MediaMatters' Eric Boehlert catches the AP in some serious hackery regarding the cost of President-elect Obama's inauguration celebration.
MM:
It's hard to find journalism more shoddy than this, courtesy of the AP's Matt Apuzzo [emphasis added]:
The price tag for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration gala is expected to break records, with some estimates reaching as high as $150 million. Despite the bleak economy, however, Democrats who called on President George W. Bush to be frugal four years ago are issuing no such demands now that an inaugural weekend of rock concerts and star-studded parties has begun.
Where does that jaw-dropping number of $150 million come from? The AP never says. It doesn't quote anybody, it doesn't point to any facts. There's no nothing. The AP builds an entire story around how much Obama's inauguration might cost (why stop at $150 million?), yet never substantiates the what-if estimates.
As we said, journalism doesn't get much worse than that.
Nope, it really doesn't. The Villagers never get tired of the left-right false equivalency, huh?
Check out Eric's in-depth examination over the phony controversy.
