When the Story's Got Children, Who Needs Facts?

October 3rd, 2007 2:51 PM

According to the media's parade of children who need government assistance for insurance, President Bush must really just hate children. After all, he vetoed a bill today that would have expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Leading up to the October 3 veto, the media couldn’t resist scripting it as a vote against children.

The Christian Science Monitor called it “a vote against health care for poor children” on October 1. CBS's Thalia Assuras worried about the "kids caught in the middle" on August 1 "Evening News."

What’s at stake, though, included a proposed $35-billion expansion of taxpayer-funded insurance made possible by a huge tax increase on tobacco users many of whom are poor -- burdening the same families the program is designed to help.

Business & Media Institute today examined media coverage of the legislation and pointed out Bush's own expansion plan, his objections to the bill passed by Congress and the liberal talking points that the media used to back the expansion. You can find our complete analysis here and sign up for our weekly newsletter The Balance Sheet to learn more.