CompuServe Messages

Karl, Come, now. You mean to claim that when the Democrats or the administration asserts facts, that the press does not attempt to independently assess those facts or ask the opposition for their viewpoint? That's demonstrably untrue. I've met many a political reporter (I used to be one — flew on Bob Dole's campaign plane, once) who wouldn't as a matter of course seek out opposition views or explanations for something like this. If the opposition isn't prepared to speak (which occasionally happens, when they're caught off guard or unavailable), reporters aren't as a rule going to hold the story until they are. If they did, we'd still be waiting to hear most of what's been published about Whitewater. As for doing the math, you should know that the legislation in question isn't that straightforward; the proposed block grant is quite complex with a number of components, even if the GOP would have voters believe otherwise. Reporters are wise to accepting simplistic explanations from politicians trying to put a good spin on things, but sometimes they don't have immediate alternative sources, so they go with what they have been able to get and attribute it. In the case of school lunches, it's already clear that Gingrich used an erroneous number when he spoke of a 4.5% increase. Just as he used erroneous numbers in talking about 800 babies landing in dumpsters and an $8 million homeless shelter in Denver that (according to the Denver Post) simply doesn't exist.