More Morning Joe: McCain Spokesperson Lies, Joe Follows Along

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday August 08, 2008 · 5:49 AM PDT

2008/08/08 · 05:49

More of the worst journalism possible from Morning Joe this morning. McCain spokesperson Nicolle Wallace came onto the show and said that Obama was receiving more from the oil industry than McCain. She cited but did not quote a report on the subject from the Center for Responsive Politics. This sounded incorrect to me since it had been widely reported that McCain had received several times as much money from the oil industry as Obama. Immediately after her appearance, Scarborough read an email from the Republican National Committee quoting the Center for Responsive Politics report that through June 30th Obama had received $7,000 more from Exxon $42,100 to $35,166) and Chevron ($35,157 to $28,500) than McCain. The email was read uncritically and went unchallenged.

Well, it took me about two minutes to find the Center for Responsive Politics report and see how misleading this talking point was. It's right there in the article, which is quoted below.

In the very next sentence, the report states that McCain received more money from nearly every other oil and gas producer. It then goes on to say:

And, overall, McCain's campaign has gotten three times more money from the industry than Obama's has -- $1.3 million compared to about $394,000.

Comparing Obama's and McCain's financial ties to the oil industry, there's no question that McCain has benefited more from the industry's contributions, just as his Republican Party has for years and years. But Obama's edge with the oil producers Americans know best -- and might be cursing most these days -- makes it harder for him to continue to tar McCain as the industry's darling. Still, this chart shows vividly how the industry's support for McCain's candidacy has surged in the last few months. It's been pointed out that giving shot up after the presumptive Republican nominee announced his support for offshore drilling, but you'll see that the trend started months before that.

http://www.opensecrets.org/...

There are problems with the report itself (read the comments to the report) but you couldn't find an easier fact check or a more misleading take on the article. It's junior high school newspaper stuff. But do we get any reporting or fact checking from Morning Joe? Of course not. What a complete embarrassment.

This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

Make YOUR voice heard!

Comments are closed on this story.