Transportation Secretary (Republican LaHood) slams political 'trash talk'

[jefferson_dem]

Secretary slams political 'trash talk'
LaHood blames drop in civility on hosts of radio, cable shows

Wednesday, September 23, 2009 3:00 AM
By Joe Hallett

A Republican member of President Barack Obama's cabinet blistered conservative talk-radio hosts and cable-television news yesterday, saying they have eroded civility and impeded the nation's ability to solve big problems.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told The Dispatch that the level of "harsh discourse in Washington has probably reached an all-time high," and he partly blamed it on "all of this trash talk about the process and about politicians 24/7" on cable television and talk radio.

LaHood referred to criticism Obama received for appearing Sunday on five television news shows to promote his health-care overhaul. The secretary also indicated that even the president's bully pulpit is no match for the cacophony over the airwaves from the political right.

"He can't even compete with all this stuff that people are saying about him, so the idea that he did five interviews on Sunday, that's just minuscule compared to the kind of trash talk that goes on all week prior to that," LaHood said.

"All of this background, all of this trash talk in the background, it does not contribute to civil discourse, and it does not contribute to the government or the country's ability to solve big issues."

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http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/national_world/stories/2009/09/23/copy/lahood.ART_ART_09-23-09_A1_PHF5KK7.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. It is good to hear a Republican say this

Of course, LaHood is an old school Republican, one that actually has values and isn't on the fringes of society. Wonder how long it will be before he's drummed out of his party? The new GOP doesn't like to have reasonable people as members, it seems.

[Jennicut]

2. LaHood may be the only Repub I actually like right now.

Not that any of them are worth caring about but he seems a decent one.

[AspenRose]

3. They're painting a target on his back as we speak.

Watch your back, sir.