TPM - "New Right-Wing Meme: Education Spending = 'Money-Laundering' For Dems"

[TomCADem]

It will be interesting to see how long before this meme begins to also appear on DU, since the entire media is right wing, not just Fox News. Fox News starts the meme. The rest of the corporate media then adopts the narrative. Before you know it, even DUers will be attacking Democratic efforts to save the jobs of thousands of teachers.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/new-right-wing-meme-education-spending-money-laundering-for-dems.php

An amusing meme has popped up on the right, opposing the state education aid bill that passed last week: It's not just bad policy from big-spending Washington liberals -- it's a criminal enterprise!

Here's how the logic goes: President Obama and the Democrats spent a lot of money to prop up school districts in the midst of a tough economy and revenue shortfalls at the district level. Much of that money will pay teachers; some of that money will then go to union dues; in turn, the unions will spend money to campaign for Democrats. Ergo, the whole bill was an act of money laundering, to have the federal government fund Democratic campaigns.

As Greg Sargent pointed out, Rep. Michele Bachmann made the charge last week during an appearance on Fox Business Network. "Taxpayer money will essentially be laundered through the public employee unions, and spent to reelect those same Democrats this fall," Bachmann said, speaking about the $26 billion in state aid for education. "And it will be used to go after the Republicans who refused to vote for the program."

A bit later during the program, Sharron Angle then chimed in: "The emergency is only in Harry Reid's mind. As Michele put it so succinctly, this is an emergency for the Democrats, a way to solidify the base, if you will, with our taxpayer dollars."

[bluestateguy]

1. And if the teachers got laid off?

then your precious taxpayer dollars would be paying for unemployment benefits.

[TomCADem]

2. Easy, the GOP will call such benefits...

Money laundering as well and the corporate media will run with it.

[Winterblues]

3. So are they suggesting somehow government money is dirty?

That it needs laundering? Do they even understand the concept? I think it is just a soundbite that sounds bad so they use it against Democrats when there is :crazy: there...