The "Republicans Pounce" headline has been around so long it has its own urban dictionary definition.
Noah Rothman described the phenomenon nicely three years ago in When Republicans ‘Pounce’:
When political reporters are compelled by necessity to report on subjects that cast liberals in a negative light, nothing is more welcome than a reaction quote from a Republican. If a Democrat or a progressive interest group finds itself in the dock, the press can always count on Republicans to rescue liberals from due opprobrium by virtue of their very existence. The story is never the story; for political reporters and editors alike, the Republican reaction to the story is the preferred prism through which to view events Democrats find… discomforting.
Reporters no doubt seek to continue the tactic without being so obvious as to use the phrase in the title. So here's a variation which appeared on the front page of the 10/10/2018 print edition of the Midland Reporter-Telegram: "Ted Cruz earns fact check on accusation that Beto O'Rourke supported oil tax." Egad! Ted Cruz didn't lie!
The MRT is heavily reliant on wire services and other newspapers to fill its pages. And that article came from dallasnews.com -- click to read it there.
The story was about Beto O'Rourke's vote in the House of Representatives against a resolution which sought to prohibit an Obama proposed $10 per barrel tax on oil pumped out of the ground. But the msm focused on Cruz use of that fact in the campaign. Cruz pounced!
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1:29 PM 10/10/2018
P.S. No one should be surprised at this: Beto O’Rourke: ‘I Would Not Have’ Voted To Confirm Brett Kavanaugh. O'Rourke would be a Chuck Schumer rubber stamp if elected.
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