Rodger Cook: more Republican cliches and talking points

WSIL (Fanna Haile-Selassie & Randy Livingston) did a profile on Rodger Cook, Republican candidate in IL-12.

"I'm the most conservative person in this race, both fiscally and socially."

OK. What does it mean to be fiscally "conservative"? In the real world "fiscal conservatism" looks like stuffing money the pockets of rich people while loading debt onto the middle class... and then whining about the debt "conservatives" created is somehow the responsibility of Democrats.

And the corporate media, like WSIL, passes along the idea that Democrats create debt without even an asterix noting the claim is untrue.

And what is being the "most socially conservative"? Does he do crystal meth with males prostitutes like so many of the leaders of the social conservative movement? Of is he for returning to Jim Crow laws? Maybe he wants to take away the right of women to vote?

"We need to send people like me that don't care about if you're democrat or a republican, I'm a conservative."

As most sixth graders know "Democrat" and "Republican" are proper nouns and therefore should be capitalized.

then spent the rest of his years as a banking and consulting businessman.

It seems like this should be explained better.

Cook supports domestic oil drilling and coal mining, especially in southern Illinois. Easing energy regulations is one of his top goals,

Didn't we just have an oil man president, an oil man vice president and a Republican Congress? How did it work to let the fossil fuel industry to rule the roost in Washington?

"You know what happens when you cut taxes? The people that earn it get to keep the money, spend it, invest it, create jobs with it," he explains.

Again, hasn't this approach been tried? What we got was a bunch of rich people and corporations getting richer and investing their money in businesses that move money around, but don't produce goods and services.

On paper the GDP is up. But in the real world, the economy sucks by every measure that matters to regular folk.

WSIL is part of the Jason Plummer PR team

I feel obligated to comment on "Plummer Eyes Seat in Congress" (WSIL, Emily Finnegan).

Both the Republican and Democratic fields are already crowded;

"Crowded" is a subjective word. I don't think two serious candidates (Harriman and Miller, plus a perennial candidate*) makes the Democratic primary crowded. The choice is clear for Democrats. Harriman is an inept apparatchik and Chris Miller is a nose-to-the-grindstone Army veteran who has been advocating for sensible government policies.

"I think people are looking for a little it of a new direction," Plummer said.

Jason Plummer is right that people want a new direction. But he's implying the the Republicans are offering something new and the corporate media is serving as a microphone stand.

What new policies is Plummer advocating? We've tried the whole "give more money to rich people" policies. Remember the Bush years where the Republicans controlled Congress, the executive branch and the Supreme Court? How did that work out?

The 29-year-old from O'Fallon hopes to be that new direction in the 12th district.

What is Plummer advocating that's new? Seriously. WSIL is basically packaging Republican press release as news.

... a shift toward more conservative ideals mean people are looking for a change.

 You notice how the corporate media makes it sound like there's some groundswell of support for "conservative" policies without ever saying what these "conservative" policies are?

"I think right now the size and scope of government has grown beyond all intents and purposes that anyone would have ever imagined the federal government would be," he told News Three.

Which government policies would Plummer cut? Oh, that's right, "News" Three didn't ask. You notice how "Propaganda" Three didn't mention how Republicans vastly expanded federal spending the last time the Republicans controlled government. Guess it didn't fit the narrative the corporate headquarters wants pushed.

"I've been in the trenches talking about the unemployment rate and working on these fiscal issues for years," [Jason Plummer said.]

Republican policies favor high unemployment so people who own capital can obtain labor more cheaply. That's why Republicans are opposed to working people forming effective labor unions. You notice how Plummer says he's talking about unemployment and not advocating for policies that increase the number of jobs for regular folk?

Plummer works for his family's business, RP Lumber Company, and serves as an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserves.

If Plummer's daddy thinks he's the cat's meow, why doesn't he put junior in charge of the family business? If junior isn't ready to head the family business, why would anyone think he's ready to represent Illinois' Twelfth District in Congress?

For those of us who served in the real military where we have to go where we're ordered, it's a little offensive when rich and connected Republicans get appointed "intelligence" officers in the reserves to bolster their credentials to run for office. Jason Plummer doesn't know shit about being in the military. I challenge him to debate myself or any progressive military veteran. Plummer will come off as a clueless fool.

"If you look at the economic disaster that's occuring right now, I think we need people that have a little big of background in business," Plummer said.

OK, Jaon-whose-daddy-won't-let-him-run-the-family-business, the floor is yours. Based on your extensive business experience, what caused the economic downturn that the United States is currently experiencing?

And, WTF, WSIL! You package Plummer's Republican soundbites without ever making him explain anything. Could you be any more obvious you are shilling for the Republican Party?

Plummer says he will focus on the economy and job creation in this election and favors smaller government. He'd like to repeal President Obama's healthcare plan and slash business regulations.

 Which parts of the Affordable Health Care for America Act would Plummer like to repeal? What is Plummer's plan to control health care costs? Which regulations would Plummer "slash"? Regulations that protect the environment? Regulations that protect workers? Regulations that prevent fraud?

Plummer earned an endorsement from Illinois Conservatives on Tuesday. The group bills itself as a grassroots conservative organization.

Journalism is dead. I'd never heard of "Illinois Conservatives", so I put Wikipedia and Google to work. There is no entry for the organization on Wikipedia, but Illinois Conservatives have a website. The organization which does not list a number of members or past accomplishments has one endorsed candidate: Jason Plummer.

Did WSIL not do a web search on the organization before listing the endorsement? What the fuck do WSIL journalists and producers learn in J-school?

When people ask me why I support Occupy Chicago I observe we have a corrupt and dysfunctional economic system. And the political system and the media that are supposed to serve as checks on the economic system are also corrupt and dysfunctional.

I want to thank WSIL for providing such a clear example of how our corporate media has become corrupt and dysfunctional. Providing an accurate picture of what's happening in elections and public policy is clearly taking a backseat to helping the Republican Party advance its talking points.


* On Politics1.com Kenneth "Bud" Wiezer is listed as a "frequent candidate". This means he's run at least three times. Searching both Open Secrets and the Illinois State Board of Elections I find no evidence that either he raised enough money to create an official committee or that he contributed enough to a cause to be listed as a campaign contributor.