Just how much does the Associated Press love the Democrats?
Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 4:51PM Astounded is a great word to describe my reaction to an Associated Press story about pharmaceutical companies pushing large amounts of cash towards Democrats. I've often critted AP stories about global warming AKA climate change AKA the little ice age. But the story, 'Obama's health care plan helped by drug industry' contains a remark so misleading I felt compelled to speak up. Here's the sentence in question: "The White House and allies in Congress are well aware of the effort by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a somewhat surprising political alliance, given the industry's recent history of siding with Republicans and the Democrats' disdain for special interests."
What astounds about that statement?
For starters, 'Democrats' disdain for special interests.' Is the writer of the story so naive s/he really believes Democrats have disdain for special interests? If you believe that is a true statement, I've got a car that runs on bubble gum I can sell you.
The other "astoundment" is the writer's self-contradiction. Further along in the story, s/he notes: "Drugmakers have also funneled more money to Democrats in recent years, a trend that began soon after they gained control of Congress."
