Pfffft!
This morning, the Senate voted 68 to 31 to avert the filibuster of a gun control bill – even though senators have yet to see the Toomey-Manchin language regarding background checks. Here’s how a gleeful Politico took the news:
BREAKING: Senate votes 68-31 to end a Republican filibuster blocking the start of debate on a new gun-control bill #breaking
— POLITICO (@politico) April 11, 2013
A “Republican filibuster”?
https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/322374163094446083
Tsk, tsk, Politico. Your bias is showing. The need to paint the GOP as obstructionists trumps the need for honesty:
The Senate on Thursday ended a GOP filibuster on a new gun control bill, clearing the way for debate to begin on a hugely emotional issue that has dominated headlines since the tragic December shooting in Newtown, Conn.
Here’s the thing: 16 Republicans voted in favor of cloture:
So far Hoeven, Ayotte, Chambliss, Collins, Flake, Isakson, McCain, Burr, Coburn so far all vote to end filibuster on gun control #GOP
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) April 11, 2013
Toomey, Graham, Alexander, Corker vote to end guns filibuster #GOP
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) April 11, 2013
16 GOP senators voted to begin debate on gun control bill. Some surprises, to me at least: Burr and Hoeven http://t.co/Epxo7zf4gx
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) April 11, 2013
In a follow-up tweet, Politico writers John Bresnahan and Dan Berman noted that senators split from their party, though their article still called it a “GOP filibuster”:
Senators who split with their party on guns http://t.co/yOd4LwV80z
— POLITICO (@politico) April 11, 2013
Sixteen Republicans split with their party leaders and voted Thursday to end the GOP filibuster of gun control legislation and begin what will be a contentious Senate debate on the issue.
…
Two Democrats split with their party: Sens. Mark Begich of Alaska and Mark Pryor.
But, somehow, this is a Republican filibuster.
https://twitter.com/BuzzFeedAndrew/status/322373508300685312
https://twitter.com/Rschrim/status/322375436413833216
Politico isn’t alone in its disingenousness:
Senate votes to cut off GOP filibuster on gun bill, 68-31
— HuffPost Politics (@HuffPostPol) April 11, 2013
Goodbye, GOP gun control filibuster http://t.co/zns3WAqKHA Senate accrued the 60 votes needed to kick off debate on gun control legislation
— Hardball (@hardball) April 11, 2013
Breaking: Senate breaks GOP filibuster on gun bill http://t.co/S6GpjctMsL
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 11, 2013
So, if 16 Republicans voted against it, and two Democrats voted for it, how is it a GOP filibuster?
@lachlan Didn't 16 Republicans vote FOR cloture?
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) April 11, 2013
https://twitter.com/Rschrim/status/322383228906373120
It isn’t.
Take note, Politico et al.:
https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/322373257636483072
That’s good advice. Now put your bias away and do your jobs.
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