Is Daily Kos Dictating Headlines To The MSM?

David Hogberg

This headline sure suggests that the Mainstream Media is picking up Kos’ spin on yesterday’s press conference: “Bush admits defeat with Social Security.” I can just picture the reporters who wrote this story just squealing with glee:

"There seems to be a diminished appetite in the short term" for dealing with Social Security, Bush said.

Here’s the full context of Bush’s remark on Social Security:

In the long-run, there's two big issues looming that are budgetary issues. One -- and these are the unfunded liabilities inherent in the mandatory programs of Social Security and Medicare. And as you know, I've advocated the need for people to come together to address the Social Security issue. It's an issue that's not going to go away. And I'll continue to talk about it. There seems to be a diminished appetite in the short-term, but I'm going to remind people that there is a long-term issue that we must solve, not only for the sake of the budget, but, more importantly, for the sake of younger workers who are going to either have to pay a ton of money in order to justify current benefits, or to take a look at the underlying causes of the growth of benefits and do something about it, show some political courage.

One wonders how the headline would read if Bill Clinton were still in the Oval Office? Perhaps, “President Sees Victory in the Long-Term”?
Posted by David Hogberg on October 5, 2005 4:45 PM to Social Security Choice