WHAA? - AT 7:18 P.M. ET:  As they say, you cannot make this up.  From The Hill:

The president said he is "happy to look at" bills before Congress that would give struggling news organizations tax breaks if they were to restructure as nonprofit businesses.

"I haven't seen detailed proposals yet, but I'll be happy to look at them," Obama told the editors of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Toledo Blade in an interview.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has introduced S. 673, the so-called "Newspaper Revitalization Act," that would give outlets tax deals if they were to restructure as 501(c)(3) corporations. That bill has so far attracted one cosponsor, Cardin's Maryland colleague Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D).

COMMENT:  You'd think someone would have enough common sense to whisper in the president's ear, "Uh, sir, maybe it's not a good idea for the government to bail out news organizations that cover the government.  You know, looks funny."

Except to this administration.  Hey, own a car company, own a newspaper.  What's the difference? 

It's understandable that the two Maryland senators would sponsor the "Newspaper Revitalization Act."  A good chunk of the Washington press corps lives in the Maryland suburbs around the capital.

September 20, 2009