This week the Detroit News gave the public a clear example of how the "drive-by" media fails to serve the public. Last Wednesday their editorial page recycled unedited talking points from industry lobbyists in a plea for more H-1B visas [Expand visas for seasonal, skilled workers, April 2, 2008].

Taking as gospel a study from the one-man National Foundation for American Policy (which the Detroit News describes as a "non-partisan think tank" but which is actually immigration enthusiast  Stuart Anderson), the Detroit News states, "Skilled immigrant workers complement, not replace, U.S. hires."

Ironically, the same day the Detroit News contained a report that directly contradicted the claims on their editorial page. The news pages reported that 400 IT workers from Chrysler were being "outsourced."  One of the two companies receiving this business is Tata, the 6th largest user of H-1B visas.

Tata claims that its wages are 20-25% less than that of U.S. workers.

The Detroit News [Email Nolan Finley, editorial page editor] joins the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post as an editorial pages that do not let the facts get in the way of a good argument.