Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Media Matters Daily Summary 05-18-11

Fox Revives Health Care Rationing Myth
On Fox & Friends, Fox News contributor and former Republican Congressman John Shadegg falsely claimed that the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) created by the health care reform bill would "decide to lower reimbursement rates, essentially rationing care." In fact, the bill specifically prohibits the board from making "any recommendations to ration health care." Read More

One Fell Swoop: Right-Wing Media Use Green Ribbon Schools Program To Attack Education, Conservation, Gore, Obama
Following the Department of Education's announcement of the Green Ribbon Schools program, which recognizes schools for "engaging students on environmental issues" and "addressing environmental issues," the right-wing media jumped on the campaign as an excuse to attack environmental literacy, the Department of Education, former Vice President Al Gore, and President Obama. Read More

Fox Omits Guest's Anti-Health Care Reform Ties
Fox & Friends hosted Dr. Donald Palmisano to attack the health care reform law but did not disclose that Palmisano is the head of the Coalition to Protect Patients' Rights, an anti-health care reform organization managed by the right-wing lobbying firm DCI Group. Instead, co-host Steve Doocy only identified Palmisano as an "author," a "lawyer," and the "former American Medical Association President." Read More

Right-Wing Media Still Misinforming About Money-Saving, Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Right-wing media have continued to attack energy standards that will phase out inefficient light bulbs by 2012, claiming the bill will "ban" incandescent light bulbs and force consumers to instead purchase either $50 light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs or "dangerous" compact florescent lights (CFL). In fact, the bill only bans inefficient incandescent light bulbs, and efficient bulbs -- whose prices vary considerably depending on the type of bulb and are also projected to drop -- will save consumers money in the long run; experts have also said that concerns over mercury in CFL bulbs are overstated. Read More

"Corrupt": Fox News Launches Fact-Free Attack On Health Care Reform Waivers
Fox News, amplifying a fake controversy started by the Daily Caller, is claiming that 38 health-care reform "waivers" granted to businesses in Northern California are evidence of Rep. Nancy Pelosi and President Obama's "corruption." But the business owner who actually requested the waivers said that they were in no way connected to Pelosi and were part of an annual request for businesses throughout the country, not just in Pelosi's congressional district. Read More

Economists Dismantle Conservative Media's Latest "Stupid" Attack On Stimulus
The right-wing media is hyping a study that attempted to measure the state-by-state unemployment effects of the stimulus, to claim that the bill actually destroyed jobs. But economists, including Nobel laureate Paul Krugman, have raised questions of "cherry picking" and dismissed the study's findings. Read More

Fox's "Straight News" Anchor Martha MacCallum Regularly Advocates GOP Positions
Fox News defends its credibility as a legitimate news outlet by claiming that there is a dividing line between its news and opinion programming. Purported "straight news" anchor Martha MacCallum, however, has a long record of echoing GOP talking points to advocate for conservative policies. Read More

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