Newspapers to John McCain’s rescue!
The Associated Press and 25 newspapers are launching an in-depth analysis of Congressional earmarks.
The press has been asleep for seven year of scandals, but now comes alive to carry John McCain’s torch.
We don’t know the results of this study yet, except that it’s sure to provide ammunition for the GOP, even if only one piece of pork is uncovered.
This project is not inherently bad until compared with newspapers’ sorry performance holding the Bush Administration accountable. Where was this effort during the run-up to war? For No Child Left Behind? For unfunded mandates? Health care? Media concentration? Federal appointments? Yadda, yadda, yadda.
Where was this project when the GOP ran Congress?
If nothing else, the press is letting McCain frame the debate. Compared to the war in Iraq, health care, Medicare, etc., earmarks are at the bottom of the priority list.
Unless you’re John McCain, who wants to divert the nation’s attention from these issues …
