The worst reporter in America

Cokie Roberts, ladies and gentlemen. Cokie Roberts.

This morning, I was treated to yet another of Ms. Roberts so-bad-its-barely-even-wrong little postcards from pre-1992 Democratic lobbyist land. She was criticizing the MoveOn for 'pushing' Democratic Senators on health care and energy issues 'without realizing that these Senators would be up for reelection, and there's only so far they can go without getting in trouble back home.' (Not an exact quote. Maybe later I'll find the real quote and compare it to my recollection.)

There are several conventions required in order for that bit of garbage to make sense:

1. People from states other than NY, CA, and MD are not smart enough to want things like affordable healthcare and clean energy
2. People from states such as NY, CA, and MD who join groups such as MoveOn are too stupid to act in their own best interests
3. People from Washington DC are the only ones smart enough to scurry around in oh-so-intriguing back rooms and put together the deals that keep this Republic chugging along down the track
3.a. Sometimes, reporters with really good access to sources (as opposed to reporters who really read things, call people, and write down the product of reading and calling) can shed a little light on how that happens

Here's a piece by Jack Shafer criticizing her, too: http://www.slate.com/id/2216890/

My friends, harking back to a quote I hear placed in the mouth of Thomas Jefferson, I would almost rather have a government without newspapers, than newspapers with reporters like Cokie Roberts.