Rep. Frank extracts media mea culpa from Andrea Mitchell: ‘We plead guilty’ to ‘gotcha’ journalism.
Rep. Frank extracts media mea culpa from Andrea Mitchell: ‘We plead guilty’ to ‘gotcha’ journalism.
On MSNBC this afternoon, Andrea Mitchell asked Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) about Tom Friedman’s New York Times column today, in which he called it “insane” that “dozens of key appointments at the Treasury Department” are held up over minor infractions. Frank replied that “it’s a problem,” adding, however, that it was “a little self-serving” for the media to “blame that entirely on the Senate.” After Frank said that the media’s “over-focus” on minor infractions “is the problem here in part,” Mitchell conceded, saying “you’re right”:
FRANK: No, I mean the media is the problem here in part. It is the over-focus on the part of people in the media to relatively minor infractions that cause this. I guarantee you that my colleagues would not on their own be doing this. So, yeah, I do think we are in a culture now where a lack of perfection exacts too strong a toll. But that’s the politicians reacting to the media.
MITCHELL: I take your point. Mr. Frank, Mr. Chairman, you’re right. And we plead guilty because this culture right now of gotcha has gotten completely out of control.
Watch it:
Transcript:
MITCHELL: I also want to ask you about, I know it’s the other House, it’s the Senate, but Tom Friedman’s column today, who said “I read that we’re actually holding up dozens of key appointments at the Treasury Department because worried whether someone paid Social Security taxes on a nanny hired 20 years ago at $5 an hour.” Wrote Friedman, “that’s insane. It’s as if our financial house is burning down, but we won’t let the fire department open the hydrant until it assures us that there isn’t too much chlorine in the water. Hello?” You know, I don’t know what you think about the fact that Tim Geithner doesn’t have a deputy secretary and a lot of assistant secretaries, and whether that is making this…FRANK: Oh, I think it’s a problem, although I will say this, Andrea. For the media to blame that entirely on the Senate seems to me a little self-serving because…
MITCHELL: You mean the White House has sent some people up either?
FRANK: No, I mean the media is the problem here in part. It is the over-focus on the part of people in the media to relatively minor infractions that cause this. I guarantee you that my colleagues would not on their own be doing this. So, yeah, I do think we are in a culture now where a lack of perfection exacts too strong a toll. But that’s the politicians reacting to the media.
MITCHELL: I take your point. Mr. Frank, Mr. Chairman, you’re right. And we plead guilty because this culture right now of gotcha has gotten completely out of control where…
FRANK: We often bring out the worst in each other.
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A mea culpa admission from Andrea – that’s a baby step forward.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pmI wonder if she might be able to persuade her husband to accept blame for his part in the economic disaster being visited upon us.
Amen! It seems like if you ever had a traffic ticket they will nail you on that and no appointment. It is too extreme.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:26 pmI think we are missing out on some good people because of this.
Were there as many nit-pickers going after Bush’s (unqualified, but well connected) appointees — and if so, did it make any difference?
March 11th, 2009 at 3:27 pmMr. Andrea Mitchell should have been the one giving a mea culpa today.
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/
March 11th, 2009 at 3:29 pmSo the media put the hold on the nominees?
March 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pmThis is what I have been talking about for months. We saw this with the stimulus debate,the Blago scandal, and with Obama’s cabinet appointees. The media loves to blow everything up and make it bigger than what it really is. Remember all the drama over obama’s cabinet?
Specifically, the poll finds 58% of Americans describing the controversies as “a normal part of the process of filling high-level government positions in any new administration.” Only half that number — 29% — think they reflect poorly on the Obama administration, saying the administration “appears to be having more problems filling high government positions than is typical for new administrations.” The remaining 12% have no opinion.
Now there irresponsibility is hurting us all. This is the consequence of the media doing conuter-productive reporting.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:37 pmGood for Barney because Mitchell is one of the biggest offenders in the gotcha and gossip as news departments.
I can’t stand her or her other pals, Chris Matthews, Howie Fineman etc. They are revolting and that is just at NBC/MSNBC–don’t even get me started on the other idiots in the press.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:39 pmcitizen_pain Says:
Wow, good for Andrea. I just might let her suck my d1ck now.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
__________
You do realize that she’s kissed Alan Greenspan with that mouth, don’t you?
Just sayin…
March 11th, 2009 at 3:42 pmwow, that is rich…one of the architects of the collapse of our financial system attributing Treasury’s problems to media misbehavior? That the tax cheats and scofflaws favored by Obama chose to withdraw rather than face the music of senate confirmation is hardly evidence of a “gotcha” mentality; rather it is a recognition that those who seek to serve in government at the highest levels should not operate on the same moral plane as the lascivious cretin known as Barney Frank.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:42 pmI’m just waiting for someone/anyone in the media or elsewhere to all of a sudden remeber that she’s married to Alan Greenspan, so when she askes another question about the economy or something relative they can go “Gee Andrea I dont know why dont you ask your husband”.
Culture “right now” of gotcha, pleeze, you been doing this for years.
RIP
March 11th, 2009 at 3:43 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
I was startled to find Andrea Mitchell going along on Hillary’s Asian tour and actually speaking of her in a civil, professional style, as though she were the Secretary of State rather than a lowly Clinton.
Possibly Andrea is reforming herself after eight years of being a social toady for Bush and Cheney? After all, Greenspan admitted he was wrong, possibly she has seen the light as well.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pmMarie Says
March 11th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Were there as many nit-pickers going after Bush’s (unqualified, but well connected) appointees — and if so, did it make any difference?
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No, there weren’t nearly as many nit-pickers back then. Even though the Dems were quite angry with the way the 2000 election turned out, they realized the new President needed his cabinet and needed to have federal agencies staffed for him to be able to do his job.
And — unlike the GOP today — nobody wanted the President to fail back then. Even his detractors prayed he wasn’t as bad as he appeared and he would somehow make it. For they knew he was piloting the plane, and if he failed, the country would go down in flames.
In fact, up until this year, it seems like most presidents have gotten their appointees confirmed unless someone was scary controversial, had committed a major crime, or was laughingly inept.
Now, any minor infraction can kill an appointee’s chances of getting confirmed, and the bar has been raised to the point where nobody could pass muster — including all the people who gleefully trumpet an appointee’s dirty laundry (I’ve gotten a couple of speeding tickets in my life — I’d never make it, no matter how qualified I am for the job).
Is it all the media’s fault? One could say “not entirely” — because they’re just dutifully reporting what’s been leaked to them. But it’s for just that — their slavish devotion to parroting what they’ve been told to report — that I DO blame them.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:47 pmHussein… good point. But then again I could always say that Alan got a taste of what he deserves!
March 11th, 2009 at 3:49 pmTerrible Swift Sword-
Right, because no other policy of the Bush regime had anything to do with the financial crisis. Please keep focusing on that ‘lascivious cretin,’ because it makes you look like a moron with no credibility.
Should we go through the lovely picks of Bush’s cabinet too? There’s much worse than tax infringements, as you well know, AND they were happily hired and retained their jobs.
March 11th, 2009 at 3:56 pmPerhaps our newest conservative friend can explain how Barney Frank qualifies as “one of the architects of the collapse of our financial system”?
March 11th, 2009 at 4:03 pmI think a real discussion of Frank’s activity regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should happen, in order to better put the not-so-swift swords down. It’s amazing that it’s still a majory talking point to Republicans.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:04 pmThe thrust of the conservative argument, from Wikipedia:
Conservative groups have criticized Frank for campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ($42,350 between 1989 and 2008). They further claim the donations influenced his support of their lending programs, and they have partially blamed Frank for not playing a stronger role in reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the years leading up to the Economic crisis of 2008.[43][44] In addition, Frank’s former partner, Herb Moses, was an executive at Fannie from 1991 to 1998, where Moses helped develop many of Fannie’s affordable housing and home improvement lending programs. In 1991, Frank pushed for reduced restrictions on two- and three-family home mortgages.[45] Frank and Moses’ relationship ended around the same time Moses left the company; Frank’s support of Fannie and Freddie predated and continued past that relationship.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:05 pmYou do realize that she’s kissed Alan Greenspan with that mouth, don’t you?
Just sayin…
March 11th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
He’s old and wizened, but I betcha the former FDA chairman still gets his swizzle swirled…
But then she’s been in DC for so long, there is absolutely NO TELLING how many bells she’s tolled…here’s an old, sexist remark about tying a 2×4 stud across yer ass…
March 11th, 2009 at 4:05 pmactually not-so-swifts believe he is CENTRAL to the collapse for not letting this legislation out of committee, disregarding Bush’s failed wars, tax cuts, other deregulatory practices. But it still often goes back to Frank…
March 11th, 2009 at 4:07 pmFannie May and Freddie Mac were only a small part of the problem. They were, at least somewhat under regulation.
The problems weren’t with the Fed programs, but with the systems the thieves and muggers developed after 1999 to scalp the rubes…
Which was and is all that it was ever about.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:09 pmand the following response from the same Wikipedia article:
Frank has responded that he “opposed right-wing efforts to put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac out of business, while simultaneously supporting strong regulation” and “voted against the [2005 reform] bill in protest of those restrictions, while making it clear that I was for the reforms it otherwise contained.”[47] Lawrence B. Lindsey, former chief economic adviser to then-President Bush, states that Frank “is the only politician I know who has argued that we needed tighter rules that intentionally produce fewer homeowners and more renters.”[48]
March 11th, 2009 at 4:10 pmWhat is classic conservative ideological stupidity is to focus on this very debatable contribution to the collapse.
No one in their right mind would be shocked to hear of corporate/political ties, campaign contributions, etc., but to completely disregard the entire eight years of Bush’s failed policies JUST to target specific Democrats is just laughable. And I guess enough of the American public thought so too, seeing how the election turned out.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:16 pmTerrible Swift Sword Says:
wow, that is rich…one of the architects of the collapse of our financial system attributing Treasury’s problems to media misbehavior?
Frank didnt cause the collapse of the financial system but he did resort to a form of trickery to get the bank bailout past the house which didnt pass the bailout plan.
BTW the bank bailout, TARP, came about under the Bush admin IE the financial collapse occured under George W Bush
March 11th, 2009 at 4:18 pmRealness, what wingnuts frequently focus on with regards to Frank’s “culpability” in the economic meltdown are statements he had in 2002 — when Democrats were in the minority, had no power, and a Republican president was pushing the “ownership society” as its own achievement.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:20 pmI think I just wanted all of the facts laid out to preemptively combat troll infestation. I get so tired of the same tired ideas being trotted out, and sad when people swallow them completely.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:30 pmThe sub-prime borrowers did not tell the mortgage lenders to chop up their mortgages into SIV’s, get a stamp of approval from the SEC and then to give it a AAA rating so investment banksters could resell this paper to investors around the globe and then bet on these SIV’s performance thru CDS’ and CDO’s [derivative bets] etc
That, in a nutshell, is what happened.
If you want to know more study up on the Glass Steagall act from its inception to its demise
I
March 11th, 2009 at 4:32 pmsenate confirmation now has become a process of canonization – that of making some one a saint. both parties are guilty of this. why is there this insane vetting process that one has to be audited by several groups (FBI, IRS, senate committees) and then being in the hot seat for confirmation. This process needs to be fixed.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:35 pmIsn’t that cute, Archie and his pet dog trying to do their distraction trick!
March 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pmWow, trickle down accountability…
This new administration is already changing things and doesn’t even realize it. A little honesty, thanks Andrea.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:56 pmFunny, Greenspan doesnt mention Barney Frank.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:57 pmArchie B Says: Speaking of msnbc, why no big red letter fear mongering post about the latest poll that said 60% of msnbc viewers gave obama a big fat “F?”
That Dayum Liberal Media, you just know they are lying!!
Heh
March 11th, 2009 at 5:00 pmArchie B Says:
watchdog Says
Great videos, but, when anything like that appears the tpers immediately bury their heads in the river of denial.
It said for Olbermann fans, which I am not as I dont watch Teebee. However, If I were to watch them Im pretty sure I could poke holes in the claims made.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:01 pmBTW, for those who think the Federal Reserve is part of the government, think again, its a private entity.
Privatization, then, created the financial mess
March 11th, 2009 at 5:03 pmMore librul bias from the talking heads of NBC. She is getting her marching orders and talking points from GE, the military industrial complex.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:07 pmouch, Watchdog and Archie- you guys are a little slow on the draw. most of the adults have left the room. have fun in the echo chamber!
March 11th, 2009 at 5:22 pmWell, well…taking responsibility for your actions is very important.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:34 pmThem trolls love them some Keith, don’t they?
When their other lame distractions fall under the weight of factual scrutiny, they can always lean on their Olbermann-love to give them comfort.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:45 pmI would not be one bit surprised if it were the republicans in the Senate who are playing these B***S*** games with this. Hoping to bring down the economy and win in 2010 and 2012
March 11th, 2009 at 5:54 pmwatchpup and archie take turns fellating each other, and think that we care to watch.
That’s cute.
March 11th, 2009 at 6:13 pmwatchdog Says:
There’s nothing for them to deny. He intentionally tried to imply he attended an Ivy league school when in fact he didn’t. very funny stuff!
March 11th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
__________
So?
This changes the facts he reports on how, exactly?
March 11th, 2009 at 6:37 pmToo bad Barney didn’t go on Rachel’s show & make that comment.Maddow is the major offender.
March 11th, 2009 at 6:42 pmThey’re not media holds. Congressman put a hold in one area because they want leverage for their pet issue. Take Cuba oriented Menendez.
March 11th, 2009 at 7:18 pmthanks you goddd messega
March 11th, 2009 at 8:35 pmWhat passes for the main stream media in this country has continued to try to undermine the President. We all know this. Writing letters to these media outlets, CBC, especially Couric and Schieffer, NBC, ABC and others, has had no effect on their lies and omissions.
How do we push back? Is there an organization somewhere, in addition to Media Matters, that is trying to push back?
Why are there no Democratic congress members speaking out
agains the republicans and the media? Why are they not on the TV and radio shows or writing op-eds in the newspapers? My letters to many Democratic members of Congress asking these questions have only resulted in many, many form letters thanking me for my concers.
While there are not many progressive talk radio shows compared to right-wing, but there are enough to push back. But these so-called progressives keep bringing onto their shows some of the same excuses for journalists who are most active in trying to undermine President Obama.
Believe me I have written to a number these talk show hosts asking why they don’t bring more Democratic on their show to discuss the lies from corporate media and the republicans. So far there has been no response from any of them.
Media Matters does a great job of reporting on the media but there are many Americans who have never heard of Media Matters but who are exposed to television and radio where Democrats and progressives are not being represented.
What is the answer?
March 12th, 2009 at 1:20 amRealness Says:
I think I just wanted all of the facts laid out to preemptively combat troll infestation. I get so tired of the same tired ideas being trotted out, and sad when people swallow them completely.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The problem is trolls are completely unaffected by facts, evidence or reality. Once they get a talking point. Thats it. There is no way to drive a stake through its heart. You can prove its wrong. Show solid evidence that its ridiculous. They will simply slink away then come back the next day and repeat it. They dont CARE if its true. Just the fact it is useful from propaganda purposes makes it true for that reason alone as far as they are concerned.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:30 amArchie B Says:
FRANK: No, I mean the media is the problem here in part.
Way to point the finger, asshat.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
You are an ignorant worthless punk. Your posts are stupid. YOU are stupid. You never add nothing to the disucssion and never do. You are a moron and a troll. Your mother should have drowned you at birth. I am sure she is eternally shamed that she didnt.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:32 amArchie B Says:
Great videos, but, when anything like that appears the tpers immediately bury their heads in the river of denial.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<,
My GOD you are ignorant. How do you stand yourself you are so stupid. Keith went to Cornell. His DEGREE SAYS CORNELL UNIVERSITY. It is signed by the Dean of Cornell university. It was an adjunct or State Schools but I have SEEN a photo of his degree it says CORNELL UNIVERSITY. You are such a brainwashed moron. Anyone citing the thing that slithers known as Coulter immediatly has shot what little credibility they MIGHT have had to pieces.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:39 amwatchdog Says:
Great videos, but, when anything like that appears the tpers immediately bury their heads in the river of denial.
There’s nothing for them to deny. He intentionally tried to imply he attended an Ivy league school when in fact he didn’t. very funny stuff!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
What is funny is how you brainwashed morons dance on the puppetstrings of whatever screechmonkey is doing your thinking today. Not only is this stupidity off topic but its stupid. That is your complaint? HE TRIED TO IMPLY? Hey moron he said he went to Cornell. His diploma says CORNELL. He went to CORNELL. You arent even implying he is lying or wrong just that really stupid people like you THOUGHT he meant something he didnt say. Try to keep up
March 12th, 2009 at 9:43 amIthink I iust stepped into a pile of liberal whining and bull.A bunch of BMW driving yuppies who don’t know about life yet. Afetr 6 years in the military and yes Vietnam and 25 years as a police officer I wonder why I risked my life all those years. Wake up AMERICA, 911 was not an aberation!!!
March 12th, 2009 at 4:00 pm