Cokie Roberts Repeats the Republican Lie

she is (4.00 / 1)

a hack

decades of schmoozing with insiders guarantees that she cannot (will not) speak truth to power

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by: Doug Hoffer @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 11:41:53 AM UTC

I stopped listening to NPR (0.00 / 0)

One morning years ago, when Rumsfeld was on, blathering about how we were getting closer to success in Iraq every day. Ms. Roberts asked him about the metrics they were using to measure success - I don't remember her exact wording, but his response was: "Oh, no, not with metrics!" (aka: we have no criteria by which to measure success, therefore anything we say about success is being pulled out of thin air - or someplace).

She played right along with it. Never questioned the lack of criteria, never asked how he could possibly say there was any kind of improvement if they didn't have any measurements for determining progress.

At that point, I decided that NPR stood for Nice Polite Republicans, and stopped listening and donating. Ironically, VPR (Vermont) is a much bigger offender than either NHPR (New Hampshire) or WBUR (Boston). I don't know whether station management received some sort of nasty threat under Bush, or if they're sympathetic to or hypnotized by the rabid right-wing viewpoint, but it amazed me that the programming mix in NH, in particular, is more varied, and includes more than just the typical pablum and repackaged talking points than in "liberal" Vermont.

Beware the Everyday Brutality of the Averted Gaze

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by: mataliandy @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 06:34:22 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree on NH and Boston (0.00 / 0)

I've been on several recent trips down I-91 & I-93 and have been pleased with the content.

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by: Undamned Yankee @ Fri Aug 21, 2009 at 13:49:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Cokie's political pedigree (0.00 / 0)

As a footnote, it is interesting to note that Cokie was born a Boggs, daughter of former U.S. House Majority Leader Hale Boggs and former U.S. Rep. Lindy Boggs.  Therefore, she was literally born into the power elite, and she continues to serve it well.

I agree with the observation that schmoozing with the insiders certainly has the great potential to compromise a journalist.  For instance, for all the post-mortem tributes to Tim Russert, I believe he was part of the problem and not the solution.  It makes one truly appreciate what a treasure Bill Moyers is.  I don't know how he did it, but he certainly has remembered that aphorism about "afflicting the comfortable and comforting the afflicted."  

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by: Bruce Post @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 12:15:37 PM UTC

Let's not forget... (0.00 / 0)

Cokie's brother, Tommy, who's been one off the biggest fat-cat lobbyists in Washington since forever. and her husband, Steve Roberts, who was a longtime hack for U.S. News.

As for NPR, it's been a lost cause for decent political journalism/commentary for more than 15 years.

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by: Bokweb @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 12:55:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

In Cokie's sphere (4.00 / 1)

it's the so-called round Earth

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by: BP @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 12:35:36 PM UTC

I rarely listen to Ms. Roberts or Morning Edition on NPR (4.00 / 1)

However, I think it's possible to read into what Cokie was saying and conclude that it is generally true of the process that  happens with the bipartisan Democratic crowd. Using the "so-called death panels" was a poor way of illustrating her point, but if you take out the "like those so-called death panels", the statement holds true most of the time.

The Democrats will shift, think they have something the Republicans will go for, and then the Republicans shift further. And they make a big deal about something that distracts and frightens the voters like those so-called death panels, then the Democrats drop that and Republicans find something else to object to.

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by: farjas @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 13:19:14 PM UTC

I noticed that too-- (0.00 / 0)

She sure ain't making that up!

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by: Tim Wolfe @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 15:45:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Standard procedure for NPR (4.00 / 1)

... I am not surprised. I recommend that you take a look at some of the critical comments on stories/reporting on the "new" NPR.org site, too. I've seen quite a few Vermonters' comments that are not complimentary.

You all may be interested in bookmarking
NPRCheck, which critiques the right-wing establishment stance
of "National Polite Republicans."

http://nprcheck.blogspot.com/

Cokie Roberts is just obnoxious. NPR gets analysis and news reports from Fox shills Juan Williams and Mara Liasson, too. Three of the many reasons why I refuse to support "Vermont's NPR station."

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by: JayV @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 13:43:48 PM UTC

cracked me up this weekend (0.00 / 0)

when Juan Williams was away so they chatted about political news with...

...Matthew Continetti.  Editor of the Weekly Standard.  By himself, to parrot conservative talking points unopposed.  Ridiculous.

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by: Tim Wolfe @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 15:43:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Not just Cokie Roberts... (0.00 / 0)

One of the frustrating things about the "death panel" phrase is that many liberals have adopted the phrase, albeit ironically, to refer to the end of life counseling provision.

Sadly, many have used it much in the way that Cokie Roberts does it here.

Now, I really loathe Cokie Roberts and her vacuous NPR "analysis". But in this instance, I think she is just once parroting insider short-hand, as usual.

Even Benen recently headlined a post "Republicans loved their death panels." He goes on to clearly describe what he means, but there is that phrase referring the GOP support for end-of-life counseling.

And I've seen it used this way on Daily Kos, Huffington Post and elsewhere.

Can you say "tax relief"?

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by: Vermonter @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 14:10:08 PM UTC

Cokie (0.00 / 0)

Yes, Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs Roberts (her full name) has been an insider since birth.   Her Mom and Dad were both Members of Congress, and Mom was an ambassador.   She is one of the Queens of the Village, and likes to make sure everyone knows it.   A friend of mine, Jim Warren, used to be the chief of the Chicago Tribune DC bureau and regularly skewered her in his column.   She merely sniffed that no one who was anybody paid attention to Jim.

But, for grins, watch Jane Hamsher, from Firedoglake, deliver a smackdown to the oh-so-well-entrenched Mary Martha Corinne.   Check Jane's blog and grab some popcorn.

Scaypgrayce

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by: scaypgrayce @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 15:10:28 PM UTC

Cokie (0.00 / 0)

Here's the link to the Jane-and-Cokie Show:

http://emptywheel.firedoglake....

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by: scaypgrayce @ Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 15:54:58 PM UTC

I stopped listening to NPR (4.00 / 1)

during its breathless Whitewater co-conspirator years in the mid-90s.

NPR was grossly biased toward the GOP in the 90s. However, during the first couple of years after Mister Bush was socially promoted to president (2002-3 time frame), NPR went from biased to open advocacy for the GOP agenda.

NPR serves up essentially the same message that FOX news does.  NPR couches their GOP advocacy in language designed for their target audience just like FOX packages their GOP advocacy to fit their brain damaged demographic.

Renee Montange and Steve Inskeep might as well be broadcasting from RNC headquarters because their morning scripts read like Republican marching orders.

NPR's news operation is trash.  

sláinte,
cl

-- Religion is like sodomy: both can be harmless when practiced between consenting adults but neither should be imposed upon children.

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by: Caoimhin Laochdha @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 02:08:37 AM UTC

worked (0.00 / 0)

Well, it's worked.  Obama's health care proposals are now dead in the water.  that's it for reform once again.  

When you wake up each morning look around you.  It might be the last time you get to do it.  

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by: Watercloset @ Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 04:34:57 AM UTC