Four cartoons, four lies

On March 8 The S-R outdid itself. All four political cartoons were misleading.

Lie 1: Obama is the puppet of “big labor.” Fact: Labor isn’t that big anymore. But the five largest health insurance companies made $12.2 billion profit last year. Even so, they raised rates disproportionately and evicted 2.7 million Americans from their health plans. Who is the puppet?

Lie 2: Reconciliation voting in the Senate violates democracy. Fact: It sets aside the filibuster and lets the majority rule. That’s democracy.

Lie 3: The cost of ramping up health care will cost $2.5 trillion over 10 years. Fact: According to the Congressional Budget Office, trusted by both sides, it will be around $1.3 trillion with plans to pay for it. Remember when President Bush hailed a $1.1 trillion Medicare drug bill with no plan to pay for it?

Lie 4: Obama is trying to corral the Wall Street banks with silly string. Fact: He would like to do more. According to Roll Call, Senate Republican leadership has begun meeting with big bank lobbyists, with the hope of little or no regulation. The Great Recession came to us courtesy of the free market.

“Liberal media”? Compared to whom?

Larry Winters

Cheney