David Warsh - who tends to lean conservative in his political orientation - gives a thoughtful and impassioned defense of the New York Times’ coverage (by David Firestone) of the recent legislative battles over the child tax credit:
the power of Firestone’s stories derive from the stark contrast between one of the Republican Party’s central claims for the tax cuts - that every taxpayer would benefit from it, that no child would be “left behind” - and the facts. The story was surprising, illuminating, significant. The developments were, in short, news….
In the superheated partisan atmosphere of Washington and New York, at a time when The New York Times is routinely accused by ideologues of “lying” and “slanting the news,” Firestone’s stories stand out as a shining example of what good newspapers are supposed to do. They uncovered an unexpected aspect of the ongoing truth of things.
This tax credit issue may not have much long-term importance - it’s not a huge short-term stimulus, even if expanded to lower-income families and in any case it’s a temporary measure appended primarily to sell the dividend tax cut. But it’s a perfect illustration of the Republican Party’s attempt to play salt of the earth while cringing if they’re forced to pass legislation actually helping lower-income taxpayers.
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