CNN's Roberts failed to challenge Romney on taxes falsehood

Summary: On CNN's American Morning, John Roberts did not challenge Mitt Romney's suggestion that, with "an economy in trouble," Sen. Barack Obama will raise taxes. Roberts did not note that, in fact, Obama has proposed tax cuts for low- and middle-income families and for those making less than $250,000 per year.

On the September 17 edition of CNN's American Morning, anchor John Roberts did not challenge former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's suggestion that, with "an economy in trouble," Sen. Barack Obama will raise taxes. Roberts did not note in response that Obama has proposed cutting taxes for low- and middle-income families and for those making less than $250,000 per year, or that Sen. John McCain's own chief economic adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, has reportedly said that it is inaccurate to claim that "Barack Obama raises taxes."

In contrast with Roberts, later that day on CNN's Larry King Live, King disputed Donald Trump's claim that "Obama wants to increase your taxes drastically," saying, "Now, in all fairness, he says he doesn't. ... But, Donald, Obama said 95 percent would be reduced under his plan."

During the segment, Roberts asked Romney, "[W]hat's the first advice you would give Senator John McCain about handling the current [financial] crisis?" Romney responded: "The worst thing you can do with an economy in trouble is raise taxes, and I really would call on Barack Obama to say, you know what? It's not the time to raise taxes." Rather than question Romney's suggestion, Roberts asked him about the federal government's bailout of the American International Group.

In its analysis of Obama's and McCain's tax proposals, the Tax Policy Center concluded that "Obama would give larger tax cuts to low- and moderate-income households and pay some of the cost by raising taxes on high-income taxpayers. In contrast, McCain would cut taxes across the board and give the biggest cuts to the highest-income households."

Media Matters for America has documented a trend of the media uncritically repeating or not challenging the McCain campaign's claim that Obama will raise taxes.

From the September 17 edition of CNN's American Morning:

ROBERTS: John McCain supporter, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney joins us live from West Newton, Massachusetts. Governor, it's good to see you.

With your vast experience in the business world here, and in financial markets in particular, what's the first advice you would give Senator John McCain about handling the current crisis?

ROMNEY: Well, first of all, the Federal Reserve has taken the appropriate action to make sure that institutions -- which could, if they failed, hurt a lot of people -- that they don't fail. Secondly, you're going to have to make sure that we don't add new government spending programs and we don't raise taxes.

The worst thing you can do with an economy in trouble is raise taxes, and I really would call on Barack Obama to say, you know what? It's not the time to raise taxes. It is instead a time to smooth the market out, to try and rekindle the growth of our economy, lower taxes, and get ourselves from sending $700 billion a year to foreign countries for oil. Let's keep that money here. Let's drill in America. It's something Barack Obama opposes -- he's wrong on that one.

ROBERTS: Let me come back, Governor, to the point you just made about the bailout of AIG. John McCain says the Fed should not be bailing out these financial institutions.

From the September 17 edition of CNN's Larry King Live:

KING: Obama or McCain, who'd handle this better?

TRUMP: Well, I know John McCain, and John McCain's a great guy, a tremendous guy. I've known him for a long time, and I'm with him, and I'm with him based on the fact that I have great knowledge of John McCain. Also, this is not the right time for tax increases and Obama wants to increase your taxes drastically. So, this is not -- this is a very --

KING: Now, in all fairness, he says he doesn't. He --

TRUMP: -- fragile time. I mean, this is not the right time.

KING: But, Donald, Obama said 95 percent would be reduced under his plan.

—D.C.P.