Obama, The Press, And The "Bipartisan" Trap

Virtually all the news accounts are stressing the same story: If there's little or no bipartisan support for Obama's stimulus package, then it's Obama fault, and his fault alone. A bit ironic, isn't it? While addressing the issue of bipartisanship the press holds only one party accountable: the Democrats.

In fact, the press has set up Republicans with perhaps the easiest short-term political victory on record. All the GOP has to do is oppose Obama on the stimulus package, and the Beltway media will proclaim Obama the loser. All Republicans have to do is not be bipartisan, and the the Beltway press will likely declare them the winners in the showdown; they'll announce that Republicans outmaneuvered and thwarted Obama.

In fact, some in the media have already decided that it's irrelevant whether the president's signature legislative initiative passes. Instead, the bill won't be tagged a "success" unless it passes with a certain number of opposition party votes; unless it ushers in a completely new era in Washington politics.

Read the full Media Matters column here.