Senate Unanimously Votes Against Cuts to Social Security: Media Don't Notice

[PETRUS]

From http://truth-out.org/news/item/15308-senate-unanimously-votes-against-cuts-to-social-security-media-dont-notice

There are few areas where the corruption of the national media is more apparent than in its treatment of Social Security. Most of the elite media have made it clear in both their opinion and news pages that they want to see benefits cut. In keeping with this position they highlight the views of political figures who push cuts to the program, treating them as responsible, while those who oppose cuts are ignored or mocked.

This pattern of coverage was clearly on display last weekend. Both the New York Times and Washington Post decided to ignore the Senate's passage by voice vote of the Sanders Amendment. This was an amendment to the budget put forward by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders that puts the Senate on record as opposing the switch to the chained CPI as the basis for the annual Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA).

<snip>

With all the Republicans who pronounce endlessly on the need to cut entitlement spending, there was not a single Republican senator who was prepared to say that switching the Social Security COLA to a chained CPI was a good idea. And even though President Obama has repeatedly stated as clearly as he could that he supported the switch to a chain CPI, there was not one Democratic senator who was prepared to stand up and speak in solidarity with the president.

This is a clear case of the elite lining up together against the bases of both political parties. If the chained CPI were put to a vote of the people it would lose in a landslide. But the elites are prepared to use their control of the political process and the media to do everything they can to push this cut forward.

(Read more: http://truth-out.org/news/item/15308-senate-unanimously-votes-against-cuts-to-social-security-media-dont-notice)

[Mass]

1. Of course, they do not. It goes against the media's group thinking that social security should be

cut.

[n2doc]

2. and yet 18 repubs voted for Rand Paul's budget, which does more damage to SS

all games. it is all just games and wasted time. Not a mention of that vote, either, on the TV Newz

[ProSense]

13. Details:

Senate: Rand Paul's lunatic budget gets 18 Republican votes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022563868

[L0oniX]

3. Cutting SS is sensational news. Voting against it is not. n/t

[Recursion]

4. If "the elites" control the political process, why did the vote succeed unanimously?

[dreamnightwind]

5. i'm guessing that this amendment is just a cover

They can go on record as opposing the CPI cuts with this vote, then agree to those cuts later when differences between a House budget and a Senate budget are worked out in conference. I don't know, but I'll bet it's something like that. Which says nothing about the lack of media coverage.

[Mojorabbit]

18. I think you are absolutely correct. nt

[woo me with science]

9. Pure grandstanding.

President Obama gives a hell of a "progressive" speech, too. That doesn't mean his policies remotely resemble his words.

[Recursion]

12. The whole piece is a complete non-sequitur

As if there were a conspiracy to silence the "news" of a voice vote rejecting a provision that isn't in any budget submitted to either chamber.

[hfojvt]

6. to be fair

the media generally ignores a lot of Senate and House votes

[ReRe]

7. Yeah, but...

... what are they getting ready to do to Medicare??? Check this out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251295826

[Rex]

8. The M$M is a for profit system.

The M$M has really nothing to do with reporting the news fairly or accurately. It is about profit and selling drugs in between political opinion segments. It is the reason why so many people now look to the Internet for news.

[Cali_Democrat]

10. The media is controlled by folks who want to cut Social Security.

This goes against their narrative so they won't report it.

[raouldukelives]

15. Yep. Corporations own & control the message as well as the messengers.

All thanks to the efforts of Wall St investors who in the never ending search for profits are willing to finance the destruction of the very things they naively claim to hold dear.
Only when those who would stand on the side of social justice and environmentalism stop helping those with the most can they start helping those with the least.

[freshwest]

19. Paid quite handsomely for that omission, too.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. We already knew the media is NOT the guardian of the people.

[annabanana]

14. Imagine the Populist revolution if Occupy and

the Tea Party could see those few things they had in common. This will NEVER happen if TPTB have their way.

[99Forever]

16. The disdain for us...

... not just from "the media" but from the White House and Congress also, is blatant. They could not possibly care any less about the suffering we endure. They just don't care.

[MineralMan]

17. Social Security is a hot-button issue.

Old people vote, and so do people approaching Social Security age. Senators need votes. Ergo...

[FogerRox]

20. It was a voice vote... gee whiz

[eridani]

21. Please thank your senators for this

Yes, even the Republicans.