On Thursday night’s All Things Considered, NPR displayed how there’s no room for opposing views when the Obama administration makes socially liberal policy. No one calls it “liberal,” and no one’s allowed to disagree with it.
Whether it was making America friendlier for marijuana or gay relationships, NPR just announced Team Obama made a decision and turned to their reporters for calm explanations of what just happened – and whether it made sense was beyond the point.
On "recreational" drug laws, NPR anchor Melissa Block announced “The Justice Department issued a new policy today for enforcing marijuana laws.” No, they didn’t. They issued a new policy of “low priority” non-enforcement. Correspondent Carrie Johnson reported “Marijuana is still illegal under federal law but the government is now suggesting that arresting people for possession of small amounts is not a priority.”
On the IRS decision to recognize gay marriages on tax returns, Block announced:
It's the latest in a series of moves by the Obama administration as it seeks to implement this summer's Supreme Court ruling that granted federal recognition of same-sex marriage. The IRS says couples who were married legally will be treated as married for federal tax purposes, even if they live in a state where same-sex marriage is not legal.
There was no time to explore conservative views that this was a federal overreach, or a new low for marriage. Reporter Scott Horsley was only asked what this would mean for gay couples on their tax returns. Because apparently whoever objects is a bigot who deserves no air time on taxpayer-funded radio.
In an interesting twist, NPR did find time for a skeptical viewpoint on the protests for doubled wages at fast-food restaurants. (It's economic, not cultural, so there's room for dissent?) Craig Arnold brought in fast-food industry consultant Sandeep Malhotra to warn "A typical restaurant would probably have to increase menu prices in the 25 to 30 percent range."
Arnold added: "He stresses that this is just ballpark math. But a burger that costs, say, $3 might end up costing closer to $4.Out on the street, some people said they'd be happy to pay the difference. But Malhotra thinks that other people might not. And he says higher wages might mean more fast food workers get replaced by machines. After all, you already see those automated checkout tellers at CVS and Home Depot."
