Douglas Holtz-Eakin
In the world of D.C. think tanks, getting your name in the papers is a big part of demonstrating your effectiveness. And when a paper runs a puff piece actually headlined “When It Comes to Testimony, He’s a Go-To Guy,” that’s way better than a full-page ad.
That’s the favor that USA Today‘s Gregory Korte (12/5/13) extended to Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who ran the Congressional Budget Office in the George W. Bush era, was a McCain campaign economic adviser and now runs a right-wing think tank called the American Action Forum. The paper explains that he can deliver “soundbite-friendly policy analysis in five minutes or less”–which, it should be noted, is actually a long time to deliver a soundbite.
USA Today says he “has carefully cultivated a reputation as a good witness” and once “earned a reputation as a straight-shooter from Sen. John McCain, who put him on his 2008 presidential campaign.” As if that all weren’t good enough, a Republican lawmaker weighs in to say, “He’s actually a green eyeshades guy who speaks like the average Joe.”
Of course, there are less flattering things one could say about a guy who has helped giant corporations mount a campaign to cut their taxes, ran a misleading campaign claiming the Obama White House is waging a “war on coal” and claimed in 2011 (ABC This Week, 9/4/11) that Obama administration stimulus policies meant that “we are headed straight toward a Greek-style fiscal crisis.”
Perhaps those are the wonky soundbites someone like Holtz-Eakin can deliver. But when all criticism of his work is left out of a piece, what USA Today delivers isn’t news–it’s a press release.
This article should be about the puff piece hardballs chris m did with Obama.So little of the press or the news media is not in this presidents pocket .So when you pick this or that that is not, and bleat abut it…..It just sound ridiculous.So what you found a paper that gasp…..does not tow the line- you get the vapors?
Michael e,
Yes the puff pieces with Obama, completely unlike the slavish deferential wisps of nihility the worthless corporate press provided us about the Bush/Cheney criminal cabal for 8 years. The presstitutes are in the pocket of all branches of government, not just the present occupant of the white house.
” He can deliver sound bites in less than 5 minutes.” Wow, I guess that really screws up TIVO. : )
When was the last time any news program showed anything for 5 minutes? Or……even 4 minutes? What a silly thing to write about USA Today. USA……..I thought that was the other name for America…..maybe not in this case. Acronym time! How about this : Undeniably Selling Advertising. I think that’s a fit. : )
Rob…….You DONT think that the press attacked Bush 24-7 for eight years in every way ,shape ,and form?Night and day,day and night?Dude where the hell were you…….kidnapped by aliens on some distant planet?The press excoriated him in a crucification orgy every minute he held office without restraint or let up.A totally manufactured attack plan(admitted to by James Carvil) that has you still bleating its propaganda(criminal cabal).What is so funny is Bush and Obama had about the same polls at this point.Obama much more a self made failure than Bush in that regard. For christ sake was never even vetted by this press in election mode.Sweet dancing Jesus,I would love one paper to ask Obama to release his SAT scores.Forget Benghazi.Or if he spoke truthfully EVER about Obama care.Mr president…what were your SATs.Ha ha ha you clowns kill me
Michael e,
I’d respond to your latest rant, but the absolute stupidity and downright falsehoods contained therein speak for themselves, and I don’t engage in debate with naive tea bagging simpletons who can’t see the world for what it really is.
Anyone interested in michael e’s SAT scores? No? Just a giggle? Oh, well, I tried.
Robert: You were feeding the FAIR troll. He’s always there under the bridge with his barely literate English, grammatical and spelling errors, filthy language and ignorant opinions, begging for comments from passers by. As many of us have learned over time, feeding him is counterproductive. He learns nothing from intelligent, informed opinion and responds with still more of his ignorant, arrogant, vile nonsense.
Rob ..Naive tea bagging simpleton huh?Ya mean those folks who were right about everything you were wrong about?Obama care…the economy,and pretty much well everything?As far as using the word tea bagger .It is a word those people abhor and have requested you stop using.A little like African Americans abhor the word Nigger and have requested people stop using it.Do you use that word to refer to the president of the United states?Or is it you just honor those peoples wishes in this country who agree with you- when it comes to using disgusting tags?In using that term you mark your response as trash.
Janson my SAT score was 1543.My grades… straight A.One B in 4 years of college.Went to the same school as your dear leader.I got in with straight As in high school(top of my class)and continued there with straight As after.Med school and so on.How he got in to the law program I have no idea.His Sat score has been reported to be about 1000.Bush was much higher.His grades in under grad not good at all.THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE to go to Harvard.I have never known anyone with grades remotely like that who have gotten in.
Alex you keep using the term troll as if it carries some meaning.To me it is a person Trolling or gathering information about something.This is an insult?The president does not troll all day- everyday in every way?You dont think he gathers information?I suppose the opposite would be people who simply sit….learn nothing…and go on gut instinct without any facts.Bull headed and stupid.Like in the nursery story about the troll under the bridge and the ram.Yeah you can be the ram and Im the troll.And we both now live in liberal kiddie land using stupid terms to define people(a liberal main stay).So Im a troll.The president is a trol.Steven Hawkings is a troll.Weird lib insult that always makes me laugh.
Out of you three libs only Janson did not use a slur.2 out of three is bout average.
Alex I think this about you.You probably believe that anyone who has had a great family from day one…A classic American dream story family who has done so many things right for their children.A family who instilled in their children the desire to work their asses off to do well in school ,and work and to give back by being charitable.Done exceedingly well in life,with all that may entail.That type of person(me) Is your nemesis.That my opinions are without” intelligence or informed opinion.”So Im wondering what type of school ,profession,or success story a person has to of lived for their opinion to be worthy of your esteemed consideration.My guess is only one thing.That they agree with you.Your gut instincts.So in ending here is what I think of you, and hope for OF you.You voted for Obama(give that a moment to sink in).I hope you gain some insight that will help you to be wiser in the future.
Well, to be fair, michael e, I did imply that you’re stupid, and I’m about to call you a liar. 1543, my ass. If you had half a brain, you would have made up a more convincing number. I believe Obama’s schools – UofChicago, Columbia and Harvard – all require adequete spelling and grammer competency for admission. Would you care to make up a story about a recent head trauma while you’re at it?
michael e: As has been pointed out here previously, the only way you could have been admitted to Harvard Medical School is as a cadaver, and you’re not quite brain dead enough to meet the entrance requirements for that either.
Janson and Alex i had to laugh.President Obama himself has said” his spelling and grammar is just rotten”.His wife concurs.It seems you must be left to believe that Harvard has let us both down.Or….could it be we both did well when tested.But now are sloppy ,uncaring examples of anti rule prose?Thats an inside joke you may not get .So Im sorry i never proof read and correct for you.There are any number of apps that could do it.Nope…..could give a rats ass.In my defense I type in a blur usually one handed(dont ask).Sometimes in the car(no Im not driving).Or in odd moments here or there.My staff and my my wife agree with you though.Im a grammatical mess.My handwriting is undecipherable(the nuns did a great job .But Im afraid further education destroyed it)Recently I gave a speech and actually did do a good job typing it out.My girls thought I must of had a ghost writer.My Bill Ayers as it were. (:
Janson did you forget occidental ?I believe Obama went there.No?He did not do well in undergrad.Well Im sorry that my SAT score annoys you.I seemed to of hit a nerve.I gather you did not get as high a score..Dont sweat it.I believe it has little to do with how well you do in school.Obama is a perfect example>And his IQ is reported to be 116.Although mine is much higher -look how far he has gone.He is after all the president.I will never reach as high.So as I say,don’t sweat it.
Alex ,first your genuflexion at the alter of Harvard yard is misplaced and unseemly.People that go there are not Gods.Some are idiots.We had a joke there. What do you call a Doctor who graduates at the bottom of his class,and by the skin of his teeth? A Doctor!!!!! (;
Okay ,so weak minded insults aside, do you have any comments that would explain how Obama got into Harvard?The only avenue I have ever seen or heard of…..Well he simply did not have those qualifications.Actually truth be told I think i know how he got in.It is bandied about enough among Alumni.Im wondering if you do though.Or if you even care.
Hay guys, if we keep it up, the Trolls head might explode from him trying to figure out what a Troll really is. I wish we could pass out whatever it is he is smoking, because Dang, that must be some good $hit.
One of these he is actually going to have come back to reality, but as long as he sucks the teat of Information from his Troll God, Tush Limburger, he is bound to be stuck in LaLa Land for some time. I think the 4 years in college were spent as a custodian, and they finally booted him when they found out he didn’t know the working end of the mop.
Sorry Michael, you did not spend 4 years in any Accredited College. Not with your W.T.T. English and punctuation. You would have written two whole term papers, and they would have booted you out the door so fast there would be scorch marks on the posterior from the Friction. Spent one semester in a community college and I can tell you for a fact that you would have been denied entrance even there based on the current and past practices.
And for the Record, 1) going to the Fux Snooze Nitwork and repeating their Sheeple Bleat is not ‘intelligent posting’ 2) You are entitled to your own Opinions, not your own Facts (which you constantly trot out to ‘prove’ things, 3) A troll is anyone who posts vacuous, inane and vitriolic posts just to get a reaction. So yes, you are a troll.
I know how Obama got into Harvard. As a favor for volunteering in the CIA program for Mars teleportation.
Obviously.
Pad your a hoot.Thanx for the definition of a troll.Though i notice it is different from the three or four other definitions Ive gotten on this sight from contributors….Anyway i will except it as bona fide.And I hereby declare Obama, and his cabinet as well as all his minions as lead trolls.I suppose that would make you and i and everyone else here as small fish.Can you imagine if i had posted the promises made by Obama about his healthcare program?Now there you could of called me a BS spouting troll.What do you do for a living?Im interested because you strike me as one of those guys who believes everything is going swimmingly.And people like me who are on the other side of that coin,must be crazy.Im just not sure.You talk about term papers and things that people my age have not even thought about for 30 years.So Im guessing your about 26.White male.Went to a state college .Maybe some time in a community college.Teacher?Ok that might be a reach.You dont really have any empathy.I think teachers need that.So I do what i do.I have a wonderful blessed life that affords me the opportunity to help people ,and make a very good living from it.So what do you do to enrich this world?Other than insult anyone who disagrees with you?Do tell
Janson read.Pick up an article and read.There is some conjecture how he could of gotten into Harvard.I believe Dick Morris hit it close to the mark.Read what he wrote.It makes at least some sense.It is what people who went there(at least my friends)lean toward.It is not a world wide conspiracy but it is /was unethical in my eyes. But isn’t it amazing we have to argue at all?Why cant anyone just get an answer from the man?Did you ever think the day would come that simple questions are impossible for the president to answer?He is a liar sir.Plain and simple.Remember Obama said he never met his uncle who was in this country illegally?That was repeated by the white house and his election committee .Well this week after he was given citizenship (and not deported)….the uncle admitted Obama lived with him for a time when he started at Harvard.Do you not see that that is what is called a lie?So you and i would be left to argue over the crumbs this liar lets slip.Sad
I remember a quote “liberals when they have nothing to say, always revert to correcting grammar”Of course i hope you and Pad have a good life.That you experience and enjoy the American dream.That your life is filled with as much happiness as mine is.If that is the case….why are you both so embittered?So angry?
Dick Morris? I was just thinking that my toes felt a little wet.
Dick Morris….Top guy in Clintons run, back in the long ago when I worked for him.Now he has a radio show were he sifts through stories giving them his insight?No?Never heard of him?
Sorry, now my toes are dry. Could you moisten them up for me a little? Just like Dick used to. He used to call you Sherry, right? Ms. Rowlands if you’re nasty?
oh I get it.Now we are insulting Clinton and his top people too.Again I should not be surprised.Personal Insult and injury.You do well in the lib mindset.I wonder how do you feel about Stephanopoulos?Another talking head from that time.Are you a fan of Hilary?Or is she open to personal attack?
@ FAIR: Rather than a forum for the subject at hand, nearly all the comment on this posting is about michael e, who has more to say here than all others combined. Is this really what you want?
Thanx Alex.But understand im the only one here bucking the trend.I dont take it personally.This is a very liberal sight.And when someone steps up to point out that a lot of folks just dont feel that way…..It seems personal attacks ensue.Then tit for tat.You are right….back to the subject at hand