Just when it seemed Health Care Reform legislation was, if not on life support, at least looking at an extended stay in various Congressional Committees, the media blared it was on the mend. "Senators Close to Health Accord" said the Washington Post. The article went on to claim "An emerging consensus among a bipartisan group of senators is poised to shift the dynamic in the congressional debate over health-care reform and could lead to a final product that sheds many of the priorities that President Obama has emphasized and that have drawn GOP attacks." (source) The same story was picked up by most of the major news outlets. Just one problem - it's not true.

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In response to this bit of "news", Senate Finance Committee Staff Director Russ Sullivan sent out an email saying "Neither an accord nor an announcement is imminent. In fact, significant policy issues remain to be discussed among Members." (source)

President Obama had originally set a deadline for this bill to be passed of August 7 (the last day before the Congressional recess). As that day comes ever closer and public opinion increasingly turns against the legislation, some in the media might be feeling an irresistible urge to help the president they helped to elect. Was the "Senators Close to Health Accord" story a plant from some DNC operative or administration lackey attempting to sway public opinion? Maybe. But considering how quickly and officially it was debunked, I have to believe the media was at least complicit in the plan by not confirming the "facts" in the tradition of professional journalism.