Networks Falsely Slam Ryan as Spending Cutter Who Could ‘Destroy’ Medicare

NewsBusters.org ^ | August 11, 2012 | Rich Noyes

[Kaslin]

Previewing the choice of Paul Ryan as the GOP vice presidential candidate, the ABC, CBS and NBC morning shows all used Democratic framing to describe the House GOP budget plan that Ryan championed as a plan to, as CBS’s Bob Schieffer put it, “cut more than $5 trillion over the next ten years.” ABC’s Bianna Golodryga passed along the demagogic rhetoric of liberals: “Democrats, meantime, contest that it will destroy Medicare and Social Security.”

But Ryan’s plan would actually increase federal spending over the next ten years, from about $3.6 trillion this year to just under $4.9 trillion in 2022. The $5 trillion in “cuts” are merely reductions from the much-higher spending anticipated by President Obama’s budget. (See tables starting on page 88.)

While Ryan’s approach — assuming it passed and future Congresses continued to abide by its limits —  would slow the growth in federal spending so it would amount to just under 20% of the overall economy, it also forecasts uninterrupted budget deficits (and, therefore, a rising national debt) through 2022. Yet not one of the morning shows today carried any suggestion that Ryan should be criticized for taking too mild an approach to the fiscal crisis.

Instead, the networks all included some variation of the Democratic charge that Ryan’s plan would include, as ABC’s Golodryga claimed, “sharp cuts in federal spending.” CBS and NBC even cited Newt Gingrich as an authority, recalling his quickly-retracted “right-wing social engineering” slam from early last year.

NBC’s Chuck Todd argued that Democrats have “successfully” used Ryan’s plan as a campaign tactic “in some congressional races, we are seeing it get some traction, basically running against the idea of what Ryan wants to do to Medicare. Help Democrats in Senate races in some red states.”

Of course, the Democrats owe much of their success in demonizing the Ryan plan to the so-called “news” media, which mis-portrays it as deeply cutting spending, as opposed to mildly slowing the growth of spending.

Key quotes from the August 11 morning shows, all of which aired a couple of hours before Mitt Romney made the official announcement of Ryan’s selection:
 

# ABC’s Good Morning America:

BIANNA GOLODRYGA: A bold choice, but not one without risks. Paul Ryan is 42-years-old. He’s been elected to the House from his district in Wisconsin seven times, but he’s now best-known for his controversial budget proposal, which some within his own party has distanced themselves from. He’s pushing for sharp cuts in federal spending, including programs like Medicare. Now, his proposal is set to be a focal point of this election. Will Republicans be forced to fully embrace it now? Democrats, meantime, contest that it will destroy Medicare and Social Security.

# CBS This Morning

BOB SCHIEFFER: I think conservatives are going to be delighted. They’re going to say that Mitt Romney finally did something bold. This is what the Wall Street Journal was urging, this is what the Weekly Standard, Bill Kristol, a strong voice of conservatism -- both were saying this week this is the guy.

But I tell you the other part, Rebecca, is I think Democrats are going to be delighted as well. Because Paul Ryan’s budget, it’s right there in black and white. The numbers are there. He wants to cut more than $5 trillion over the next ten years. But where he cuts is where Democrats are going to try to make it an issue. He wants to cut spending from Medicaid. He wants to cut spending for Food Stamps, for student loans. All of these social programs. He also wants to change Medicare. He wants to have seniors buy insurance, and they will get a government subsidy to help them do that.

So this campaign has now been joined. It’s been really about silly stuff up until now quite frankly in my view. Now it’s going to be about something, about what do we want to do with these social programs- and government spending. Where do we want to make these cuts.

You know, back there early on, I remember in the Republican campaign, Newt Gingrich actually said, well, he branded Paul Ryan’s budget ‘right-wing social engineering.’ And he said, you know, that’s no more welcome than left-wing social engineering. So, we’ll see where he comes down on it now.

# NBC’s Today:

DAVID GREGORY: He’s part of a conservative wave in the House of Representatives who put his own name to the House budget blueprint which was pretty controversial. It didn’t pass. It talked about cutting spending and also changing the Medicare program for seniors, introducing the voucher program. Made it very controversial from the start. Even among some fellow Republicans. Newt Gingrich notably called it right wing social engineering. But conservatives have rallied around Paul Ryan. He talks in big, bold strokes about the fiscal crisis, the debt crisis, and he’s going to be a powerful voice for Mitt Romney on dealing with both the economy and the fiscal crisis that the country faces, but there are downsides as well.

LESTER HOLT: And Chuck, before I turn to you, we’ve just learned that the app that the campaign has put together has formally confirmed the pick of Paul Ryan as the VP candidate. But, Chuck, let me ask you -- the notion that this now turns the conversation toward deficit cutting, towards the budget, does it cut both ways for Republicans here? Does it open them up for more criticism on that side?

CHUCK TODD: Well, it could. I mean, it’s gonna put this issue of Medicare, the future of Medicare, the future of Social Security, but Medicare in particular, that’s the centerpiece of Paul Ryan’s budget reform plan that he put out both last year and this year. Democrats politically have been able to successfully use this in some congressional races, we are seeing it get some traction, basically running against the idea of what Ryan wants to do to Medicare. Help Democrats in Senate races in some red states. So this has a lot of downside as well.

[steve86]

I WANT Medicare destroyed.

I predict that by Tuesday or Wednesday your comment will show up in an Obama ad trying to show what kind of crazy grandma-killers are supporting this guy.

[Kaslin]

Yeah I am sure you would reduce the spending $17 trillion in just one year. /s>

[manc]

agreed, last night I tried to point out what states does he give us knowing we need VA and FA, and one poster told me to hell with FL if they don;t vote for us.

HUH Pretty stupiud logic, we need to win not say to hell with the state what we need.

Is WI in play?
Maybe , maybe not, Is VA or FL any more nearer to us winning it now?
Most on here coudln’t careless as they care more about fitting their VIEWS not what others think and want.

Ryan is great, very honest but I remember when he came out with his plan and most on ehre saying yippeee, only to find two weeks later many of those now say he should have shut up for a while.

What this pick tells me is that Ryan is great and the GOP care about the fiscal side, reducing debt and waste.

Is that the top of the majority of the country? We’ll see but having spoken to many people here in FL last night and today and no they’re not in freep land then most are not happy.

Course I await someone saying s stupid comment of”to hell with them” and then call them a name.

[manc]

you want medicare destroyed,

yep what a winning way to get the states we need like FL

There is a world outsdie freep land you know and telling millions of old people here that medicare should be destroyed will really win them over, ARF.

[KansasGirl]

If what you say is true, and gov’t reformers are unelectable because of seniors, then why does it matter? The USA cannot continue on it’s current fiscal path. Period. If seniors are so dumb and selfish that they will not allow entitlement reform (reforms that will not even effect them, btw) than the country is going to go bankrupt. Ryan is going to make that case, and it has to be made. Romney obviously agrees. It is a time for choosing in America. Do we want to restore American greatness or become A socialist hellhole with shared misery and poverty? If someone like Ryan, a solutions oriented reformer, someone who wants to restore the values and foundations that made America great, can’t be elected, then we are screwed anyway.

[steve86]

A different slant on the pick (someone else's comment):

Last time a member of the House was on a winning presidential ticket? 1908 -- also the last time the Cubs won the World Series.

Haven't checked the veracity.

[KansasGirl]

Ryan’s paln saves Medicare. The current path bankrupts it. Romney’s plan does not touch current seniors or anyone close to being a senior.

[Zhang Fei]

I got slammed for that view too last night. While I like Ryan I have to think of other states. It is not us conservatives which win elections though to some you think it was.

A lot of the more excitable posters thank that we determine elections. Last I looked (on Alexa), this website accounted for 0.025% of web traffic, and Obama won by 6% in 2008. This site is a great place to bat around politically-incorrect conservative ideas, but anyone who thinks it swings elections is getting a little carried away.

[KantianBurke]

To start with I’d repeal the Medicare Part D entitlement - you know the one Dubya and the GOP controlled Congress (including Rep Ryan) voted in. That would save nearly a trillion. Plenty of money to cover the many war vets in need of care.

[manc]

I agree with you and likeRyan but America is not freep land and saying old people here in this swing state which is a must win are stupid serves no one.

The elderly are a voting bloc we need, yes?
FL is a state we need yes?

If Romney runs as he has been then say good night and the GOP blames Ryan like they did with Sarah.
However if the GOP gets some balls then we might win this.

I’ve seen nothing to tell me that the GOP has any balls let alone get some bigger ones.

I ask you now , Ryan is great for us socially and fiscal, now he is what we agree with.

Now outside of freep land on the streets, here in FL and VA will elderly come out and vote more for Ryan?
Will Hispanics?
will women?\
Wil single women?
Will married women, I think so on that if we get the message out there.
Will students? Probaly only the Ron Paul lot.
Will FL come to us?
Will VA, CO, NM, come to us now, are we any nearer to getting those states?

Honestly , ask yourself that when you know deep down the GOP are cowards who can never even talk about social issues and can only talk the debt because they know they cannot be called a name then, and that goes for most of talk radio.

[manc]

bangs head on wall

yes I know that, it’s not me on freep landyou have to tell, its the people out there.

[DrewsMum]

Conservatives don’t win the elections? Ok, let’s just stay home then and see if any Republican can win without us.

When Conservatives actually vote, we do win. When Conservatives aren’t exited about a candidate, they stay home and the liberal wins. Which explains why RINOS NEVER win Presidential elections. George Bush Sr is the only one (going back 40 years!) and he only won because Conservatives were dillusional and thought that he would continue the Reagan years. When he reverted to RINO ways, even a victorious war couldn’t save him, because Conservatives were on to him.

[Terry Mross]

Will Romney do to Ryan what mccain did to Palin?

As for Romney picking Ryan, it wouldn’t matter who he picked. The media already had their talking points written on every possible VP candidate.

[CodeToad]

“I WANT Medicare destroyed. “

DITTOS!!! Welfare is communism! Where does the constitution say the government has the power to steal from one to give to another???

!!! NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION !!!

[rurgan]

Government at all levels must be reduced to almost nothing. that means immediately abolishing the IRS, then the EPA, then the government schools, then welfare, then medicaid, then public housing (HUD). And then keep going at all levels of government until 99% of these freedom robbing and prosperity killing government agencies ( monstrosities) are no more.

Why do democrats trust government? Look at the hell that government created with the government public housing projects, the government schools, the IRS , the EPA, shall I go on?

This is America. Give me liberty or give me death. I hate government and government bureaucrats

[KansasGirl]

[ bangs head on wall

yes I know that, it’s not me on freep landyou have to tell, its the people out there. ]

Isn’t that the point of picking Ryan?

[CodeToad]

“Isn’t that the point of picking Ryan?”

No VP pick is about politicial ideas. It is ALWAYS about how many votes will the candidate pick up for the ticket. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Ryan will add many votes to the ticket.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

.. the usual attacks from the MSM's aged 1960s Marxist-Alinsky radicals (psycho spoiled brats) and their bratty ideological issue,

". . . some key [events] exacerbated the national debate, fraying trust, and national cohesion just a little more each time . . . The two-party system that had governed America . . . begin to fall apart . . . interest in politics took the place of all other forms of news-related entertainment . . . politicians were the celebrities . . . [Politics/ideology] was becoming such a habit, the reactions so automatic, that [journalists] taking sides on every news story became inevitable."

..from for Love & Liberty by Robin Young and it's about 1857 America. [my emphasis]

All that is happening now is proof that Lincoln saw it from 160 years ago.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half [statist] and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved; I do not expect the house to fall; but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of [statism] will arrest the further spread of it and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction, or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become [accepted] in all the states, [Red and Blue], North as well as South.

[HollyB]

Where did you find that?