A slew of Tax Day protests across the nation yesterday generated extensive media coverage. ABC World News said "the self-styled tea parties were aimed squarely" at President Obama and the "Democratic leaders in Congress -- and aimed at garnering media attention as well." ABC added, "Cheered on by Fox News and talk radio, the hundreds of tea parties today were designed to protest the bailouts, the stimulus plan," and Obama's budget. The CBS Evening News said the protesters "are angry about an increase in government spending and the increased taxes they fear will follow." NBC Nightly News led with the story, reporting on the "day of protests around the country, organized on the Internet and by some cable TV personalities to allow taxpayers to vent about how their money is spent." On CNN's Situation Room, Wolf Blitzer noted that across the country, "many groups were small but the anger was large." But some questioned whether the protests were a genuine grassroots event, with the Los Angeles Times, for example, titling its front-page report "Republicans Stage 'Tea Party' Protests Against Obama."
The coverage itself has become part of the story. On CNN's Situation Room, Howard Kurtz commented, "Much of the media seems to have chosen sides for 'tea day.'" Fox News portrayed the protests "as a big story, CNN as a modest story, and MSNBC as a great story to make fun of. And for most major newspapers, it's a nonstory." The Politico notes that "on 'America's Newsroom' Wednesday morning, Fox News host Megyn Kelly declared that 'it's tea party time, from sea to shining sea.' A short while later, 'anti-tax tea parties' rose to the top of the network's Hot List." In the Washington Post, Dana Milbank writes that Fox News "tried to argue that it was not behind yesterday's coast-to-coast events," but Fox analyst Tobin Smith, "who took the stage" at a protest in Washington, "evidently didn't get the memo" adding that Smith told "more than 500 mud-spattered" demonstrators "On behalf of Fox News Channel...I want to say: Welcome to the Comedy Channel of America, Washington, D.C."
The New York Times reports, "The occasion was largely created by the clamor of cable news and fueled with the financial and political support of current and former Republican leaders." Much more positive toward the "grassroots" origin of the rallies is the Washington Times, which says they "showcased successful efforts by conservatives to mobilize thousands of participants via Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets." Bloomberg News says the protests were "planned by conservative online groups," and "inspired by CNBC's Rick Santelli, who called for a 'Chicago tea party' during a segment in February to protest the Obama administration's policies."
Texas Governor Raises Topic Of Secession The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who attended a tea party rally in Austin, "made it clear that he doesn't see the need to secede and isn't advocating it," but "he said there's no question that it's on the mind of some Texans." The Politico notes Perry has endorsed a "Texas state House resolution affirming the state's sovereignty."
Media reports last night and this morning tended to put President Obama's pledge to reform the tax system in the context of Wednesday's tea party protests. ABC World News reported, "Faced with tax protests around the country," Obama "promised to make future April 15ths less painful, saying he wants -- and will work on -- a simpler tax code." The CBS Evening News said the President's promise was "of little comfort to thousands of Americans who held protests all over the country," holding "modern-day Boston tea parties."
The AP notes Obama "met with several working families to underscore his efforts to make the tax code more fair and less complex." The Wall Street Journal reports Obama "said his policies had already cut taxes for 95% of American workers, including most of those gathered at the protests." On CNN's Situation Room, Wolf Blitzer said, "Obama didn't specifically take note of the Tea Parties today, but he did appear to be responding to some of the protesters."
Obamas Report $2.6 Million Income To Bidens' $269,000 NBC Nightly News noted the Obamas "reported income of more than $2.6 million, paid $855,000 in federal taxes, and donated more than $172,000 to charities." The President, added, NBC, "sold a lot of books last year, no doubt. And paid a hefty amount in federal income tax." The Chicago Tribune reports Vice President Biden and Jill Biden "had a total household income of $269,256 from a US Senate salary, teaching and royalties from the audio rights to a book."
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The Wall Street Journal reports the Obama Administration is today "expected to release some operational details" of a CIA interrogation program "and its legal rationale, while seeking to keep secret the names of detainees and the way techniques were applied to particular prisoners." With Administration lawyers still "deliberating what portions of three memos would be released" yesterday, the two officials "said the administration plans to propose redacting parts of the memos," including "the prisoner names" and "certain operational details of interrogations."
However, on the "eve of an important test" of the President's "oft-stated commitment to transparency," The Politico reports Attorney General Eric Holder yesterday cautioned that his "openness pledge has its limits." Speaking at West Point, Holder said, "Even as we usher in a new period of openness and transparency, many national security decisions must by necessity be made in a manner that protects our ability to gather intelligence, investigate threats and execute wars." The AP reports Holder, in his speech, "insisted that even when the government must act in secrecy for national security reasons, 'we must be most vigilant in relying on the rule of law to govern our conduct.'"
The New York Times reports on its front page that the National Security Agency "intercepted private e-mail messages and phone calls of Americans in recent months on a scale that went beyond the broad legal limits established by Congress last year." Several intelligence officials, "as well as lawyers briefed about the matter," said the NSA had been engaged in "overcollection" of domestic communications of Americans, which they described "as significant and systemic, although one official said it was believed to have been unintentional."
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The AP reports that ex-Congressman Pat Toomey (R) announced yesterday that he would mount a second primary challenge to Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter (R), whom USA Today notes he came within 17,000 votes of defeating in 2004.
In a blog posting, The Politico reported that Norm Coleman (R) "doesn't have much support back home for contesting the results of the Minnesota Senate race," with a new Public Policy Polling (D) survey showing 63% of Minnesota voters believe he should "concede the race" to Al Franken (D). Meanwhile, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Coleman and Franken "have spent roughly $12 million combined since the November election to pay for the recount and ensuing trial in their protracted U.S. Senate race."
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The 2008 elections may be long over, but the fundraising operations that powered the race are still active. The Politico (4/16, Vogel) reports that according to "a report filed" yesterday, "Obama for America, the fundraising juggernaut that powered" Barack Obama's "ascent to the presidency, spent nearly $9.5 million in the first three months of this year, including $684,000 on telemarketing and print and online advertising, $994,000 on event staging and $310,000 on payroll and taxes." Separately, The Politico (4/16, Vogel) reports that during the 1st quarter, Hillary Clinton brought in $5.6 million to pay debts owed by her presidential campaign, and paid them down by $3.7 million.
The Hill reported on its website that ex-Delaware Lt. Gov. John Carney (D) "announced Wednesday he will challenge" DE-AL Rep. Mike Castle (R), "who is thought to be mulling a run for the Senate."
The New York State Board of Elections is reporting today that Scott Murphy (D) holds an 86-vote lead over Jim Tedisco (R) in the NY20 special election as counting of absentee ballots continues, and The Politico notes that returns from GOP-friendly Saratoga County yesterday were not enough to boost Tedisco into the lead, as some thought might happen.
CQ Politics reports Public Policy Polling (D) survey conducted April 8-11 shows state Attorney General Roy Cooper (D) leading North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr (R) 41%-37% in a hypothetical 2010 general election match-up.
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Jay Leno: "According to MSNBC, there's a big problem with identity theft affecting electronic tax filing. People are stealing other people's identities, filing taxes in their name, and then getting their refund check. Today, half the Obama Administration said, 'That's what happened to us!'"
Craig Ferguson: "President Obama said today" he "wants to make the tax code so simple that even Joe Biden can understand it."
Craig Ferguson: "I've got no problem paying taxes. That's why I wasn't qualified to be in Obama's Cabinet."
Jimmy Fallon: "Well, hey, it's tax day today. ... It's Wednesday, April 15th. But if you don't get" your taxes "done in time, don't worry about it. The good news is you may be on your way to an Obama Cabinet position."
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