David Carr identifies one of causes of the increasing lack of rationality in political discussions these days.

In part, the outrage and hyperbole work because the mainstream media, insecure about their own status in an atomizing world, play into the tyranny of split-screen coverage where almost any claim — no matter how outlandish — becomes one side in “an interesting debate.” When not listening to talking heads, the traditional news outlets go to great efforts to get a microphone on vox populi. If the people, even if it is some unknown number, are hopping mad, we don’t want to be the last to tell you about it.

It is well past time for the MSM to cease merely “reporting” on the various claims. “He said, he said” is not good enough. Stubborn things called facts do exist. The media owes its public a clear statement of those facts, in addition to merely repeating the claims of others. One would have thought that the media would better at dealing in facts after being snowed in the build-up to the Iraq war. But they continue the same behavior. You know a story is fiction, when it begins with the words: Some people claim… .