The media watchdog group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting has in recent days highlighted the fact that public television’s Charlie Rose show has provided an absurdly one-sided take on the debate about how to address the federal deficit.
"(The) Rose show’s discussion of the White House deficit commission has been dominated by right-leaning guests who were supportive of the plan put forward by commission co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson," argued FAIR in a pointed critique issued November 16.
That critique noted that — and an action alert associated with it — pointed out that economist Dean Baker and other experts had skewered the report of the commission co-chairs as "fundamentally flawed."
Tonight, Rose will feature Baker—who works with the the Center for Economic and Policy Research—on his program, along with Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a member of the deficit commission who has developed a progressive alternative to the Simpson-Bowles proposal. Unlike the co-chairs, Schakowsky protects Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
FAIR’s claiming victory—graciously.
"FAIR thanks those who wrote to the Charlie Rose Show and encouraged them to expand their guest list. And the Charlie Rose show should be commended for taking these criticisms seriously," the group announced this afternoon. "The fact that the program is broadening its discussion is a testament to the power of media activism."
