This article just up at Media Matters
How The Press Helped Cause The GOP Shutdown
Years Of Bogus 'Both-Sides-To-Blame' Coverage Have Emboldened Radical Republicans
As a matter of journalism, any story that presents the disagreements as a "standoff," a "showdown," a "failure of leadership," a sign of "partisan gridlock," or any of the other usual terms for political disagreement, represents a failure of journalism and an inability to see or describe what is going on.
What they should be saying is:
There has already been a referendum on the ACA, it was called an election; those opposing it lost.
The ACA has been judged to be constitutional by SCOTUS.
The Republicans have decided unilaterally to shut down government over a policy that is both the law and approved of by a majority of Americans in an election.
Enough of this bipartisan bullshit.
One side is playing at hostage taking.
One side is refusing to accept the democratic process of elections.
One side is at war with itself.
Both sides are not to blame.
This fiasco is the responsibility of the GOP only.
Ye gawds, just an iota of honesty from large sections of the MSM would put an end to this merry-go-round of obnoxious undemocratic behavior on the part of the Republican controlled House.