Times Leaves Out Enormity of Obama-Care's Defeat in Missouri

On Wednesday Monica Davey reported that Missouri, a swing state Obama lost narrowly in 2008, overwhelmingly rejected Obama-care law in a vote aimed at nullifying the federal law passed in late March. But the Times left off the damning results in "In Missouri, A No Vote For Federal Health Law [1]," failing to provide the figures. The Kansas City Star [2] reported: Just over 71 percent favored the ballot question, with 29 percent in opposition, according to unofficial final results."

UPDATE: Around 3PM, Davey updated her story [3] at nytimes.com: "The referendum drew support from 71 percent of nearly 939,000 voters."

Missouri voters on Tuesday easily approved a measure aimed at nullifying the new federal health care law, becoming the first state in the nation where ordinary people made known their dismay over the issue at the ballot box.

The measure was intended to invalidate a crucial element of President Obama's health care law - namely, that most people be required to get health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Supporters of the measure said it would send a firm signal to Washington about how this state, often a bellwether in presidential elections, felt about such a law.

The Times downplayed the issue and emphasized Republican turnout:

The referendum, known as Proposition C, was seen as a first look at efforts by conservatives to gather and rally their forces over the issue. In the end, though, the referendum seemed not to capture the general population's attention. Instead, Republican primary voters (who had the most competitive races on Tuesday) appeared to play a crucial role in the vote's fate.