When last we met the ghosts of Tom Jefferson, Abe Lincoln and Edward R. Murrow, the three were aghast after observing Nancy Grace's shrill and biased coverage of the Schiavo case on CNN:
http://dailykos.com/story/2005/4/2/164844/9619
On the advice of Ed Murrow - who'd heard that FOX News provides fair and balanced news coverage - they've decided to pay a visit to one of the FOX News shows, in the hopes of finding a responsible journalist.
Setting: Fox Studios
Date of Broadcast: March 30, 2005
Subject: The AARP's role in the Social Security debate
Cast:
- Brit Hume, Fox News Host
- Jeff Birnbaum, Washington Post columnist
- The Ghosts of Tom Jefferson*, Abe Lincoln*" and Edward R. Murrow*
* Appearing in dream sequences
Tom, Abe & Ed arrive at the FOX studios:
TOM JEFFERSON: I sure hope this is less disturbing than the dreck we just watched.
ABE LINCOLN: (nods head vigorously) Yeah, that was scary stuff.
ED MURROW: Don't worry, guys, this should be a lot better. I checked around a bit - this Brit Hume fellow is supposed to be a respected journalist.
TOM JEFFERSON: (puts finger to lip) Shhhh, it's starting......
*********
BRIT HUME SPEAKS: The White House woke up this morning to further unwelcome news about the extent of the AARP's efforts to block the President from using private investment, as a way to generate bigger returns for future Social Security recipients whose regular benefits may have to be cut.
**********
TOM JEFFERSON: (surprised) Whoa!! Is that true?! Social Security benefits may have to be cut?
ED MURROW: (perplexed) Well, ummm, actually, I'm a little confused. FDR was just ranting about that the other day - he said it was President Bush's plan that would result in cuts.
ABE LINCOLN: (brow furrowed) Then why did that Hume fellow say that? That doesn't strike me as an honest way to start out a discussion.
TOM JEFFERSON: Yeah, Ed. Are you sure about this guy?
ED MURROW: (shrugs) Let's not be too hasty, guys. Hume is going to have a Washington Post writer on as his guest - the paper has an excellent reputation. I'm sure they'll clear things up.
********
BRITT HUME CONTINUES: That news came in a story in "The Washington Post," written by our colleague and FOX News contributor, Jeff Birnbaum, who joins me now. Jeff, tell me about the campaign that AARP is waging, what it consists of, what we can look for from it. It was interesting to see that in Cedar Rapids today, a place far from AARP's headquarters in Washington, they were able to turn out a little sort of counter crowd during the president's event.
JEFF BIRNBAUM: Right. Well, actually, everywhere the president goes AARP is going to be there. And they were certainly there in force in Iowa. There were two press conferences; a new national poll; radio, TV, and newspaper advertisements, all attacking President Bush's private accounts ..... But that's just for starters, really. AARP is also holding forums on this issue in every state where there's a ...Senator whose vote is up for grabs on this issue. And almost everywhere that a member of Congress holds a town hall meeting on this issue, AARP volunteers are dispatched by the headquarters.
HUME: To do what, exactly?
BIRNBAUM: To protest the president's plan on private accounts and to talk up the AARP's version of a fix for Social Security. Which is a little here, a little there, no big ... change needed to fix Social Security over the long term.
HUME: Does the AARP plan, by the way, add up?
BIRNBAUM: No. Well, the answer is no, because it isn't a complete plan. It just proposes add-on private accounts and--
HUME: ......It doesn't fix the fiscal problem, the solvency problem.
BIRNBAUM: ..... AARP proposes a menu of possible options, but hasn't said that it's wedded to any one.
HUME: Sort of like the president.
*************
ED MURROW: (turns to Tom and Abe) See!! See!! That's good journalism. He pointed out that the President hasn't proposed a specific plan either. Fair and balanced, just like they said.
ABE LINCOLN: Yes, that's very good. Very good indeed. (Turns to Tom Jefferson) Feel better now, Tom?
TOM JEFFERSON: Yes, indeedy, I most certainly do. I guess I was just a little worked-up after watching that other show. You know how I feel about the importance of the press, Abe. In fact, I once wrote, "[W]ere it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." (Shakes head) I mean, for goodness sake, what chance does democracy have without a fair and balanced press?
ED MURROW: (turns to Tom Jefferson, cracks a wry smile) I have to admit, for a minute there, I was worried, too.
TOM JEFFERSON: (pats Ed Murrow's shoulder) There, there, Ed. We're just all a bit rattled after that horrid experience at that other show. I think we can relax now.
********
BIRNBAUM and HUME begin discussing the AARP`s clout as a lobbying group.
HUME: ...... the question arises - how does the AARP stack up in terms of potent Washington lobbies? .... How does the AARP rank in your view?
BIRNBAUM: (snarky look) It is an acquired taste.
HUME: (snarky look back) Right. I'm sure.
BIRNBAUM: But nonetheless, for years "Fortune" magazine did a survey. And in most of the years we did it, of who has the most clout in the capitol, AARP was No. 1. ...........
..................
HUME: Now, is [AARP] an association of people who ......sort of gathered around a basket of issues? Is that how this organization was formed?
BIRNBAUM: No. .....anyone can join the AARP once you turn 50 years old. In fact, most people get a solicitation to join. A lot of people, I would say it's fair to say most people join for the discounts, for which it's very famous.........
HUME: In other words, people don't join this organization for the reason they might join a labor union or political party, or a political organization that might support certain causes.
BIRNBAUM: No.
HUME: They join for the same reasons they might join the Price Club or Costco.
*************:
TOM JEFFERSON: (eyebrows raised) Do I smell a set-up?
ABE LINCOLN: (frowning) He implied that people are being seduced into joining the AARP solely for the discounts. They seem to be insinuating that members may not agree with the AARP's positions on issues. I don't get this at all. If they want to accuse the AARP of not representing it's member's views, why don't they just come out and say so? If they have proof, they should just offer it.
ED MURROW: (nods) I have to agree with you there, Abe. I was never much on innuendo. If I had something to say, I said it. If I had no proof, I kept my mouth shut.
ABE LINCOLN: Good for you, Ed. There's much to be said for honesty and integrity. Back in my day, they were virtues.
TOM JEFFERSON: (nodding sagely) Not to mention that comparing AARP to a discount chain strikes me as a backhanded attempt to belittle them. (pauses) Although you do have to admit Costco provides good value. When I popped in there the other day, I saw a 48-pack of Charmin for $12 - that's not bad at all.
ABE LINCOLN: (nods politely and then turns and bends down, covering mouth and whispering to Ed Murrow:) Typical farmer - in debt up to his eyeballs his whole life.
ED MURROW: (whispers back) He checked the bill three times when we went out to dinner the other night. And then he didn't have any cash! I ended up paying!
Abe LINCOLN: (rolls eyes) Happens every time.
*****************
HUME and BIRNBAUM continue their discussion of the AARP:
BIRNBAUM: ......the way the AARP staff in Washington keeps track of what ...members want is the staff suggests solutions to things. They poll ...the members. They do focus groups and try to keep in touch with their members. And it doesn't always work.
HUME: Because they don't have any direct election process by which the members -- by which the lords of the AARP are selected. Right?
*********************
TOM JEFFERSON: (startled, confused) "The lords of the AARP"??!! We rid the country of lords back in 1776!!
ABE LINCOLN: (one eyebrow raised) I think he means it as an insult, Tom. He seems to be taking a shot at AARP for being undemocratic. Is that your take, Ed?
ED MURROW: (look of dismay on face) Yeah, I think you're right, Abe. This is terrible. It reminds me of the 50's, back when that McCarthy jerk was running around. A little name-calling went pretty far back then.
TOM JEFFERSON: That doesn't sound good.
ED MURROW: Trust me, it wasn't. If a few brave souls hadn't--hang on a second, let's see what this Birnbaum guy has to say.
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BIRNBAUM: They have a very elaborate board setup that's tiered so that there is a lot of input from members. But it's very hard to keep track of what 35 million people want......What AARP does have in addition to a lot of members is a lot of money. Their operating budget last year was $800 million.
...............
HUME: Can [AARP] legally spend whatever it wants to defeat this? Whatever it wants?
BIRNBAUM: Yes. It can...
HUME: There's no campaign finance reform.
BIRNBAUM: No. And they don't have to actually tell us how much [they spend]. Quite clearly, on ads alone, they've already spent $15 million or more this year, which is three-quarters of the budget of the largest organization pushing Bush's proposal. So, they can outspend anyone.
HUME: Jeff, thank you.
BIRNBAUM: Thank you.
****************
ED MURROW: I feel sick.
TOM JEFFERSON: What's the matter, Ed?
ED MURROW: That was a very deceptive statement. FDR said there are several pro-Republican groups spending millions on pushing Bush's plan to dismantle Social Security: USA NEXT, Progress for America, and the Club for Growth have each budgeted $10 million. Boy, you should've heard FDR go off about it the other day - he was really steamed. Strangely enough, I happen to remember the website link that FDR mentioned in case you want to look it up for yourself: http://www.publicintegrity.org/527/report.aspx?aid=11
TOM JEFFERSON: My word, Ed, that's an outrageous misrepresentation of the facts!
ED MURROW: That's not the half of it, Tom. These two yahoos were taking potshots at AARP for offering services to members, but USA NEXT does the exact same thing - they offer insurance and financial investments as well as travel discount arrangements with major hotels and other businesses. Even worse, they take huge donations from corporations. Luckily, I also remember the website address for the USA Today article that describes this.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-02-27-soc-security-aarp_x.htm
ABE LINCOLN: (jaw drops) But, Ed, neither Hume nor Birnbaum mentioned that! This show wasn't fair and balanced at all! In fact, it was downright dishonest!!
ED MURROW: (shaking head despondently) This is very upsetting. It violates every journalistic standard I used to hold dear! They should've had someone on to refute what Birnbaum was saying. People might get the idea that because he's associated with the Washington Post, everything he was saying was true. He presented only half the story!!
TOM JEFFERSON: (Look of anger flashes across face) I think we've been had, gentlemen. I believe that Hume fellow was only sounding fair and balanced earlier in the segment to make him seem honest. It was a trick! In fact, the two of them sounded like they'd rehearsed the whole interview! That Hume fellow was asking leading questions, giving Birnbaum the set-up for what he wanted to say. Hume is no journalist!! He's a partisan hack!! And Birnbaum's no better!
ED MURROW: (clasps hands on head in despair) Good God, what has journalism come to? What the hell happened since I've been gone?
ABE LINCOLN: Take it easy, Ed. There's more TV news shows we can visit. It can't be this bad everywhere.
TOM JEFFERSON: (gently pats Murrow on back) Yes, Ed, calm down. Let's take a look around here some more. There are several other shows - Hannity & Colmes, the O'Reilly Factor, the Beltway Boys to name just a few. There has to be someone with journalistic standards here. You mustn't lose hope.
ED MURROW: (still shaky) Yes, I guess you're right, Tom. And there's other stations - the major networks, MSNBC, C-SPAN. Shall we press on, gentlemen?
ABE LINCOLN: (slaps him on back) That's the spirit!
ALL THREE MEN: (general laughter)
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Full transcript of Hume broadcast:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,152036,00.html