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center