Tony Snow is starting out his new job as press secretary, and Bill Sammon writes in the Washington Examiner that after writing pieces criticizing five different news outlets, it's clear "he will be more aggressive than his mild-mannered predecessor, Scott McClellan."
All of the write-ups, entitled "Setting the Record Straight," can be viewed on the White House website.
The most recent two were about the Washington Post and who really gets tax relief, and the AP about military recruiting.
Attacking the Washington Post:
Setting the Record Straight: President Bush's Tax Relief Benefits All Taxpayers
Washington Post Editorial Headline: "The Formula Hasn't Changed: A Windfall For The Rich, And A Hole In The Federal Budget." "Budgetary dishonesty, distributional unfairness, fiscal irresponsibility - by now the words are so familiar, it can be hard to appreciate how damaging this fiscal course will be. ... This Congress and administration are putting the nation deeper and deeper in debt to benefit a sliver of the population that doesn't need the help." (Editorial, "Tax Cuts, Again; The Formula Hasn't Changed: A Windfall For The Rich, And A Hole In The Federal Budget," The Washington Post, 5/11/06)
But According To A News Headline In The Same Day's Washington Post: "Voting On Party Lines, Lawmakers Extend Benefits To Middle Class." (Jonathan Weisman, "House Passes $70 Billion Tax Package; Voting On Party Lines, Lawmakers Extend Benefits To Middle Class," The Washington Post, 5/11/06)
The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Patch Contained In The Tax Relief Package Benefits Millions Of Taxpayers
The Temporary Patch Contained In The Tax Relief Package Enables About 18.2 Million Taxpayers To Avoid Facing Higher Taxes. In 2005, about 4 million taxpayers were affected by the AMT. Without extending the AMT relief through the temporary patch in the tax relief package, this number would rise to 22.2 million taxpayers in 2006.
Extending The President's Capital Gains And Dividend Tax Relief Will Continue To Encourage Investment, Employment, And Wage Growth
Investment Tax Relief Benefits 57 Million American Families Who Directly Or Indirectly Own Stocks.
Dividend Tax Relief Benefits More Than 35 Million Americans, Including Many Seniors, Who Rely On Dividend Income.
The President's Tax Relief Is Fueling America's Economic Growth
More Than 5.2 Million Jobs Have Been Created Since August 2003, And 138,000 Jobs Were Created In April. The unemployment rate is 4.7 percent.
GDP Grew At A Strong 4.8 Percent Annual Rate In The First Quarter. This follows our economic growth of 3.5 percent in 2005 - the fastest rate of any major industrialized nation.
Average Hourly Earnings Have Risen 3.8 Percent Over The Past 12 Months, Their Largest Increase In Nearly Five Years. Hourly compensation rose at a 5.7 percent rate in the first quarter. Personal income rose 0.5 percent in March.
America's Strong And Growing Economy Is Increasing Government Revenue
For This Fiscal Year, The Treasury Department Is Reporting The Highest Annual Tax Receipts In History. To date, tax revenues have increased by 11 percent for FY 2006. Total tax receipts in April 2006 were the second highest in history for a one month period.
Attacking the Associated Press:
Setting the Record Straight: AP's Misleading Military Recruiting ArticleThe Associated Press: "Army Guard, Reserve Fall Short Of April Recruiting Goals." (Lolita C. Baldor, "Army Guard, Reserve Fall Short Of April Recruiting Goals," The Associated Press, 5/10/06)
But The Army National Guard, Air Force Reserve, And Marine Corps Reserve All Have Exceeded Or Achieved Their Year-To-Date Recruitment Goals.
- The Army National Guard Has Recruited 103 Percent Of Its Year-To-Date Goal.
- The Air Force Reserve Has Recruited 105 Percent Of Its Year-To-Date Goal.
- The Marine Corps Reserve Has Recruited 100 Percent Of Its Year-To-Date Goal. (Department Of Defense, "DoD Announces Recruiting And Retention Numbers For April," Press Release, 5/10/06)
For Active Duty Recruiting, All Services Exceeded Their Recruiting Goals In April For The 11th Consecutive Month And Remain Ahead Of Their Year-To-Date Goals. All services are also projected to meet their retention goals for the current fiscal year. (Department Of Defense, "DoD Announces Recruiting And Retention Numbers For April," Press Release, 5/10/06)
The Army Reserve, Air National Guard, And Navy Reserve Fell Short Of Their April Goals Partially Because Of High Active-Duty Retention. "Former active servicemembers have long been the biggest source of reserve-component recruits and a valuable resource, [Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen] Krenke said." (Donna Miles, "Active-Duty Recruiting Tops Goals For 11th Straight Month," American Forces Press Service, 5/10/06)
In April, The Marine Corps Reserve Exceeded Its Recruiting Goal By 1 Percent, And The Air Force Reserve Met Its Goal. (Department Of Defense, "DoD Announces Recruiting And Retention Numbers For April," Press Release, 5/10/06)
Reserve Forces Retention Is High. For April, Army National Guard retention was 110 percent of its cumulative goal, and Air National Guard retention was 102 percent of its cumulative goal. (Department Of Defense, "DoD Announces Recruiting And Retention Numbers For April," Press Release, 5/10/06)
