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Current Articles
Chaldean Justice League has noticed an ongoing and orchestrated bias in media. Presenting information in an unfair and unjust way seeds a mindset that bears the fruit of injustice. The propaganda used by the media has been recorded and captured by the Media Research Center.
We share their findings with the Chaldean community as a demonstration of media propaganda and the injustice born of such fraudulent journalism. The covert attempt to change the will of the people through propaganda is in itself corrupt.
NBC's Mitchell Touts Liberal 'Good Republican' Chris Shays on GOP
Wed, 20 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Who did MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell feature to respond to RNC Chairman Michael Steele's Tuesday speech about the future of the Republican Party? Chris Shays, the liberal, former Republican Congressman with a lifetime American Conservative Union score of 44, appeared on Andrea Mitchell Reports to critique the chairman of the Republican National Committee. After Shays insisted that Dick Cheney shouldn't be deciding who is and isn't a solid member of the GOP, Mitchell complimented: "Chris Shays, a good Republican." Responding to the Steele speech, Mitchell pontificated, "No mention of Dick Cheney. No mention of Rush Limbaugh. Is he [Steele] trying to move the party to a broader party, one that would include you? You were the last standing moderate from the northeast."
PBS's Tavis Smiley in Time: 'Capitalism is Like a Child'
Time magazine is not wild about capitalism. In a "business roundtable" on the "future of capitalism," Time assembled several liberals to decry the idea: PBS host Tavis Smiley, blog founder Arianna Huffington, and soul singer John Legend all found the need for capitalism to have a large dose of government intervention. Smiley was frankest: "I don't think that left to its own devices, capitalism moves along smoothly and everyone gets treated fairly in the process. Capitalism is like a child: if you want the child to grow up free and productive, somebody's got to look over the shoulder of that child."
Today Show Crew 'Dazzled' by Michelle Obama's Night Out at the Met
NBC's Matt Lauer and Al Roker, on Tuesday's Today show, revealed they enjoyed a "nice" evening at the theater the night before, in the presence of Michelle Obama, as she "dazzled New York City for a second time," when she visited the Metropolitan Opera House. After an Amy Robach piece that celebrated Mrs. Obama's return to the Big Apple, Roker and Lauer bragged that they too were in attendance at the American Ballet Theater Spring Gala, along with the First Lady, as Roker gushed: "It was fantastic!"
ABC's Diane Sawyer Pleads for European-Style Gas Tax
Good Morning America co-host Diane Sawyer on Tuesday aggressively lobbied for the Obama administration to install a European-style gas tax on the United States. Talking to Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, about Obama's plans for increased fuel standards, she began: "Why not just go to a gas tax, for instance, which would accomplish a reduction in the use of gasoline, dependence on foreign oil right away?" Sawyer would proceed to ask variations on this question six times. Citing calls for a gas tax by New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, she pressed: "If you really want to change the fuel patterns of this country, and if you want to reduce dependence on foreign oil, not by 2015 or 2016, but right now, there is one way to do it. It's the way Europe has been doing it. And that is a gasoline tax."
Sanchez and Slater Agree Bush 'Presided Over a Reign of Bullies'
CNN anchor Rick Sanchez and Dallas Morning News political writer Wayne Slater agreed on Tuesday's Newsroom program that former President George W. Bush appeared to be "controlled by a bunch of bullies," or that he was "presiding over a reign of bullies, with [Dick] Cheney and [Donald] Rumsfeld and Karl Rove pushing a partisan agenda." Later, as President Obama was getting ready to speak at a meeting with small business owners, Slater sought to correct the conservative critics of the administration's economic policy: "You have the right wing pounding on him day after day for the...bail-outs...a liberal, a socialist -- and yet, here you have a guy who really is tracking a fairly moderate line."
ABC Regrets California's 'Unwillingness to Raise Taxes'
A Tuesday story on ABC's World News, which ignored soaring state spending, reflected frustration with California voters for the anticipated rejection of ballot initiatives to raise taxes as reporter Laura Marquez blamed the Golden State's budget deficit on an "unwillingness to raise taxes" stretching all the way back to 1978's Proposition 13. In fact, though personal income tax collections "dropped 14% last year," a Tuesday Wall Street Journal article noted they "soared 70% from 2002 to 2007."
CNN's Whitfield: Have Catholics 'Evolved' on the Moral Issues?
Tue, 19 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Minutes after she praised President Obama on Sunday for his "courageous" decision to accept the invitation to speak at Notre Dame, CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield played the role of liberal advocate for the President's commencement address, grilling one Catholic guest who questioned the university's decision, while going easy on her other guest who was happy to see Obama speak there. Just as MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell had done on May 14, Whitfield equivocated between the issues of abortion and the death penalty, along with war, in her question to Raymond Arroyo of the Catholic television network EWTN: "So does the death penalty fall into that and also wars...does that fall into that as well?" Later, when Arroyo brought up how the Catholic teaching on abortion wouldn't change, even if most of the Notre Dame graduates agreed with the decision to bring the President to campus, the CNN anchor replied: "Well, might it suggest something else, that perhaps the Catholic majority has evolved in its opinion of certain things....Perhaps, it means that there's a greater understanding in some of the areas that you say...once upon a time there wasn't."
Dire Couric Cites Great Depression, Kids Will Be 'Lost Generation'
Katie Couric sees America through a very dark prism. On Monday, she launched a new "Children of the Recession" series, in collaboration with USA Today, with an op-ed in "the nation's newspaper" in which she speculated today's kids may become the "Recession Generation" since "in some ways, I think they already are," or the "innocent victims could become the Lost Generation." Then, on Monday's CBS Evening News, she portrayed America as in such a bad way that it reminded her of the Great Depression, asserting the impact of the recession "may be" to children "what the depression was to an earlier generation." In a story on the "Safe Families for Children" program that helps overwhelmed families hand their kids temporarily to other families, Couric raised the most ominous comparison: "Volunteer families stepping in during tough times is reminiscent of the Great Depression when parents in dire straits sent their children to live with relatives or other people in the community." In the USA today op-ed Couric denigrated the kind of news she's presented as dealing with "things and places that are cold, vague, incomprehensible" (quite an endorsement for her newscast!), before pivoting to how the real news is an anecdote-based recounting of the plight of a few kids.
Matthews Likens Cheney to Stalker Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction
Chris Matthews, on the syndicated The Chris Matthews Show over the weekend, likened Dick Cheney's recent media appearances, to defend the Bush administration and to criticize Obama on national security policy, to Glenn Close's stalker character from the 1987 film Fatal Attraction. Before playing a clip of the movie Matthews made the cinematic comparison: "Well some say Cheney's refusal to move on reminds them of Groundhog Day but you could also say it's like that more frighteningly relentless Glenn Close in 'Fatal Attraction.' Like Cheney she was not gonna be ignored." After playing the clip in which the Close character utters the famous quote, "I'm not be ignored, Dan."
Cuomo Debates Priest Over 'Angels And Demons' -- But Only Online
After promoting the controversial, religion-baiting film Angels and Demons for a combined 19 minutes last week on Good Morning America, ABC finally featured a Catholic priest to object to the movie. Unfortunately, the interview was relegated only to the network's Web site, not the ABC morning show. (Considering the four days of fawning coverage to the film's stars last week, this hardly seems fair.) Father Edward Beck appeared on the Internet-based "Focus on Faith" to talk to Chris Cuomo and point out the inaccuracies. Beck critiqued the filmmakers behind Angels and Demons, which falsely features the Catholic Church participating in a brutal massacre of a secret society, asserting that they should be more responsible for "doing their homework, even with a work of fiction." Cuomo bizarrely responded by claiming Beck needed to consider "the atheistic [position], which is, 'It's all fiction.' So, the church doesn't have any right to hold its own truth when it is a fiction in and of itself." He reiterated the disbelievers take, stating, "Anything you say you believe in is based on a fiction, because God is a fiction. So, what's wrong with having a fiction about fiction?"
CBS's Harry Smith 'Regrets' Not Speaking Out Against Iraq War
Mon, 18 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
On Friday's CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen read some viewer email, including a question from one woman who asked: "Would you be willing to jeopardize your job to report something your bosses or the government wanted to keep hidden?" Co-host Harry Smith used the question as an opportunity to voice his opposition to the Iraq war: "You know, I remember being in Iraq before the war started, we were there just a couple of -- a couple of weeks before the war started and it came, it was really, really clear to me on the ground that this didn't make any sense. And I remember coming back, but there was all this sort of preponderance of opinion that this -- this thing should go on. And I kept thinking to myself, 'this doesn't -- there's -- I'm not connecting the dots everybody else is connecting.' And if I have a regret in my reporting life that I didn't stand up then and say, 'this doesn't make any sense.'"
CNN's Chetry Uses Left's Spin on Rush Limbaugh and Wanda Sykes
On Friday's American Morning, CNN anchor Kiran Chetry used the liberal talking points about Wanda Sykes and Rush Limbaugh, the two "Wingnuts of the Week," according to John Avlon of The Daily Beast, Tina Brown's Huffington Post knock-off site. After playing clips from Sykes' now-infamous routine which bashed the talk show host and wished him dead, Chetry replied, "So, some would say, wait, she's just a comedian, and she was trying to get laughs at the correspondents' dinner. So what's the harm in her joke, and why do her comments qualify her for wingnut of the week?" Later, the anchor asked Avlon concerning Limbaugh, "He's certainly really dominated the voice of the GOP for -- for the past several months, and, you know, the left has been saying he's the new voice of the Republican Party. Why did you pick him as the wingnut of the week?"
CNN's Whitfield Hails as 'Courageous' Obama's Notre Dame Speech
Just under an hour before President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon, CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield applauded Obama's anticipated comments, addressing the controversy of the Catholic institution awarding an honorary degree to a politician who does not uphold pro-life policies, as "very courageous." She then fretted over if Obama had "a lot of angst" before the speech given the controversy, specifically "whether there was angst on his part about whether he wanted to make his commencement speech one that would use the words abortion, that would use the words embryonic stem cell research?"
Excuse Pelosi; Hope 'Moderate' Will Save GOP from Rush Limbaugh
Asked "why does it matter" what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "knew or did not know" about the "enhanced interrogation" of terror suspects, Newsweek's Evan Thomas and NPR's Nina Totenberg failed to address Pelosi's hypocrisy in now condemning others for what she knew about years go, as both dismissed the relevance of her evolving memory. On Friday's Inside Washington, Thomas insisted "it doesn't" matter, maintaining "this is all noise, this is all noise." Totenberg declared "I don't think it matters, except that it is a diversion that is encouraged by former Bush people who don't want to have this conversation." On the facts, Totenberg came down on Pelosi's side as she charged the CIA "did mislead" the Speaker: "I think it's entirely plausible -- and maybe even probable -- that the CIA told the technical truth in a way that did mislead Nancy Pelosi." Thomas, Editor at Large with Newsweek after stints as Assistant Managing Editor and Washington bureau chief, contended "Rush Limbaugh is good" for the Republican Party since he'll "take it down as low as it can go" so Republicans "make complete fools of themselves" and "then maybe," Thomas yearned, "a moderate can come in and rescue them."
After Three Weeks, Pelosi's Anti-CIA Rant Pushes Nets to Action?
After three weeks of virtual silence, all three broadcast networks provided full reports Thursday night about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's shifting story about what she knew about the interrogation methods used against al Qaeda terrorists, methods that liberals have decried as criminal torture. Friday morning, NBC and CBS also provided full reports, but ABC's Good Morning America weirdly relegated Pelosi's rant that the CIA "misleads us all the time" to a brief, 28-second report during the 8am ET hour.
CBS and NBC Spike Panetta's Rejection of Pelosi's Smear of CIA
After ignoring for three weeks House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's denial she was briefed by the CIA about how water-boarding was being used, only to decide it was news on Thursday when Pelosi at a press conference accused the CIA of "lying" and of "misleading" the Congress, on Friday the CBS and NBC evening newscasts fell silent again despite the backlash from CIA Director Leon Panetta, a former Democratic Congressman. He issued an emphatic statement about how "it is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress" and declaring: "CIA officers briefed truthfully on the interrogation of Abu Zubaida, describing the 'enhanced techniques that had been employed.'" That was enough of a news hook for ABC's World News to make it the Friday night lead, as fill-in anchor George Stephanopoulos teased his top story: "Tonight, firing back: The CIA Director toe-to-toe with the Speaker. He says Congress was told the truth about interrogations." Reporter Jonathan Karl recounted how Panetta is "pushing back hard against the Speaker of the House" and that Republicans are raising her hypocrisy in advocating punishment for those who authorized a technique of which she was aware.
CBS on Pelosi: 'Is This Over?'; ABC Hails Obama's 'Masterstroke'
A night after the CBS Evening News ignored CIA Director Leon Panetta's rebuke of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Saturday's newscast continued the blackout as anchor Jeff Glor only mentioned Pelosi in setting up a question by explaining she "put herself in a very awkward position" when "she said the CIA lied to her or misled her about water-boarding," before he asked Time magazine veteran John Dickerson: "Is this something that's over for the Speaker now or does this continue?" Though the whole topic is apparently already over for CBS News, Dickerson maintained "it's not over for the Speaker" as he proceeded to empathize with her plight by suggesting she's "got to hope another issue...blows her off the front pages" and that "when Congress goes home for their recesses that somehow she gets out of the news cycle because she's still in a fix." But not one that interests CBS News. Nor NBC, which like ABC on Saturday night, didn't utter Pelosi's name -- possibly because all three evening newscasts were so exited about what they made their lead stories: President Obama naming Utah's Republican Governor, Jon Huntsman, ambassador to China. "A political masterstroke" declared ABC's George Stephanopoulos on World News in repeating the same phrase applied moments earlier by reporter Jonathan Karl. Stephanopoulos even managed to get in a dig at conservatives as he hailed the pick as "one more sign that this is a party [Republican] where the reformers -- the moderates -- are looking for an exit."
CBS's Early Show Ignores Obama Reversal on Abuse Photos
Fri, 15 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
While both ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's Today on Thursday covered President Obama's decision to block the public release of photos depicting prisoner abuse under U.S. custody, CBS's Early Show failed to make any mention of the dramatic reversal by the White House.
MSNBC's O'Donnell Grills Opponent of Obama's Notre Dame Address
Instead of performing as an anchor, MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell became a liberal sparring partner to the Cardinal Newman Society's Patrick Reilly on the network's Thursday afternoon programming over President Obama's upcoming commencement address at the University of Notre Dame. Invoking her Catholic upbringing, she used the common left-wing tactic to equate the Church's unequivocal teaching against abortion with its skepticism of the death penalty, and asked if former Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan shouldn't have addressed prior commencements for their support of capital punishment. O'Donnell also inquired as to why Reilly was "advocating a Catholic Church that advocates division."
Diane Sawyer Frets: Obama 'Caved-In' to Cheney And 'Political Right'
Good Morning America co-host Diane Sawyer worried on Thursday that Barack Obama backtracked "on his pledge to release pictures of U.S. soldiers allegedly torturing terror suspects," framing the story by fretting that this might be a "cave-in to Dick Cheney and the political right." Later in the show, former Democratic aide-turned journalist George Stephanopoulos appeared on the program to put the best possible spin on the Obama administration's decision to appeal a court decision ordering pictures of alleged abuse released. Talking to co-host Robin Roberts, he offered talking points that could have come straight from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
Chrysler Closes 789 Dealerships, ABC, CBS And NBC Show Same Dealer
File under: "Insular world of the news media." Chrysler announced plans to eliminate 789 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealerships across the nation, yet on Thursday night ABC, CBS and NBC all showcased the very same upset Long Island dealer, Jim Anderer of Island Jeep in Lindenhurst, New York, while two other dealers also on the closing list were each featured on two of the three evening newscasts. ABC's World News and the CBS Evening News both ran soundbites from Stanley Balzekas of Chicago's Balzekas Motor Sales; CBS and the NBC Nightly News gave airtime to Howard Sellz of Big Valley Dodge in the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles. But only Anderer earned the triple play on the broadcast networks.
Downbeat Spin from NY Times: World Ends, Minorities Hardest Hit
Thu, 14 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Which Wednesday newspaper headline, over articles about the same report from the Pew Hispanic Center, is not like the others? Washington Post: "Immigrant Homeownership Proves Resilient in the Face of Slowdown; Boosted by Boom, Rate Virtually Unchanged During Bust." Wall Street Journal: "Housing Boom Aided Minorities; Homeownership Reached Record Levels, Narrowing the Gap With Whites." New York Times: "Homeownership Losses Are Greatest Among Minorities, Report Finds."
CBS's Rodriguez Grills Miss CA: Are You Being 'Hypocritical'?
On Wednesday's CBS Early Show co-host Maggie Rodriguez interrogated Miss California Carrie Prejean, wondering if the beauty queen was a hypocrite for standing up for Christian values: "I know that you are a devout Christian, and some people have said that it's hypocritical, and a little bit of a double standard, for you to be preaching Christianity, yet posing topless...And you don't feel it interferes in any way with your faith or what you preach publicly?" In contrast to Rodriguez's grilling of Prejean, on April 21, fellow co-host Julie Chen lobbed softballs at liberal gay blogger and Miss USA pageant judge Perez Hilton, who asked Prejean about her gay marriage views. Chen failed to mention that Hilton called Prejean a "dumb b***h" on his video blog and did not even wonder if his question was appropriate.
Omission Watch: ABC, CBS and NBC Ignore Pelosi's Torture Hypocrisy
On For the past three weeks, controversy has swirled around Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has called for a "truth commission" to expose the supposed war crimes of the Bush administration but who herself was briefed years ago on the use of waterboarding and the other enhanced interrogation techniques that are now drawing howls of outrage. ABC, CBS and NBC have said virtually nothing about the Speaker's shifting stories, or the potential hypocrisy of her once supporting (or at least not objecting to) policies that she would later condemn as illegal "torture." The only exception: On the May 13 NBC Nightly News, correspondent Pete Williams made a reference to unnamed "Democratic leaders" who might be embarrassed by a full investigation.
Matthews Mocks GOP 'Schoolyard' Tactics But Employs Them Himself
Chris Matthews, on Wednesday's Hardball, mocked a plan by the RNC to cast Democrats as the Democrat Socialist Party, as "schoolyard," and sarcastically sneered: "Boy they're going places with that one." However it was Matthews who spent the entirety of his show engaging in "schoolyard" insults himself as he compared Dick Cheney to a "troll," claimed Pat Buchanan once represented the "Neanderthal" wing of the GOP and thought the idea of Sarah Palin penning a book was laughable.
ABC Channels Those Who See GOP as Limbaugh-Cheney 'Freak Show'
"The problem for Republicans right now is the party doesn't seem big enough for conservatives like [Rush] Limbaugh and moderates like Colin Powell and Senator Arlen Specter," ABC's Jonathan Karl contended in a Wednesday night World News story on the plight of the GOP which, though framed by anchor Charles Gibson as exploring "whether it can attract new voters by becoming more conservative or more moderate," came down, no surprise, on the side of those who think the party is already too conservative. Instead of considering the possibility the party lost support by moving too far to the left by being identified with President Bush's big spending policies or that the congressional leadership is hardly inspiring to conservatives, Karl presumed it's a problem that Dick Cheney, "the most visible Republican in the country these days," has declared "his preference for Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell." Karl featured "Republican strategist" Mark McKinnon who ridiculed Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh: "If the Republican party does not expand its tent, it's going to turn into a circus, and it's going to become a minority freak show that sort of features Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney." Karl followed up with how "Senator Lindsey Graham says more moderates is exactly what the party needs."
CNN Panel Pushes Republicans to Say Cheney Should 'Just Shut Up'
Wed, 13 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Three CNN personalities and one regular commentator on Monday's No Bias, No Bull program all tried to get Republicans Bay Buchanan and Kevin Madden to disown former Vice President Dick Cheney, and agree with some unnamed Republicans who call for him to "just shut up." Host Roland Martin characterized Cheney's multiple media appearances recently as "turning into a big problem for the family of Republicans" and that "some Republicans wish the former V.P. would just shut up." Correspondent Jessica Yellin and Drew Griffin saw no good in the politician's media tour, with Yellin labeling Cheney "one of the least popular figures in the Republican Party, aside from Rush Limbaugh." She asked Buchanan, "Why is it good for him to speak out as such an unpopular guy?" TruTV's Lisa Bloom agreed with the unnamed Republicans: "I think a lot of Republicans probably wish Cheney was secured in an undisclosed location right about now."
CBS's Smith Cues Up Sebelius to Recite Health Care Talking Points
On Tuesday's CBS Early Show co-host Harry Smith repeated liberal talking points while asking Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about President Obama's plan to nationalize the health care system: "People get worried when the idea of somebody messing with their health care comes along, but the fact is, is we spend trillions of dollars on health care every year, and if anything is helping or contributing to killing the economy, it's that cost. Why is it so important that this be dealt with?" Sebelius easily hit that softball: "It isn't about cutting services. It's about doing smarter, more efficient, better medicine for the American people..."
On FX, Writer Frets U.S. Didn't Heed France on Not Going to War
Four weeks after FX's Rescue Me featured a New York City firefighter telling a French journalist how the 9/11 terrorist attacks were part of "a massive neo-conservative government effort" to enable "American global domination," Tuesday night's episode gave the French character "Genevieve," interviewing firefighters for a book on 9/11 first-responders, a platform to rail against how the U.S. failed to heed France's advice in starting "two new wars" in the name of "revenge." Discussing 9/11 with firefighter "Tommy Gavin," played by show creator Denis Leary, "Genevieve" agreed "9/11 was a tragedy. To most of the world it was a tragedy," but she fretted, "to Americans, it was the beginning of the end of the world." As the two walked along a Manhattan street following a visit to Ground Zero, she lectured, presumably alluding to Iraq: "France warned the U.S. government because of their experience with Algeria. And then told them that maybe this was not a good idea and they didn't want to send their people to die....Every goddamn war is about revenge -- and the French don't believe in guns." To which, Gavin zinged: "Or soap."
Tina Brown Slams Dick Cheney's 'Crazy Jihad' and 'Hate-Fest'
Former New Yorker editor Tina Brown appeared on Tuesday's Morning Joe on MSNBC to rail against the "crazy jihad" and "one-man...hate-fest" of Dick Cheney. Brown, who is now the editor of the Daily Beast Web site, trashed the former Vice President for constantly appearing on cable news programs to attack the current administration and for claiming that Barack Obama is making America less safe. After asserting that Cheney is about as popular as Pakistan's President, Brown sneered: "In some ways, I kind of admire this kind of crazy jihad, this one man, kind of, hate-fest that he runs on cable shows. I mean, I guess he feels he has to defend what he did." Remarking on the Vice President's claim during Sunday's Face the Nation that he prefers Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell, the liberal journalist mocked, "'Cause when he said on that show that Rush Limbaugh, rather than Colin Powell, was the face of the party, it was like once again, that huge, fat crazy frame fills the screen and becomes the face of the party."
Shuster Absurdly Says Cheney 'Didn't Know' About Al-Qaeda Pre-9/11
David Shuster, substitute hosting for Chris Matthews on Tuesday's Hardball, absurdly asserted that Dick Cheney "didn't know" about al-Qaeda before 9/11. After playing a clip of the former Vice President on Face the Nation stating that "on the morning of 9/12...there was a great deal we didn't know about al-Qaeda," Shuster ignored the "great deal," qualifier and insisted to his guests that somehow Cheney was clueless about the threat of the terrorist organization prior to 9/11. Shuster's guest, former Cheney aide Ron Christie, corrected Shuster, pointing out "that's one snippet taken out of context...Of course we knew about al-Qaeda," but that didn't stop Shuster from pressing his case as he claimed Cheney approved "torture," because he didn't know about al-Qaeda.
CBS's Smith Defends Sykes Over Her Nasty Anti-Limbaugh 'Joke'
Tue, 12 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Talking about Wanda Sykes' nasty anti-Limbaugh "joke" at Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Association dinner ("I think maybe Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker, but he was just so strung out on oxycontin he missed his flight"), CBS's Harry Smith defended Sykes more than did Keith Olbermann. Smith recounted on Monday's Early Show: "I ran into Keith Olbermann afterwards...And he said 'I'm not sure, I think that was probably -- probably in bad taste.' I said 'what do you think her job is?'" While even left-wing bomber thrower Olbermann thought Sykes was over the line, Smith defended her: "Well, you know what, any comedian, anybody who does that job, their job is to push the envelope...You can't go home -- you can't go home to the community of comedians unless you've gone too far."
Koppel: 'Enhanced Interrogation' Like 'Rape Is Enhanced Seduction'
Former ABC News anchor Ted Koppel took to BBC's World News America newscast on Monday night to denounce former Vice President Dick Cheney as Koppel declared U.S. policy should be that "torture is always illegal, and those who use it will always be prosecuted." Koppel shared how his "greatest disagreement" with Cheney is over describing water-boarding as an "enhanced interrogation technique," which Koppel contended is a "euphemism" for torture that is "almost the moral equivalent of saying that rape is an enhanced seduction technique." Furthermore, Koppel contended in mocking the carefully construed legal reasoning that allowed water-boarding, if you do that "you might as well go all the way to the red-hot pokers."
Sawyer Skips Controversy for 'Angels And Demons'; Grilled Mel Gibson
Angels And Demons star Tom Hanks received zero critical questions or challenges when he appeared on Monday's Good Morning America to promote a movie that features the Catholic Church ordering a brutal massacre in order to silence a secret society. Instead, Sawyer referred to the film, a prequel to The Da Vinci Code, as a "scary, spiritual scavenger hunt." After playing a clip of Hanks' character in the film asserting that he has no religious beliefs, she moved on to talking about how the movie star still gets nervous when he acts. Contrast the gentle way that the ABC host treated Hanks with the grilling of Mel Gibson in a 2003 Primetime special on The Passion of the Christ. Regarding accuracy and his film about Jesus Christ, Sawyer pressed for specifics: "What about the historians who say that the Gospels were written long after Jesus died, and are not merely fact, but political points of views and metaphors? Historians, you know, have argued that in fact it was not written at the time [of Christ]. These [gospel writers] were not eyewitnesses."
To Schieffer's Astonishment, Cheney: 'I'd Go with Rush Limbaugh'
Mon, 11 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
To Bob Schieffer's astonishment, when he wrapped up his Sunday interview by asking former Vice President Dick Cheney where he comes down between Rush Limbaugh and Colin Powell who both say the Republican Party would be "better off" without the other, Cheney declared: "I'd go with Rush Limbaugh." Cheney related on CBS's Face the Nation how "my take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican." Schieffer was surprised: "So you think that he's not a Republican?" Cheney explained: "I just noted he endorsed the Democratic candidate for President this time, Barack Obama. I assume that that's some indication of his loyalty and his interests." To which an astounded Schieffer pressed Cheney to reaffirm his choice: "And you said you take Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell?" Cheney confirmed his preference.
Letterman Writer Scheft: Obama 'Too Competent' to Joke About
The proudest moment in his career, Late Show writer Bill Scheft boasted at a Friday comedy writer panel held at Washington, DC's Newseum, was when he got David Letterman to try to undermine guest John McCain's Bill Ayers talking point by raising McCain's relationship with G. Gordon Liddy -- as if a political dirty trickster were the equivalent of a terrorist involved with bombings which killed people, could have killed hundreds more if his attempts worked and remains unrepentant. At the event, organized by the Writers Guild of America, East, and shown Saturday night on C-SPAN, Scheft declared of his effort to discredit an anti-Obama point: "I'm more proud of that than any single joke that I've written." That earned applause from the audience. Later, to a chorus of "yeah" from other writers on the stage representing The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Late Night, as well as another Late Show writer, Scheft insisted the only reason the comedy shows don't make fun of President Barack Obama is because he's "a little too damn competent and we ain't used to that."
Time Mag Blames 'Extremely Conservative Ideas' for GOP Decline
How may times can you use the discrediting term "extremely," suggesting "extremist" positions, in a single sentence describing the state of the Republican Party? Three, if you're writing Time magazine's cover story. Michael Grunwald contended "the party's ideas -- about economic issues, social issues and just about everything else -- are not popular ideas." He then asserted in the article for the May 18 edition of the magazine: "They are extremely conservative ideas tarred by association with the extremely unpopular George W. Bush, who helped downsize the party to its extremely conservative base." Grunwald proceeded to characterize the GOP's agenda as a "hard right" one which pleases Rush Limbaugh but not a majority of people.
Stossel Zings Cuomo: In 'Your Family' Govt the Only Way to Help
ABC's token contrarian John Stossel appeared on Friday's Good Morning America to promote his new 20/20 special on some very politically incorrect subjects. In the process, he got into a bit of a dust-up with GMA news anchor Chris Cuomo, telling the son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo: "And I know in law school and in your political family, you believe good things only happen because government passes laws." Stossel appeared on the morning show to discuss one of the topics on his special, which aired Friday night at 10pm on ABC. Among other subjects, he argued that it was wrong for the government to make it illegal for employers to fire a woman because she is pregnant. After showing a clip of the piece, Cuomo skeptically questioned, "...This law was created for a reason, that women were discriminated against. That's why they passed the law in the '60s." Cuomo, whose brother is currently the Democratic Attorney General of New York, challenged, "Why open the door to giving a corporation a way out?"
Newsweek's Disrespectful Treatment of 'Amateur Econo-Cultist' Kemp
Fri, 08 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Two days after the death of GOP icon Jack Kemp, Newsweek Senior Editor Michael Hirsh posted a classless obituary on Monday, "The Dangers of Amateurism," calling the football player, politician, and self-taught economist Kemp an "amateur econo-cultist."
You Read It Here First: Hannity Cites Revolving Door Examples
In his Wednesday night "Media Mash" segment, FNC's Sean Hannity picked up on a Tuesday night NewsBusters post, that was also in Wednesday's CyberAlert, about the latest journalists to spin through the revolving door to work in the Obama administration. Hannity informed his viewers of how the press corps are "losing three more of their own to the Obama administration. Now, at the outset of the President's term, several of the so-called objective journalists left their jobs to join the administration. Now NewsBusters.org points out that a few more are following suit."
ABC's Diane Sawyer Waves 'Mission Accomplished' Sign for Obama
Good Morning America co-host Diane Sawyer and ABC journalist George Stephanopoulos lauded Barack Obama for his handling of the banking crisis on Thursday. Sawyer even saw the government administered stress tests as a "mission accomplished" moment. On the news that many of the banks given billions in bailout money won't need more, the morning show anchor cooed: "So, George, is this the day that this administration can say, on the banking front, they've sailed through the eye of the needle? They've landed a Hail Mary pass?" At this point, Sawyer engaged in some belated bashing of George W. Bush. In an allusion to the banner above President Bush during his 2003 visit to an aircraft carrier, the host held up a sign that read "mission accomplished." She joked, "And dare I say, I had this sign made just for you. Dare they say it?" Joining in, Stephanopoulos, the This Week host and former Clinton aide, quipped: "You're the last person who is ever going to hold up one of those signs. I think President Bush ruined it for everybody."
CNN's Acosta: Just Say Yes to Travel and Trade with Communist Cuba
Correspondent Jim Acosta, "carrying the CNN flag" on the island of Cuba, filed several reports for the American Morning program during the first week of May which slanted favorably towards an end to the trade embargo with the communist country. His May 1 report on the policy that allows Cuban-Americans to travel to their homeland featured no critics of the Castro regime, nor did it mention the government's human rights abuses. This was also the case during a May 4 report about tourism to the island and how economic competitors of the U.S. are taking advantage of the country's resources. Acosta even referred to the ailing dictator emeritus Fidel Castro as a "Cuban icon." Acosta's May 1 report, which aired 21 minutes into the 6 am hour of the CNN program, highlighted the Obama administration's loosening of restrictions for Cuban-Americans who wish to return to the native soil. The correspondent featured one woman who was "taking bundles of food, clothing, and even toys back to her brother and sister on the island," and emphasized the popularity of charter flights back to Cuba.
NBC and Newsweek Liken Obama to Spock: Both Victims of Prejudice
Concluding a Thursday NBC Nightly News story on summer movies, correspondent George Lewis previewed the new Star Trek film, set to open on Friday, and found it relevant to highlight how "some Trekkies have compared the Spock character, the product of a mixed marriage between a human and a Vulcan, to President Obama." Those "some Trekkies" would be Newsweek's Steve Daly, author of last week's cover story, "We're All Trekkies Now," who proposed in a soundbite: "In a certain sense, Spock the character has dealt with some of the same prejudices and problems that our new President does." In the piece for the May 4 edition of the magazine, Daly asserted: "Spock's cool, analytical nature feels more fascinating and topical than ever now that we've put a sort of Vulcan in the White House." And "like Obama, Spock is the product of a mixed marriage (actually, an interstellar mixed marriage), and he suffers blunt manifestations of prejudice as a result."
'Robber Baron' Becomes 'Shrewd Businessman' After Loan to NY Times
Carlos Slim, described in 2007 as a "thief" and "robber baron" by a Times editorial writer, is now "a very shrewd businessman with an appreciation for great brands," according to the paper's publisher. What changed? A $250 million loan from Slim to the NYT Co., for one.
The NYT Co.'s Hypocritical Hardball vs. Boston Globe Unions
Thu, 07 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The New York Times Co. is playing hardball with the Boston Globe, threatening to shut it down unless it got more cuts from the Globe's unions, without a trace of its flagship paper's vaunted support for unions against management.
NBC: 'Quintessential Obama' Doctrine of Talking Leads to Hug
The leaders of nations who quarreled when George Bush was President now hug each other, thanks to President Barack Obama deigning to take time from his busy schedule to hold a meeting which displayed the "quintessential Obama" and the "Obama doctrine at work" in bringing "two sides together." Or at least that's how Wednesday's NBC Nightly News gushed over Obama meeting with Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai and Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari, an exuberantly pro-Obama spin not adopted by ABC or CBS. Anchor Brian Williams admired how even "with they have going on, the Obama White House has chosen to devote this kind of time to this," prompting Chuck Todd to propose "that we will look back on this and say this is quintessential Obama." The White House correspondent touted how "this is the Obama Doctrine at work. Bring two sides together, get them talking and do this a lot." From the State Department, Andrea Mitchell then trumpeted how in contrast to the last time leaders of the two nations met when Bush was still President and "they wouldn't even shake hands," with Obama in the room, Karzai, and the new President of Pakistan, had "a warm embrace."
Glowing Dutch -- NY Times Magazine Celebrates Euro-Socialism
Russell Shorto, a regular contributing writer for the New York Times Sunday magazine, offered a country-to-country comparison between the United States and Holland, where he's been living for the last 18 months. The story's headline is self-explanatory: "Going Dutch -- How I Learned To Love The European Welfare State." It was the most popular article on nytimes.com for a while, perhaps because it hit the sweet spot among the Times liberal readership, fusing sophisticated travelogue with Euro-socialist aspirations.
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ABC's GMA Skips Probe Into Edwards Campaign Cash to Mistress
Despite running two segments in the last week on Elizabeth Edwards and how she has coped with the extramarital affair of former Senator John Edwards, ABC's Good Morning America has yet to feature a single story on the news that a federal probe has been launched into whether the then-presidential candidate paid off the woman he was having a relationship with. This is despite the fact that Edwards acknowledged on Sunday that such a investigation is under way (though he denied any guilt). CBS's Early Show briefly noted the probe on Wednesday. Today featured a segment on Monday.
ABC Labels Potential Activist Obama Court Pick a 'Centrist'
Wed, 06 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
New video has surfaced of possible Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor remarking that the courts are the place "where policy is made." Sotomayor, who is a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, was giving a speech at Duke University in 2005 when the footage was shot. She quickly added, "And I know this is on tape and I should never say that, because we don't make law. I know." As the audience laughed, the judge, who is rumored to be a replacement for retiring justice David Souter, qualified: "I'm not promoting it and I'm not advocating it." More snickering from the crowd followed. This is the same person who ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos touted on last Friday's Good Morning America. The This Week host spun: "She would be not only a woman, but the first Hispanic on the court. She's built up a strong centrist record on the court."
Williams Recommends Liberal Reading List on Souter and Successor
NBC anchor Brian Williams' Web surfing centers on liberal sites, as at least evidenced by the reading list he recommended in his Monday afternoon entry on The Daily Nightly blog consisting of four articles, all from left-leaning sites: Slate, The New Republic and The Daily Beast. "Because of my Souter departure obsession," he explained, "today I want to share with you some interesting writing I found over the weekend."
CNN and ABC Vets Join Obama's Team, So Revolving Door Up to Ten
Following the path of CNN Middle East correspondent Aneesh Raman and producer Kate Albright-Hanna, who both jumped aboard the Obama campaign last year, senior political producer Sasha Johnson this week announced she's leaving the network's Washington bureau to take the Press Secretary slot at the Department of Transportation. She won't be the only media vet in that shop. As The Politico's Michael Calderone noted Monday night in reporting Johnson's move, former Chicago Tribune Washington correspondent Jill Zuckman "already headed to Transportation in February, becoming Director of Public Affairs and assistant to Secretary Ray LaHood." Plus, in the past month or so, two other DC journalists accepted administration positions. ABC's long-time Justice Department correspondent, Beverley Lumpkin, in April joined the very department she covered for so many years, prompting a Washington Post blogger to quip on Tuesday that she's "turning sources into colleagues." Speaking of the Washington Post, its former science reporter, Rick Weiss, is now advancing Obama policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology. So far, by my count, at least ten mainstream media journalists have revolved into positions toiling for the Obama campaign, transition or administration.
CBS Uses Kids' Letters to Promote 'Hope' of Obama
At the end of Monday's CBS Evening News, correspondent Bill Whitaker gave a fawning report on a book being complied of children's letters to President Obama: "Eight-year-old Lucy O'Brien loves to draw, ask her dad, a fine antiques dealer...She also knows times are hard at dad's business...So when her mother told her about a 'Dear Mr. President' contest, lucky winners' art and letters presented to President Obama, she poured her heart into it." The young girl explained to Whitaker: "I had added like, confetti, and stuff like that, and then I added 'hope' on the top to show for the future that there's hope for maybe the economy or something." Whitaker spoke with the book's creator and CEO of the Web site kidthing.com, Larry Hitchcock, who described some of the other letters: "We had to extend the deadline because so many were coming in...A 6-year-old who just wants the President to 'make it rain candy'...'Poor people should have food.'" A clip was played of one girl asking the President: "Please take care of the environment." Later, Hitchcock declared: "There's a theme through all of it of hope and kind of belief that tomorrow's going to be a better day."
Linda Greenhouse Lavishes More Love on a Liberal Justice
Tue, 05 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The New York Times' former Supreme Court reporter, liberal Linda Greenhouse, came out of journalistic retirement (she's now senior fellow at Yale Law School) to write the lead Sunday Week in Review profile of retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter, "Justice Unbound -- Washington is only where Souter goes for his 'annual intellectual lobotomy.' At home, he reads history."
ABC, CBS Blame Conservative Social Positions for GOP Misfortunes
On ABC's World News on Saturday, and the same day's CBS Evening News, correspondents suggested that conservative positions on social issues were responsible for the Republican party's recent electoral misfortunes, as the two programs filed stories about an appearance in Arlington, Virginia by Jeb Bush, Eric Cantor and Mitt Romney as part of an effort to rebuild the party's appeal. ABC cited a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll showing only 21 percent of Americans identify themselves as Republicans, while CBS cited a Pew Research poll finding the number had dropped from 30 percent in 2004 to 23 percent currently.
NBC's Mitchell Hails Hillary Clinton: 'Foreign Policy Superstar!'
In a piece that could've been crafted by Hillary Clinton's PR shop, NBC's Andrea Mitchell, on Monday's Today show, gushed on and on about the Secretary of State's new "role of a lifetime," as a "a foreign policy superstar," and cheered Clinton has the "highest approval ratings of any time in her career." Mitchell's theme throughout her story was that the "anger of the primaries" between Clinton and Barack Obama was long gone and that in her role of Secretary of State she has proven to be a "key asset to Team Obama," as Today co-anchor Matt Lauer observed in the intro. There wasn't a hint of skepticism or negative note in the story as Mitchell threw in soundbites from John Podesta, Joe Klein and presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin who chimed: "She seems to be really enjoying herself, as does he."
NBC Uses Kemp Obit to Tout Obama as Proof U.S. a 'Great' Nation
In a brief item Monday evening about Jack Kemp's passing, the NBC Nightly News delivered an obit on Kemp's life, but while Brian Williams didn't find room in his 37-second update to mention how Kemp was behind the successful, supply-side Regan tax cuts, he decided it was newsworthy to point out how "Kemp was a conservative purist who, in a letter to his grandchildren months before his death, said the election of Barack Obama was proof that we live in a great country."
'Trollish' Limbaugh, Cheney And Gingrich Turn Off Families to GOP
Chris Matthews asked his panel of reporters, on this past weekend's syndicated The Chris Matthews Show, to offer their prescriptions on how the GOP, in the wake of the Arlen Specter departure, can regain its popularity -- to which most of the liberal reporters like Joe Klein and Howard Fineman suggested they needed to abandon their "cut taxes, shrink government," message and some of their "trollish" spokesmen like Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney and Newt Gingrich because they're turning off families, women and "people who think that caring matters."
ABC Features James Carville to Tout Theory of 40 Years of Dem Rule
ABC's Good Morning America, which has yet to interview talk show host Mark Levin about his best selling book on conservatism, featured James Carville on Monday to promote "40 More Years: How the Democrats Will Rule the Next Generation." Co-host Diane Sawyer recited passages from the Democratic operative's tome, "Let me read what you write here. 'Republicans shouldn't be worried. They should be in agony. They should be throwing up.'" Sawyer continued to read from Carville's book: "Republicans had better get a better policy on prescription drugs and quickly they're going to need a lot more Prozac." An onscreen graphic highlighted past one-party rule and speculated, "Democrats 1932-1968, Republicans 1968-2008, Democrats 2008-2048?"
Flashback: In Backhanded Bias, Kemp Choice Spurred 'Haters' Talk
Mon, 04 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Sad news Saturday night of the passing, at age 73 following a battle with cancer, of Jack Kemp. Back in 1996, Bob Dole picked him as his vice presidential running mate, and some in the news media exploited the selection of Kemp to deliver backhanded insults about the "haters" who comprised the rest of the Republican Party. CNN's Bill Schneider: "He is a rare combination -- a nice conservative. These days conservatives are supposed to be mean. They're supposed to be haters." And: "Most conservatives these days come across as mean [video of Newt Gingrich] or intolerant [video of Pat Buchanan] or grouchy [video of Bob Dole]. Kemp is tolerant and inclusive. He has an excellent relationship with minorities. He showed real courage two years ago when he came out against Proposition 187, the punitive anti-illegal immigration measure in California. Kemp is not a hater." ABC's Cokie Roberts: "He's also very inclusive, reaching out to minorities, to women, being for immigration, for affirmative action. And I think that's very important for this particular convention, Peter, and this party, which is seen somewhat dour, and somewhat mean in its ways."
Gingrich: 'Press Corps Has Taken Such a Pathetic Dive' with Obama
Reacting to the questions posed during Wednesday's presidential news conference, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich expressed disappointment with the White House press corps, telling FNC's Greta Van Susteren the journalists have "taken such a pathetic dive with this President that they ought to be part of his PR firm. I mean it's embarrassing to watch." Gingrich cited a series of subjects on which reporters failed to press Obama, such as "So why are you releasing these terrorists in the United States?" and "Why are you so confused about whether or not you want to in fact go after and prosecute people who've never historically been prosecuted before?" Plus, "Doesn't it worry you to have $9 trillion in debt being projected under your administration?" In the interview conducted at Mount Vernon, Gingrich quipped: "If you didn't know better, you'd think that he was practicing with his own public affairs people for the future press conference."
David Shuster Loves 'Brilliant' Obama; Hates 'Atrocious' Fox News
MSNBC anchor David Shuster appeared on Stephanie Miller's left-wing radio show on Thursday to praise the "brilliant," "informed," and "articulate" President Obama and trash the "atrocious" Fox News Channel. Shuster, who is on the same network as the extremely liberal Keith Olbermann, complained, "I mean, look, if Fox wants to consider themselves the GOP house organ, that's fine. They completely backed it up."
ABC Ignores Own Role In 'Myth' of 'Perfect' Edwards Couple
Good Morning America weekend anchor Kate Snow on Friday filed a report on Elizabeth Edwards' new book about her husband's infidelity. The ABC journalist ignored the media's role in creating a "myth" about the marriage between Elizabeth and John Edwards, the former Senator. Snow noted that Mrs. Edwards knew of her husband's affair prior to his 2008 Democratic presidential campaign and discouraged him from running. She explained, "Last fall in a rare interview, Elizabeth Edwards told the Detroit Free Press the idea the Edwards were a perfect couple was a myth." However, in 2007, as the Democratic primary race began to heat up, GMA hosts were only two happy to tout the happy marriage of the Edwards. On August 9, reporter David Muir cooed, "...We have the very first photos of a very personal backyard ceremony for John Edwards and his wife." He then proceeded to show pictures of the couple renewing their wedding vows. Muir was wowed by "an incredibly personal photograph" that somehow ended up in People magazine. On July 31, 2007, only nine days earlier, co-hosts Robin Roberts and Diane Sawyer featured pictures of the two as they celebrated their wedding anniversary at Wendy's.
CNN: If McCain Won, SCOTUS 'Would Be Changing in Extreme Ways'
Friday afternoon, CNN anchor Rick Sanchez observed that since "Obama is essentially replacing...a more liberal judge with what will eventually probably be a liberal judge doesn't really change things a lot," but, he contended, a President McCain would have caused an "extreme" shift, as if one more non-liberal on the court would cause an "extreme" change: "If John McCain were the President of the United States today, this court would be changing in extreme ways, wouldn't it?" Of course, if McCain were President there wouldn't now be an opening on the court and it presumes McCain would nominate a conservative.
MSNBC's Guthrie: Seeing Obama in Press Room Like 'Dream Sequence'
During the 3PM EDT hour of live coverage on MSNBC on Friday, anchor Norah O'Donnell turned to White House correspondent Savannah Guthrie for reaction to President Obama's surprise appearance at the daily press briefing to discuss the retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter: "Savannah, let me just start with you, the shock factor. I mean, you've got that seat right there by where the President walked out. Were you surprised?" Guthrie replied: "Shocked is more like it, Norah. I felt a little bit like I was having a dream sequence minus the pink unicorn. I have to say, we attend those briefings every day, they are rarely so exciting."
Newsweek's Thomas: GOP 'Their Extremists Take Them Straight Down'
Commenting on Senator Arlen Specter's switch from the Republican to Democratic Party, Newsweek's Evan Thomas declared Republicans are now "exactly like the Labor Party in England in the 1970s. They're letting their extremists take them straight down." As if that would upset Thomas and the Washington press corps -- whose very characterization of conservatives as "extremists" is only helping uninformed Americans to see Republicans and conservatives as outside the mainstream.
CBS's Smith to RNC Chair Steele: 'Room For Moderates' In GOP?
Fri, 01 May 2009 13:52:01 -0500
On Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith talked to Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele about Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter switching to the Democratic Party: "Alright, so you see red states going to blue, though, in this last presidential election...You look at percentage-wise, lower numbers of people who declare themselves to be actual Republicans...Where does the future of your party lie?...Is there room for moderates?" Smith began the interview by asking Steele: "Olympia Snowe mourned his [Specter's] loss earlier this week. Rush Limbaugh said he was dead weight, good riddance. Who's right?"
ABC's Gibson Already Presumes There Will Be a Second Obama Term?
Is World News anchor Charles Gibson already planning for Barack Obama's second term? The ABC journalist briefly wrapped up coverage from the President's prime-time press conference on Wednesday and signed off by asserting: "100 days in office. 1,362 days remaining in his first term." 1,362 days left in his first term?
Joe Biden to ABC's Robin Roberts: I'm Humbled by Cheering Crowds
Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts didn't bother to challenge Vice President Joe Biden when he asserted on Thursday that cheering crowds spontaneously appear wherever he goes. Paraphrasing a softball question given to Barack Obama at his Wednesday news conference, Roberts asked what had humbled the Vice President during his first 100 days in office. In a serious tone, Biden responded: "Everywhere I go, crowds spontaneously assemble. They start to cheer, whether I go to a play on Broadway or I'm going home to Wilmington, Delaware. I walk on the train. People stand up and clap." Roberts didn't offer a follow-up, but she could have referenced a January 3 incident, when (then) Vice President-elect Biden went unnoticed while trying to see a movie in Delaware. According to a reprinted Delaware Online article, "Remarkably, none of the other moviegoers appeared to notice. Employees said nobody mobbed Biden or called his name or asked for an autograph." Movie theater employee Becky Gingrich explained, "It didn't seem many people recognized him."
Washington Post's Tom Shales Calls Obama 'Smartest Kid in Class'
Even though President Obama clearly stammered and struggled in some answers Wednesday night, especially the odd New York Times four-parter, Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales loved "Obama's Enchanting Quizfest" (as the headline announced), and stressed how much better he was than Bush: "Barack Obama is a truly flabbergasting President. And in a good way -- not the way some of his predecessors were. He's not flabberghastly....His verbiage is a melting pot that's always bubbling. A few times, he did stumble over words, and once or twice appeared semantically stranded, unable to find the precise language he wanted to use. But compare him with his predecessor and such moments seem trifling." Shales contended in his April 30 "Style" section review that Obama was not only smarter than Bush, but obviously smarter than every reporter in the room: "He's not the student who wears a button that says, 'Smartest kid in class,' but clearly he is, at least when surrounded by the White House press corps."
Cover for Biden's Gaffe: 'Not Terrible Advice,' 'Informative'
CBS's Katie Couric and ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson tried to provide cover Thursday night for Vice President Biden's gaffe about the swine flu threat, which forced two cabinet secretaries and he White House spokesman to correct his advice to avoid planes and subways, as Couric asked an expert to confirm "that's not terrible advice in certain situations, is it?" and Johnson spun it into a positive, proposing: "In an ironic way, the reaction -- the information that has come out in reaction -- has been very informative."
NY Times Buries Their Own Jeff Zeleny's 'Enchanting' Question
At President Obama's 100-day press conference on Wednesday night, New York Times White House correspondent Jeff Zeleny became a mini-celebrity -- or a national laughingstock -- for asking President Obama how he was surprised/troubled/enchanted/humbled over the first 100 days. The Times itself seemed embarrassed by the question. The press conference was relegated to page A-19 in Thursday's paper, with the headline "Obama Voices Concern on Pakistan and Defends Interrogation Memo Release." Nine paragraphs in, Zeleny and Helene Cooper acknowledge the "light moments," but don't acknowledge they were a gift from Zeleny and the Times: "There were a few light moments, particularly when Mr. Obama was asked what has surprised, troubled, enchanted and humbled him in the past 100 days. 'Wait, let me get this all down,' he said, taking out a pen."
NBC's Chuck Todd Calls Specter Departure 'Devastating' to GOP
Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
On Wednesday's Today show, NBC's Chuck Todd called the decision of Arlen Specter -- a Republican Senator who has such a liberal voting record and has been such a constant-thorn-in-the-side of his party that he faced probable defeat in his own primary -- to leave the GOP, "devastating." In a piece about Barack Obama's first 100 days that trumpeted his own network's new poll showing high ratings for Obama, Todd buried the GOP: "But for the Republican Party it's devastating, not just to their hopes of slowing President Obama's agenda in Congress but for what it says about the future of the GOP."
CBS's Smith Discusses Obama's 100 Days With Left-Wing Pundits
In honor of President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office, on Wednesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith decided to take an uncritical look at the President's performance with liberal commentators Tavis Smiley of PBS and Fareed Zakaria of CNN and Newsweek. Smith asked Zakaria: "Using your book as a template, 'The Post-American World,' in which America is seen not necessarily as the center of this universe anymore, how is this President working against the template of your book?" Zakaria explained: "If you look at that template, Obama has actually seemed to really understand it, made overtures to the world...even overtures to Iran, to Syria, engaging in the Middle East peace process, even Venezuela. This is, I think, been a great overture. The first movement of the symphony is yet to come." Smith added: "The first 100 days, perhaps, is the overture." Zakaria continued: "But I think as an overture goes, you know, no -- I don't think any president has had as much success as Obama has...this guy gets this new world, this post-American world that I talk about, and he's acting in a way that will secure America's interests."
A- for Obama from CNN: 'Nuanced...Mastery...Articulate...Capable'
CNN's on-staff political analysts and reporters -- not just the left-wing political operatives (Paul Begala and Donna Brazile) were in awe of President Barack Obama's press conference performance. Just after it ended Wednesday night, senior political analyst David Gergen hailed how "in terms of mastery of the issues, we have rarely had a President who is as well briefed and speaks in as articulate a way as this President does." Gergen enthused: "He's nuanced. He's very complete. He's up to speed on the issues" and "he's taken it to a whole different level in the way he speaks about issues." So, "I thought he was an A in terms of material, but given" Obama's inaccurate assurance he's opposed to bigger government, "I gave him an A-minus." Former CBS News reporter Gloria Borger, now also a senior political analyst for CNN, endorsed Gergen's grade, "I'm totally with him on that."
ABC's Yunji de Nies Fawns Over 'Belle of the Ball' Michelle Obama
ABC reporter Yunji de Nies filed a gushing profile piece on Tuesday's Nightline for the first 100 days of Michelle Obama, showering praise on the President's wife. De Nies rhapsodized: "From her inaugural debut, Michelle Obama has been the belle of the ball." Playing a clip of Mrs. Obama unveiling a statue for abolitionist Sojourner Truth, the ABC journalist described the First Lady as "perhaps the most powerful woman of the moment." (If that's so, shouldn't reporters such as de Nies try to be slightly less fawning in their coverage?) De Nies used the type of descriptions that have become typical from reporters who discuss the Obamas: "Her European tour solidified her rock star status," then added: "She held her own in a fashion face-off with model turned singer turned First Lady of France, Carla Bruni."
Obama a Victim, Stephanopoulos Echoes Emanuel on Greatest Success
"President Obama is getting more coverage, and more positive coverage, from the media than his two predecessors," FNC's Bret Baier related during Monday's "Grapevine" segment in summarizing the hardly-surprising findings from "a new study of his first 50 days in office" completed by the Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA). The analysis of the network evening newscasts, Baier recounted, "was judged 58 percent positive for President Obama. That compares to 33 percent for Mr. Bush and 44 percent for Mr. Clinton. NBC was most positive at 61 percent. CBS was 58 percent, ABC 57 percent." By comparison, CMPA's press release, "Study Finds President Fares Best in New York Times, Worst on Fox News," reported that in relation to ABC, CBS and NBC, "he fared far better" in front page New York Times stories, "where nearly three out of four evaluative comments (73%) by sources and reporters were favorable. And he fared far worse on Fox News, where only one out of eight such comments (13%) were favorable"
Specter 'Driven Out' of GOP by 'Right Wing' and 'Fringe of Party'
Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The evening newscasts on Tuesday night attributed Senator Arlen Specter's motivation for changing parties to how he realized he wouldn't win the Republican primary in Pennsylvania, but they also, just as they did with Senator Jim Jeffords in 2001, eagerly relayed -- without any challenge -- Specter's spin that, in the words of the TV journalists, he "had been driven out by the right-wing of the Republican Party," the GOP's "increasingly conservative tilt" and "the fringe of the party." CBS framed its story around that convenient target as the Evening News showcased Specter's charge in its tease: "The party has shifted very far to the, to the right." Katie Couric noted that Specter "acknowledged he cannot win the Republican primary, so he's becoming a Democrat. But as Chip Reid reports, Specter says there were other reasons behind the switch." Setting up the same Specter soundbite as in the tease, Reid reported the "moderate" Specter "says he's leaving the Republican party because the Republican party left him." Reid bolstered Specter's concern by asserting "200,000 Pennsylvania Republicans have registered as Democrats in just the past year. Specter blames the party's increasingly conservative tilt." Specter exclaimed: "There ought to be a rebellion. There ought to be an uprising."
MSNBC's Brewer: GOP Obstructionism Slowing Response to Swine Flu?
MSNBC anchor Contessa Brewer on Tuesday morning speculated as to whether supposed obstructionism by congressional Republicans may end up hampering the response to the swine flu outbreak. Talking to Republican strategist Tucker Bounds and Democratic strategist Peter Mirijanian in the 10 AM EDT hour, she asserted: "Let me ask you, Health and Human Services Secretary has not been confirmed. You have a missing director of the CDC. The surgeon general is not there." Specifically addressing Bounds, Brewer quizzed: "Do you, Tucker, think that Republicans are in any way to blame for standing in the way of those important positions -- when you're facing swine flu -- from being filled?"
CNN on Specter: GOP 'Far to the Right;' Democrats in 'Center'
During the first hour and a half following Senator Arlen Specter's announcement that he was switching from the Republican to the Democratic Party, CNN pushed the "big message" behind the defection, that "the Republican Party has moved so far to the right, that it is making itself uncompetitive in significant parts of the country, like the Northeast," as the network's senior political analyst Bill Schneider put it. He continued that the "Democrats, under President Obama, are really moving to claim the center of American politics." Anchor Kyra Phillips even used the "center" label as an apparent synonym for Democrat.
Flashback: When Jeffords Switched, Media: GOP Too Conservative
A look back to May of 2001 when Republican Senator Jim Jeffords switched from Republican to caucus with Democrats, offers a preview of the themes the press corps will advance again in covering Senator Arlen Specter's defection from the Republican Party. From the Thursday May 24, 2001 MRC CyberAlert: Jeffords Defection Theme #1: Bush should move left to the center; Jeffords Defection Theme #2: Label him a "moderate," or a "maverick," but never what he really is, a liberal; Jeffords Defection Theme #3: Blame conservatives for making the Republican Party too conservative; Jeffords Defection Theme #4: Scold the Bush White House for punishing him for working to eviscerate their bills
US News's Erbe Bashes 'Dishonest' Pro-Lifer, Demands: 'Go Away'
Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
US News's on-staff radical feminist Bonnie Erbe returned to attacking pro-lifers, her favorite subject of ire, in a blog entry on Monday. This time, she singled out "20-something abortion foe" Lila Rose, a junior at UCLA, for her "dishonest" and "pointless" undercover videos which she has taped at several Planned Parenthood locations. She seemed most upset by how Rose has "created a public relations nightmare" for the abortion-providing group, and called for the young woman's prosecution for "trespassing, fraud, and whatever other law she violated" for impersonating a 13-year-old statutory rape victim. The blogger later told pro-lifers to just "go away," since they will "will never succeed in banning abortion."
Alter: 'Not Patriotic' for 'Sick' Cheney to Call Obama 'Weak'
On Friday's Countdown show, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann and Newsweek's Jonathan Alter seemed to take turns reining in each other's conspiracy theories as the two discussed the latest on former Vice President Cheney's request for the release of classified information regarding the results of waterboarding al-Qaeda detainees. Alter charged that former Vice President Cheney is attacking President Obama's national security policies so that his own popularity will be "resurrected" if there is another 9/11-style attack, as the Newsweek editor called Cheney's behavior "sick"
Kudos: NBC Notes Prof's Turn Down, Over Obama, of Notre Dame Award
Monday's NBC Nightly News, unlike the ABC and CBS newscasts, made time for a short item about how a Harvard law professor, scheduled to receive an award from Notre Dame the same day President Obama is to receive an honorary degree and deliver the commencement address, announced she will not attend because she disagrees with the Catholic university honoring someone who goes against the church's position on unborn life. The full item from anchor Brian Williams: "More fallout tonight from Notre Dame's decision to have President Obama deliver the commencement address. Mary Ann Glendon, who was Barack Obama's law professor at Harvard and a former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, now says she will not accept the university's highest award because the school is honoring a President whose position on abortion starkly differs from that of the Catholic church."
Study: Coverage More Positive for Obama than for Bush or Clinton
ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson Still Promoting Universal Health Care
Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Good Morning America medical expert Dr. Tim Johnson on Friday gave ex-Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle a forum to promote his calls for a government-run health care system. Co-host Robin Roberts made it clear in an introduction to the segment that there would be no discussion of the tax problems that forced Daschle to withdraw his nomination. Johnson, however, did offer softballs about what might have been. He cooed: "How hard is it for you to be sitting somewhat on the sidelines, compared to what you would have done?" The medical doctor also agitated for quick action on a universal health care bill. Johnson extolled: "We hear constantly, if health care isn't done this year, politically, it's going to be impossible...Do you agree?" In a break from past cheerleading for government run health care, the medical expert actually asked a few challenging questions of the former Democratic Senator.
Cafferty: Scolds GOP 'Hardliners' for Using 'Socialists' Tag
During his regular commentary on Friday's Situation Room, CNN's resident curmudgeon Jack Cafferty blamed Republican losses in the 2008 election, in part, on their use of the "socialist" label against Democrats. After reporting on a "conservative faction of the Republican National Committee" wanting to use this label against their opponents, and how they petitioned RNC Chairman Michael Steele to consider a resolution about it, he described the faction as "hardliners." Before reading some of the viewer responses to his commentary, he returned to gushing over Michelle Obama, suggesting that she might be President in the future. Cafferty also told one apparently conservative respondent who used the fascist and communist labels to "lighten up."
Gumbel on Gang Violence: 'Why's Nobody Talking Gun Control?'
Bryant Gumbel is still around, popping up monthly on HBO, which provides him with a platform to continue forwarding liberal nostrums unrelated to reality. On this month's edition of Real Sports, the sports news magazine he anchors, Gumbel decided the answer to inner-city gang violence is...more gun control! Following a story on a rash of seven shootings with five deaths of high school athletes in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach/Portsmouth region of Virginia, an area reporter Jon Frankel described as "besieged by gangs, guns and fear," Frankel told Gumbel "that there has been a real growth of gang activity in the area" as authorities have "really seen tremendous growth of these kids, you know, putting down stakes and saying 'this is our turf, stop messing with us.'" To which, Gumbel responded: "Let me get on my own soapbox here: I mean, they're talking about doubling the anti-gang unit. Why's nobody talking gun control?"
Sunday TV Obama Appraisals: 'Moderate,' 'Spring Time in America!'
Asked by George Stephanopoulos to name the "most important thing we've learned" about President Barack Obama during his first one hundred days in office (which is still three days away), David Sanger, a Washington correspondent for the New York Times, asserted: "I think we've learned that he's more moderate than we had expected." That says a lot about the mindset of New York Times reporters and prompted George Will to retort, during the roundtable segment on ABC's This Week: "He's less moderate than I thought. He's going to design our cars. He's going to design our light bulbs. He's going to tell us where our house shall be built. This is supervisory liberalism in the most nagging, annoying sort." Bob Schieffer brought aboard CBS's Face the Nation the Washington Post's Bob Woodward and Tina Brown, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beast site, to assess Obama. Brown could barely contain herself, trumpeting "what a force-multiplier Michelle Obama has turned out to be" as she and her husband work in "flawless concert," so while "the world is talking about torture and the Bush administration, then we have Michelle with her vegetable garden. Talk about Spring time in America!"
'Ethicist' for NYT: 'Great to Have President Who's...Not Insane'
Appearing on Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, Randy Cohen, the "The Ethicist" columnist for the New York Times Magazine, blurted: "I'm a huge Obama fan. I think it's such an unbelievably great thing to have a President who's competent and not insane." Cohen's praise for President Barack Obama, combined with the cheap insult of former President George Bush, came just before a "but" as he expressed disappointment with Obama's pledge to not prosecute CIA operatives who "tortured" terrorists. Cohen, who also helms the "Moral of the Story" blog for NYTimes.com, has long had disdain for Bush. In 2003 he questioned if Bush could "honorably" continue to serve in office and in late 2005 he was disgusted with Bush compared to Bill Clinton: "We've got a guy now who lied the country into a war."
CBS's Smith: Shouldn't Bush Officials Face 'Recrimination'?
Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
While discussing the possible prosecution of Bush administration officials over interrogation methods used against terror suspects, on Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith asked Senator John McCain: "You fought a long battle with the [Bush] White House over this issue, said they ought to follow the Army manual, which the -- the White House refused to...Why do you feel so strongly that those who helped create this policy should not face some sort of recrimination?" McCain explained his opposition to what he called a "witch hunt": "Because I think, Harry, if you legal -- if you criminalize legal advice, which is basically what they're going to do, then it has a terribly chilling effect on any kind of advice and counsel that the president might receive...this is going to turn into a witch hunt."
Olbermann: 'Reagan's Dead and He Was a Lousy President'
On Wednesday's Countdown show, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann responded to an Ohio Republican quoting Ronald Reagan by mocking Reagan as "dead," and calling him a "lousy President." After reading a quote from Warren, County, Ohio commissioner Mike Kilburn proclaiming his intention not to use any of the federal stimulus money on his county, as he quoted Reagan's famous line that "government is the problem," Olbermann shot back: "Uh, Commissioner Kilburn, Reagan's dead and he was a lousy President."
CBS Early Show Hosts Excited by Obama Paper Dolls
On Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen made an important news announcement: "Well, the latest Obama paper dolls are out and we have got them right here to check them out." Chen went on to explain that the collectible books of paper cut outs of Barack and Michelle Obama: "...came out when -- during the whole campaign...And then now this is the inaugural." Chen later asked: "Do we think that this looks like Barack and Michelle?" Co-host Maggie Rodriguez responded: "Absolutely not. Not even a little bit." Early Show medical correspondent Jennifer Ashton was also on set, and chimed in: "No, he [Obama] looks so much better in person."
ABC's Moran Draws Comparison Between Middle East Torture and U.S.
Nightline co-host Terry Moran on Wednesday committed an act of snide and unnecessary moral equivalence, connecting video of torture occurring in the Middle East and the political debate over how to handle enemy combatants captured by the U.S. ABC correspondent Brian Ross filed a report on video of a member of the United Arab Emirates' royal family filming himself as he brutalized a man, accused of stealing grain, with a cattle prod, hit him with a nail and then proceeded to drive over the victim with his Mercedes. As the segment ended, Moran drew a comparison, "Brian, that is a shocking investigation on so many levels, especially as our own country is engaged in a wrenching debate on torture." Now, whatever one thinks of waterboarding, sleep depravation and putting an insect in with someone afraid of bugs, such tactics certainly don't equal this barbaric act, described by Ross: "The tape ends with what appears to be attempted murder. The victim is left semi-conscious as Sheik Issa drives over him back and forth with his Mercedes SUV."
Matt Lauer Marvels At 'Captivating' Photos of Obama
Introducing a segment, on Thursday's Today show, featuring Time magazine's photos of the President from his first 100 days, NBC's Matt Lauer, over a shot of Obama in Oval Office, marveled that the stills were "captivating." In an ensuing segment Lauer's colleague, Meredith Vieira asked the easily impressed Time photographer Callie Shell how Obama was "handling" the job, to which Shell cooed: "I think he does very well," and "He reads each night, at least 10 letters from 10 different people...and he answers them, usually the next day."
Trumpet Obama's Efforts to 'Protect Consumers' on Credit Cards
Instead of providing any suggestion President Barack Obama's hectoring of credit card company executives, with the not-so-subtle threat of further regulation, is an improper strong-arm tactic, the network evening newscasts on Thursday night hailed Obama's efforts to "protect consumers" -- in stories each complete with a sympathetic victim of jacked-up interest rates, but barely any time, if any, for a view contrary to Obama's. ABC's Charles Gibson teased: "Tonight, tough talk. A stern warning from the President to credit card executives. If you don't protect the consumers, the government will." CBS's Katie Couric fretted about the impact of "the credit card fees, penalties, and rising interest rates" which led the President to tell "the credit card companies: enough." Reporter Anthony Mason began: "Clean up your act. That was President Obama's message to credit card issuers today." NBC anchor Brian Williams trumpeted how Obama has come to the rescue: "Today the President admonished the credit card companies and came down on the side of consumers."
Biden's Approval Lower than Cheney's in 2001, Obama Below Reagan
CNN's Lou Dobbs on Thursday night highlighted how a new poll discovered Vice President Joe Biden is presently "less popular than Vice President Cheney was in July of 2001." Indeed, a survey of 1,500 conducted for the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press to assess where President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Biden stand with the public as the administration's 100-day mark approaches, determined: "Only about half of Americans (51%) say they have a favorable impression of Joe Biden -- comparable to the 55% who felt favorably toward Al Gore in April 1993 and lower than the 58% favorability rating Dick Cheney received in July 2001." Dobbs also pointed out how President Barack Obama, at 63 percent approval, is at "the same percentage as President Carter at this stage of his presidency. But President Reagan was even more popular than either of them: 67 percent."
Chris Matthews Demands: How Do We Prosecute Bush and Cheney?
An overly eager Chris Matthews, on Wednesday night's Hardball, actually raised the prospect of prosecuting George W. Bush and Dick Cheney over the CIA interrogation memos as he pressed Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz: "But how do we do it? Under what law do we go after them?" To which even the liberal Schultz initially balked, as she tried to rein in Matthews: "Well I think we need not to get ahead of ourselves Chris." However Schultz, after Matthews' continued to push, relented and gave the MSNBC host a response more to his liking as she warned: "There is no one that is above the law in the United States of America."
CBS's Smith: Bush Interrogation Methods Caused Abu Ghraib?
Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
On Wednesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith resurrected the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, connecting in to the current debate over interrogation methods used toward terror suspects under the Bush administration: "Torture on trial. In a major shift, President Obama now says he is open to investigating Bush administration officials for crimes related to torture...We'll talk to the former General in charge of Abu Ghraib. Were the soldiers there made to be scapegoats?" Smith interviewed former Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, who was demoted following Abu Ghraib, and suggested a link between aggressive interrogation tactics and the prisoner abuse: "...a Senate Armed Services Committee report...suggests that the roots of torture, the roots of the idea of torture were being circulated in the Pentagon and the CIA as early as 2002...Is there a line? Do you see that there is a lining run -- that goes from 2002 to Abu Ghraib to the hundreds of times waterboards were used in these cases of these few CIA cases?"
Begala: Tea Partiers 'Whiny, Weasels Who Don't Love Their Country'
On Friday's Hannity show on FNC, host Sean Hannity played an audio clip of liberal CNN contributor Paul Begala as he was interviewed on the April 15 Imus in the Morning radio show, in which Begala engaged in name-calling against Tax Day Tea Party participants: "Why are they out there whining with this Tea Party thing? Just a bunch of wimpy, whiny, weasels who don't love their country and don't want to support -- there are guys at Walter Reed who gave their legs for my country, and they're whining because they have to write a check?" He went on to single out FNC's Hannity and Neil Cavuto before Imus stepped in to defend them. Begala: "Mr. Cavuto, Mr. Hannity, all the rest of those guys, they have representation, they just lost an election -- that's not tyranny, that's democracy." After Imus defended Cavuto and Hannity, and called Hannity a patriot, Begala shot back: "Then tell him to pay his taxes and support our country and stop whining about it."
Cites Blair on 'Harsh' Tactics Value, Calls View 'Controversial'
NBC's Andrea Mitchell on Wednesday night mentioned how the "Obama administration's own Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, wrote his employees last week" about how, what NBC described as "harsh" interrogation techniques, "produced 'high-value information,'" a view from an Obama insider left out of stories on ABC and CBS. But Mitchell described Blair's assessment as conveying "controversial comments." Not controversial to Mitchell? The hook for her story, liberal Democratic Senator Carl Levin's charge that "there were very strong warnings against the use of these techniques and...they attempted to destroy the warning." Mitchell began her piece, without any hint of a political motive by Levin, by summarizing the report the Michigan Democrat decided to declassify: "According to the Senate report, the harsh techniques used at Guantanamo and other prisons were ordered by top Bush cabinet-level officials and launched months before they were approved by lawyers. Today's Armed Services Committee report also says abuses at the notorious Abu Ghraib Prison, including 'stress positions, removal of clothing, use of phobias such as fear of dogs,' were systematic, not just the work of a few rogue soldiers, as the Pentagon claimed at the time."
MSNBC's O'Donnell: Tea Parties Not 'Organic...Not from Ground Up'
MSNBC host Norah O'Donnell on Wednesday dismissed the tea party rallies that took place across the country last week as "top down" and not organic, prompting a complaint from a Republican strategist over the network's coverage. The discussion arose during an interview with GOP strategist Karen Hanretty and a Democratic operative over the leadership of the Republican Party. After Hanretty asserted that the tea parties were an example of grass roots conservative leadership, O'Donnell retorted: "Karen, what was organic about the tea party protest? Those were not from the ground up." She went on to label the nationwide events "top down," which prompted Hanretty to quip, "No. I know MSNBC likes to promote that those were top down, but that's not the case at all." (MSNBC hosts were relentless in their attacks on the the parties. Most famously, "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann on April 16 talked to actress Janeane Garofalo, who deemed the demonstrations racist.
CNN Headline News Anchor Defends Perez Hilton's Vulgar Comments
During a panel discussion on Tuesday's No Bias, No Bull program, Jane Velez-Mitchell, the Headline News anchor who replaced Glenn Beck after he switched over to the Fox News Channel, vehemently defended Perez Hilton's crude remarks against Miss California USA Carrie Prejean. After TruTV's Lisa Bloom blasted Hilton's use of "the 'B' word and the 'C' word, that rhymes with 'rich and runt,'" Velez-Mitchell replied, "Why is it that people should be very polite when they're told that they're second-class citizens?...If someone said to you...I don't think you should have the right to get married, wouldn't you be ticked off?"
NY Times Buries Memo on Effectiveness of 'Torture' Methods
Did the New York Times bury reporter Peter Baker's story on a memo, written by Obama's own national intelligence director, suggesting that harsh interrogation methods had proved effective in understanding Al Qaeda? Washington Examiner journalist Byron York has his suspicions since the paper relegated its hit Tuesday nytimes.com story, relaying the views of Dennis Blair, to five paragraphs of a separate story in Wednesday's print edition.
Matthews Bellows: Is GOP 'The Party of Tax Cuts and Torture?'
Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The Dick Cheney-obsessed Chris Matthews opened Tuesday's Hardball by taking umbrage with the former Vice President's criticism of Obama declassifying CIA interrogation memos, as the MSNBC host compared Cheney to "The Empire" in Star Wars, and called him "The Bush administration's tail gunner manning his burp gun with that same nasty look we recall from the war comics." Matthews went on to wonder if Cheney's outspokenness was a good thing for the GOP as he questioned: "If the Republican Party really wants to be branded right now as the party of tax cuts and torture?"
Hilton on CBS, No Mention of Vulgar Insults of Miss California
On Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen talked to gay blogger Perez Hilton about his question to Miss USA contestant Carrie Prejean about gay marriage: "Miss California, Carrie Prejean, decided to tell gay blogger and judge Perez Hilton what she really felt about same-sex marriage, and it might have cost her the Miss USA crown...Hilton reacted angrily after the show, posting this video blog on his website." Chen played a clip of Hilton's video blog tirade in which he said he was "disappointed" in Prejean, but not the portion in which the blogger called her a "dumb b***h." Chen also failed to mention that during live coverage on MSNBC on Monday, Hilton declared that he was not sorry for using that language and even went on to say that he wished he had used the "c-word" to describe Prejean. Chen only vaguely alluded to Hilton's vulgarity as she asked her first question: "Perez, let me begin with you. When you first heard her answer, what did you think? And please keep it clean, this is a live morning program." The only thing depicted as controversial in the segment was Prejean's answer to the question, not the question itself or Hilton's attacks.
ABC Touts Meghan McCain as Moderate GOP Voice on Gay Marriage
Good Morning America on Tuesday highlighted a controversy involving gay marriage and a beauty contest and touted Meghan McCain as an example of a moderate Republican. Reporter David Wright referenced the daughter of Senator John McCain in a piece on the developing story over the Miss USA pageant and whether or not an answer on gay marriage caused the contestant from California to lose the title. After asserting that gay rights are more mainstream these days, Wright reminded viewers of a decision by the Iowa Supreme Court legalizing same sex marriage. He spun: "And over the weekend, the daughter of the former Republican standard bearer, Meghan McCain, suggested she is all in favor of it." ABC then played a clip of Ms. McCain calling herself a Republican. Of course, just as MSNBC did in a story Monday on McCain, Wright made no mention of the fact that the senator's daughter voted for John Kerry in 2004 and supported Al Gore in 2000.
Critics of Obama-Chavez Meeting Making 'Mountain Out of Molehill'?
Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
On Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith discussed President Obama's brief meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at the Summit of the Americas with former Bush Press Secretary Dana Perino and former Clinton Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers, wondering: "Have the critics of this photo-op made a mountain out of a molehill?" In a prior report on the meeting, correspondent Bill Plante explained: "President Obama defends his visit with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Asked about the notion that his willingness to talk to enemies of the U.S. was a sign of weakness, the President said it was unlikely that he was endangering the strategic interests of the United States...His simple handshake with Venezuela's president was a symbolic break with the Bush administration policy of shutting out unfriendly nations." Smith repeated Obama's defense as he later wondered if critics were making too much of the encounter.
MSNBC's Brewer: Will Lefty Meghan McCain Be 'Voice' of GOP?
MSNBC host Contessa Brewer on Monday morning speculated as to whether the liberal-leaning Meghan McCain could become "the voice of the Republican Party." Brewer, who was talking to Washington Times reporter Christina Bellantoni about the daughter of the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, ignored the fact that Ms. McCain has admitted she supported Democrats John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000. Instead, referencing the 24-year-old blogger's speech to the Log Cabin Republicans on Saturday, Brewer queried: "Is it time for the Republican Party to be more inclusive of people from all different orientations?" She then asked Bellantoni: "We talk about Limbaugh, Michael Steele, Sarah Palin, is it possible Meghan McCain becomes the voice of the Republican Party?" How bizarre is it that Brewer was asking if a woman who supported Gore and Kerry, and spoke to an organization of gay Republicans that refused to endorse George W. Bush in 2004, will one day lead the Republican Party?
Time Mag: 'Odd' That Gun Control 'Petered Out' After Columbine
Michael Lindenberger of Time.com, in a April 20 article titled "Ten Years After Columbine, It's Easier to Bear Arms," found it "odd" that "whatever momentum the Columbine killings gave to gun control has long since petered out," despite the "massacres perpetrated by deranged gunmen" in the following decade. He also quoted extensively from a young gun control advocate in the online article, without including any arguments from the opposing viewpoint. Lindenberger first gave his reflection on the anniversary: "Monday April 20 marks 10 years since Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold permanently etched the words Columbine High School into this nation's collective memory. What happened that day in 1999 also seemed to wake America up to the reality that it had become a nation of gun owners -- and too often a nation of shooters. The carnage in Littleton, Colorado...seemed to usher in a new era of, well if not gun control, then at least gun awareness."
ABC Defends Obama's 'New World View,' Touts Supposed Successes
In the midst of conservative criticism that President Barack Obama, at the summit in Trinidad over the weekend joked around with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and was uncritical of a 50-minute anti-American screed from Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega, ABC decided to defend Obama's foreign policy mettle -- with his only failure coming where he has followed Bush's policy. Martha Raddatz began by trying to undermine the pictures of a jovial Obama with Chavez: "Today, cell phone video images emerged of a stern and serious President Obama during a brief encounter with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. The image counters the cordial hand shake with Chavez who once called Mr. Obama an 'ignoramus' and George Bush 'a devil.'" She noted that "it should not be a surprise that President Obama is reaching out to friend and foe after promising a stark change," before she recited, interspersed with Obama soundbites, how in a mere 90 days "he has reached out to the Iranian people...Muslims worldwide...And the Russians." She asked: "And where has all this gotten him?" Her one expert, former Chicago Sun-Times and New York Daily News executive James Hoge, who now runs Foreign Policy magazine, hailed Obama's approach.
Donaldson: 'Torture Memo' Writers Must 'Held Accountable' in Court
Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Those who "devised" what ABC called "torture memos" and the "methods" they defined, retired ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson contended on Sunday's This Week, "should be held responsible" and so "should be held accountable in the court of law." Donaldson allowed that "people who thought they were following the law as outlined" should not be punished, but: "The people who devised these methods and devised these memos, if, in fact, they knew that they were just trying to find cover, just trying to find a way to get around American values and American law and the American Constitution, I think they should be held responsible. I think they should be brought in and if President Obama wants to pardon them as one President pardoned a former President, then let him do so, but they should be held accountable in the court of law."
NPR's Nina Totenberg Dismisses Tea Parties as 'Cockamamie'
NPR's Nina Totenberg on Friday night was unsure as to whether the tea parties have "any legs are not" since "at almost any given time any cockamamie proposition in America will have at least 25 percent of those polled supporting it." On Inside Washington she called the anti-tax and anti-spending rallies "a good stunt," before declaring Americans "pay relatively small taxes" and then lecturing those unappreciative protesters about how taxes provide, as if they want taxes totally eliminated, "a civilized kind of social compact where you don't have massive civil eruptions. That is what taxes are for." To which, Newsweek's Evan Thomas chimed in: "I'm all for paying more taxes."
Vitriolic Garofalo: Racist Tea Party Protesters; FNC for Dummies
Left-wing activist/actress Janeane Garofalo, now starring on Fox's '24,' went on a wild rant Thursday night, on MSNBC's Countdown, impugning those who attended the Wednesday tea parties as racists and denigrating the brain power of anyone who watches the Fox News Channel. "This is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism, straight up. That is nothing but a bunch of tea-bagging rednecks. And there is no way around that," she scurrilously charged. After comparing conservatives to "white power activists," she continued: "This is about racism. It could be any issue, any port in a storm. These guys hate that a black guy is in the White House." Denigrating the Fox News Channel, she asserted the right-wing has "no shortage of the natural resources of ignorance, apathy, hate, fear" which FNC has exploited: "Fox News loves to foment this anti-intellectualism because that's their bread and butter. If you have a cerebral electorate, Fox News goes down the toilet, very, very fast." FNC, she stumbled into alleging, has cornered the "Klan with a k demo."
ABC Highlights 'Frank' Repudiations of Conservative Social Views
ABC's World News programs on Friday and Sunday highlighted "frank comments by Republicans" who indicated either an admission to having reservations over, or who called on a reversal of, the Republican party's conservative stance on social issues. On Friday, Charles Gibson informed viewers that Sarah Palin confessed before a pro-life group to having briefly wondered about having an abortion after she discovered her son Trig would be born with Down's Syndrome. Gibson also highlighted comments by Steve Schmidt, the former campaign manager for John McCain, as he addressed a gathering of the Log Cabin Republicans and "urged the Republican party to support same-sex marriage." On World News on Sunday, correspondent Rachel Martin filed a full story on pro-gay comments by both Schmidt and John McCain's daughter Meghan. Anchor Dan Harris introduced the report: "There are some new and rather surprising voices wading into the debate over same-sex marriage. Last night, John McCain's daughter, Meghan, jumped into the fray, and she is not the only Republican suggesting that the party might want to reconsider its stance on this very divisive issue."
CBS's Rodriguez Urges Assault Weapons Ban to DHS Chief
Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
While discussing the ongoing drug war in Mexico with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez wondered: "President Obama will meet with the Mexican president today, who has said that the money, the guns, and the appetite for drugs that fuel this war come from our country. My question is, how much blame do we accept?...Is one of the other things we can do reinstate the assault weapons ban in this country? Because President Calderon has said that ever since it expired, violence there has escalated." In an earlier report on the issue, correspondent Bill Plante explained: "Mexican authorities are often out-gunned by the gangs. Military-grade arms, including grenades and machine guns, are easily purchased in the U.S. and smuggled into Mexico. Just as the drugs are easily moved north in response to heavy demand in the U.S...President Obama will promise today to step up efforts to stop the flow of weapons from the U.S. down into Mexico."
CNN Doubts Tea Party 'Rationality,' Hints They're 'Out of Step'
On Wednesday's Anderson Cooper 360 program, CNN's Christiane Amanpour and Jeffrey Toobin voiced their skepticism about the hundreds of Tea Party protests across the U.S., with Toobin stating how it was "disturbing" that there was a "edge of anger at the government" at the rallies. He continued: "There is a real -- a real hostility that is not just politics as usual among some of these people....I think it's indicative of trying to tap into an anger that's beyond rationality on a part of a small group of these people." Amanpour also asked if the protesters were "really out of step with the majority of Americans."
Matt Lauer and Andrea Mitchell Push for Assault Weapons Ban
NBC's Matt Lauer and Andrea Mitchell, on Thursday's Today show, pressed their guests (Lauer with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Mitchell with Mexican President Felipe Calderon) about reinstituting the assault weapons ban. First up, Mitchell -- who pushed Hillary Clinton last month to bring back the ban -- offered Calderon an open to blame Mexican drug cartel violence on guns imported from the U.S.: "President Obama will not deliver long-promised Blackhawk helicopters, nor a ban on assault weapons smuggled south. He campaigned as a candidate against the assault weapons. Now that he's in office, he's had to back off." Lauer to Napolitano: "When you look at the numbers, that 90 percent of the 12,000 weapons Mexican officials recovered from these drug cartels in the last year or so were made and sold in the United States, and many of those, as we just heard from President Calderon, are assault weapons, how can President Obama, who ran on an issue against assault weapons, how can he not deliver on that?"
Scarborough Takes on MSNBC? Attacks Those Who Mock Tea Parties
Has Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough had enough of MSNBC's mocking, sexually-laced taunts about "teabagging?" Several anchors on the liberal cable network, including David Shuster and Rachel Maddow, have used crude references and language to deride the tax day protests that occurred on Wednesday. On Thursday, Scarborough complained: "You look at these huge rallies, and I'm not going to mention names of people on networks that made sexual jokes, childish sexual jokes, about tens of thousands of Americans who went out and wanted to get involved in their government." The MSNBC host continued: "I mean, it was really middle school jokes being made. I didn't hear those jokes being made when people on the left protested over the past eight years." Earlier in the 6am EDT hour, he offered criticism that, one might assume, would have to be directed at his own network: "But, if a media outlet wants to expose its bias, they can mock tea parties, if they like."
ABC's Sawyer Presses on Guns; Skips Story of Right-Wing Violence
Good Morning America co-host Diane Sawyer interviewed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Thursday and skipped any mention of a controversial report by the agency warning of right-wing extremist activity and disgruntled returning war veterans. In separate interviews, both the CBS Early Show and NBC's Today discussed the hot-topic issue with the top government official (see items #5 and #6 below). Instead, Sawyer pressed Napolitano with incorrect numbers about gun violence and Mexico. "95 percent of the guns used were out of the United States. What is the U.S. going to do to stop the guns from getting there," she asked.
ABC Upset 'Chilling' Memos Reveal Zubaydah 'Tortured with Insect'
ABC's Charles Gibson, Jan Crawford Greenburg and George Stephanopoulos all stressed Thursday night how, Bush administration Justice Department memos clarifying what techniques interrogators could use with suspected terrorists, included what Stephanopoulos described as "torture with an insect" -- a method ABC failed to note was not ever employed. "Tonight, secret memos," anchor Charles Gibson teased World News, "new documents reveal in vivid detail just how far the Bush administration went in interrogating terror suspects, using insects, confinement boxes, water-boards and more." Reporter Jan Crawford Greenburg characterized the memos as "chilling in their detail," citing how "they approved prisoners placed in a cramped confinement box with an insect..." Following Greenburg, Stephanopoulos marveled: "Even some congressional officials who had the highest security clearances were surprised by some of the details today, especially that detail about the fact that Zubayda was tortured with an insect in a confinement box." Let that formulation sink in: "Tortured with an insect." The horror!
Discredit 'Tea Party' Rallies as Front for 'Corporate Interests'
Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The broadcast network evening newscasts on Wednesday provided prominent coverage of the "Tea Party" rallies across the nation with time for the views of participants, but they tried to discredit the protests as a front for "corporate interests" or a "fistful of rightward leaning Web sites" -- a concern for motives and hidden agendas the same programs lacked when championing the 2006 pro-illegal immigrant marches. All three also cited polls to undermine the premise the public shares the concerns on taxes and spending espoused by the "tea party" protesters. ABC's Dan Harris asserted: "Critics on the left say this is not a real grassroots phenomenon at all, that it's actually largely orchestrated by people fronting for corporate interests." Harris proceeded to argue that "while the Boston Tea Party in 1773 was about taxation without representation, critics point out that today's protesters did get to vote -- they just lost. What's more, polls show most Americans don't feel overtaxed." CBS's Dean Reynolds noted a tea party organizer "insisted these events were non-partisan," but, Reynolds maintained, "a fistful of rightward leaning Web sites and commentators embraced the cause."
CBS Fears 'Right Wing Extremism May Increase' After Obama Election
On Wednesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith highlighted a report by the liberal Southern Poverty Law Center claiming a recent surge in hate groups in the United States: "The Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Report found 926 active hate groups in the country. That's up more than 50 percent from just 2000...And they say part of it is because of the election of President Obama. Other part of the responsibility goes to the deteriorating economy." An on-screen graphic read: "Rising Tide of Hatred? Report: Right Wing Extremism May Increase." Smith talked to Southern Poverty Law Center founder Morris Dees about the report as well as a similar report by the Department of Homeland Security: "Your report dovetails with a brand new report from the Department of Homeland Security claiming basically the same thing...Do these -- do you feel like your report and their report sync up?" Dees declared: "I think they sync up pretty much."
CNN Reporter Claims Tea Parties 'Anti-Government' and 'Anti-CNN'
CNN covered the tea parties on Wednesday -- by attacking the participants. A day after anchor Anderson Cooper made an obscene sexual joke about attendees (see #2 above), CNN correspondent Susan Roesgen rudely interrupted one of the protestors and slammed the event for being "anti-government," "anti-CNN," and "not really family viewing." She blasted the Chicago event as pushed by "right-wing conservative network Fox."
CNN's Anderson Cooper: 'It's Hard to Talk When You're Tea-Bagging'
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper followed MSNBC's David Shuster into the gutter on his Anderson Cooper 360 program on Tuesday in making a vulgar "tea-bagging" joke about Republicans/conservatives. After CNN's senior political analyst David Gergen remarked that Republicans were "searching for their voice" after two electoral losses, Cooper quipped: "It's hard to talk when you're tea-bagging."
Guthrie: Obama Gave Great Speech -- On MSNBC My Boss Told Me So
Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The insular world of NBC News and MSNBC. In her Tuesday NBC Nightly News story on President Barrack Obama's status of the economy speech, reporter Savannah Guthrie emphasized how "the White House billed today's speech as a 'major' one" and so it was "carried live on cable" where "analysts said it was short on rhetoric and long on policy." Guthrie's expert "analysts" turned out to be one analyst, her boss. In a clip lifted from MSNBC earlier in the day, NBC Nightly News viewers heard NBC News Washington Bureau Chief Mark Whitaker effuse: "Well, there was a moment of church in that speech, but the rest of it was pure law school."
Lauer 'Worried' Feds Unable to Dictate to Business Any More
The announcement that Goldman-Sachs may be able to pay back its bailout loan, sooner rather than later, was met with a grim assessment by NBC's Matt Lauer, on Tuesday's Today show as the co-anchor fretted to the Obama administration's Christina Romer: "I'm worried if you think if that's a good thing. Are they doing this because of financial stability, or might they be talking about that simply to get out from under the thumb of the federal government and be allowed to go back to running the business the way they want to run it as opposed to the way the government wants them to run it?" Lauer invited on Romer, the chair of Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, to preview the President's speech on the economy and pressed her about companies going back to "business as usual," but Romer assured Lauer that "we are going to be working on financial regulatory reform."
FX's Rescue Me Pushes 9/11 'Massive Neo-Conservative' Conspiracy
The 9/11 terrorist attacks were part of "a massive neo-conservative government effort" to enable "American global domination," a character on FX's 'Rescue Me' argued on Tuesday night's episode. In the drama about firefighters in New York City, firefighter "Franco Rivera," played by actor Daniel Sunjata, a real-life 9/11 "truther," laid out his theory for a French journalist interviewing firefighters for a book on 9/11 first-responders. As noted in a February CyberAlert post, in a New York Times story about the then-upcoming storyline, Brian Stelter reported the ludicrous theory "may represent the first fictional presentation of 9/11 conspiracy theories by a mainstream media company (FX is operated by the News Corporation)."
MSNBC's Shuster Claims He's Balanced, Blasts 'Partisan' MRC
Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The MRC's recent Media Reality Check study showing a dramatic partisan tilt to David Shuster's evening "Hypocrisy Watch" segments drew amusing bluster from Shuster, who denigrated the MRC but did not dispute our facts, when media writer Howard Kurtz reported the study's results in Monday's Washington Post. Kurtz summarized: "MSNBC's David Shuster is an aggressive career reporter who has never been positioned as one of the channel's left-leaning commentators. But in his 'Hypocrisy Watch' segments this year, the conservative Media Research Center points out, 34 of the targets have been Republicans or conservatives -- including Rush Limbaugh twice and Karl Rove five times -- and only four have been Democrats or liberals. Shuster says the group is 'funded and run by die-hard conservatives with a clear partisan agenda' and that his work on the now-defunct program 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue 'was hard hitting on both parties.'"
Krugman: Limbaugh's Tactics 'Right Out of Stalinist Show Trials'
Paul Krugman, the economist turned left-wing talking points spouter, went after the tea party protests by comparing Rush Limbaugh to Stalin and saying Republicans are like the mentally ill. He directed his preening, self-conscious writing style to the anti-spending tea parties in a column Monday, "Tea Parties Forever," that was even more hysterical than usual, which pondered whether making fun of the conservative protests was like making fun of the mentally ill. "Republicans have become embarrassing to watch. And it doesn't feel right to make fun of crazy people," Krugman fretted before pouring on the insults: "But here's the thing: the G.O.P. looked as crazy 10 or 15 years ago as it does now. That didn't stop Republicans from taking control of both Congress and the White House." Likening how some who criticized Rush Limbaugh, and later apologized, to Stalin's "show trials," Krugman argued: "The abject apologies he has extracted from Republican politicians who briefly dared to criticize him have been right out of Stalinist show trials."
Matthews Retorts to Pro-Tea Party Guest: 'Stay In Your Box!'
On Monday night's Hardball, the Wall Street Journal's Stephen Moore challenged Chris Matthews to come out to one of the many tea parties protesting taxes and the government bailouts, as the former Club for Growth President egged on the Hardball host to prove he is "a man of the people," but Matthews ducked the invitation and yelled back: "Steve stay in your box!"
'Dwindling Number' of 'Very Hard Line' Oppose Changing Cuba Policy
It may well be that a growing share of the American public favor expanding interaction with Cuba, but in reporting President Barrack Obama's decision to allow Cuban-Americans unlimited travel and money transfers to the island, ABC's Jeffrey Kofman and NBC's Andrea Mitchell characterized opponents in a belittling manner -- while Mitchell also advanced complaints Obama did no go far enough. "With today's announcement," Kofman asserted on ABC's World News, "President Obama is making it clear he is not going to do business as usual." Kofman then declared: "It is now only the very hard line who want the policy to stay as it is." Mitchell, on the NBC Nightly News, acknowledged "some Cuban-Americans...still argue that the Obama White House is only helping Raul Castro and his ailing brother Fidel," but she dismissed those opponents as "a dwindling number." She emphasized the view Obama came up short: "President Obama did not propose a far more sweeping step, getting Congress to lift the trade embargo that has lasted for half a century, disappointing opponents of the policy."
Matthews Laughs at Biden Riff, Skips His 'Daydreams' About Obama
Chris Matthews, on Monday's Hardball, showcased Saturday Night Live skewering Joe Biden, but he conspicuously ignored the "Weekend Update" clip, from the same show, making fun of his fondness for Obama in which he was depicted as daydreaming about Obama in a "loin cloth." The April 13 CyberAlert highlighted the clip from this past Saturday's show making fun of Matthews. However Matthews -- who in the past has enjoyed SNL's Darrell Hammond's impersonations of him so much that he invited the impressionist on his MSNBC show -- ignored the most recent quip made at his expense.
Cold Shoulder from NYT for Anti-Global-Warming Activist Morano
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The New York Times tries to discredit anti-global-warming activist Marc Morano by linking him to some of their favorite villains: Exxon, the Swift Boat Veterans, and Richard Mellon Scaife. On Friday, reporter Leslie Kaufman profiled anti-climate-change activist Marc Morano in "Dissenter on Warming Expands His Campaign -- A Thorn in Climate Changers' Side." In contrast to Times profiles of liberal activists who want enormous political and lifestyle changes to combat global warming, Kaufman had nothing flattering to say about Morano. Mocking his personal appearance, Kaufman wrote that Morano "fills out his suit like a bulldog in a restraining jacket." She also hinted Morano is less than truthful about some of his confrontations, something the Times would never challenge a liberal on.
Totenberg: Washingtonians Flocking to YouTube to Watch Obama
NPR's Nina Totenberg must live in a world of Obama fanatics. But she works for NPR, so that's tautological. Weeks after she relayed how "a friend of mine said, 'oh my God, we have a President again!,'" this weekend she excitedly recounted how, following President Barack Obama's trip to Europe, she "heard...all over Washington" people saying "'I'm going to go on YouTube and watch the President's speech because I heard it was so good.'" She hailed that as "just an amazing thing."
Moran: Limbaugh Would Call Jake Tapper a Traitor if He Hit Bush
Nightline co-anchor Terry Moran appeared on the Media Bistro's "Morning Media Menu" podcast on Friday and simultaneously defended an ABC colleague and attacked Rush Limbaugh. While telling host Steve Krakauer that White House correspondent Jake Tapper has been unfairly criticized by liberals for being tough on the Obama administration, he noted conservative praise for the journalist. Moran complained: "If Tapper was covering Bush, Limbaugh would call him a traitor. And that's just the way it is."
SNL Joke: Chris Matthews Daydreams of Obama in a Loin Cloth
MSNBC's Chris Matthews, infamous for getting a "thrill" up his leg while drinking in a speech by Barack Obama and his ongoing adoration for the President ("He is the new us!"), became the punch line of a joke on NBC's own Saturday Night Live. During the Weekend Update segment on the April 11 show, SNL's news anchor, Seth Myers, delivered this "news" item, illustrated by a creative matching graphic: "A new comic is being published this summer called 'Barack the Barbarian' which features the President in a loin cloth. Also featuring the President in a loin cloth: Chris Matthews' daydreams."
Fleischer: 'Where is the Press' in Checking Biden's Claim?
MSNBC anchor Peter Alexander was more interested Friday afternoon in a Karl Rove v Joe Biden cat fight than in the accuracy of Biden's claim which prompted Rove's rebuke of him for telling a "lie" -- which led guest Ari Fleischer to scold the media for not checking into Biden's allegation. Indeed, MSNBC framed the segment around Rove's words, "Rove: Biden Is a Liar." When Alexander asked if it is "appropriate for Karl Rove" to call a Vice President "a liar?", Fleischer shot back: "Well, for heaven's sake, that's just about the only word Democrats wanted to use when they were talking about George W. Bush."
Howard Yearns for Less Powerful America Not 'Driven by Militarism'
Film director Ron Howard is "very optimistic" about the future of America, so long as the nation makes an "adjustment," to fulfill his hope a "more progressive" nation will mean "at a certain point I don't think we'll be so consumed with being the pre-eminent super-power and, you know, driven by sort of militarism and this need to export, you know, democracy." Howard's reasoning, on Friday night's Real Time with Bill Maher, came in response to Maher's formulation that America has "seen better days. We're sort of in place that has made a lot of people nervous. Some people would say this country has jumped the shark."
Gun Special on ABC to Dismiss Using Guns for Self Defense?
Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Will the Friday night ABC 20/20 special, "If I Only Had a Gun," dismiss and deride the concept of using firearms to defend oneself and stop a potential massacre? An ad that aired during Wednesday's Good Morning America seemed to suggest yes. As ominous music played in the background, an announcer intoned: "Friday night on ABC, when it comes to protecting yourself, you may think, 'If I only had a gun.'" Video then played of an experiment in which a female college student attempted to pull out what looked like a pellet gun to stop a faux Virginia Tech-style massacre. The ad's announcer quizzed: "But if you had a gun, could you defend yourself in a crisis?" After an unidentified voice asked the young woman where she would be if this had been real, she responded: "Probably on the floor. Hopefully in an ambulance." More video showed young children pointing real guns at each other and themselves. The announcer solemnly wondered: "What about the irresistible pull of guns on kids and how easy can you get them? Diane Sawyer investigates with David Muir. 'If I Only Had a Gun.' One stunning hour."
ABC Wonders If You Care About Obama Bow; White House: 'A Lean'
In the brief "Closing Arguments" segment on Wednesday's Nightline, ABC's Terry Moran credulously repeated the White House contention that Barack Obama didn't bow to the King of Saudi Arabia last week at the G-20 summit. As video of the incident played, Moran narrated: "He sees King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Goes in for the hello. There's a hand shake. Obama bends at the waist. But was it a bow?" He then recited: "The White House called it a lean, pointing out the King's shorter than the President." Inviting people to respond on his Twitter page, Moran wondered: "So, tonight, we ask you, was it a bow and do you care?" A search of @TerryMoran responses on Twitter shows a healthy number of people somewhat incredulous at the host's lack of skepticism. DesigningDi instructed: "Are you blind? Of course he's bowing. Don't play stupid!"
Couric Presses Holder from Left on Guns and Probing Bush Crimes
After pounding away at Attorney General Eric Holder over enacting more gun control, as Katie Couric fretted that "Democrats on Capitol Hill are getting increasingly chummy with the NRA," Couric raised "the issue of the treatment of some of the detainees" at Guantanamo and prompted Holder to denounce former Vice President Dick Cheney. In the taped interview aired on Wednesday's CBS Evening News, Couric cited "alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. It's been reported that he was water-boarded. You have come out publicly and said water-boarding is torture. So how would that stand up in civilian court?" She also highlighted how "Holder addressed recent criticism" by Cheney, "who said the Obama administration was making choices that will raise the risk of another terrorist attack." Couric pressed: "Are you implicitly saying that Dick Cheney was inappropriate and off base?" An un-aired query: "Senator Patrick Lahey has suggested a special commission to investigate whether federal crimes were committed when it comes to things like water-boarding. Do you think that's a good idea?"
Laura Ingraham Tweaks Lauer and Today on Obama Obsession
Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The Today show devoted much of last week's coverage of Obama's European trip to obsessing over such frivolous matters as what Michelle Obama was wearing and what kind of gift the Obamas gave the Queen, so when Laura Ingraham was invited on Wednesday's Today show, the conservative radio talk show host couldn't resist knocking the silly coverage, telling NBC's Matt Lauer: "We know that Europe loves President Obama. He had adoring crowds. The press loves Obama. The question is how will this date end? Okay? The question is, to what end? Why do they love President Obama? They love his personal story, they love his wife. North Korea, China and Russia don't really care about Michelle's arms and, you know, whether they gave an iPod to the Queen, okay? They care about whether America is still going to lead, exhibit strength and doesn't just talk about these vague concepts, Matt, of global cooperation."
Obama 'Wins Troop's Cheers,' But Bush's Visit Greeted w/ Petulance
New York Times contrast. Obama visits Baghdad: "In Unexpected Visit to Iraq, Obama Wins Troops' Cheers." Bush visits Baghdad in Thanksgiving 2003: "President Bush with American troops yesterday at the mess hall at Baghdad International Airport."
NBC: Only GOP Governors Caught in Sex Scandals Get Party Label
Just this past Monday, NBC's Today show studiously avoided mentioning disgraced Governor Eliot Spitzer's Democratic affiliation during his interview with Matt Lauer, but fast forward to Wednesday's Today and a story about another governor embroiled in a sex scandal -- in this case Nevada Republican Governor Jim Gibbons -- and NBC's Michael Okwu was careful to note he is a Republican at the very top of the story: "If voters in Nevada were betting on a nasty gubernatorial divorce, this week they hit the jackpot. That's Republican Governor Jim Gibbons. There's his future ex-wife, Dawn. After 23 years of a polished political marriage to Dawn Gibbons, a former state assemblywoman, the governor has filed for divorce citing incompatibility in what's become a very public war of the roses."
CNN's Sanchez Blames Fox News, 'Right-Wing Radio' for Cop Killings
CNN's Rick Sanchez returned to blasting conservatives on Wednesday's Newsroom program, blaming the recent murder of three Pittsburgh police officers on the Fox News Channel and other media on the right: "That weekend tragedy involves a man who allegedly shot and killed three police officers in cold blood. Why? Because he was convinced, after no doubt watching Fox News and listening to right-wing radio, that quote, 'Our rights were being infringed upon.'" He tag-teamed with Media Matters fellow Eric Boehlert to argue that conservative media personalities like Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity were offering "garden-variety fear and hate mongering...night in and night out."
NYT Trumpets Obama in Democrat-Heavy Poll, Skips Upbeat Iraq Take
Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
There was lots of bad news for the GOP in the newest CBS News/New York Times poll, the results of which were trumpeted in Tuesday's lead story slot by Adam Nagourney and Megan Thee: "Poll Finds New Optimism on Economy Since Inauguration." The story came with a large front-page graph showing how people think "the country is going in the right direction." But are the numbers tilted unfairly toward the Democrats? Are there really 67% more Democrats out there than Republicans, as the poll's demographic breakdown indicates? The poll contained a sliver of good news for Republicans that didn't make Nagourney's story: Twelve percent of respondents now think Iraq is going very well, a historic high for that stat. Another 50% say its going "somewhat well," 23% say somewhat badly, and only 7% say very badly. Seven percent is the lowest that last figure has been since the first question was first asked in a CBS-only poll in May 2003.
On Today, NBC's Okwu Hails Obama as 'Hugger-in-Chief'
Late on Tuesday's Today show, NBC's Michael Okwu declared hugging is all the rage now that President Obama, AKA "The Hugger-in-Chief," has replaced handshakes with hugs. Al Roker introduced the Okwu story as he pondered: "With the uncertain economy and shrinking 401(k)s we could all use a little hug, even President Obama, "The Hugger-in-Chief." Early in the piece Okwu threw it to NBC News presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin who analyzed: "I would rank him, way at the top, in the pantheon of presidential huggers."
ABC's Robin Roberts Hits Speaker Pelosi from the Left on Guns
Interviewing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday, Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts challenged the Democratic politician from the left on guns. After bringing up the tragic shootings that occurred last week in New York and Pittsburgh, Roberts quizzed: "Under the Bush administration, you pretty much said the ball was in their court when it came to reinstating the [assault weapons] ban. Now, it's a Democratic President, a Democratic House. So, is the ball in your court where this is concerned?" On another subject, co-host Diane Sawyer teased the Pelosi segment with an oddly phrased intro: "And conservatives attack President Obama for reaching out to Muslims on his trip to Turkey." Now, many conservatives have accused the President of being too accommodating in his overseas trip, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has attacked Obama for showing weakness, but neither Sawyer, nor Roberts explained which conservative is slamming Obama for "reaching out to Muslims."
CNN Bemoans Hostility to Islam, Obama Must 'Educate' Americans
CNN latched onto two separate poll results on Monday that indicated about half of Americans view the Islamic world negatively or don't trust Muslim allies as much as other allies, and indicated that President Obama and others in authority need to be "educators" for the public about Islam. The network brought up the polls' results on seven different occasions on Monday. During the 8 am Eastern hour of American Morning, chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour first brought up a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll which found that 55 percent of Americans "concede that they lack a good basic understanding of Islam" and that 48 percent "hold an unfavorable opinion of Islam." After she read these results, substitute anchor Carol Costello responded: "I think the difference is that many Americans see Islam as an ideology instead of a religion, and maybe, President Obama has to kind of -- kind of put a definition on it from the American standpoint in Turkey."
Stephanopoulos: Obama's Trip a Test He 'Passed Pretty Easily'
Assessing President Barrack Obama's overseas trip, ABC's George Stephanopoulos proposed it was "a real test for the President" and, no surprise, decided "he passed it pretty easily" since "he was confident, he had a sense of command in his personal and his public diplomacy, forged strong relationships with his European counterparts..." Furthermore, Stephanopoulos admired Obama's "strong" unannounced visit to troops in Iraq, touting how the President "capped off" his travels "with this critical visit to the troops. When you've got American troops fighting on two fronts, you have to end that visit with a strong visit with the troops, and he did." Asked by anchor Charles Gibson to list some minuses, Stephanopoulos acknowledged "good feelings with your allies don't guarantee agreement," citing Obama's inability to secure help in Afghanistan and with North Korea, but the host of ABC's This Week wrapped up with how the White House is pleased with the trip -- as if it were possible they wouldn't be: "They feel this trip went exactly as they planned. They couldn't be happier. Now they're going to come back home and focus again on the economy."
ABC's Weir Goes Easy on Religion and Palin-Bashing 'Family Guy'
ABC reporter Bill Weir didn't exactly grill Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane when he interviewed him for Nightline's ongoing "Seriously Funny" segment on Monday. The journalist failed to bring up some of the most egregious examples of MacFarlane's cartoon vulgarity, including a March 8 episode that featured bestiality jokes, a gay-hating Jesus Christ and an 11-way gay orgy. Instead, Weir only vaguely alluded to such instances and asserted: "But, like those other cartoons, his shows raise the most ire with religious and parental watchdog groups. If there is a taboo line, chances are MacFarlane has leaped over it." He did read off a list of topics the show has skewered and then wondered: "Where is the line for you? Is there a line or is that the point?" Once again, however, Weir had no specifics to follow-up. Did he ask about the October 19, 2008 episode in which the program's baby character, Stewie Griffin dressed up as a Nazi and wore a McCain/Palin button? No. MacFarlane, a Barack Obama supporter and liberal Democrat, wasn't forced to talk about that particular low blow.
Boston Globe's DC Chief: Obama Reflects 'Devotion He Inspires'
"The New York Times Co. is threatening to shut down the Boston Globe and deprive the world of its hard-hitting brand of journalism," James Taranto sarcastically noted in his Tuesday "Best of the Web Today" for the Wall Street Journal's online "Opinion Journal" page, mockingly citing "an example of what would be lost is a column by Peter S. Canellos, the paper's Washington bureau chief, titled 'In a Stroke of Brilliance, Obama Defies Easy Caricature.'" Unlike recent Presidents, Canellos contended in his weekly "National Perspectives" column in the Globe's news pages, "Obama, so far, seems to occupy a place in the popular culture beyond humor. Ridicule doesn't touch him. His personality defies easy categorization." Even the "few running gags to emerge from the Obama administration -- aides not paying their taxes, Treasury officials rewarding fat-cats" -- rebounds to Obama's benefit, Canellos argued, as he effused: "The only one that pertains to the President himself is the straight-faced devotion he inspires. Obama may not actually be perfect, but so many poor souls out there think he is." An observation about the press corps?
ABC Touts Gun Control Group; Hypes Special on Firearms
Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
On Monday's Good Morning America, reporter David Muir highlighted a rabidly pro-gun control group as an expert on weapons, without referencing the organization's political stance. The journalist also promoted "If I Only Had a Gun," an ABC special to air Friday night that seems to argue for tighter restrictions on firearms. During a segment on the tragic shootings in Pittsburgh and New York, Muir featured a clip from Michael Wolkowitz, who is a member of the board of trustees for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. No mention was made of his organization's anti-Second Amendment position and the only identification vaguely read, "Board of Trustees, Brady Center." Wolkowitz complained, "We have 32 people being murdered by guns every day in this country. If peanut butter or pistachio nuts or spinach killed that number of people once in one day, they'd be pulled by the FDA." In contrast, no voice opposing gun control was featured in the GMA segment.
NBC Rehabilitates Spitzer as Regulatory Expert, Forgets Party ID
NBC's Matt Lauer invited former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer on Monday's Today show, to help restore his reputation after he lost his governorship due to solicitation of prostitute and while the former governor expressed regret for hurting his family, it was Lauer who suggested the greatest loss was that Spitzer missed a chance to regulate Wall Street. Lauer also failed to mention the disgraced governor's Democratic party affiliation, something that has become a bit of a tradition over at Today. The following are just some of the pro-regulatory questions Lauer tossed to Spitzer: "You said something to the effect, and I'm paraphrasing here. You said that the regulations were there but the will to regulate was not there...So, so now that we've had, that the economy is story number one, two and three in this country, right now, and there's been so much public outrage, is the will to regulate there now?....And, and finally do you ever ask yourself, 'What if?' I mean you were a person with the knowledge and the position to perhaps do something about this? First as attorney general, and then governor of New York, until you were brought down by this scandal? Do you ever shake your head and say, 'I missed a golden opportunity?'"
NBC Hails Obama's Turkey Visit as 'Shrewd', CBS: Highest Approval
Giving a warm wind-up to President Barrack Obama's overseas trip as it comes to an end in Istanbul, NBC's Chuck Todd declared Monday that the decision to make Turkey the last stop "could prove to be one of the shrewder early moves in this young presidency." On CBS, anchor Katie Couric highlighted how a new CBS News/New York Times poll pegged Obama's approval at 66 percent, the highest ever in that survey the CBSNews.com online posting touted: "Obama Approval Hits New High -- 66%." Couric also pointed out how Obama has made Americans feel better with the "wrong direction" measure for the nation falling from 89, under Bush, to 53 percent: "More than half still say we're heading the wrong way, but that's a dramatic 36-point improvement from the waning days of the Bush administration." Reporter Chip Reid showcased more positive poll results for Obama's trip, as "67 percent of Americans believe the President will return to the U.S. with the respect of world leaders."
Shuster: Conservative 'Wing-Nuts' 'Inspire' Cop Killer Violence
Fresh off the cancellation of his own MSNBC show, an unleashed David Shuster, sub-hosting for Chris Matthews on Monday's Hardball, ranted and railed against "crazy," "conservative" "wing-nuts" like Chuck Norris, Michele Bachmann, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck for fomenting "dangerous" and "red hot rhetoric" that "inspire some of the crazies out there", like accused cop killer Richard Poplowski, "to do something violent."
News Photogs Flock to Obama's White House, from Time Mag, AP...
Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The Obama White House is serving as a convenient new employer for members of the media as news outlets downsize, but would they have felt so comfortable coming aboard a GOP President's staff? The latest hires: Three news photographers -- from Time magazine, Cox Newspapers and U.S. News and World Report magazine -- are joining the team of photographers snapping pictures at events and meetings in and around the White House complex. The chief White House photographer, Pete Souza, "announced the hires to PDN," DCRTV.com reported Thursday in picking up the item from the week before on the Photo District News site. Souza had already tapped photographers from the McClatchy-Tribune News Service and the Associated Press.
Donaldson on Obama:'Just Changing the Tone a Great Plus' for U.S.
Reacting with indignation to David Frum's assessment that President Barack Obama was a "failure" at the G-20 summit because European leaders "rebuffed" his quest to get them to follow his lead in enacting massive deficit spending, an aghast ABC News veteran Sam Donaldson sputtered that the change in "tone" from former President Bush was more important than substance: "The last President we had that went to Europe, I mean no one wanted to see him. There was great hostility. This President's changed the tone. Just changing the tone was a great plus for the United States." On Friday night's Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, Donaldson conceded Obama "was rebuffed when it came to the great stimulus, yes Germany and France said you can't print Euros like we're printing dollars" but, nonetheless, he declared: "This was the best outcome you could hope for."
ABC Again Exploits Shooting to Push for More Gun Control
Of the three network evening newscasts on Friday night, ABC's World News, substitute hosted by Diane Sawyer, uniquely seemed to lament the lack of political interest in enacting new gun laws to combat what correspondent Dan Harris earlier called "a signature American disaster, a shooting rampage," referring to the shooting spree in Binghamton, New York. Sawyer introduced a discussion with correspondent Pierre Thomas by reading a statement from the Brady Campaign complaining about the government's lack of interest in more gun control compared to "salmonella poisoning in peanut butter crackers," and then the two fretted over the large number of guns in circulation in America and the unlikely prospects of more gun laws being passed by Congress. Sawyer: "We keep hearing there is a gun for every man, woman and child in this country, and now they have gone up by that much more. But what about Congress? Is there any move in Congress to try to take some kind of action?"
Obama's Week Through ABC's Prism: 'Cool Kid in the Class'
In a q and a with George Stephanopoulos on Saturday's World News, ABC anchor David Muir decided to sum up President Barack Obama's week in Europe by displaying a picture of jovial Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arm-in-arm with President Barack Obama during the G-20 group photo session, an image Muir contended showed how "other heads of state are seemingly trying to get close to the head of the class, or the cool kid in the class, if you will, President Obama." Muir cued up Stephanopoulos: "Have you seen much of this in recent history?" Stephanopoulos put style over substance as he declared "the President's stagecraft on this trip and his star power have really held up all through his trip to Europe."
ABC's GMA Gushes Over Michelle Obama's 'Cinderella Story'
Good Morning America reporter Yunji de Nies continued to fawn over Michelle Obama on Friday, lauding how at a girls school in London "the First Lady shared her own Cinderella story that took her from the south side of Chicago all the way to the White House." An ABC graphic for the segment opined, "Michelle Wows Europe: First Trip Big Hit." Recounting the positive reception the speech received, de Nies cooed, "But it was her personal touch that made the biggest impact." Tina Brown, liberal commentator and former editor of the New Yorker, was featured to rhapsodize, "I don't see any misstep from Michelle Obama on this trip. She really excited everybody. She's done it right." Of course, de Nies made no mention of Brown's left wing political views. Sounding more like a PR representative, the GMA correspondent asserted, "She [Michelle Obama] leaves the U.K., no longer a stranger, but, now, a friend."
CBS's Smith Praises the 'Raw Realness' of Michelle Obama
Friday's CBS Early Show continued its fawning coverage of Barack and Michelle Obama in Europe as co-host Harry Smith gushed over the First Lady: "I mean, there's a kind of just raw realness about her. That session with the schoolgirls yesterday...People were in tears." Smith made the comment while talking to executive editor of thedailybeast.com, Tina Brown, who had her own words of praise: "Michelle is so authentic, and so real, and so today, and so, you know, J. Crew, and the whole price point thing and not designer clothes..With Michelle, you can almost feel those warm arms. You know, there's a kind of real red-blooded feel to her. But there's also -- I mean she's almost like overtaking Oprah, I think, as the kind of inspirational 'it' girl at this point."
CBS Expert: 'Responsibility of Being a Savior' Obama's Burden
Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Thursday's CBS Early Show offered non-stop gushing over Barack and Michelle Obama in Britain as co-host Julie Chen spoke with royal watcher Ingrid Seward: "Well, what is the buzz so far about Michelle Obama, and is she overshadowing her husband's presence over there?" Seward replied: "No, she's not overshadowing her husband. I think we all find him very charismatic, very handsome, and almost with the responsibility of being a savior on his shoulders...And people are excited to see him, very excited to see him." Chen added: "As they should be."
Michelle 'Mega-Star' Obama; Press Corps 'Begged' to Query Obama
The broadcast networks continued their infatuation Thursday night with Michelle Obama as ABC anchor Charles Gibson teased: "Center stage. With substance and style, the First Lady steps onto the world stage, becoming something of a mega-star." He soon equated her popularity with Jacqueline Kennedy, the last First Lady to so enchant the press. On NBC, Dawna Friesen trumpeted how "she has dazzled Britain with her style and her substance. From the palace to the streets, she has taken London town." Highlighting the First Lady's appearance before a largely-minority group of school girls, Friesen hailed: "To such a diversity of girls from such an inspirational woman, the message couldn't have been more powerful." Also of note: CBS reporter Chip Reid, over video of many raised hands trying from journalists trying to catch Obama's attention, pointed out how excited Obama made the press corps during his news conference: "The President continued his charm offensive with the nearly two thousand members of the international press corps who literally begged to ask questions."
NBC's Today Can't Get Enough of 'Michelle's Magic' in the UK
NBC's Dawna Friesen, reporting from London on Thursday's Today show, relayed how "Michelle's Magic" has "dazzled everyone" in the United Kingdom and co-anchor Matt Lauer joined in, as he loved the tacky gift of an iPod to the Queen: "I like this idea. I think it's a, it's a very creative idea to bring her the iPod." Friesen also played down Michelle Obama's gaffe of contact with the Queen: "There was no curtsy, but plenty of easy charm, and it seems Mrs. Obama made another new friend, never mind that royal protocol forbids touching the Queen." This despite the fact that just yesterday, her colleague Keith Miller made a big deal out of past presidential gaffes with the Queen like when George W. Bush winked at Her Royal Highness.
On MSNBC, O'Donnell and VandeHei Hail Barack Obama the 'Rock Star'
At the top of the 3:00PM EDT hour Thursday of live coverage on MSNBC, anchor Norah O'Donnell and Politico executive editor Jim VandeHei were practically tripping over themselves declaring Barack Obama the "rock star" of Europe in the wake of the G-20 summit. O'Donnell began by asking: "Can we gauge this meeting as a success?" VandeHei replied: "I think early indications are it probably was a big success...I think they'll hail that as a big success. I think the fact that he's just been greeted like such a hero overseas...and I think that that press conference will probably get a pretty good reception." O'Donnell agreed: "You're right, it was sort of like rock star treatment...I mean, you could even see it from some of the international press there at that press conference that we just watched for the past hour...Of course, there was the Obama-mania out there..."
MSNBC's Brzezinski: No One Cares About Tax Problems of Sebelius
Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
On Wednesday's Morning Joe, MSNBC co-host Mika Brzezinski twice made it very clear that she has no interest in the revelation that Kathleen Sebelius, Barack Obama's nominee for Health and Human Services, is just the latest pick for the President's cabinet to have tax problems. During a news brief in the 6am hour, Brzezinski related the story and that Sebelius just paid over $7,000 in back taxes. She then editorialized to her co-hosts: "Around the table, does anyone care?" Morning Joe regulars Mike Barnicle and Willie Geist both replied no. Geist then added: "Get over it." Despite expressing how much she didn't care, Brzezinski repeated the story in the 7am EDT hour and also the same stunt. After briefly explaining the particulars, she complained: "Again, around the table, does anyone care?"
NBC's Today Cheers Obamas Bring 'Charisma' and 'Stardust' to UK
NBC's Keith Miller, on Wednesday's Today show, was caught up in a moment of simultaneous Obama-mania and Kennedy nostalgia as he reported about the Obamas' arrival in Britain for the G20 summit as he declared: "What the Obamas bring to Buckingham Palace is a charisma not seen since the Kennedys, when the First Lady, Jacqueline, dazzled the royal court." Miller, of course, wasn't alone in his cheeriness as he included two soundbites from other members of the press, including Victoria Mather of Vanity Fair, who wondered if the Queen herself will be able to contain herself: "This is gonna be the most exciting encounter of her long and successful reign. I think she'll be absolutely fascinated." And the New York Times' John Burns was so starry-eyed he was reduced to making astronomical comparisons: "There is a lot of stardust there, and my guess is that the Obamas will attract the sort of adulation in Europe that the Kennedys did."
CNN's Alina Cho: Obamas are 'Royal Family of the United States'
CNN correspondent Alina Cho loaded the regal language into her report on Wednesday's American Morning about Europe's "apparent love affair" with Michelle Obama. Besides the obligatory Jackie Kennedy references, Cho gave a preview of the First :ady's tea with Queen Elizabeth II: "On today's schedule: tea with the queen, and insiders say the queen and America's queen bee will be fast friends." The correspondent even compared Mrs. Obama to Princess Diana. She also referred to the Obamas as the "royal family of the United States."
Matthews Chirps Groovy Cool Obamas Gave Him Another 'Thrill!'
Chris Matthews, on Wednesday's Hardball, admitted Barack Obama, along with his wife Michelle this time, gave him yet another "thrill." The MSNBC host gleefully described his feelings at seeing the Obamas arrive in England for the G20 summit: "Well there is something cool when they were both -- there's a nice '60s term. When they were both walking to the helicopter the other day, Marine One, there was something like, when he looked at her, you could just tell he said, 'Isn't this something?' You know you could tell like they were experiencing the, I'm getting old here. The grooviness, the excitement of being this First American Couple heading towards Marine One, which is cool in itself, heading from there to Air Force One, to a quick flight across the Atlantic, on your own plane. And to meet with the world leaders as like the centerpiece of the world. What? I get, I'm saying it again, I'm getting a thrill."
TV Journalists Enchanted by Obamas: 'America's Unofficial Royalty'
"There is so much to cover on this day," ABC anchor Charles Gibson announced Tuesday night from London as the network anchors and reporters reflected their awe over how, as NBC anchor Brian Williams put it, "In a marathon, the President meets with the leaders of Britain, Russia, China, then the Queen, and the summit hasn't started yet." NBC's Chuck Todd then admired how "the President was able to do a diplomatic decathlon, packing in a week's worth of international diplomacy into 12 hours," before he hailed how "America's unofficial royalty, the President and First Lady, reconnected tonight for more ceremonial duties, including a private audience with actual royalty, the Queen herself." CBS and NBC devoted full stories to what the CBS Evening News dubbed on screen as "Michelle Mania." Katie Couric teased: "The British give America's First Lady a welcome fit for a Queen." On NBC, Williams echoed: "There is no denying the Obamas from America are receiving a rock star reception on this trip. One London paper today called them 'American royalty.'"
ABC and CBS Remind Viewers Obama More Popular than Bush
Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The day President Barack Obama arrived in London, the broadcast network evening newscasts on Tuesday night noted that he faces some tough challenges from other leaders who are not as enthralled with him as are their citizens, but ABC and CBS went out of their way to point out how Obama is more popular than was former President Bush. From London, ABC anchor Charles Gibson highlighted the American perception, mostly formed by the media, of how those abroad view the U.S.: "The President comes here with firm backing from the American people. According to our ABC News/Washington Post poll, 43 percent of Americans say the country's image abroad is improving under President Obama. That number was just 10 percent under President Bush." Also from London, CBS anchor Katie Couric stressed how foreigners are pleased Obama's not Bush: "What he represents to many countries overseas is a departure from the Bush administration which alienated some foreign governments early on with its rejection of global warming initiatives and its national security positions."
CBS's Early Show: The Obamas 'Have An Extra Je Ne Sais Quoi'
In the 8:00AM EDT hour of Tuesday's CBS Early Show, correspondent Elizabeth Palmer gave a gushing report on Barack and Michelle Obama's upcoming trip to Europe, particularly focusing on the popularity of the new First Lady: "In 1961 when Jacqueline Kennedy came to Europe, she enchanted even the crustiest of world leaders. And she's remained a tough act to follow for every First Lady since. But Michelle Obama looks more than equal to the task of impressing and delighting even the grandest of them...To be honest, most Europeans were going to like whoever replaced President Bush. But there's no doubt Michelle and her husband have an extra je ne sais quoi." Palmer cited French journalist Agnes Poirier, who declared: "Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are a very alluring and very sophisticated couple, and that plays well with the French. They like seeing, you know, sophistication at the helm of power." Palmer concluded her report by adding: "And this sophisticated lady hand in hand with power looks poised to do wonders for America's image abroad."
Democratic President Goes to Europe, So ABC Touts Past GOP Goofs
Good Morning America reporter Yunji de Nies on Tuesday touted supposed gaffes of past Republican Presidents in a segment on Barack Obama's trip abroad. De Nies intoned: "But one unlucky misstep and everyone remembers." As she said this, video of George W. Bush's 2005 trip to Beijing appeared on screen. (In the footage, the then-President can be seen trying to go out the wrong door.) More Republican footage followed. First, 1992 video of George H.W. Bush throwing up in Japan was highlighted and then a 2006 picture of George W. Bush rubbing the neck of German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared. De Nies described these two events as "the upset stomach of a President" and an "awkward moment between two world leaders." Introducing a clip of veteran ABC correspondent Sam Donaldson, she continued, "Sam Donaldson remembers watching Ronald Reagan fight to stay awake at the G7 summit in Venice."
Jon Stewart and CNN's Jack Cafferty's Bash Bush/Praise Obama Show
As you might expect, Jon Stewart and CNN commentator Jack Cafferty's combined act on Monday's Daily Show consisted of some serious discussion of the economy intermixed with unoriginal jabs at former President George W. Bush's speech pattern and high praise for the Obamas. Stewart even half-jokingly suggested that if Obama "doesn't do well," (perish the thought!), "we can still blame it on Bush." Cafferty was on the Comedy Central program to promote his new book, "Now or Never." After the two initially joked about this title and the title of his last book ("It's Getting Ugly Out There"), the commentator made his first joke about Bush. Stewart asked, "Are you feeling less confident in our ability to pull this out? Is your perspective that we truly are in a nosedive?" Cafferty replied, "I don't know. You know, I've got -- I've got some faith, I think, in the new president. He's capable of making a declarative sentence, a cohesive thought." When the audience applauded, Stewart quipped, "Big grammar fans."
NBC's Friesen on Michelle Obama: 'Can't Take My Eyes Off of You'
As the song "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" played over slow-motion video of Michelle Obama (with Andy Williams singing "you're just too good to be true"), NBC's Dawna Friesen, on Tuesday's Today show, eagerly awaited the arrival of the Obamas in London, for the G20 summit, as she gushed: "Yes, her husband is, of course, the big star of the show, but this is Michelle Obama's first foray on to the global stage as First Lady. And you can bet that her every move, her every fashion decision will be dissected and analyzed, especially when the couple go to meet the Queen. But she's got a lot of good will on her side."
Matthews 'Immensely Proud' of 'Sophisticated' Obama 'The New Us!'
An enraptured Chris Matthews began his Tuesday edition of Hardball by singing Obama's praises, as he arrived in England, cheering: "He is the new us! That's right, President Obama is in London tonight as the new emblem of the American people. He is us, just as to the consternation of our allies and the often cringey-ness of his countrymen George W. Bush was us for eight years." The charmed Matthews continued his lovefest throughout the program, as he gasped: "We've got Barack Obama as our President and Michelle Obama as our First Lady. We're all immensely proud," and concluded the show admitting he dreamed about the arrival of the Obamas in Europe: "I thought about that scene for months, the first time they get to come as our American couple. To represent us, really in a new way. A kind of a sophisticated new leadership."
Shuster Slams 'Nutty,' 'Offensive' Quotes from Rush and Others
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue host David Shuster escalated his attack on Rush Limbaugh and other conservatives on Monday's show. In a tease for a segment on "GOP all stars," Shuster complained: "Plus, the nutty rhetoric continues from Rush Limbaugh, Michael Steele and Sarah Palin." In a later tease, he fretted: "Up next, how offensive can Rush Limbaugh be?" The attack on Limbaugh was taken straight from a clip posted on the liberal Media Matters website on Friday. Limbaugh was discussing the flooding in North Dakota and made a joke about PC language and also a sly comment on how the Obama administration is dropping phrases such as the "war on terror." However, Shuster raged to guests Matt Lewis and Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis: "Rush Limbaugh referred, used the word dike when talking about flooding in North Dakota. But, that was not the context that he was using it. He was talking about Democratic female politicians. That kind of stuff, where does that, why do people listen to Rush Limbaugh?"
Beck 'Apocalyptic,' Leftists Maddow And Olbermann Never Criticized
Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The New York Times quoted several critics of Fox News provocateur Glenn Beck, but has hardly ever found critics of MSNBC leftist hosts Rachel Maddow and the paranoid, vitriolic Keith Olbermann. There's a clear difference between how conservative news hosts and left-wingers are greeted by the Times. Check out Monday's front-page profile of radio host turned Fox News Channel phenom Glenn Beck by media reporters Brian Stelter and Bill Carter, "He's Mad, Apocalyptic, Tearful, And a Rising Star on Fox News." The Beck profile read nothing like the warm greetings extended in the Times to MSNBC's latest leftist star, former Air America host Rachel Maddow, or even the rabidly anti-Republican conspiracy-monger Keith Olbermann.
CBS's Rooney Dismisses Viewers Criticizing His Pro-Obama Bias
On Sunday's CBS 60 Minutes, commentator Andy Rooney read from some viewer letters: "It's always fun to read the letters people send, I get a lot of them, although, to be honest, if I took all the letters seriously I wouldn't ever say anything again. I get quite a few bad letters and, of course, I pay least attention to those. I don't want you to see me cry." Some of those "bad letters" came from viewers who criticized Rooney's and the media's pro-Obama bias: "Thomas Overley writes from Oceanside, California. He's mad because he thinks I like President Obama. 'Very sorry to see someone I respected contribute to this mass media love affair,' Tom says. Well, to tell you the truth Mr. Overley, I do like Obama but I didn't think you'd notice. Todd, from Las Cruces, New Mexico, says 'the reason I don't hear about the people who hate Barack Obama is because the press has put a muzzle on them.' I don't know about that Todd. I show the producer my piece before it goes on the air every week and he'll tell me it isn't any good but he never puts a muzzle on me."
ABC Trumpets How Japanese Use Obama to Learn English
Monday's World News concluded with a story touting how a school in Japan, which ABC failed to note is affiliated with the Washington Post Company, uses President Obama's speeches to help teach English. Anchor Charles Gibson poured on the flattery: "Finally tonight, there's the old saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well if that is the case, hundreds of students in Japan are flattering President Obama no end. That's because they're busy imitating him, all for a good reason." After clips of adult students saying "Yes, we can," reporter Clarissa Ward explained from Tokyo: "This is the Obama workshop at the Kaplan English School in Japan. Every week, as many as 200 students attend" where "they learn the President's speeches line by line, reciting them to their teacher." That teacher seems to have a preference for those on the left, as Ward relayed how he "has also used speeches by Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy for his classes, but he says his students are particularly inspired by the message of Mr. Obama."
MSNBC Skips ID of Lib Director; Grilled Conservative Documentarian
During the 10am EDT hour of MSNBC News Live on Monday, host Tamron Hall completely skipped the ideology of a left-wing documentarian as she talked with him about his new movie "Rethink Afghanistan," which claims that "troops are not the answer" in that country. Hall never identified Director Robert Greenwald, who has made documentaries such as "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism," and "WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price," as a liberal. Instead, she simply described him as a "documentary filmmaker." In contrast, on January 9, when MSNBC host David Shuster interviewed John Ziegler about his movie on the media's treatment of Sarah Palin, the anchor got into a heated argument with the filmmaker, repeatedly challenging the "conservative documentary's" thesis and deriding: "John, you and Sarah Palin can't take any responsibility for the fact that she wasn't prepared to run for vice president."
CNN: Despite Obama's Gun Agenda, Owners 'Might Even Be Paranoid'
During a segment on Friday's Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull program, CNN tried to perpetuate left-wing stereotypes about gun owners, and sent mixed messages about whether or not President Obama and his administration is pushing for gun control. Correspondent Sean Callebs interviewed two Texas professionals who owned guns and concluded, "A nurse, an attorney -- not the usual portrait of Second Amendment diehards." After asking a gun store owner if he was "profiting on this fear" of new gun control measures, Callebs expounded on the concerns of gun owners: "In fact, it may not be rational at all. It might even be paranoid. But one thing is certain. Many gun owners believe this President is somehow out to curb their rights and they're stocking up just in case." Both Callebs and CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin tried to assure their viewers that gun control was "way off the agenda right now" of the Obama administration, despite the fact that a graphic on the news crawl stated plainly that President Obama "wants to make expired Assault Weapons Ban permanent."
Actor Ed Norton Compares His 'Earth Hour' to March On Selma
Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
NBC's resident Queen of Green, Ann Curry, welcomed actor Ed Norton and Carter Roberts of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to come on Friday's Today show to champion their cause to combat "global climate change" by getting everyone to turn off their lights for an hour as a symbolic move that actor Norton compared to the march on Selma, Alabama. Co-anchor Curry called Norton's cause, "really cool," and prompted the Incredible Hulk star to offer up the following historical comparison: "I think it's, it's a call to action. It's, it's, it's-, turning off the lights won't solve the problem, obviously. But in the same way that the, the march on Selma, Alabama was a symbolic gesture for the civil rights movement I think those who care about climal [sic] change, climate change and carbon mitigation -- which is a global movement -- are, are trying to find ways to symbolically demonstrate the, the unity of purpose around the planet and, and really get our leadership to take action."
CNN's Sanchez: 'Far Right' Poking Fun at Obama's Teleprompter Use
CNN anchor Rick Sanchez characterized those making light of President Barack Obama's frequent use of a Teleprompter as being on the "far right," during a segment on Friday's Newsroom program. He also used a skit from liberal comedian David Letterman's show on CBS which made fun of former President George W. Bush's consistent verbal stumbles to underline his point. Sanchez made the comment during a segment with comedian Carlos Mencia. He asked Mencia if he had heard of the Obama/Teleprompter humor coming from conservatives: "Hey, have you heard what's going -- you know, the far right this week has been saying that President Obama is too stupid to talk without a script." He then played Letterman's skit, titled "Teleprompter Versus No Teleprompter," which pitted an excerpt from President Obama's first address to Congress against a clip from a town hall meeting given by former President Bush, with predictable results.
Schieffer Commiserates w/ Obama: 'Have You Lost Any Friends Yet?'
CBS's Bob Schieffer devoted about half of his Face the Nation interview, with President Barack Obama, to Pakistan and Afghanistan, but on Iraq he failed to point out Obama's opposition to the surge as he hoped: "Are things going well enough there now that you may consider speeding up the withdrawal of troops from Iraq?" On violence in Mexico, Schieffer pushed a blame America first line, suggesting more regulations on guns: "It's my understanding that 90 percent of the guns that they're getting down in Mexico are coming from the United States....Do you need any kind of legislative help on that front? Have you, for example, thought about asking Congress to reinstate the ban on assault weapons?" Schieffer concluded by wondering if, like Thomas Jefferson, Obama is finding the presidency to be a "splendid misery" and quoting Jefferson, who once said "the presidency had brought him nothing but increasing drudgery and a daily loss of friends," commiserated: "Have you lost any friends yet?" Certainly not in the news media.
Jump to Publicize Spanish Judge's Quest to Charge Bush Officials
ABC on Sunday night jumped to beat the other networks with the news that a judge in Spain may issue arrest warrants charging several former Bush administration officials with violating the Convention Against Torture. World News Sunday anchor Dan Harris announced: "Six former high level officials of the Bush administration are being targeted tonight by a court in, of all places, Spain. This court is considering whether to open a criminal investigation into allegations that the six officials gave legal cover for the torture of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay." Narrating off-camera from London, reporter Hilary Brown began with how "the six officials named in the case include Alberto Gonzales, the former Attorney General who famously described parts of the Geneva Convention as 'quaint' and 'obsolete.'" Brown conceded it's unlikely any arrest warrant would be enforced by the U.S., but she saw a benefit, nonetheless, as she suggested "this case may end up putting pressure on the Obama administration to open its own investigation, something it has resisted so far."
CNN's Jack Cafferty Mocks Sarah Palin...Yet Again
Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
When he's not gushing over the Obamas, you can make a fair bet that CNN commentator Jack Cafferty is bashing conservatives, and he returned to one of his favorite subjects of scorn during his regular "Cafferty File" segment on Thursday's Situation Room -- Sarah Palin. He labeled three quotes from a recent speech the Alaska Governor gave as "painful." He concluded his commentary by remarking that "whoever said truth is stranger than fiction must have met this woman." The CNN commentator also hinted twice during the segment that the Alaska Governor was unintelligible. During the commentary, the commentator remarked that Palin "talked about why the Republicans lost in November, and seemed mostly to blame the press, at least I think that's what she said." Later, after Blitzer stated that the Governor would be visiting Washington and that they were going to try to have her on the program, Cafferty laughed and replied: "Well, let's hope so. Maybe you can understand her."
Obama's 'Virtual Town Hall' White House 'First' Enthralls ABC
President Barack Obama doesn't have to do too much to impress ABC News. A little more than five weeks after the fill-in anchor of World News effused over two-week-old photos of Obama "serving cookies" on Super Bowl night while an awed George Stephanopoulos glowed over how "these are just remarkable....we've never really seen anything like this before in real time," on Thursday night the newscast devoted a full story to "a White House first" of answering questions via the Internet. (NBC Nightly News didn't air a syllable about the stunt and the CBS Evening News allocated 38 seconds centered around Obama's response to whether marijuana should be legalized in order to boost the economy.) ABC anchor Charles Gibson excitedly announced: "At the White House today, something never done before. As a candidate, Barack Obama was adept at using the Internet to raise money and get his message out. Now, as President, he's using the Internet again in a way that no President ever has before." And "in lieu of boarding carbon-unfriendly Air Force One to hold town hall meetings around the country," reporter Jake Tapper relayed, "today President Obama brought the mountain to Mohammed."
NBC's Mitchell Pushes Hillary to Bring Back Assault Weapons Ban
NBC's Andrea Mitchell, in a taped interview from Mexico with Hillary Clinton on Thursday's Today show, partially blamed the Bush administration for Mexico's current drug cartel violence as she charged that "90 percent of the guns used by gangs" were available because the Bush White House and Congress let the assault weapons ban lapse. Mitchell even went as far to push the Secretary of State to "challenge the gun lobby" and "reinstitute" the ban.
Jack Cafferty: I'm 'Rooting' for 'Terrific' and 'Bright' Obama
CNN's Jack Cafferty gave an interview to the Media Bistro's "Media Morning Menu" podcast on Thursday and rhapsodized about the "bright" and "terrific" Barack Obama. Talking to hosts Steve Krakauer and Glynnis MacNicol, the Situation Room contributor cheered on the new President. He enthused: "I'm pulling for the guy. I like him. I think he's terrific." After being asked by Krakauer if it's too early for journalists to start complaining about Obama's ability to change the country quickly, the host of CNN's "Cafferty File" segment agreed and then acknowledged, "Well, you know, I haven't been critical of the Obama administration." In contrast, Cafferty was very critical of George W. Bush and his administration. Indeed, he attacked the ex-President during the podcast, claiming America "was badly damaged following the eight years of George W. Bush and that collection of morons that he had around him running this country into a ditch."
Chris Matthews: Does Palin Think McCain is the 'Anti-Christ?'
An offended Chris Matthews, on Thursday night's Hardball, was so shocked by Sarah Palin's claim that there wasn't anybody to pray with on the McCain campaign, that he hurled multiple insults Palin's way, calling her "a little scary," and asked if Palin thought McCain was "the Anti-Christ?" Matthews was appalled by Palin's recent revelation that she had trouble finding someone to pray with before her vice presidential debate and the MSNBC host worried such talk about "The Deity in a political environment" wasn't "normal." Matthews' guest panelists also joined in the fray as the Washington Post's Lois Romano declared: "I think it's bizarre and I think it's judgmental," and Mother Jones magazine's David Corn cackled it was "mean and catty." RNC chair Michael Steele was also knocked for a recent profession of faith, as Matthews blurted: "Why does everything sound like the '700 Club,' with this party now? I mean everything seems to be a religious discussion."
NBC Highlights Downbeat 'State of Black America' Report
Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Wednesday's NBC Nightly News highlighted the downbeat "State of Black America 2009" report, but failed to identify the group behind it, the National Urban League, as liberal nor note the left-wing policy prescriptions recommended in the report. Though NBC anchor Brian Williams acknowledged Barack Obama's election "was a reminder of the great strides this nation has made in race relations," he warned that "today there was a reminder of how much work remains to be done to heal what has long been this nation's greatest wound." Reporter Ron Mott explained: "Two months on the job, President Obama today got a sobering message about the state of black America, detailed in the National Urban League's annual assessment of racial progress." National Urban League President Marc Morial, the former Democratic Mayor of New Orleans, then charged: "The country's in a ditch, and black Americans have lost ground over the last eight years. Those are the facts, and those facts are not lies."
CBS's Rodriguez: 'What Good' Is GOP Criticism of Obama?
On Wednesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez discussed President Obama's Tuesday night press conference with Republican Senator Richard Shelby and asked: "The President will head to Capitol Hill today to sell his budget and last night he wondered why Republicans who have been critical of it haven't come up with an alternative budget. What's the answer?" After Shelby explained that Republicans have serious concerns about the President's budget, Rodriguez quickly ran to Obama's defense: "Senator, the President said that even if he takes out all this spending from the budget, he'll still have a deficit, as evidenced by the $1.3 trillion deficit that he inherited from the Republicans." Shelby responded by declaring: "...we had a deficit, but nothing like this...This is scary. I believe we've reached the tipping point now, the tipping point, and if we tip over, it's a point of no return. We're looking at inflation and financial and economic destruction. We cannot go down this road." Perhaps not fully listening to what Shelby was saying, Rodriguez exclaimed: "But it looks like we are, and what good does it do the American people to -- to point that out? Why not work with the President to try to reach a compromise?"
Not Even NBC Buys, or Can Fit, 'Overseas Contingency Operation'
NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams offered this brief update on Wednesday's newscast: "We learned today there's no more Global War on Terror -- at least it's been renamed by the Obama administration. The Pentagon will now call the ongoing U.S. military effort the 'Overseas Contingency Operation.'" That presumes the war, I mean "effort," will continue. But not even the NBC News graphics staff bought the new name , or at least couldn't fit the longer name into a graphic. As Williams spoke, NBC displayed "FIGHTING TERROR." The short item from Williams came right after he pointed out "a stunning turn of events in Iraq" as "the level of violence in Iraq has thankfully fallen sharply."
MSNBC's Shuster Mocks 'Fantasy' Media Were Too Easy on Obama
Countdown with Keith Olbermann guest host David Shuster slipped an incredible claim into Monday's program when he highlighted "independent reports" showing that presidential candidate Barack Obama received harsher media scrutiny than did John McCain during the 2008 election. As a way of introducing a discussion on why the President didn't attend the 2009 Gridiron dinner (a longstanding occasion for journalists and politicians) on Saturday, the MSNBC anchor oddly suggested: "Even though independent reports have shown the media was more critical of Barack Obama than John McCain during the presidential contest, there is still a fantasy that the press is gaga over now-President Obama." What independent reports? He didn't say.
ABC's George Stephanopoulos Fawns Over Obama's 'Law Seminar'
ABC's George Stephanopoulos appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning America to laud Barack Obama's "confident" Tuesday night press conference as reminiscent of a "law seminar." The This Week host then cooed, "The President used to be a law professor" and enthused: "I would say overall, though, a good performance, about an A-." He spoke to co-host Robin Roberts and praised: "Well, I thought the President was confident as he always is, Robin, and very straight. You didn't see a lot of laughter that we saw on Jay Leno."
NBC Admires Obama's 'Know What I'm Talking About Before I Speak'
Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The NBC News team of Brian Williams, Chuck Todd and Keith Olbermann were all enamored with President Barack Obama's explanation that "it took us a couple of days" to express outrage over the AIG bonuses "because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak." But on CNN, Bill Bennett undermined Obama's spin. Just after Obama's news conference ended at 8:57 PM EDT on Tuesday night, MSNBC anchor Olbermann quoted Obama's "I like to know what I talk about before I speak" line and then exclaimed it reflected "a new policy among politicians of every party and throughout American history!" On the broadcast NBC network, Brian Williams proposed to Chuck Todd at the White House: "Chuck you'll agree the sharpest moment was when asked more than once why did it take you a while to come out and reveal these AIG bonuses? The President said it took a couple of days 'because I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak.'" Todd agreed: "I'd actually say that was a theme throughout this entire press conference" as Obama wanted to show "that he is making incremental progress. He even said it at the end: Persistence."
Stephanopoulos: Obama and Press Corps 'Hit Their Marks Tonight'
Put a liberal President together in the same room with a liberal press corps and ABC's George Stephanopoulos, who has gone through the revolving door from liberal political operative to liberal DC journalist, sees a wondrous success for both. "I think both the President and the press hit their marks tonight" at the presidential press conference, Stephanopoulos gushed on Tuesday's Nightline in assigning an "A-minus for the President, A-minus for the press."
CBS's Smith: Stock Rally 'Vindication' for Obama Administration
On Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith talked to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs about Monday's stock market rally and wondered: "What was the reaction at the White House yesterday when the stock market closed?...There's been a lot of heat, though, aimed at the White House, aimed at the Treasury Secretary. Was there some degree of vindication?" Gibbs claimed that the administration does not pay attention to daily stock numbers, but Smith replied: "You have to admit, it's a pretty good day, though, when the stock market goes up 500 points and the AIG executives, at least more than a dozen of them, say 'we're going to give our money back.'" After Smith's pressing, Gibbs admitted: "Well, look, Harry. I'll take 500 points and that kind of news any day of the week."
MSNBC's David Shuster: When Will Obama Subpoena Cheney?
MSNBC host David Shuster, who usually touts the liberal line on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, filled in on Monday's Countdown with Keith Olbermann and came to Barack Obama's defense against comments made by Dick Cheney. Shuster played a 60 Minutes clip of the President responding to allegations by the former Vice President that he is making the country less safe. The cable host asked guest and Huffington Post blogger Lawrence O'Donnell, "Basically, Obama is saying Cheney claims the founding fathers and American principles that were forged during wartime are failures. Is the President flirting here with calling Cheney un-American?" Earlier in the segment, the liberal anchor editorialized about Bush: "If the absurdity of the administration that let down its guard on 9/11 lecturing anyone about safety was not enough for you, in our number three story tonight, Mr. Obama hits back." After O'Donnell summarized Obama's argument, that institutions such as Guantanamo Bay have made America less safe, Shuster followed up with a "quick hypothetical." If Cheney keeps up his attack, the host mused: "At what point does President Obama say, 'Okay, you want to debate your tactics? I'll send my attorney general over with a subpoena'?"
ABC Certifies Obama's Claim Policies Inducing Economic Progress
Just under 90 minutes before President Barack Obama's Tuesday night news conference, ABC's World News set out to support his contention that his policies have already led to economic improvement. Picking up on how Obama planned to announce at the start of the session that thanks to his economic policies "we are beginning to see signs of progress," anchor Charles Gibson asked: "Well, is the President right? And are things turning around? We asked David Muir to look at two key sectors of the economy, jobs and housing." Muir decided in Obama's favor: "The report card on the economy does show glimmers of hope." He pointed to how "last month, 651,000 more jobs were lost, a lot of workers. But just two months earlier, that number was 681,000." Muir proceeded to highlight how because of the "stimulus," there "are now signs that money is trickling down." Specifically, "the U.S. Forest Service is among the first government agencies to hire. Melina Vasquez is among the 1500 people who will now be restoring the parks." Plus, "outside Portland, Oregon, one contractor fixing U.S. Highway 26 is bringing back 30 laid off workers and hiring ten more." Muir continued: "Then, there's housing and good news in hard-hit Miami, for instance, where sales have jumped a whopping 68 percent from just a year ago. And this week the numbers are encouraging nationwide."
AP, AFP, Reuters: French Supporters of Pope on 'Far-Right'
Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The three largest mainstream media wire services all agreed that supporters of Pope Benedict XVI who dared to stand up to anti-Catholic leftists in front of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Sunday were extremists of the right of some sort. The Associated Press used the "right-wing" label to describe the faithful Catholics. Both Reuters and the French Agence France-Presse both used the term "far-right youths," with the AFP going so far as describing the pro-Benedict protesters as "far-right militants" in another report.
Hume's Remarks in Accepting MRC's 'Award for Media Excellence'
Remarks delivered by Brit Hume, commentator for the Fox News Channel and former anchor of FNC's Special Report with Brit Hume, in accepting the third annual "William F. Buckley Jr. Award for Media Excellence" at the Media Research Center's Gala held on Thursday, March 19, 2009.
Stocks Soar and Plunge, Couric Always Upbeat About Obama's Efforts
On Monday night, Katie Couric teased the CBS Evening News by trumpeting how "the stock market soars as the Treasury rolls out a new plan to rescue America's banks," and then leading: "The Treasury put out the details today of a plan to rescue America's banks and Wall Street responded with two thumbs up and a triple-digit rally." Six weeks ago, however, when the Dow plunged 382 points in reaction to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's vague plan for banks, Couric didn't mention the stock market in her tease as she instead giddily announced: "Tonight, attacking the economic crisis from every angle: The Treasury Secretary rolls out a new bailout plan, the Senate passes the stimulus package and the President gets a little help selling it." CBS then showed video of a man at an event with Obama: "Oh, it's such a blessing to see you Mr. President! Thank you for taking time out of your day!"
Local DC Fox Reporter Jumps to Terry McAuliffe's Campaign
Normally I wouldn't find a local market television reporter joining a gubernatorial campaign worth a CyberAlert article, but in this case the candidate is a very well-known national figure: Terry McAuliffe, the former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee who also chaired Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign last year and is a long-time Friend of Bill. Dave Hughes reported Monday, on his DCRTV blog, that Allyson Wilson, a reporter and sometime anchor on Washington, DC's Fox-owned WTTG-TV/DT, "is leaving to join Democrat Terry McAuliffe's campaign for governor of Virginia. She'll be his deputy press secretary. Wilson is a native Washingtonian and a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts."
Hypocritical Olbermann Maligns Hume for Using 'Lunatic-Fringe' MRC
Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The Media Research Center's annual "DisHonors Awards," held Thursday night, furnished MSNBC's Keith Olbermann with comments to ridicule, but his rants exposed his own hypocrisy. As Brit Hume accepted our "William F. Buckley Jr. Award for Media Excellence" he thanked the MRC for providing information he could use, leading Olbermann to denounce Hume at the top of Friday's Countdown: "Brit Hume's dumbfounding admission. He was fed a buffet of daily talking points by an ultra-conservative media site and quote 'we certainly made tremendous use of it.'" As if Olbermann doesn't graze a "buffet of daily talking points" from an "ultra-liberal media site." The headline over a post earlier in the day on Media Matters' "County Fair" blog: "Accepting Buckley award, Fox's Hume thanked Media Research Center 'for the tremendous amount of material' they 'provided me for so many years when I was anchoring Special Report.'" Unlike Olbermann, however, Hume almost always credited the MRC so viwers were informed of his source. Before subsequently reading the Hume quote verbatim as transcribed by Media Matters, Olbermann charged "Brit Hume admits that for years he's been reading daily talking points, from a lunatic-fringe right wing Web site, on the news."
'Masterful' Obama Performance with Leno 'Calmed Down' Totenberg
Since "I've really been getting pretty upset in the last week, just like every other American," NPR's Nina Totenberg decided to watch President Obama on the Tonight Show "and he calmed me down. And he was presidential. I thought it was just a masterful performance."
NBC Buries Obama Special Olympics hit; ABC Hits 'Late Night Gaffe'
NBC's Today show on Friday minimized and neglected a gaffe by Barack Obama that his bowling skills are on the level of the "Special Olympics or something." In contrast, ABC's Good Morning America and CBS's Early Show heavily covered the remark. GMA devoted the first two segments to the ill advised joke the President made on Thursday's Tonight Show with Jay Leno. And although Today opened the program with Obama's appearance, they didn't get to the Special Olympics crack to the very end of the piece. Co-host Meredith Vieira awkwardly explained that the President "said something that forced the White House to issue an explanation afterward."
Joy Behar's Kids Book: Barack Obama Vs. Mean Republican Dogs
Liberal View co-host Joy Behar appeared on Thursday's edition of Good Morning America to promote her new children's book "SheetzuCacaPoopoo," an allegory for Barack Obama's rise to power. According to Behar, the illustrated tale the book is really about the new President. She explained to GMA co-anchor Robin Roberts: "The dog- Max is in trouble. They send him to obedience school, okay? When he's in obedience school is when he becomes Barack. He becomes a community organizer." As a somewhat incredulous Roberts watched, Behar continued: "And he organizes the big dogs around the little dogs. 'Cause at first, the big dogs, also known as the Republicans, don't like him. See?" With no spoiler alerts, Behar concluded, "And so, he finds ways, pragmatically, to help the big dogs...And so, he becomes popular. And everybody loves each other."
MSNBC Dives To Cover For Obama With New 'Special Olympics' Theory
During MSNBC's 9am ET hour on Friday morning, anchor Alex Witt presented viewers with the lame suggestion that President Obama's joke on NBC's Tonight Show -- about how his bowling ability was "sort of like Special Olympics or something" -- was really an attempt at a compliment of disabled athletes. Witt seized upon the hypothesis of the head of the Special Olympics in Illinois that Obama really meant to cite the Special Olympics as a sort of "inspiration for the President deciding to be a bit better as a bowler."
The Ten 'DisHonors Awards' Judges Who Evaluated the Quotes
Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
To select the winners of the MRC's "2009 Dishonors Awards: Roasting the Most Outrageously Biased Liberal Reporting," a distinguished panel of ten leading observers of the liberal media in action generously gave of their time to serve as our judges. They reviewed three to five quotes in each of four award categories.
DisHonors Awards Held Thursday; Hume Honored with Buckley Award
Mark Levin, Monica Crowley, Ken Cribb, "Joe the Plumber," Andrew Breitbart, Ed Meese and a performance by the Capitol Steps highlighted the MRC's "2009 DisHonors Awards: Roasting the Most Outrageously Biased Liberal Reporters" presented on Thursday night, March 19, before an audience of more than 800 in the Independence Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt hotel in Washington, D.C. Following the presentation of the DisHonors Awards videos in four categories (see text of quotes in #2 below with a link to the video clips), a look at some "funny clips" from 2008 and the audience picking Bill Maher for the "Quote of the Year," MRC President Brent Bozell honored Brit Hume with the MRC's third annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence." Hume recounted a humorous anecdote about Buckley before predicting the decline of newspapers could lead to a return to an overtly partisan press and thus plenty of work for the MRC.
Audience Awards the 'Quote of the Year' to Bill Maher
Bill Maher earned the "Quote of the Year" distinction as voted by the audience. After attendees saw all the videos in the four categories, MRC President Brent Bozell invited the presenters and acceptors back on stage (Monica Crowley, Mark Levin, Andrew Breitbart, Joe Wurzelbacher and Ed Meese) to assess audience reaction to each of the winning quotes from Chris Matthews, Bill Weir, Bill Maher and Ted Turner. The videos were re-played and then, as a picture of each nominee was displayed, audience members were asked by Bozell to hoot, cheer and applaud to express their opinion on which quote deserved the Quote of the Year designation as the worst bias of 2008. It was a close call between two of the quotes, and so the judges asked for a run-off between Chris Matthews' "thrill going up my leg" and Bill Maher's looney conspiracy theorizing about how Sarah Palin's baby was really born to daughter Bristol. Joe Wurzelbacher then stepped forward to announce Bill Maher as the winner.
Text of the 14 Nominated Videos Played for the Audience
A listing of the finalist quotes, as selected by the panel of ten judges, played in each of four award categories: "The Media Messiah Award" went to MSNBC's Chris Matthews for boasting Obama gave him a "thrill going up my leg." "The Obamagasm Award" was won by ABC's Bill Weir for ruminating over how "even the seagulls must have been awed by the blanket of humanity" at Obama's inauguration. Bill Maher's looney conspiracy theorizing about Sarah Palin's baby won the "Half-Baked Alaska Award for Pummeling Palin" and the "Dan Rather Memorial Award for the Stupidest Analysis" was earned by Ted Turner for warning that if global warming is not addressed that in 30 or 40 years "most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals."
No Party ID for Murtha, But CBS Tags Critic Flake as '(R)'
Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
Tuesday's CBS Evening News highlighted an ethics investigation of a long-serving House Democrat, but viewers were not clued in to his party affiliation verbally or with any an on-screen notation. Yet CBS slapped a party name on screen as a Murtha critic spoke: "Rep. Jeff Flake (R) Arizona." Fill-in anchor Maggie Rodriguez avoided Murtha's party as she asserted "there are few politicians as polarizing as Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha" and referred to him as "a powerful member of Congress." In a story which consumed about-two-and-a- half minutes, reporter Sharyl Attkisson also failed to identify Murtha's party.
Today Show Continues Trek to Discover Obama's Global Appeal
Picking up from Al Roker's puffery about Barack Obama's Irish heritage from Monday, NBC's Meredith Vieira, on Tuesday's Today show asked Ireland's President Mary McAleese to gauge the U.S. President's popularity on the Emerald Isle as she queried: "Barack Obama, our new President...I understand much loved here...What is it about Barack Obama that instills in, in the people of Ireland?" To which McAleese responded that Obama is a "big favorite," and that "He arrived at a time when the world was in a very ugly mood of great despair. He had really captured the imagination, particularly of young people."
CNN's Jack Cafferty: 'Refreshing' Obama is 'Working His Tail Off'
Deciding that he hadn't gotten enough of lauding President Obama, CNN's Jack Cafferty used another of his CNN.com commentaries on Tuesday to sing the Democrat's praises: "Whether it's creating commissions for women and girls, ordering the investigation of President Bush's use of signing statements, or jamming a huge stimulus package through Congress, the man is working his tail off. And he seems to be loving every minute of it. It's almost as though our president was born to do exactly what he's doing. He's leading, and boy, is that refreshing." He also returned to another one of his favorite subjects -- bashing former President Bush: "What a welcome change to feel like someone is running the country instead of running it into the ground."
MSNBC's Shuster Frets Over GOP 'Fear Mongering' and 'Wing Nuts'
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue host David Shuster on Monday worried that "conservative fear mongering" about President Barack Obama could be "seriously dangerous." A graphic for the MSNBC segment hyperbolically read: "Stoking Hatred?" In a tease for the piece, Shuster played clips of former Vice President Dick Cheney asserting that Obama has made America less safe and of Fox News host Glenn Beck ("We are a country that's headed toward socialism, totalitarianism, beyond your wildest imagination.") The MSNBC anchor asked: "The inflammatory rhetoric from the wing nuts, is it merely entertaining or seriously dangerous?" With a complete lack of irony, Shuster spoke of FNC's Beck and wondered, "Shouldn't there be some standards at some of these other networks? I mean, that's a problem, isn't it? There's no standards." Keep in mind, on May 14, 2008, Shuster's colleague Keith Olbermann accused then-President Bush of "murderous deceit" and told him to "shut the hell up!"
CBS News Poll: Limbaugh Has Higher Favorables than Pelosi
"Limbaugh's Favorable Rating: 19 Percent," shouted the headline at the top of CBS News.com Tuesday night. A look, however, at the PDF of the full CBS News poll results, posted at 6:30 PM EDT Tuesday, pegged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorable rating a point lower at 18 percent -- within the margin of error, but evidence Limbaugh is no less popular than the leader of congressional Democrats. CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli had a news hook with Limbaugh since it was the first time the network asked about Limbaugh (at least in recent years), but his "CBS News Political Hotsheet" post failed to make the contrast with Pelosi, who stood at a mere 10 percent approval a month ago, as he used the Limbaugh finding to expound on the efficacy of the White House attacks on the radio talk show host: "Over the past few weeks, the White House has been casting right-wing talk show host Rush Limbaugh as the head of the Republican Party, and based on a new CBS News poll, it appears they may be onto something: According to the poll, Limbaugh's favorable rating stands at just 19 percent, a full 43 points lower than President Obama's."
Stephanopoulos Empathizes with Obama's 'Tough Dilemma'
Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:52:01 -0500
The Obama administration is just flummoxed by the burdens of power, ABC's George Stephanopoulos fretted on Monday's World News. Discussing the public backlash over how AIG used bailout funds to pay bonuses, Stephanopoulos related that the White House feels "caught in a bind" between "populist anger" and appeasing the business community which only causes negative public reaction. "It's a tough dilemma," he concluded. Stephanopoulos lamented: "They feel caught in a bind. When they respond to this populist anger, they feel they get a very negative reaction from the business community and the stock market. When they try to appease the business community and the stock market, the public rises up. It's a tough dilemma."
NBC's Al Roker Celebrates Obama's Irish Roots on Today Show
Over a chorus of gleeful Irish pub-goers literally singing Barack Obama's praises, NBC's Al Roker, broadcasting live from Ireland on Monday's Today show, explored the current president's Irish roots as he observed: "As St. Patrick's Day approaches in Moneygall the townsfolk join in the chorus, determined to keep hope alive." The Today show weatherman began the celebratory segment by exclaiming: "In a small pub in Ireland they're still celebrating Obama's victory. Dancing in honor of their adopted son."
NBC's Vieira Refuses to Challenge Frank on Wasteful Earmarks
Barney Frank was allowed, by NBC's Meredith Vieira, to go on a tear against AIG for wasting bailout money on corporate bonuses, on Monday's Today show, yet Vieira never once interrupted Frank to point out his own wasteful stimulus spending on earmarks going to Frank's home district, including $1 million for scallop research. Vieira also didn't interject when Frank blamed the Bush administration for failed economic oversight, even though it was Frank who blocked reforms of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, something former Vice President Dick Cheney brought up on Sunday's State of the Union on CNN.
CBS's Early Show Praises Obama's 'Optimism Offensive'
At the top of Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen declared: "Optimism offensive. An upbeat Ben Bernanke tells 60 Minutes the economy could turn around within nine months." Chen later introduced the segment on the Obama administration's new economic optimism: "...from bleak to bright. The Obama administration has switched its tone and is now saying the economy is on the road to recovery." Correspondent Bill Plante reported: "... the administration's attempt to restore public confidence in the financial system, which is seen as weak both at home and abroad...The response, led by President Obama, is an offense of optimism." Plante focused entirely on the administration's new tone, providing little substance or criticism. Also lacking, was any mention of John McCain's efforts to instill economic confidence during the presidential campaign, for which he was derided.
USA Today's Al Neuharth Blames Iraq for Economic Downturn
Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0500
The current "money mess" is "primarily because we've spent or authorized more money on the Iraq war (its sixth anniversary is next Thursday) than we're putting into the stimulus program," USA Today founder Al Neuharth contended in his weekly "Plain Talk" column on Friday. While "many Democrats as well as nearly all Republicans in Congress gave Bush" the authority to go to war in Iraq, "by contrast, the votes on President Obama's recovery or stimulus plan to clean up the mess that Congress helped create with the Iraq misadventure" were not so bi-partisan. After citing how 246 Democrats House Democrats, but zero Republicans, and 56 Democratic Senators, but only three Republicans, voted for the "stimulus" package, Neuharth scolded Republicans: "Both parties got us into this mess, but only one is trying to get us out of it."
ABC's 20/20 Features Stossel's 'Bailouts and Bull'
Now for something completely different, or at least something pretty rare on network TV. ABC's John Stossel paired up with Drew Carey and the libertarian Reason TV for Friday's 20/20 special headlined "Bailouts and Bull," on the limits and unintended consequences of government involvement in the economy and in our lives. While Stossel is known for his skepticism of big government solutions, most journalists at the big networks have been accepting of the premises of President Obama's interventionist approach, not challenging his assertions the way President Bush's economic policies were frequently challenged. Stossel tackled the idea that all economists support Obama's government-spending-as-stimulus policies, liberal claims that the American Dream is now out of reach for most workers, and the idea that a fence along the Mexican border will really stem the tide of illegal immigrants.
Roberts Tosses Softballs to Michelle Obama; Hostile to Laura Bush
Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts conducted a two part, almost 11 minute interview with Michelle Obama which aired on Friday that avoided tough questions and consisted almost entirely of softballs. This included reading e-mails from the audience, such as "What does she [the First Lady] do for relaxation in the evening, away from the public?" and also "...How can she stay so positive about the economy?" This was quite a contrast to some of the queries Laura Bush had to deal with when she was First Lady. On October 22, 2007, the very same Roberts quoted Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Mrs. Bush: "Desmond Tutu went even farther, saying the generosity of Americans, that's what we should export instead of our bombs." She also informed Mrs. Bush of the assertion by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman that America "should export hope instead of fear."
Campaign Video Look Back: Liberal Media Bias Ballad
Alexandra Pelosi's HBO documentary, Right America: Feeling Wronged -- Some Voices from the Campaign Trail, certainly caricatured McCain-Palin voters as a bunch of redneck racists, but it also showed how conservatives see the media as the enemy, and featured a short clip of a fun Hank Williams Jr. song take-off against the "left wing liberal media." In the 45-minute production, which will re-run several times over the next week or so, Pelosi showed a snippet of Hank Williams Jr. singing these lyrics at a McCain-Palin rally in Ft. Wayne, Indiana: "The left wing liberal media have always been a real close-knit family. But most of the American people don't believe them anyway, you see." Amongst the signs Pelosi showed from the campaign trail: "Stop the Liberal Media Bias" and "CNN is Bad News." Plus, this on the back of a T-shirt: "Mainstream Media: Public Enemy #1."
Flashback: Actor Ron Silver, RIP, Stands Up for American Values
Actor Ron Silver, who passed away Sunday at age 62 in New York City after a battle against esophageal cancer, "did a political about-face from loyal Democrat to Republican activist after the Sept. 11 attacks," the AP's obituary noted. Indeed, back in February of 2003 he was a guest on FNC's Beltway Boys where he denounced Europe's anti-Americanism and rejected the notion that President George W. Bush turned Europe against the U.S.
Highlights from the MRC's TimesWatch Site: Michelle, My Belle...
Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0500
Highlights from the MRC's TimesWatch site this week: "Michelle, My Belle," "Times Announces New 'Conservative' Columnist, Underlines He's a Moderate," "Hillary's Replacement Still Too Conservative for Liberal Times Reporters," "Cable News Partisanship: Good on Leftist MSNBC, Not on Anti-Obama CNBC" and "Neil Lewis's Reporting on Court Packed With Bias."
ABC's Cuomo Prompts Dubai Kids: Obama's Middle Name a Good Thing?
Good Morning America news anchor Chris Cuomo on Thursday conducted a leading interview with children at a school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. While he discussed a large number of topics, he also seemed interested in eliciting praise from the students about Barack Obama's middle name. Cuomo speculated, "Does it matter to you that the President's name is Barack Hussein Obama? Does that make him more familiar to you?" After one little girl deemed the name Hussein to be "good," Cuomo followed up by cooing, "Does that make you trust him more?" Cuomo, who had traveled to the region earlier in the week (the segment was taped) for GMA's sweeps series on "big" locations, also asserted that the children "see promise in Barack Obama." He then prompted, "Is Barack Obama a good president? Do we like him?" Of course, it should be pointed out that members of the media were quite upset during the 2008 campaign when anyone would dare use Obama's middle name.
Gupta Doesn't Correct Clinton's 'Embryos Aren't Fertilized' Gaffe
CNN's Sanjay Gupta filled in as host on Larry King Live on Wednesday, six days after ending his bid to be Obama's surgeon general. Despite his medical training, he did not see fit to correct former President Bill Clinton after he repeatedly referred to human embryos as not being fertilized. During his initial question, Gupta referred to Clinton as "someone who studied this," but after he made his erroneous assertion the first time, Gupta only asked if the former president had "any reservations" to stem cell research that would destroy human embryos. Clinton would go on to make this false characterization five more times in his answer to Gupta's lone follow-up.
CNN Champions 'Obama-Clinton Power Duo' and 'Dynamic Duo'
CNN correspondent Randi Kaye gushed over the "dynamic duo" of Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, whom she heralded as "a powerful duo -- a duo women want on their side." The two first ladies had made a joint appearance at President Obama's announcement of the new White House Council for Women and Girls, and Kaye's report, which aired on Wednesday's Anderson Cooper 360, made it seem like it was the best thing since sliced bread. Kaye saved her most laudatory language for the two at the conclusion of her report: "Today was a good day to be a woman." Host Anderson Cooper introduced Kaye's segment by labeling the two first ladies as "two of the most visible champions, perhaps, of women's rights in the country." A graphic accompanying Cooper on-screen proclaimed the "dynamic duo" of Obama and Clinton. During the rest of the report, another graphic applauded the "Obama-Clinton power duo."
NBC's Brian Williams Connects FDR's 'Fireside Chats' to Obama
Brian Williams certainly has an affinity for FDR. Four months after suggesting the nation could "use a little FDR right about now," though Rooselvelt's policies failed to end the Depression, on Thursday night he connected the obscure 76th anniversary of Roosevelt's first "fireside chat" in 1933 to President Barack Obama's efforts to fix the economy: "76 years ago today, President Franklin Roosevelt summoned radio news microphones to a desk next to a fireplace in the Oval Room of the White House, and the fireside chat was born. He wanted to talk to the nation about the economy and the banks. And here we are 76 years later, in the midst of another deep and wide economic crisis. For President Obama, it remains job one in this different era."
Lauer Oddly Asserts NY Media Didn't Help Put Obama in Office
Acting as if he's been living in alternate media reality for the past year, NBC's Matt Lauer, interviewing Newsweek's Howard Fineman on Thursday's Today show, made the very odd assertion that the "establishment" of "Washington insiders" and the "New York-based media" didn't help put Barack Obama "in the Oval Office."
NBC Nightly News Champions Obama's 'Power Duo' Women
Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0500
President George W. Bush had a female First Lady and a woman as Secretary of State, but NBC's Brian Williams on Wednesday night hailed, as the fulfillment of President Barack Obama's promise of "change," how he has a "power duo" in a woman First Lady and a female Secretary of State. Williams cooed, with "Women of Distinction" as the on-screen heading: "President Obama won the presidency promising change. There was more evidence of that in Washington today. His wife, now First Lady, Michelle Obama, and his former rival, now Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, a former First Lady herself, joining arms, joining forces. A study in style, substance and power, really." Pegging her story to Michelle Obama's visit to the State Department, reporter Andrea Mitchell touted "two strong women coming together of after a tough campaign" and how "two of the world's most powerful women" are now "both role models."
CBS's Mason: Rich Getting Richer is Good for the Economy
On Wednesday's CBS Evening News, correspondent Anthony Mason made an observation rarely expressed in the mainstream media -- that when the rich get richer, they do so by creating jobs that benefit everyone. Highlighting the new list of billionaires released by Forbes magazine, Mason noted: "Two-thirds of these billionaires are self-made. They're the pioneering businessmen like Bill Gates who created the companies that have created the jobs and the wealth in this country. So we want them to get richer because when they do, we do."
ABC Enthuses Over 'Muscular Arms' of 'Rock Star' Michelle Obama
On Tuesday's Nightline, ABC gushed over Michelle Obama with the enthusiasm and objectivity usually reserved for Access Hollywood reporters. Correspondent Yunji de Nies lauded the "rock star" First Lady for her fashion sense and for speaking openly about balancing work and family. Nightline co-anchor Cynthia McFadden asserted that "with her muscular arms and outfits, she's become, well, a model First Lady." De Nies talked with liberal Washington Post journalist Sally Quinn, who has written for years about D.C. style. Asked about a recent Michelle Obama spread in Vogue magazine, Quinn enthused: "Well, for one thing, I think she's a sexual person. The pictures are attractive. They're womanly. They're sexy, but not in an overt way." She then went on to assert that Washington has often tried to force women to downplay their sexuality. This prompted de Nies to breathlessly wonder: "Is Washington and the world ready for such a modern First Lady?"
Today Last Day to Get Tickets to Next Week's 'DisHonors Awards'
Just one week until the Media Research Center's annual gala and later today we'll be slapping a "sold out" sign on our online ads -- but we can still squeeze you in if you buy a seat TODAY. Join us for this year's gala featuring the "DisHonors Awards for the Worst Reporting of the Year" and the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year to be presented to Brit Hume. It will take place on Thursday evening, March 19th, at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The MRC gala is one of the most fun events of the year. Rush Limbaugh called it "a terrific show...a great, great, great assemblage of people....Everybody just had a blast!" Sean Hannity exclaimed: "I love this event!"
CBS: Michelle Obama 'Found Her Place in a Glamorous World'
During the 8:30AM EST half hour of Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Russ Mitchell introduced a fawning look at Michelle Obama's first 50 days as First Lady: "In the seven weeks since the new President was inaugurated, the new glamorous First Lady has found her place in a glamorous world. Thalia Assuras has a look at Michelle Obama's successful new life." Assuras began her report: "Everyone wants an invitation to her parties. She's graced several magazine covers. Even Oprah is giving up a slice for the first time. She's the focus of fashionistas, those buff arms igniting commentary, and Web sites produce constant chatter." Assuras went on to describe how Michellle Obama had surpassed other First Ladies: "Michelle Obama has created a stir like no other First Lady...Style watchers caution that all new First Ladies cause excitement, but Mrs. Obama is a celebrity who embodies a new generation...That thing, that polls show, produces more positives than recent First Ladies at the outset of past administrations."
ABC's GMA Acknowledges 'Tim Geithner's Stock Has Dropped'
Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0500
Perhaps signaling media impatience with the Obama administration's economic policy, Tuesday's Good Morning America featured a challenging look at the performance of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, who the show had previously described as wonky. Reporter Jake Tapper observed that "to some, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's stock has dropped." Citing the various economic problems that have seemed only to grow in the last few months, Tapper highlighted how Geithner has been criticized for his "thin speech on how to fix the banking crisis and for not winning the confidence of the sinking markets." In contrast, on November 25, the day after he was announced, GMA correspondent Claire Shipman filed a fawning report on both the new nominee and the man who picked him. She enthused that "insiders say the President-elect and his pick for the top economic spot could have been separated at birth."
Nets Celebrate Obama's 'Whirlwind' of Activity' in First 50 Days
NBC and ABC on Tuesday night marked President Barack Obama's first 50 days -- not by pointing out all his unfilled executive positions, failed nominations or the long wait for the stimulus spending in the "stimulus" bill -- but by heralding his "whirlwind" of action and "whirling dervish of activity," though both noted criticism that the administration is trying to do too much. "The President's first seven weeks have been a whirlwind with often dramatic movement in all directions, on all fronts. The economy, health care, two wars and today education reform," NBC anchor Brian Williams breathlessly announced. On ABC, Jake Tapper contended "you can disagree with what President Obama has done, but you cannot accuse him of dragging his feet. His first 50 days have been marked by presidential action on nearly every issue under the sun. Of course, for his critics, that's precisely the problem." Tapper soon asserted: "Seven weeks ago, just minutes after taking the oath of office, President Obama formally nominated his cabinet. He's been a whirling dervish of activity ever since."
CNN's Cafferty Bashes Limbaugh's Audience as 'Right-Wing Nuts'
CNN commentator Jack Cafferty returned to his routine of bashing conservatives and Republicans in a column published on CNN.com on Tuesday titled "GOP becoming a cartoon." He accused the Republican Party of "pandering to the right wing nuts that comprise Rush Limbaugh's radio audience," and listed this as the primary reason that the GOP lost the 2008 presidential election. Cafferty also bashed Republicans for being too busy "obstructing Obama's programs and criticizing the Democrats' spending plans that are aimed at trying to bring the country out of a horrible recession."
CBS's Early Show Uses Meghan McCain to Slam Ann Coulter
At the top of the 8AM EST hour of CBB's Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez teased an upcoming interview with John McCain's daughter, Meghan McCain: "And young Mac attack. Senator McCain's daughter, Meghan, takes aim at conservative Ann Coulter and tells us about her post-election dating issues." Later, co-host Harry Smith opened the segment by declaring: "Senator John McCain's daughter, Meghan, has left the campaign trail and found herself working in the blogosphere as a writer for The Daily Beast. And on it she has written some tough things about Ann Coulter as well as her ongoing search for Mr. Right, or Mr. Far Right." After Smith asked her about her "search for Mr. Far Right," he turned his attention to her recent criticism of conservative author Ann Coulter: "Well here's one of the things you wrote about Ann Coulter, who's been a guest on this program in the past, we had interesting conversations, 'I straight up don't understand this woman or her popularity. I find her offensive, radical, insulting, and confusing all at the same time. If figureheads like Ann Coulter are turning me off, then they are definitely turning off other members of my generation as well.'"
CNN Correspondent Now the Communist Candidate in El Salvador
Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0500
The presidential candidate of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), the communist revolutionaries in El Salvador the Reagan administration battled in the 1980s, is, a Monday Washington Post story noted, "a former correspondent for CNN en Espanol." In the March 9 article, "In El Salvador Vote, Big Opportunity for Leftists," reporter William Booth relayed from San Salvador that the journalist-turned-politician "considers himself to be El Salvador's Barack Obama."
Matthews: Limbaugh Like a Bond Villain, a 'Human Vat of Vitriol'
Over the weekend, Chris Matthews compared Rush Limbaugh to a James Bond villain and claimed the radio talk show host was a "human vat of vitriol. He relishes the attention and he sells anger as a weapon." Before playing a clip from "You Only Live Twice," in which a Bond nemesis drops a victim into a piranha tank, Matthews, on his syndicated The Chris Matthews Show, offered up the following description of the talk show host: "Before we break if you didn't know better this past week, you'd think Rush Limbaugh was more important than the guys in Washington and women in Washington actually elected to do things. How many U.S. senators would invite the President of the United States to come to their home turf and debate them? Well two facts are clear about this human vat of vitriol. He relishes the attention and he sells anger as a weapon....Limbaugh's high-handed, melodramatic, off with their heads, oratory reminds me of those over-the-top movie villains. You know, the ones who issue ludicrous commands to snuff out the good guys, like James Bond's arch nemesis who wanted the supremely confident Bond -- gone."
MSNBC Attacks Limbaugh Again: 'Is Rush Toxic for GOP?'
MSNBC host David Shuster continued his dogged pursuit of Rush Limbaugh on Monday, hosting a segment with an onscreen graphic that screamed, "Is Rush Toxic for GOP?" After discussing a birthday celebration in honor of Senator Ted Kennedy, Shuster asserted: "About the only thing that might have put a damper on Kennedy's celebration were some jarring comments from conservative heavyweight Rush Limbaugh." The supposed "jarring comments" by the radio host were made last Friday during a discussion of how the White House has been using Kennedy's ill health as a kind of an inspirational reason to pass national health care. On his show, Limbaugh noted that before "it's all over it [the bill] will be called the Ted Kennedy Memorial Health Care Bill." On Monday's 11 AM EDT hour of MSNBC News Live, the host brought on Washington Post reporter Perry Bacon and Roll Call editor Erin Billings who both agreed that Limbaugh's comment went over the line. Billings asserted: "I would say that Rush Limbaugh is certainly playing into the divisive figure that the Democrats are accusing him of being." Bacon claimed that "people" were deriding the remarks as "not the right tone."
Couric's Stem Cell Expert: Dr Who Yearned to Shape Obama's Policy
Four days after Sanjay Gupta, in the wake of Tom Daschle's withdrawal as HHS Secretary-designate, decided to turn down the Obama administration's offer to become Surgeon General, CBS went to the CNN medical correspondent for expert analysis on the benefits of Obama's decision to allow federal funding of research on embryonic stem cells. (Monday afternoon following Obama's announcement, CNN refrained from putting Gupta on the air. Wolf Blitzer, however, brought him aboard the 6 PM EDT hour of The Situation Room to expound on what Gupta described as the "enthusiasm" and "lot of promise" offered by the administration's reversal of the Bush policy.) CBS anchor Katie Couric fretted Obama's decision didn't do enough. Referring to a law which "prohibits the creation of embryos simply for the purpose of using their stem cells," Couric worried: "If the ban against using tax dollars for this is not lifted, will it hinder progress?" Gupta, who last Thursday announced his decision to not accept the position, yearned to guide Obama's health policy.
ABC Champions Obama's Embryo-Destroying Stem Cell Decision
Correspondent Lisa Stark's report on ABC's World News on Sunday almost completely slanted in favor of President Obama's decision to overturn the ban on federal funding of stem cell research which destroys human embryos. Stark minimized the controversial nature of the research, devoting only one soundbite out of four to a critic of the president's move. Anchor Dan Harris introduced Stark's report by selling the apparent promise of embryonic stem cell research: "President Obama is going to fulfill one of his campaign promises by ending restrictions on federally-funded research using embryonic stem cells. This could lead to better treatments and possibly cures for many diseases. But it will not end a visceral debate." Despite this mention of the "visceral debate," the report almost entirely focused on the hype from supporters of the research.
CBS Claims Obama Overturned Stem Cell 'Ban;' Makes Correction
At the top of Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen incorrectly declared: "Reversing course. President Obama lifts the ban on embryonic stem cell research today...But is the President going far enough?" During the later segment, co-host Maggie Rodriguez had to offer a correction: "And we should say, this under President Bush was not banned or illegal, except now we're getting federal funding."
Saw It Here First: FNC Highlights Journalists 'Rooting' for Obama
Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0500
You Read It Here First: FNC Highlights Journalists 'Rooting' for Obama. On FNC's Fox Newswatch aired Saturday night, host Jon Scott cited an observation reported in CyberAlert: "ABC White House correspondent Jake Tapper caught the attention of the Media Research Center in their Tuesday CyberAlert. The Washington Post reports Tapper believes 'Obama's attractive qualities prompted some editors and producers to 'root for him.'" Scott continued: "Some? Or most, or almost all?" asks the MRC. Well at least somebody is asking that question."
Newsweek's Wolffe: Limbaugh Is GOP's 'Jeremiah Wright' w/ Hate
On Thursday's Countdown show, MSNBC political analyst Richard Wolffe of Newsweek compared Rush Limbaugh to rapper Sister Souljah and Barack Obama's racist former minister, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, as Wolffe advised the Republican party to "kill some sacred cows" by denouncing "extremist" Limbaugh. Wolffe: "What they first of all need to do is to kill some sacred cows here. ... for President Clinton, it was Sister Souljah. For President Obama, he had to confront Reverend Wright. This is their Reverend Wright. And unless they deal with extreme voices within their own party, within their own movement, they're not going to reach those independent voters..." And after showing a clip of Limbaugh bouncing up and down on stage at CPAC, host Keith Olbermann cracked that "killer clowns from outer space is less disturbing for children."
Kurtz: 'Outrage' Media Ignored CNN Host Who Called Repubs 'Nazis'
In the midst of a segment on Rush Limbaugh on Sunday morning's Reliable Sources portion of CNN's State of the Union, host Howard Kurtz scolded his journalistic colleagues for a remark which "totally got missed by the media," how CNN host D.L. Hughley charged "that the Republican convention 'literally looks like Nazi Germany.' I don't understand how he can get away with saying that. I think that is an outrage."
FNC's Baier Apologizes for Not Using 'Illegal Alien' Description
FNC's Bret Baier did something Friday night you rarely, if ever, hear from a journalist: He apologized for incomplete reporting, specifically for failing to identify as an illegal alien the man charged with murdering Chandra Levy. Picking up on a Friday Washington Times article which quoted media coverage information reported Tuesday night on NewsBusters (and Wednesday on MRC.org), Baier noted in his "Grapevine" segment: "The Washington Times reports CBS, CNN and the Associated Press described Ingmar Guandique either a 'Salvadoran immigrant' or a 'laborer from El Salvador.'" He then acknowledged: "Fox News is not escaping criticism on this. Although Bill O'Reilly has referred to Guandique as an 'illegal alien,' the report points out that Fox newscasts, including this one, have used the term 'Salvadoran immigrant.' We apologize for not being more precise."
CNN: Rush the 'Anti-Obama' Since He's Not 'Slim or Well Schooled'
CNN International's Jonathan Mann labeled Rush Limbaugh the "anti-Obama" in a CNN.com article on Friday, and condescendingly listed the reasons why the talk show host is the antithesis of the President: "Rush Limbaugh isn't black, slim, stylish or well schooled." He later described why Democrats are so eager to portray Limbaugh as the leader of the Republican Party: "They think that Limbaugh, 58, is the very personification of an ugly Republican stereotype: he's a small-town college drop-out, an angry white man, who they believe offends the ethnic, urban and educated Americans the Democrats want to attract."
Couric Uses Bad News to Tout 'Stimulus' Bill 'Is Creating' Jobs
CBS anchor Katie Couric on Friday night used the jump in the unemployment rate to 8.1 percent to cheerlead for how the "stimulus" bill is "creating" jobs, an impact her newscast illustrated with two full stories after reporter Anthony Mason declared: "It's the government that's going to have to pull us out of this recession." (On ABC's World News, Betsy Stark similarly saw salvation in the stimulus spending. Citing predictions of even higher unemployment, she contended: "That's why the stimulus plan is so important. If it's successful, those huge job losses should slow down.") Couric teased the CBS Evening News: "The recession has now cost nearly four-and-a-half million Americans their jobs. We'll show you the new jobs his stimulus plan is creating." She then led by promising: "In a moment we'll be telling you about all the jobs the stimulus plan is creating, but first, why those jobs are so desperately needed." Following Mason's story on the rise in the unemployment rate, Couric championed how the government spending is coming to the rescue: "Some of the $787 billion in stimulus money designed to create new jobs is already flowing through the pipe line. At the other end of it, millions of people are waiting hopefully for work. We have two reports tonight..."
Phony Soldiers II: Limbaugh Smear Over 'Kennedy Memorial' Bill
"Demonstrating that not even weekends are safe from Democratic Party-sponsored anti-Rush Limbaugh attacks," Brian Maloney observed on the Radio Equalizer blog on Saturday, "the talk titan is now under fire for a relatively mundane (and actually quite accurate) reference to the shameless political exploitation of Ted Kennedy's illness." Some media outlets readily picked up on the effort to discredit Limbaugh. The AP jumped in Friday, "Democrats blast Limbaugh for comment on Kennedy," and MSNBC's Chris Matthews played a clip on Hardball as he prompted guest Bob Shrum to smear Limbaugh: "It's outrageous, it's typical of him. He's a tasteless guy. He'll say anything. He appeals to haters." Saturday's Boston Globe joined in: "Kennedy cheered at summit; Limbaugh remarks sour to some." Limbaugh's supposedly outrageous remark: "Before it's all over, it'll be called the Ted Kennedy Memorial Health Care bill."
Maddow on Leno: Limbaugh Should Back Socialism Once It's Enacted
Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Radical-left MSNBC host Rachel Maddow appeared Tuesday night on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and when the topic turned to Rush Limbaugh, Maddow insisted that it's one thing to oppose Obama's socialist agenda before it passes, but once it becomes law, Limbaugh should get behind it: "It is one thing to say, 'I hope that this guy's proposed policies don't pass. I hope those don't become the policies of our country.' But once they become the policies of the country, and they are designed to save us from this economic collapse, you ought to hope they succeed, unless you are hoping for your country to suffer worse in an economic collapse. I mean, actually rooting for the failure of your own federal government is pretty creepy." This was not Maddow's approach to the Iraq war.
Friendly Network TV Reception for Obama's Health Care 'Fix'
President Obama's health care summit at the White House played into receptive television news hands Thursday night as NBC displayed "Fixing Health Care" on screen before reporter Chuck Todd appropriated the coach who inspired "win one for the Gipper" by touting how "the President's drive to pass health care got a Knute Rockne-like boost with a surprise appearance" by Senator Ted Kennedy, while ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson, who on Sunday had decried as a "national shame" America's lack of universal health care, effused: "I was blown away by President Obama's grasp of the subject, how he connected the dots, how he answered the questions without any script." CBS's Chip Reid corroborated Obama's point about soaring costs by citing a business where "in 2005, it cost $75,000 to cover about 25 employees. In 2008, it cost $148,000," as if more government involvement to expand the number of people covered will lower costs. Reid also hailed Obama's fresh approach: "Instead of doing battle with insurance companies, drug companies, hospitals, and doctors, this time all those groups are in the room, most agreeing that now is the time for shared sacrifice."
Former NYT Reporter: 'Clown' Limbaugh a 'Sweaty, Swollen Man'
Liberal Times reporter turned liberal nytimes.com blogger Timothy Egan's latest rant against conservative radio giant Rush Limbaugh, "Fears of a Clown," was propped up on the front page of nytimes.com on Thursday for the delight of the paper's liberal audience. Eagan charged Limbaugh "has been transformed into car-wreck-quality spectacle, at once scary and sad."
Ari Fleischer Zings MSNBC: Should Dems Denounce Keith Olbermann?
Former Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer appeared on the Thursday edition of MSNBC's Morning Joe and stopped the program cold when he challenged the hosts as to whether they were "going after Democrat members of Congress for why they aren't distancing themselves from Keith Olbermann?" Co-anchors Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, who had been discussing the battle between the White House and Rush Limbaugh, were silent for a moment before Brzezinski admitted, "That was a good one. We're all thinking."
Alter: GOP 'Party of Jell-O' for Not Standing Up to Limbaugh
During the 3:00PM EST hour on MSNBC on Thursday, anchor Norah O'Donnell teased an upcoming segment on Rush Limbaugh and the Republican Party: "Coming up, is the party of Lincoln in danger of becoming the party of jell-o? Why conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh could be a liability for the Grand Old Party." O'Donnell was referring to an Newsweek article by columnist Jonathan Alter and later spoke to him about it: "I want to read from your piece. You write, 'everyone knows he has jumped the shark culturally, becoming a black-shirted joke even as he dominates the headlines. But it's worse than that for Republicans, Limbaugh has taken the great GOP calling card -- toughness -- and shredded it. The party of Lincoln is in danger of becoming the party jell-o.' Explain further." Alter elaborated: "The great strength of the Republican Party for the last 75 years has been strength. The fact that they are a tough party and their rhetoric has been tough. They were tough against the New Deal. They were tough in a Cold War. They were tough on Monica Lewinsky. If you can't even stand-up to Rush Limbaugh, if the dittoheads come after you and you wilt and then apologize for perfectly legitimate criticism of a radio talk show broadcaster, how tough is that. You look wimpy, you look weak, you look whiney."
Shuster: GOP Members Who Don't Slam Rush 'Appear Unpatriotic'
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue host David Shuster on Wednesday stepped up his attacks on Rush Limbaugh and suggested that if congressional Republicans "align themselves with Rush's statements about wanting the President to fail, they appear unpatriotic." For the second day in a row, Shuster berated a conservative guest about the radio talk show host. He repeatedly encouraged former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer to disagree with Limbaugh and complained: "And, Ari, first of all, when Rush says that all Republicans want the President to fail, Limbaugh's wrong, right?" At one point, Shuster wondered why Republicans couldn't just denounce the "childish" comments by the radio host. He then seriously suggested that GOP members should say: "And we need to isolate Rush Limbaugh because we do have important issues to talk about." He challenged: "Ari, is it unpatriotic for somebody to say they hope the President fails?" After interrupting a responding Fleischer, he continued, "...Is it unpatriotic -- since patriotism was such a crucial theme in the run-up to the Iraq war in the way the Bush White House defended it -- is it unpatriotic to say that you hope the President fails?"
ABC Touts 'Huge Impact' of Spending, Credits Dow Up to Home Plan
Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Two weeks after ABC championed how the "stimulus" would enable mayors to create many jobs, World News on Wednesday night trumpeted how "the government is now ready to start writing the checks to get people working again in states and cities across the land." Reporter David Muir touted how "with hundreds of millions of dollars in the pipeline from Washington, contractors are hiring now" and so "in the quiet college town of North Manchester, Indiana, 26 people are expected to be hired to build a water treatment plant. Economists say 26 people in a small town of 6,400 can have a huge impact." Muir's one and only expert, economist Stephen Leeb, then saw a beneficial ripple effect: "It's not just 26 people. It's 26 people that are getting more money. Those people are spending money at, say, the corner store, the corner drugstore, maybe buying an extra shirt for their kids; and the people that are receiving that money, in the stores, are also going to spend their money. So you have this kind of ripple effect that can spill all the way through the town." At the top of the newscast, anchor Charles Gibson credited President Obama's home mortgage bailout plan with causing a stock market up tick, citing a "ray of hope: The government outlines how it will help nine million homeowners avoid foreclosure. And the stock market responds positively."
CNN Uses Unlabeled Left-Wing Group to 'Fact Check' Mike Pence
On Wednesday's Newsroom program, CNN anchor Rick Sanchez turned to Eric Burns, the president of the left-wing organization Media Matters for America, to "fact check" Representative Mike Pence's appearance on the program the previous day. Sanchez failed to mention the political leanings of Media Matters during the segment, and didn't follow-up when Burns obliquely referenced his past occupation as a communications director for Democratic Representative Louise Slaughter.
Matthews Accuses Limbaugh of 'Preposterous Pomposity'
On Wednesday night's Hardball, Chris Matthews used several different animal references to depict the battle between Barack Obama and Rush Limbaugh as he likened the fight to wrestling with "a walrus," and getting into "a peeing match with a skunk," and claimed Limbaugh thinks he is Charlie Brown's dog: "He's Snoopy! He thinks he's taking on the Red Baron." Matthews devoted several segments to the Democratic strategy of attacking Limbaugh and opened the show with the following monologue/diatribe: "Leading off tonight. Pomposity on parade! Not since Snoopy challenged the Red Baron in the Peanuts cartoon have we witnessed an episode of such preposterous pomposity. Rush Limbaugh today challenged the President of the United States to come and debate him in his Palm Beach radio booth. What's the radio man thinking of?"
Matt Lauer Excoriates Steele for Not Condemning Limbaugh
According to the Politico, Democratic strategists, months ago, planned to paint Rush Limbaugh as a bad guy to hurt the GOP and on Wednesday, the Today show followed that blueprint as Matt Lauer pilloried RNC Chairman Michael Steele over his flap with the talk show host: "Doesn't Rush Limbaugh put people like you in a very tough position? If you agree with him publicly it sounds like you're rooting against the economic recovery and yet if you disagree with him and call him an 'entertainer' and say he's provocative and sometimes what he says is 'ugly,' you're put in the position where you gotta run and apologize to him?" Lauer repeatedly misinterpreted Limbaugh's comment that he wants Obama's to fail, never clarifying that Limbaugh is rooting against his policies precisely because they will hurt the economy as Lauer presented the false choice of, you're for Obama or you're against the economic recovery, to Steele: "Mr. Steele, let me try it this way, there are as many Republicans out there as well as Democrats who are unemployed right now. People are hurting across this country. Republicans, as I mention, like Democrats are losing their homes, they're unable to send their kids to school. Do you think those Republicans want the policies of Barack Obama to fail right now?"
MSNBC's Shuster Badgers Ron Paul: 'Even You' Won't Slam Rush
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue host David Shuster on Tuesday repeatedly pestered Texas Congressman Ron Paul to publicly attack Rush Limbaugh and seemed frustrated when "even" the outspoken representative wouldn't give him what he wanted. After wondering "why it's so difficult" for Republicans to disagree with the talk show host's assertion that he wants Barack Obama's policies to fail, Shuster repeated the same question over and over. He complained, "How can we have that argument [about other issues], when even you, Ron Paul, are not willing to take this opportunity to say when Rush Limbaugh says that every Republican wants President Obama to fail, Rush Limbaugh is wrong?"
CBS's Early Show Discusses Future of GOP with Liberal Journalists
Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0600
During a 6-minute segment on the Saturday Early Show on CBS, co-host Erica Hill spoke with liberal journalists Mort Zuckerman, editor in chief of U.S. News and World Report, and Steven Kornacki of the New York Observer, about the future of the Republican Party. Republican strategist and CNN contributor Leslie Sanchez was also part of the panel discussion, but was only allowed 44 seconds to speak during the segment, frequently being cut off by Hill, Zuckerman, and Kornacki. Zuckerman described the future of the GOP this way: "Obama's popularity is surging and the support for the Republican Party is declining, in part because if there is any symbol of the Republican Party, it was Bobby Jindal, the Governor of Louisiana, speaking after President Obama, and articulating a philosophy that was so completely discredited under the Bush administration that it's hard to imagine that they think they're going to do anything other than consolidate their support in a very small number of arch-conservative districts in the United States."
ABC Skips Key Facts, Continues to Fret About No Ice at North Pole
Despite evidence to the contrary, Tuesday's Good Morning America continued to hype the idea that there could soon be no Arctic sea ice at the North Pole. Co-host Robin Roberts began a segment on the subject by fretting: "But, can you imagine going to the beach and finding it's not there? Sounds like science fiction." Referencing a group of scientists who are traveling 600 miles across the Arctic to test ice thickness she added, "Well, a new expedition is under way to find out if this could happen in the not-so-distant future." However, Good Morning America has been wrong on this issue in the past. On the June 28, 2008, GMA weekend anchor Kate Snow introduced a story on polar bears by worrying, "You know, the polar bear has become the iconic face of climate change and this summer scientists are saying the North Pole could be without ice, another symptom of a warming planet." Yet, by the fall of last year, the Arctic ice caps had grown by 150,000 square miles (which, while still low, is not the same as disappearing.)
CNN's Jack Cafferty Confesses His 'Crush on Michelle Obama'
CNN commentator Jack Cafferty flat out admitted in a CNN.com commentary on Tuesday that he is "developing a crush on America's first lady," Michelle Obama: "Michelle Obama is more compelling than her husband. He's good, but she's utterly fascinating....Mrs. Obama has blown away the stale air in a White House musty from eight years of the Bushes. It's like the sun came out and a fresh spring breeze began wafting through the open windows."
National Media Avoid IDing Levy Murder Suspect as an Illegal
CBS, CNN, FNC and the AP on Tuesday all failed to identify Ingmar Guandique, for whom an arrest warrant was issued for the 2001 murder of Chandra Levy, as an illegal alien. In a full story on the CBS Evening News, reporter Bob Orr described him simply as a "Salvadoran immigrant." During CNN's Situation Room, Zain Verjee benignly called him "a laborer from El Salvador" and later, on Anderson Cooper 360, news reader Erica Hill referred to him as "a U.S. prison inmate from El Salvador." (In between, the contrarian Lou Dobbs did identify Guandique as "a criminal illegal alien.") FNC's Bret Baier, on his 6 PM EST show, cited the new charge against "a Salvadoran immigrant" while multiple dispatches from the AP's Brian Westerly described Guandique as "an imprisoned Salvadoran immigrant."
WashPost Reporter on MSNBC: GOP Nominee Must 'Stand Up to Rush'
At the top of the 12PM EST hour of MSNBC news coverage on Tuesday, anchor David Shuster spoke with Washington Post reporter Keith Richburg about the recent divide between Rush Limbaugh and RNC Chair Michael Steele. Richburg observed: "You know, it's fascinating. It's like the circular firing squad. I mean, maybe this is what Rush had in mind when he was talking about 'Operation Chaos.'" Shuster later asked Richburg: "I mean, when Rush Limbaugh says that all Republicans want President Obama to fail. What's so difficult with somebody saying, 'no, no, we think that his policies may fail, but we don't want them to fail.' What's so difficult about that?" Richburg replied: "...it almost seems like the Republican Party needs a 'Sister Solja' moment...It seems like the Republicans need somebody who's willing to stand up and say Rush doesn't represent all of the views of the Republican Party and then not rush and apologize to him...I'll bet you whoever does that could end up as the, you know, the nominee of the party or at least the major party."
ABC's Jake Tapper Laments Some Producers 'Root' for Obama
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Washington Post media reporter Howard Kurtz profiled ABC White House reporter Jake Tapper on Monday, who has stood out a bit for suggesting his colleagues are too soft: "Tapper, who has already clashed publicly with press secretary Robert Gibbs, has been outspoken in his view that many in the media have been too soft on Barack Obama. 'Certain networks, newspapers and magazines leaned on the scales a little bit,' he says over a vanilla latte at Starbucks. Obama's attractive qualities, he says, have prompted some editors and producers 'to root for him.'"
Letterman: 'Bonehead' Limbaugh Looks Like a 'Gangster'
On Monday's Late Show, host David Letterman asked guest Katie Couric about "this bonehead Rush Limbaugh," prompting Couric to plead: "Dave, don't do this to me, please! Don't do this to me." But Letterman was just getting rolling with insults as he asserted Limbaugh's attire on Saturday at CPAC made him look "like an Eastern European gangster." Focusing on Limbaugh's physical appearance, Letterman recited how Limbaugh's "got the black jacket on, the black silk shirt and it's unbuttoned, like, 'oh yeah, when you think Rush Limbaugh, you think ooh let's see a little flesh.'"
Iseman on CBS: NYT 'Out of Control' on False McCain Affair Story
On Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez spoke with lobbyist Vicki Iseman, who a year ago was named in a New York Times article implying she had an affair with then presidential candidate John McCain, an accusation Iseman flatly denied: "No, I did not. And four New York Times reporters, two editors, their entire institution, 200 people that they went out and sought to try and figure out if this was true or not, came back and said there's no there, there...They were calling friends and family and colleagues and former staffers, it was just -- people I'd hired and fired at my firm, it was nuts. It was just unbelievable...They became so invested in this that they couldn't walk away...this was just out of control, they just could not, for some reason, walk away."
Matthews: Sebelius Survive 'Terrorism of Anti-Abortion People?'
On Monday night's Hardball, Chris Matthews feared Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, in her nomination fight to head HHS, would be a target of "the terrorism of the, of the anti-abortion people." Then perhaps realizing he called all pro-lifers terrorists, Matthews feebly attempted to amend the statement, as he tried to clarify: "I mean verbal terrorism."
CNN's Hughley: Republicans 'Literally Look Like Nazi Germany'
CNN host D.L. Hughley turned to the standard left-wing tactic of playing the Nazi card against Republicans on his program on Saturday evening: "The tenets of the Republican Party are amazing and they seem warm and welcome. But when I watch it be applied -- like you didn't have to go much further than the Republican National Convention....It literally look[s] like Nazi Germany." He went on to say that blacks weren't welcome in the party: "It just does not seem -- like not only are we not welcome -- not only are we not welcome, but they don't even care what we think." He later described the GOP as "reactionary." The stand-up comedian-turned-TV host made the remark during a segment with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele and Chuck D, a former member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy. Steele did not verbally react to Hughley's Nazi characterization. Chuck D, on the other hand, expressed his agreement with the host about blacks supposedly not being welcome in the Republican Party.
Tribute to Paul Harvey from ABC Radio
ABC Radio has prepared a tribute to Paul Harvey, who passed away Saturday at age 90, for the radio stations which carried Harvey's "News and Comment." About 37 minutes long, the audio/radio program narrated by Gil Gross recounts Harvey's life and includes many excerpts from his newscasts and speeches he delivered, as well as some about his "The Rest of the Story."
Nina Totenberg's Friend: 'Oh My God, We Have a President Again!'
Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:52:01 -0600
NPR's Nina Totenberg revealed Friday, not surprisingly, that she was enchanted by President Barack Obama's address earlier in the week to a joint session of Congress. "It made me feel pretty good. I thought it was a great speech," she enthused before relaying a contrast with former President George W. Bush: "A friend of mine said, 'oh my God, we have a President again!'" Totenberg added that "in some ways, that's not fair to Bush," but she insisted: "That's the way you felt. You felt this was a guy who was totally in charge."
5,000th Wheel of Fortune, Sajak Accepts, Get 'DisHonors' Tickets
Now in its 26th year, Friday the 5,000 edition of the syndicated Wheel of Fortune game show aired around the nation -- which reminded me (always looking for a hook to plug our upcoming "DisHonors Awards") -- that just under two years ago Wheel host Pat Sajak took part in our 2007 event. At the MRC's "2007 DisHonors Awards: Roasting the Most Outrageously Biased Liberal Reporters of 2006," the showcase of the MRC's 20th Anniversary Gala on March 29, 2007, Sajak accepted, on behalf of Rosie O'Donnell, the "I'm Not a Political Genius But I Play One on TV Award." Which all goes to remind everyone that this year's "DisHonors Awards for the Worst Reporting of the Year" with the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence" to be presented to Brit Hume, are just over two weeks away. Every year, we sell out. So don't procrastinate on getting a ticket.
Only ABC Credits Bush's 'Surge' for Allowing Obama's Draw Down
In Friday night stories on President Barack Obama's plan to reduce troops in Iraq by 90,000, neither the CBS Evening News nor NBC Nightly News mentioned a key factor raised by ABC reporters Jake Tapper and Martha Raddatz. On ABC's World News, over video of Tapper standing at Camp Lejeune with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Tapper noted: "Defense Secretary [Robert] Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen today credited President Bush's surge, opposed by then-Senator Obama, with helping to pave the way for today's announcement." Viewers then heard a short soundbite from Gates: "It clearly has put us in a very different place in terms of where Iraq is." Up next on the February 27 newscast, Raddatz addressed the military's reaction, and shared her assessment: "I think if there hadn't been a surge, if there hadn't been such success, you wouldn't have seen those Marines clapping today. It would be a very different kind of speech."
Tina Brown: Liberal Ad Elevates 'Blow-hard Bullfrog' Limbaugh
Former Vanity Fair and New Yorker editor Tina Brown appeared on Friday's Morning Joe to lament that a liberal ad featuring Rush Limbaugh would only elevate the status of the "blow-hard bullfrog" conservative host. The liberal group Americans United for Change has a new spot running that slams Republicans as a party of no and features a clip of Limbaugh's now famous comment that he wants Obama's liberal policies to fail. After Morning Joe co-host Willie Geist played the ad, Brown asserted of the commercial: "I adore the 'party of no.' I think it is wonderful." She then complained: "The only thing I do regret though is that this giant, you know, blow-hard bullfrog, you know, Rush Limbaugh is being turned into this big icon."
ABC: 'National Shame' Will Propel Obama's Health Plan to Victory
"Ultimately," President Barack Obama will get his way on "universal" health coverage, because of "just one fact" ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson declared "I want to let everybody hear," and that is the "national shame" of how "we spend more than twice as much, per person, on health care in his country as the average of all other industrialized countries, yet we're the only one that doesn't have universal coverage."
Meredith Vieira Cites 'Conservative' David Brooks to Bash Jindal
Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
On Thursday's Today show, NBC's Meredith Vieira invited on former George W. Bush assistant Mary Matalin to discuss the excessive spending in Barack Obama's budget, and the interview got off to a promising start as Vieira actually asked Matalin: "Do you see it as a disaster in the making?" However the segment quickly turned sour when Vieira cited a critique of Bobby Jindal's post-Obama address response by New York Times columnist David Brooks and claimed: "Conservatives were criticizing him for stale ideas. He didn't say anything, nothing new."
Garofalo: 'Self-Loathing' Steele, Eva Braun Types Like Limbaugh
On Thursday's Countdown show, left-wing actress and comedienne Janeane Garofalo appeared to talk about a recent poll finding that Rush Limbaugh is substantially less popular with women than with men. Evoking laughter from MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, Garofalo remarked that "the type of female that does like Rush is the same type of woman that falls in love with prisoners." After citing serial killers Richard Ramirez and Charles Manson, she then compared women who like Limbaugh to Adolf Hitler's girlfriend, Eva Braun: "Eva Braun, Hitler's girlfriend. That is exactly the type of woman that responds really well to Rush." After mentioning that former CNN anchor Daryn Kagan used to date Limbaugh, Garofalo cracked that Kagan has Stockholm Syndrome, which she also attributed to RNC Chairman Michael Steele, with Olbermann agreeing that Steele suffers from "self-loathing."
CBS's Early Show: Junk Food Ban/Tax Needed to Prevent Cancer
On Thursday's CBS Early Show, correspondent Richard Roth reported on a new cancer study that found that obesity can increase the likelihood of getting cancer: "Aside from avoiding smoking, the report says that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the most important thing you can do for cancer prevention. That means diet, physical activity, and weight management...The report recommends laws and policy changes by government, industry, and schools, from adding bicycle lanes to public roads to banning junk food from vending machines." Following Roth's report, co-host Julie Chen spoke with Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and asked: "In light of this report, how big of a role do you think government should play in making sure Americans lead a healthier lifestyle?"
MSNBC's David Shuster Touts Jindal as Beavis and Butt-head Insult
MSNBC's 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue host David Shuster on Wednesday delighted in a comparison of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal to the MTV characters Beavis and Butt-head. Shuster singled out the Republican, who gave the GOP response to Barack Obama's February 24 congressional address, in his "hypocrisy watch" segment. The MSNBC host slammed "Jindal's hypocrisy" for criticizing what he called wasteful spending, including volcano monitoring. (According to Shuster, Jindal is a hypocrite because, while the governor attacked volcano monitoring, he's also asked for comprehensive flood and hurricane funds for his own state.) The anchor gleefully recounted an attack by liberal New York Times writer Paul Krugman. Reading from Krugman's column, he recited: "The intellectual incoherence is stunning. The party of ideas has become the party of Beavis and Butt-head." Agreeing with the juvenile insult, Shuster added: "Beavis and Butthead? Well, Krugman didn't say which one Jindal is. Nonetheless, all of us at 1600 agree with the larger point."
CNN: Obama Leading U.S. 'Into Sunlight' And 'Up to Mountaintops'
CNN personalities Jack Cafferty and David Gergen continued the chorus of praise for President Obama on Wednesday evening for his first address to a joint session of Congress, twenty-four hours after he had given it. During his regular "Question of the Hour" segment on The Situation Room, Cafferty gushed that the Democrat "had that place in the palm of his hand for the entire time he was in that room" and, despite all the serious issues he discussed during the speech, that the President "seems remarkably unruffled by all of this, serene in an inner confidence that he's got what it takes to lead this country back into the sunlight." Later that evening on Anderson Cooper 360, it was apparent that Gergen's afterglow about the address hadn't subsided from the previous evening. He described it as a "rousing speech, took us up to the mountaintops."
CBS's Rodriguez: Public 'Loved' Obama, Jindal a 'Debbie Downer'
Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
While discussing President Obama's Tuesday night address to Congress and the Republican response given by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, on Wednesday's CBS Early Show co-host Maggie Rodriguez observed: "And Americans loved it. The polls show that they're very optimistic, and then out comes Bobby Jindal, Debbie Downer, saying 'hated it, it's not going to work.'" Rodriguez made the remark while speaking with Democrat Dee Dee Myers and Republican Dan Bartlett. She turned to Bartlett and asked: "Do you think the Republican Party's taking the right approach, Dan, being so vocal with their objections?"
Wash Post Gossip on Jindal: 'I Found His Manson Eyes Disturbing'
Washington Post gossip columnist Amy Argetsinger didn't bash Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal with some demeaning Indian stereotype. She overlooked ethnicity altogether and compared him to psychotic murder Charles Manson. In a chat session on Wednesday with her gossip partner Roxanne Roberts, she claimed Jindal had "Manson eyes" on the TV screen: "I found his Manson eyes disturbing."
Obamas 'Hip,' CPAC Like a 'Star Trek Convention' Says Matthews
On Wednesday night's Hardball, Chris Matthews cheered how "hip," "today," and "youthful," the Obamas looked at Tuesday night's address to Congress before immediately transitioning into offering this backhanded blurb for the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC): "If you like Star Trek conventions, you'll love this baby!" While it is fair to say you won't be seeing Jay-Z performing at CPAC any time soon, the comparison to a Star Trek convention crowd was definitely a dig at conservatives' expense. However Matthews did go on to out himself as a former CPAC attendee: "So if you can't catch a Star Trek convention you've got CPAC coming here. It's always fun. Because I grew up as a conservative. I liked a lot of this stuff."
Stephanopoulos: Obama Speech 'Made a Start in Inspiring Hope'
Former top Democratic aide-turned journalist George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday applauded Barack Obama's address to Congress, lauding it for making "a start at inspiring hope out in the country." The This Week host appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning America and affirmed co-host Robin Roberts' question about whether Obama "hit his marks last night." Stephanopoulos asserted that the President needed to show that he had a strong plan to fix the economy. He then complimented: "And I think he made a good start last night." He singled out the section of Obama's speech on bailing out the banks and cooed: "And I think that was the single-most effective passage in the speech." And while Stephanopoulos noted that this plan will cost "billions of more dollars," at no time did he discuss how the country would pay for all the programs and reforms the President wants to enact.
ABC Saw 'Hard Core' Conservative Bush in 2001; No Label for Obama
Despite calling for massive new spending on education, universal health care and more money for bailing out banks, no ABC anchor on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning used the word liberal in describing Barack Obama's February 24 address to Congress. In contrast, ABC host Terry Moran on February 27, 2001 anticipated that a similar speech by President George W. Bush would be "conservative." Following that address, he spun it as "hard core conservatism: fiscal restraint; deep, across-the-board spending and tax cuts; the privatization of part of Social Security." And yet, on Tuesday's post-speech coverage, on that evening's Nightline and on Wednesday's Good Morning America, no anchor applied the liberal label to Obama's address. The same Moran who saw "hard core conservatism" in Bush's appearance before Congress, described a "big and bold speech" from the current President. He also enthused that "President Barack Obama didn't sugarcoat it, he found bad guys on Wall Street and in Washington."
Matthews: Obama 'Wowed,' Jindal 'Odd,' DeLay Calls Chris 'Biased'
Attempting to explain Tuesday night's off-camera "Oh God!" exclamation before Bobby Jindal's response to Barack Obama, Chris Matthews, at the top of Wednesday's Hardball, claimed he was taken aback by "the odd, antebellum look of the scene. Some people heard my reaction at the time," which contrasted with his view of Obama's address: "He wowed us! That's the running headline from last night's presidential address to the Congress. Barack Obama gave a great speech." This naked display of bias was so transparent that it caused guest panelist, former Republican Majority Leader, Tom DeLay to point out the obvious: "Listening to your introduction somebody is gonna accuse you of being biased."
ABC Ignores Personal Responsibility in Look at Home Foreclosures
Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Tuesday's Good Morning America ignored the liberal leanings of a Florida attorney who is instructing people on how to stall home foreclosures. In the segment, reporter Jim Avila showcased individuals who have drawn out the process by demanding that banks produce the original note to their home (which has often been sold in loan packages that are then traded on Wall Street). At no time did he ever question if the homeowners in question had any responsibility for their current situation. Avila talked to lawyer Chris Hoyer who runs the Consumer Warning Network [CWN], a group whose stated purpose is to investigate fraud by large companies. The CWN website features an interview conducted by Hoyer in summer 2008 of former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. In that video, Hoyer can be seen telling Dean that he hopes the coming White House "will be a Democratic administration in tune with consumers." Of course, at no time in Avila's piece did he identify the partisan leanings of the Florida lawyer.
Profs Claim Nets Slanted Toward GOP in Presidential Races 92-04
The popular Poynter Institute weblog Romenesko highlighted a new study Tuesday insisting the TV networks favored the Republicans in presidential campaigns from 1992 to 2004, with this blurb: "'We don't think this is journalists conspiring to favor Republicans,' says Indiana University's Maria Elizabeth Grabe, who wrote Image Bite Politics with Erik Bucy. 'We think they're just so beat up and tired of being accused of a liberal bias that they unknowingly give Republicans the benefit in coverage.'" The Indiana University professors came up with this bizarre result by studying the visuals of TV news, the "image bites."
Obama 'Grabbed Center,' Jindal 'Far Right,' 'Micro-Cosmic' Chat?
Some of the odd and/or noteworthy takes in television coverage following President Barack Obama's Tuesday night address to a joint session of Congress: On MSNBC, Chris Matthews predicted "we're going to hear a fairly right-wing speech tonight," from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal in response to Obama, because "the only position left in America right now politically that he's left open is on the far right, and Bobby Jindal is headed for it," along with Sarah Palin, since "Barack has grabbed the center with the charm he showed tonight in his excellent rhetoric." ABC's Charles Gibson, who like his broadcast network colleagues refrained from labeling Obama or his speech as liberal, introduced Jindal with an ideological tag: "He is a very conservative Republican and you'll hear that reflected, I think, in his remarks tonight." On CBS, Katie Couric reacted to Obama's speech with some strange "cosmic" analogies, touting how Obama had succeeded in his effort to "really connect the dots, in a way, to explain to people that micro-cosmically this will help them, this is just not a national macro-cosmic plan for the economy."
Couric Pushes 'Out of Touch' GOP to Be 'More Supportive' of Obama
Obama senior adviser David Axelrod made the rounds of the broadcast network evening newscast anchors on Tuesday to discuss President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress, but CBS's Katie Couric, in uniquely offering some balance by matching Axelrod with a segment featuring House Minority Leader John Boehner, only served to expose her impatience toward GOP opposition. With Axelrod, she cued him up to expound on the administration's policies, pressed him about nationalizing banks and empathized with the terrible conditions inherited by Obama's team. In contrast, with Boehner she wondered if Republicans are "out of touch," suggested they are stuck between having either the country or their base "hate" them and asked: "Do you think the Republicans are digging themselves in a hole by not being more supportive of the President's proposals?"
Time Mag Trashes Goldberg's Bias Book as One to 'Toss' Not Read
Last year, Time magazine created a little mini-book review featured called "The Skimmer," to quickly determine for readers whether a new book is something they should either Read, Skim, or Toss. In the March 2 edition, Time took up Bernard Goldberg's media-bias expose, A Slobbering Love Affair. Unsurprisingly, they trashed it as a book to "Toss." A look back over the feature quickly demonstrates that Time has used the feature to offer raves and "Read" recommendations for fellow members of the liberal media, especially when they're bashing President Bush or his war on terror. The list begins with former Wall Street Journal reporter Jane Mayer (July 28, 2008 issue), Washington Post bias legend Bob Woodward (September 22), Washington Post reporter Steve Fainaru (November 24), New York Times columnist Paul Krugman (December 22), and New York Times reporter David Sanger (February 2).
CBS's Early Show Celebrates One-Month Anniversary of POTUS Obama
In commemoration of the one-month anniversary of the Obama family moving into the White House, on Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez declared: "For the last month, as President Obama has settled into running the country, the first family has settled into life at the White House. While President Obama has been trying to repair our failing economy, First Lady Michelle Obama has become his number one advocate. Visiting five federal agencies this month, plugging her husband's economic stimulus plan." Rodriguez went on to describe the Obamas hitting the Washington D.C. social scene: "In one month, the Obamas have engaged in their community, reading to school kids and visiting community organizations..."
CNN's Gergen: Obama Agenda 'One of Greatest Dramas of Our Time'
CNN's senior political analyst David Gergen was positively aglow after hearing President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening: "This was the most ambitious President we've heard in this chamber in decades. The first half of the speech was FDR, fighting for the New Deal. The second half was Lyndon Johnson fighting for the Great Society, and we've never seen those two presidents rolled together in quite this way before." He later gushed over the agenda set by the executive during his speech: "I think we're watching one of the greatest political dramas of our time."
Matthews Calls Limbaugh and Republicans 'Trolls Under the Bridge'
Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
What's with Chris Matthews' fixation with comparing Republicans to trolls? Back in September he called then-presidential candidate John McCain "troll-like" after one of his debate performances, and then over the weekend, on the syndicated Chris Matthews Show, he applied the monstrous term to Republicans in the following intro to his show: "And finally trolls under the bridge. Is that what Washington Republicans have become? Gremlins hiding along the pathway, nipping at the Democrats. And are Republican governors saying, 'That's not my job.'" A little later, going to a break, Matthews teased the upcoming segment with video of Rush Limbaugh, with an on-screen headline reading: "Trolls Under The Bridge."
CBS's Smith 'Wept Openly' Over Sean Penn's Performance in Milk
On Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith played a clip of himself talking to left-wing actor Sean Penn following the Oscars Sunday night: "In a night full of first-time winners, Sean Penn took home his second Oscar as best actor for his emotional performance as slain gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk in Milk. I caught up with him and other big winners at the Governor's Ball." During the interview, Smith admitted to Penn: "As I sat watching the film, seems to happen to me more rare these days, but I wept openly during several scenes in the film because it really is a film about a civil rights movement." On December 10, Smith interviewed Penn's Milk co-star, James Franco, and called the film "a must-see."
MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell Denies Anti-Palin Media Bias
During the Monday 12PM EST hour on MSNBC, anchor Norah O'Donnell interviewed conservative film maker John Ziegler, creator of Media Malpractice, a documentary on media bias against Sarah Palin, and denied any such bias: "Well, let me ask you, you called the treatment of Sarah Palin and her family a, quote, 'media assassination, one of the greatest public injustices of our time.' Is that a little strong? Are you and her a little thin-skinned?" Ziegler responded by pointing out O'Donnell's own anti-Palin bias: "The evidence is overwhelming. It's continuing today. I mean, just a few weeks ago, Norah, you incorrectly stated on the air Sarah Palin called Barack Obama a terrorist during the campaign."
Defensive Matt Lauer Forced to Admit Sarah Palin Not an Idiot
Confronted by Sarah Palin documentarian John Ziegler on Monday's Today show, NBC's Matt Lauer was forced to admit that the media perception of the Alaska Governor as an "idiot" was "a lie." However, Lauer displayed some disbelief that the media heavily pushed that line during the campaign as he professed: "I don't think that everybody in the media ran out saying, 'Sarah Palin is an idiot.'" Ziegler got the confession from Lauer, while promoting his film Media Malpractice: "Is it not a lie that she's an idiot? You know it Matt." Lauer: "Of course it's a lie." When it came to contrasting Palin's coverage with then vice presidential candidate Joseph Biden, Lauer insisted, "Joe Biden has been lampooned by, by members of the media." After Ziegler pointed out the media just merely laughed off Biden gaffes, he then urged Lauer to "Come clean," and "Be the A-Rod of the media!" on liberal bias.
Networks Presume Obama's Tax Hike Will Increase Revenue
ABC, CBS and NBC reporters over the past two days have relayed how the Obama administration proposes to cut the annual federal deficit from $1.3 trillion to $533 billion in four years by cutting spending on the war in Iraq and raising the income tax rate for those earning more than $250,000. Not considered: How since the Bush tax cuts the revenue paid by the richest -- and their share of total income taxes collected -- have been rising year-by-year. So will a tax hike, from 35 to 39.6 percent, really increase the amount the wealthiest pay, or will they find ways to avoid reporting income and thus the government will see little, if any, additional revenue -- to say nothing about the wisdom of alerting investors during an economic downturn that their tax rate will soon jump? Monday night, CBS's Chip Reid reported: "Most of the savings would come from winding down the war in Iraq, ending the Bush tax cuts for people making over $250,000 a year and cutting spending." Jake Tapper, also Monday night, on ABC: "Another source of revenue being proposed -- allowing the Bush tax cuts for a family earning over $250,000 a year to expire in 2011, increasing that tax rate from 35 percent to 39.6 percent."
CBS: 'Hardline' Netanyahu May 'Dim Hopes for Peace' in Israel
Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
On Friday's CBS Early Show, correspondent Jeff Glor reported, through the prism of the "peace process" as the most relevant concern, on conservative leader Benjamin Netanyahu being chosen as Israel's Prime Minister: "Israel's president chose hardline Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu today to form a new Israeli government. As prime minister, Netanyahu will try to cobble together a coalition of right-wing parties. Such a government might dim hopes for peace with the Palestinians."
ABC's Terry Moran: For Obama, Presidency Is a 'Step Down'
Nightline co-anchor Terry Moran gave an interview on Friday to the Media Bistro's "Morning Media Menu" podcast and compared Barack Obama to George Washington. Talking to host and editor Steve Krakauer, Moran gushed: "I like to say that, in some ways, Barack Obama is the first President since George Washington to be taking a step down into the Oval Office. I mean, from visionary leader of a giant movement, now he's got an executive position that he has to perform in, in a way."
Cuomo Assures Viewers: Bill Clinton Had No Role in Bank Scandals
Good Morning America news anchor Chris Cuomo interviewed Bill Clinton on Friday and skipped any questions as to what role his administration might have had in creating the current economic scandals that are now plaguing America. Cuomo, whose Democratic brother Andrew was the former Housing and Urban Development secretary under President Clinton, and whose father was the former Democratic governor of New York, instead offered a summery defense of the ex-President. After the interview, he concluded the piece by asserting, "President Clinton has been brushed with blame about this [the banking collapse]. These toxic assets we're talking about, those securities, they took root during his administration. He says he now regrets that he deregulated derivatives, those assets." Cuomo continued, "But, he says, don't say he's to blame. He regulated banks more. That the banks he believed in didn't get us in this trouble. That was about the next administration."
MSNBC: Capitalistic Oil Wealth to Blame for Sexism in Middle East
During the 3:00PM EST hour Friday on MSNBC, anchor Norah O'Donnell discovered the source of sexism in the Middle East was not Islamic fundamentalism, but rather, capitalism: "And to another big story, is oil behind sexism in the Middle East? It's a provocative new theory out there today, suggesting the real culprit of the lower status of women in the Middle East is because of the region's oil wealth." O'Donnell then turned to Sally Quinn of the Washington Post, who wrote about the theory on the newspaper's On Faith blog: "This is a hot topic, Sally. Do you believe that oil is behind sexism in the Middle East?" Quinn replied: "Well, I do think that it has a lot to do with it...when you have an oil-rich country, there's much less manufacturing, so that there are fewer jobs for women. But also because the country is so rich that women don't need to work and therefore they're comfortable and they stay home." Later, O'Donnell concluded: "But it's a very interesting question, it's not necessarily Islam, it may be more, and you would know this better than I, as -- because of what you're doing -- it may more be the wealth of that country."
Muslim Wife's Beheading Spiked, But Not Charge Against Catholic
Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
The founder of a TV network devoted to improve the image of Muslims being charged in the beheading of his wife is not a story the major media have leaped on. On Friday, news broke that Muzzammil Hassan, founder and CEO of Bridges TV, was charged with murdering his wife Aasiya after she filed for divorce. After some Nexis research, here's a listing of major media outlets that have yet to report it: ABC, NBC, NPR, the NewsHour on PBS, USA Today, and The Washington Post. But on November 12, 1993, all these networks (including NPR) reported within hours on the charges made against Chicago's Catholic cardinal at the time, liberal-leaning Joseph Bernardin, by a 34-year-old AIDS patient, who had just "remembered" he was sexually abused 18 years after the alleged event, and wanted $10 million for his anguish.
CBS Criticizes GOP Governors for Opposing Stimulus
On Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith opened the show by declaring: "As President Obama heads on his first foreign trip, some state governors are saying 'thanks, but no thanks' to the stimulus money, even in these desperate times. We'll ask one of them why." Later, co-host Maggie Rodriguez interviewed Republican South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and asked: "Even if it takes a while to get the money, how do you justify, let's say, not taking it to your constituents when in your state, for example, in December had the third highest unemployment rate in the country. Don't you need the money?" After Sanford explained that he was opposed to the bill but may accept some of the funding, Rodriguez responded: "You say you're against it, but you still might take the money. Do you realize how some people might think that you're putting ideology ahead of the interests of your constituents?" He began to reply: "Well, I'd say it's the reverse. If we take the money -- in other words, I've said -- I've made my ideological stand, saying this is a bad idea-" Rodriguez interrupted: "But if you're so against it, why take the money?"
Couric: Nationalizing Banks Will Provide 'Big Dose of Confidence'
Katie Couric concluded a Thursday night look at the pros and cons of nationalizing banks by seeing the federal government as a comforting security blanket: "Nationalization may have a psychological impact as well, and Uncle Sam wrapping his arms around failing banks in this country might provide a big dose of confidence for the American consumer." Building to her pro-nationalization conclusion, Couric asserted that "everyone hopes to avoid what happened to Japan back in the 90s when the government pumped good money into bad banks, essentially keeping unhealthy financial institutions that weren't going to make it anyway on life support, crippling the economy" while, in contrast, "a government takeover of a bank last year" in Britain " helped to temporarily calm fears in the financial markets there."
ABC Frets NY Post Comic Could Harm 'Post-Racial Glow' of Obama
Good Morning America reporter David Wright on Thursday worried that a comic strip appearing in Wednesday's New York Post could harm the "post racial glow" that America has been enjoying since Barack Obama's inauguration. Wright recounted the outrage expressed by the Reverend Al Sharpton and others over an editorial cartoon depicting a chimp shot by police and connecting it to the just passed economic stimulus bill. Wright derided: "Ever since the inauguration, America has seemed to bask in a post-racial glow. But not so fast. Yesterday, the New York Post published a cartoon likening President Obama to a violent monkey shot by police." The GMA journalist chose to accept the most sinister view of the comic, that the dead ape was intended to represent the President.
Sign Up to Receive the MRC's Notable Quotables Via E-Mail
Another edition of the MRC's new Notable Quotables e-mail will be distributed on Monday. Amongst the category headings: "Applauding Professor Obama's 'Teaching Moment,'" "ABC's Moran: Too Nice Obama 'Got No Honeymoon,'" "Scolding Anti-Spending GOP: 'Where's the Bipartisanship?'" and "Katie Celebrates 'Stimulus' Deal by Giggling with Pelosi." The new e-mail service is available in two formats: You can receive it as plain text, or in HTML which will feature graphics, images and click-and-play links to video clips. The newest edition will highlight several videos. To subscribe to either format: http://www.mrc.org/subscriptions/
CNN Talking Heads Unanimously Praise Holder's 'Coward' Remarks
Anchor Campbell Brown's show on CNN is subtitled "No Bias, No Bull," but the show displayed plenty of bias in a Wednesday night segment on Attorney General Eric Holder calling America "a nation of cowards" on race issues. Brown praised Holder for "cutting through the bull," and a panel discussion was utterly unanimous: Gloria Borger, Soledad O'Brien, and Roland Martin all toed the liberal line and praised Holder for lambasting the nation. Martin wholeheartedly agreed with Holder's characterization. Borger defended the first black attorney general, stating that he was "trying to be provocative on purpose," while O'Brien thought the Obama appointee was trying to start a "honest conversation" on race.
New Yorker Editor: Rush Limbaugh 'Very Similar' to Bull Connor
Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
New Yorker magazine senior editor Hendrik Hertzberg appeared on Wednesday's Morning Joe on MSNBC and compared Rush Limbaugh to 1960s segregationist and Ku Klux Klan member Bull Connor. He also linked Barack Obama to Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King. According to Hertzberg: "And I'm not saying that Obama is Martin Luther King or that Rush Limbaugh, the leader of the opposition, is Bull Connor. But the dynamic is very similar." Hertzberg, who once wrote for Newsweek, was on the MSNBC program to promote his new article that touts President Obama for embracing "Gandhian hardball" in the mold of the civil rights movement. Specifically, the New Yorker editor asserted that Obama used this strategy in the way that he fought congressional Republicans over the stimulus bill. Hertzberg told Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough: "You know, when, when [Martin Luther] King offered non-violence, when the civil rights movement came out and was non-violent and then the other side greeted it with fire hoses and clubs, nobody said, 'Oh, King has failed in his effort to have non violence.'"
Just Four Weeks Until MRC's DisHonors Awards: Get Tickets Now
Just four weeks until the big night! Every year, we sell out. So don't procrastinate. One of the biggest and best conservative events -- the Media Research Center's annual gala -- is fast approaching. Join us for this year's gala featuring the "DisHonors Awards for the Worst Reporting of the Year" and the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year to be presented to Brit Hume. The MRC gala is one of the most fun events of the year. Rush Limbaugh called it "a terrific show...a great, great, great assemblage of people....Everybody just had a blast!" Sean Hannity exclaimed: "I love this event!"
Suggests Water-Boarding Libby to Get Truth About Cheney Misdeeds
In a Wednesday segment on worries President Obama, in not ruling out renditions and water-boarding, may be "slipping back into the dirty old ways" of "torture" supposedly employed by the Bush administration, Hardball host Chris Matthews blurted out: "Do you think if we water-boarded Lewis 'Scooter' Libby he'd tell us the role that the Vice President played in the outing of Joseph Wilson's wife?" When guest Michael Smerconish's answer didn't satisfy Matthews, he turned to Salon's chief, Joan Walsh, and expounded on the scope of who he thought could be physically treated like a dangerous terrorist: "Do you think water-boarding works in the case of recent political figures in this administration who are felons, disbarred, et cetera?...Do you think we'd get the truth through water-boarding here at home?"
Matthews Prods Guest: 'Say Something Nasty About Rush Limbaugh!'
Chris Matthews is so obsessed with Rush Limbaugh's influence within the Republican Party, that he repeatedly dared, on Wednesday night's Hardball, GOP strategist Todd Harris to speak ill of the radio talk show host as he mockingly challenged: "Would you live in a country where he wrote the Constitution?...Would you live in a country where he wrote our rights?...Say something nasty about Rush Limbaugh!"
CNN Airs Sympathetic Report on Latest Michael Moore Project
Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
On Tuesday's American Morning, anchor Kiran Chertry and correspondent Jason Carroll failed to mention the left-wing politics of filmmaker Michael Moore during a report about his latest project, which targets the financial industry, and included a sound bite from People Magazine's Leah Rozen, who expressed a desire to "see Michael Moore spank Wall Street." Carroll emphasized Moore's credentials, and agreed with Chetry that many would rush to assist him: "They loved that 'gotcha' kind of filmmaking, and Michael Moore does it better than no one else and he's about to do it again." The segment on Moore's new production began with a clip from "Sicko," his last movie, as Chetry announced that "the controversial filmmaker is setting his sights on Wall Street. He's actively recruiting people who've worked in the financial sector to expose what he calls the biggest swindle in U.S. history." As she introduced Carroll, the anchor continued that Moore "probably has a rapt audience at this point, because everything that's happened with this financial crisis and a lot of people are blaming Wall Street."
ABC's David Wright Derides Sarah Palin as a Barbie Doll
Nightline reporter David Wright on Monday inserted a gratuitous slam of Sarah Palin into a seemingly innocuous segment covering the 50th anniversary of the Barbie doll. Recounting the various versions of the Mattel toy, he set up the attack: "[Barbie's] been an astronaut and a rock star. Pop icons Beyonce and Shakira. She's won 'American Idol' too." Right after footage of the "President Barbie" doll appeared on screen, the segment cut to various clips of a stylish-looking Palin as Wright derided: "Some would argue she also ran for Vice President in 2008."
Bill Ayers vs. Bill Buckley: Double Standards in the NY Times
New York Times "QA" reporter Deborah Solomon questioned conservative icon William F. Buckley in a more hostile fashion than she did Weatherman bomber Bill Ayers. Every Sunday, Solomon conducts a weekly QA with a newsmaker for the New York Times Magazine. This past Sunday it was unrepentant domestic terrorist -- and long-standing Obama associate -- Bill Ayers, a man the Times did its best to render un-newsworthy during the presidential campaign. Just as the Times did with its front-page inoculation "investigation" last October, Solomon also helped bailed out Ayers' reputation, taking a mildly negative tone in only two out of a total of 15 questions she put to him. But back in 2004, she hit Buckley: "You seem indifferent to suffering. Have you ever suffered yourself?"
Lauer to Rove: Do You Have 'Credibility' to Criticize Stimulus?
Karl Rove was invited on Tuesday's Today show to discuss Obama's stimulus plan and NBC's Matt Lauer pressed the former Bush senior adviser about the one-sidedness of the vote on the bill by the GOP as he pressed Rove: "219, if you add up the House and the Senate we have what, 219 Republicans. All but three of them voted against this plan...do those 216 Republicans run the risk of being on the outside looking in, if this starts to work?" Lauer also went on to cite Obama's senior adviser David Axelrod ridiculing any member of Bush administration for offering economic advice as Lauer doubted: "Do you have credibility on this subject...would you say that the eight years of the Bush administration were lax on regulation?"
ABC Champions How 'Stimulus' Will Enable Mayors to Create Jobs
ABC's World News on Tuesday night celebrated President Obama's signature on the 'stimulus' package by devoting a full story to how mayors will supposedly use their portion to create 1.6 million jobs. Fill-in anchor Diane Sawyer recited "the wish list" of "nearly 19,000 infrastructure projects -- roads, bridges, mass transit -- costing some $150 billion" and "the mayors argue that the projects are ready to go and will bring along 1.6 million jobs." No word about the inevitable corruption as reporter David Muir trumpeted: "Across this country, mayors and governors tonight are pouring over wish lists -- broken bridges, schools, libraries -- all of which need help." Justifying the spending for Elkhart, Indiana, Muir listed worthwhile projects and specific numbers of jobs each would supposedly create: "Fixing one of their main streets would cost $34 million and create 858 new jobs...." He moved on to Hoboken, New Jersey's $36 million plan to prevent flooding, a project the mayor declared will lead to "several hundred employees being hired immediately." Muir concluded by seeing a harmonious match of money and need: "Here, and across the country, a flood of requests from cities in need of help and workers in need of jobs."
WPost's King Scoffs Idea Reagan Had 'More Substance than Obama'
Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Washington Post columnist Colby King scoffed Friday at the notion former President Ronald Reagan brought more substance to the White House than does President Barack Obama as King also raised the Iran-Contra scandal as evidence of Reagan's mismanagement of foreign policy. On Inside Washington, a weekly show produced and aired over the weekend by Washington, DC's ABC affiliate, but first broadcast Friday night on the local PBS station, King contended: "This President connects with people." That prompted fill-in moderator Mark Shields to ask columnist Charles Krauthammer: "Is it Reagan-like in that sense?" Krauthammer cautioned: "Well, except that Reagan, I think, had a lot more substance and he had a lot more ideas-" Cutting Krauthammer off, a chortling King jeered: "More substance than Obama?!"
Carl Bernstein Lauds Obama's 'Masterful' Leadership
Veteran Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein appeared on Monday's Morning Joe to highlight the "masterful" leadership of Barack Obama in passing a stimulus bill and also to laud Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her dedication to service. Challenged by MSNBC analyst Pat Buchanan over how much impact Hillary Clinton would actually have as Secretary of State, Bernstein, author of the Hillary bio "A Woman in Charge," enthused, "You know, she is somebody who really believes in service. Both Clintons do. Whatever cynicism we might have about the Clintons, she believes in service."
CBS: 'Obstructionist' GOP Opposes Needed 'Large-Scale' Spending
On Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez asked Republican Congressman Eric Cantor about President Obama's proposed housing bill: "Unlike the stimulus, will you urge your fellow Republicans in the House to support this?" When Cantor criticized the proposed bill and the passage of the "stimulus" bill, Rodriguez declared: "But Congressman, it's clear that Americans are begging for help with foreclosures. Corporations are begging for bailouts. Can the Republican Party accept that there are situations when large-scale government intervention is necessary?" Cantor began to explain that Republicans supported some aspects of the "stimulus," but Rodriguez quickly interrupted him: "But everyone opposed it. Why? Where's the bipartisanship?" Before Cantor could respond, she added: "Are you afraid of being seen as obstructionist?"
NY Times Editor Keller Denies Reporters Fell 'In Love' w/ Obama
NBC's Today show invited, on Monday, New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller to promote a new book featuring photos from the campaign called, Obama: The Historic Journey, and in his interview with Keller, substitute anchor David Gregory actually asked if the book adds to the "criticism of the news media that we're somehow cheerleaders for Barack Obama," to which Keller admitted it was "a fair question," but denied any pro-Obama tilt: "As a rule, reporters don't fall in love with candidates. They fall in love with stories." However earlier in the segment, Keller called Obama "a rock star," and exposed the fact his own children "had their front door of their bedroom plastered with Hillary paraphernalia...and by the end, you know I think every kid in America was asking their parents when they could go have a play date with Sasha and Malia."
Ann Curry Lofts Softballs to Bill Clinton on NBC's Today
NBC's Ann Curry traveled down to Texas to speak with former President Bill Clinton, on Monday's Today show, to talk to him about his Global Initiative but never asked Clinton about all the troubles his Initiative, and his foreign ties, caused and could potentially still cause his wife in her role as Secretary of State. Instead Curry asked Clinton mostly softball questions about how Barack Obama and Hillary are doing in their first few weeks: "Your wife is front and center as Secretary of State at a time when this world, this country is in a world of hurt. What's your faith in her?" When Clinton gave Obama, not surprisingly, a positive review Curry called it, "A major vote of confidence."
Giddy Over 'Presidential Whirlwind' And 'Remarkable' Cookie Photos
Get Diane Sawyer together with George Stephanopoulos on World News and they can't contain their giddiness over President Obama. Back on Friday, January 23, when Sawyer last anchored, Stephanopoulos hailed Obama's first three days as "disciplined and strategic," thus enabling "sweeping change," while Sawyer gushed over "change...at warp speed." Monday night, Sawyer returned to the anchor chair and excitedly announced how "the trillion dollar week has begun" and so "finally," as if it's been too long of a wait, "the stimulus starts to flow." She soon heralded how "we embark on a week like no other in American economic history" with "a presidential whirlwind of spending against a recession." Sawyer brought Stephanopoulos aboard to admire what Sawyer described as a "scrapbook, if you will, of the President's journey on the road to the stimulus package." In other words, photos released by the White House. Nonetheless, she effused: "I want to show everybody at home, because there is the President, it's Super Bowl night, and he's serving cookies to congressional leadership in the White House screening room." The narration switched to an awed Stephanopoulos: "These are just remarkable, Diane. We've never really seen anything like this before in real time."
Tickets Available for MRC's March 19 'DisHonors Awards' and Gala
Every year, we sell out. So don't procrastinate. One of the biggest and best conservative events -- the Media Research Center's annual gala -- is fast approaching. Join us for this year's gala featuring the "DisHonors Awards for the Worst Reporting of the Year" and the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year to be presented to Brit Hume. It will take place on Thursday evening, March 19th, at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The MRC gala is one of the most fun events of the year. Rush Limbaugh called it "a terrific show...a great, great, great assemblage of people....Everybody just had a blast!" Sean Hannity exclaimed: "I love this event!"
Ifill And Carlson: Prosecute Bush Question 'Perfectly Reasonable'
During a segment in the "Reliable Sources" hour of CNN's State of the Union on Sunday, PBS's Gwen Ifill and Bloomberg's Margaret Carlson agreed that it was fine for President Obama to call on Sam Stein of the Huffington Post at his first press conference, and that the correspondent's left-wing question on a proposed "truth committee" investigation into the Bush administration was "perfectly reasonable." Carlson also agreed with host Howard Kurtz's assessment that the "White House press corps not exactly rolling over for the new President." Her response: "Never do, do they?"
Flashback: In 2004, Donaldson Yucked It Up at 'DisHonors Awards'
After 41 years with ABC News, next week Sam Donaldson will retire from the network, though he will continue to appear monthly on This Week, the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz reported Monday. Often seen by conservatives as the embodiment of liberal media bias -- especially during the Reagan years -- Donaldson was an open-minded guy who respected conservatives and was willing to make fun of himself, so for many years he debated Bob Novak on liberal bias at CPAC and, in 2004, he appeared at the MRC's "DisHonors Awards." At our March 18, 2004 gala held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., as MRC President L. Brent Bozell III made closing remarks he was interrupted by Donaldson, who bound on stage in mock anger, railing at Bozell and the MRC for attacking the news media. Donaldson pledged, "I promise you that during this campaign we will treat both sides equally: the compassionate, intelligent liberals and you crazy, right wing kooks will get the same kind of treatment!"
CNN's Anderson Cooper: Has Insurgent GOP Declared 'War' on Obama?
Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
On Thursday's edition of Anderson Cooper 360 the host of the self-titled show fretted that the withdrawal of Republican Senator Judd Gregg as Commerce Secretary nominee might indicate the Republican Party has declared "a war, an insurgency" against Barack Obama. Speaking to CNN analyst David Gergen, Cooper expanded on the theory. Referencing an embarrassing gaffe by Republican Congressman Pete Sessions that the House minority could consider the Taliban as an example of an insurgent force, the anchor seriously wondered: "So, David, though, you don't buy the idea that there is a war by Republicans against the President?" He continued: "Because, I mean, Pete Sessions, you know, who's head of the Republican Congressional Committee, was citing the Taliban as sort of an example of how to run an insurgent campaign against a larger force." Gergen didn't seem to go for the concept, asserting that there are "some hot heads in each party."
Tickets Available for MRC's March 19 'DisHonors Awards' and Gala
Bill Maher on the U.S.: 'It's Still Not a Very Bright Country'
Despite the election of President Obama, Bill Maher is still not happy with his native land, due to the lack of belief in evolution. He voiced his disapproval on Thursday evening's Larry King Live: "I read the other day, I think only four in 10 Americans believe in evolution. It's still not a very bright country, Larry." He later compared Sarah Palin to former American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar: "She's like a reality show contestant who just lost, and they're always like, you know, you haven't heard the end of me. I'm not going. Yes, you are, Sanjaya. Good bye, bye-bye." King had asked him about the President's first weeks in office and the proposed economic stimulus package. Despite the Obama administration's various problems, Maher defended the President as "learning" and that "he certainly is the smartest guy we've had there that I can remember."
Network Morning Shows Mostly Ignore Gregg Withdrawal; Census Grab
CBS's Early Show and ABC's Good Morning America on Friday almost entirely ignored the embarrassing departure of yet another of Barack Obama's cabinet nominees, with only NBC's Today providing any real information on the event. GMA devoted a scant 15 seconds to the withdrawal of Republican Senator Judd Gregg as the President's second nominee for Commerce Secretary. (Previous choice Bill Richards dropped out for tax reasons.) Instead, the networks included segments on aphrodisiacs for Valentine's Day and how to make a flour-less chocolate cake.
Resistance to 'Stimulus' Bill 'Irresponsible,' Nationalize Banks
ABC's Cokie Roberts denounced as "irresponsible" conservative opposition to the "stimulus" bill and suggested those who voted against it should be punished, declaring on Sunday's This Week: "I just think that when you're in a situation like this, to do nothing is so irresponsible that you can't, you can't get away with it." Earlier on the show, host George Stephanopoulos pressed Congresswoman Maxine Waters to agree banks must be nationalized: "A lot of economists now saying that what is really -- could be needed is bite the bullet nationalization." Citing a professor's op-ed, "Nationalize the Banks! We're all Swedes Now," Stephanopoulos recited the argument "we should just do what they did when they faced their crisis. They nationalized the banks and they came out of it okay." When the far-left House member resisted -- "I don't think that we're ready to move to the point of a formalized, nationalized banking program yet" -- Stephanopoulos pleaded: "Even if it's the only thing that would work?"
FX's 'Rescue Me' Will Push 9/11 'Inside Job' Conspiracy
"A coming episode of the acclaimed FX drama Rescue Me will tackle what may sound like a far-fetched plot line: that the attacks of Sept. 11 were an 'inside job,'" Brian Stelter reported in the New York Times, noting the ludicrous plot "may represent the first fictional presentation of 9/11 conspiracy theories by a mainstream media company (FX is operated by the News Corporation)." Actor Daniel Sunjata (IMDB page), who plays New York City firefighter "Franco Rivera" -- and who in a photo with the Times story sported a shirt emblazoned "INVESTIGATE 9/11" -- "predicted that the episode would be 'socio-politically provocative.'" In the episode, the second in the new season starting in April, "Mr. Sunjata's character delivers a two-minute monologue for a French journalist describing a 'neoconservative government effort' to control the world's oil, drastically increase military spending and 'change the definition of pre-emptive attack.' To put it into action, he continues, 'what you need is a new Pearl Harbor. That's what they said they needed.'"
CBS's Early Show: 'Lincoln's Sexuality Still Remains a Mystery'
Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, on Thursday's CBS Early Show co-host
Maggie Rodriguez did a segment highlighting five "...things you may not know about Honest Abe," including his sexual
orientation. The segment featured New York University history professor Jeffrey Sammons, who argued: "One of the very
interesting stories about Abraham Lincoln is that he might have been gay. Lincoln actually did sleep in the same bed with a
gentleman for a four-year period." Rodriguez concluded: "So the question of Abraham Lincoln's sexuality still remains a
NPR Asks FNC to Drop Williams' NPR Affiliation on O'Reilly
Here's more proof that NPR's most devoted listeners consider it their own liberal playground. NPR ombudsman
Alicia Shepard reported Wednesday: "NPR has more than 400 reporters, editors, producers and analysts on its news team, and
none is more of a lightning rod than Juan Williams. But it's usually not for anything he says on NPR." It's about his
appearances on Fox News, where he had a contract before joining NPR in 2000. Shepard wrote: "Last year, 378 listeners
emailed me complaints and frustrations about things Williams said on Fox. The listener themes are similar: Williams
'dishonors NPR.' He's an 'embarrassment to NPR.' 'NPR should severe their relationship with him.' It's gotten so serious
that NPR's Vice President of News, Ellen Weiss, 'has asked Williams to ask that Fox remove his NPR identification whenever
he is on O'Reilly."
Tickets Available for MRC's March 19 'DisHonors Awards' and Gala
Every year, we sell out. So don't procrastinate. One of the biggest and best conservative events -- the Media
Research Center's annual gala -- is fast approaching. Join us for this year's gala featuring the "DisHonors Awards for the
Worst Reporting of the Year" and the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year to be presented to
Brit Hume. It will take place on Thursday evening, March 19th, at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The MRC gala is one of the
most fun events of the year. Rush Limbaugh called it "a terrific show...a great, great, great assemblage of
people....Everybody just had a blast!" Sean Hannity exclaimed: "I love this event!"
CNN's Kyra Phillips on Obama: 'Lincoln Came to Life'
CNN's Kyra Phillips marked the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth on Thursday's American Morning by
harkening back to Barack Obama's decision to announce his candidacy for President on the steps of the Old State Capitol
Building in Springfield, Illinois, where the 16th President once worked: "It was here in the Old Capitol that Abraham
Lincoln gave his famous 'House Divided' speech. A house divided against itself cannot stand, he proclaimed. Sound familiar?
Fast-forward -- February 10th, 2007, Lincoln came to life here as if it were 1858." She then remarked that with the
Democrat's announcement, "we all witnessed Lincoln's dream and Obama's reality."
In Gregg Stories, Short Shrift to White House's Census Grab
ABC, CBS and NBC centered their Thursday night stories, on Senator Judd Gregg's decision to withdraw as Commerce Secretary-nominee, around his disagreement with the Obama administration's "stimulus" plan -- with only passing mention, if any, of the administration's wish to move the 2010 census count from Commerce to the White House. CNN's Jessica Yellin reported at the top of the 6 PM EST Situation Room that "sources close to Senator Gregg say the bigger issue for him
was the White House's effort to take control of the census," yet that politicalization of the census wasn't mentioned at
all in a full CBS Evening News story from Chip Reid, who found time to relay how "a top Democratic source on Capitol Hill
was more blunt, saying Gregg actively campaigned for the job, then 'erratically dropped out without warning,'" nor in a
Katie Couric-Bob Schieffer discussion. On ABC's World News, George Stephanopoulos offered a clause about the census, but
couched as merely a GOP allegation.
Chris Matthews Charmed: Obama is 'Fred Astaire Out There!'
Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
When Hardball guest and former John McCain adviser Mark McKinnon suggested Barack Obama, in his first few days
in office, is discovering what George W. Bush found out, that being President is "a hard job," Chris Matthews, on Wednesday
night's show, vehemently disagreed, saying Obama "doesn't look he's having a hard time...he's Fred Astaire out there...he
still moves around with incredible alacrity."
CBS: Netanyahu Win Means Rise of 'Right Wing Fringe' in Israel
On Wednesday's CBS Early Show, correspondent Richard Roth reported on the outcome of the Israeli election and
a possible victory for the conservative parties led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "So, former Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu claims victory, too, with fewer votes, but it's believed more support from his traditional allies in
right wing parties...there's a clear sign Israel shifted to the right. It may take weeks to create the next government
here, but whoever leads it, is likely to have obligations to parties on the fringe of Israeli politics." Roth also pointed
out that conservative victories may hinder Obama foreign policy: "And that could be a setback for the White House, eager to
restart a peace process in the Middle East."
ABC's Terry Moran to Obama: Why Don't You Just Fire Bank Execs?
Nightline co-anchor Terry Moran on Tuesday interviewed Barack Obama and pressed him from the left, wondering
why he didn't simply fire the executives whom the journalist blamed for "wreck[ing] these banks in the first place." The
two were discussing the stimulus bill and the current economic problems on Wall Street. As Wednesday's CyberAlert noted,
Moran had also seriously wondered: "Why not just nationalize the banks?" After the President suggested that such an idea
was unworkable and didn't make sense, the host persisted. Moran challenged: "People are angry." Going further, the ABC
journalist queried: "Why shouldn't you just fire the executives who wrecked these banks in the first place and tanked the
world's financial system in the process?"
On PBS Two Leftists Indict Media for Aiding and Abetting GOP
Last Friday night, PBS star Bill Moyers took up the question of the media's coverage of President Obama. It
was not a liberal vs. conservative debate. His panel was two left-wing bloggers: Glenn Greenwald of Salon and Jay Rosen of
PressThink. Unsurprisingly, they felt the media weren't "progressive" enough. But Greenwald went far beyond that, making
claims that "establishment media venues" forged a political "partnership" with the Republican Party and "the right wing"
during the Lewinsky affair that continued and "translated into the media being blindly supportive and reverent of the Bush
administration." He also claimed -- against all evidence -- that massive demonstrations against the Iraq war in 2003 were
almost ignored: "The media virtually excluded those demonstrations from the narrative."
Couric Celebrates 'Stimulus' Deal by Giggling Along with Pelosi
Katie Couric teased Wednesday's CBS Evening News by excitingly trumpeting: "Tonight, they've got a deal!
Congress reaches agreement on an economic stimulus plan." She soon shared her enthusiasm in a taped interview with a
triumphant House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as Couric giggled along with Pelosi while asking if she was "surprised how intimately
involved" President Obama "is in the whole process?" And, acting like a teenage girl gossiping about a friend's boyfriend,
"Can you tell us anything he said to you, like 'get cracking'?"
Every year, we sell out. So don't procrastinate. One of the biggest and best conservative events -- the Media
Research Center's annual gala -- is fast approaching. Join us for this year's gala featuring the "DisHonors Awards for the
Worst Reporting of the Year" and the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year to be presented to
Brit Hume. It will take place on Thursday evening, March 19th, at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The MRC gala is one of the
most fun events of the year. Rush Limbaugh called it "a terrific show...a great, great, great assemblage of
people....Everybody just had a blast!" Sean Hannity exclaimed: "I love this event!"
Time 'News' Piece Compares GOP to Geese Who Caused Plane Crash
Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Time magazine clearly dispensed with "news" reporting last week. Michael Grunwald started his article, "How to Spend the Stimulus," with this sentence: "It's hard to take Republican leaders too seriously when they criticize the recovery plans for the economy; it's sort of like those geese criticizing the evacuation plans for US Airways Flight 1549." That would be the geese that were ground into the jet engines of the airliner that crash-landed in the Hudson River. Clearly impressed with his own comic stylings, Grunwald continued: "Their critiques seem even more comical when you see their alternatives. They warn that President Obama's stimulus package will explode the debt -- so they want to make George W. Bush's debt-exploding tax cuts permanent. They say Democratic spending plans are full of pork -- then they propose an extra $24 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, the federal equivalent of Oscar Mayer. Let's just say their idea bank could use a bailout."
Networks Silent on White House Grab of 2010 Census
The Obama administration's decision to have the White House supervise the 2010 Census -- a response to left-wing complaints that the Census was too important to leave under the authority of Republican Judd Gregg, the nominee for Commerce Secretary -- has thus (as of Tuesday morning) far drawn absolutely no attention from the three broadcast networks, with not a single mention on the ABC, CBS or NBC morning or evening newscasts. This would undoubtedly be a huge story if the White House were still in Republican hands and it was the GOP that was attempting to take over the Census. As the Wall Street Journal's John Fund reported on Tuesday: "'There's only one reason to have that high level of White House involvement,' a career professional at the Census Bureau tells me. 'And it's called politics, not science.'"
In Housing Segment, ABC Ignores Truth Behind 'Bank Terrorist'
On Tuesday's Good Morning America, financial correspondent Bianna Golodryga promoted the efforts of a radical housing group run by CEO Bruce Marks, a self proclaimed "bank terrorist." Of course, Golodryga skipped that description and glossed over the extreme actions of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America [NACA]. Instead, she simply asserted that the organization tries "to help keep people in their homes." Golodryga neglected important information, such as the fact that NACA has picketed outside the schools of children whose parents work for banks that are not acquiescing to the group's demands, which include insisting that mortgages be given to high risk individuals. In an April 2, 2008 column, Michelle Malkin quoted Marks as saying, "We will go to their neighborhood, we will educate their children on what their parents do. They should be ashamed."
CBS's Early Show Fact Checks Obama Press Conference
On Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen took an unusually critical tone toward President Obama's first press conference on Monday night: "President Obama takes to prime time to pitch his nearly trillion-dollar rescue plan...But does the president have his facts straight? And what does a trillion dollars really buy you? We'll tell you." In a later report on the press conference correspondent Bill Plante challenged some of the president's assertions, including: "Most economists, almost unanimously, recognize government is an important element of introducing some additional demand into the economy." Plante countered: "In fact, several hundred economists argued for more tax cuts, rather than more spending." Plante also questioned Obama's denial of any earmarks in the so-called "stimulus" bill: "Even so, the bill does call for some specifics that sound a lot like earmarks. $2 billion for a clean coal power plant. $2 billion for hybrid car batteries. $255 million for a Coast Guard icebreaker."
ABC's Moran: Obama 'Too Nice,' Empathizes: 'You Got No Honeymoon'
In excerpts aired on Tuesday's World News, of Terry Moran's interview with President Barack Obama for Nightline, Moran was as sycophantic toward Obama as he was during the campaign, lamenting Obama "got no honeymoon" and bemoaning the new President had been "too nice" to Republicans. "Mr. President," Moran rued in overlooking the ongoing honeymoon from the media, "you got no honeymoon. Not a single Republican vote in the House on your first major piece of legislation." Moran speculated: "I wonder in coming into the presidency, maybe you were too nice? If I'm a Republican Senator or a Republican Congress, I think you're a very nice guy but maybe I don't have enough reason to fear you." Earlier, Moran cued up Obama: "How close do you think the country is to the kind of economic catastrophe that you're warning about?" In the ABCNews.com transcript, which does not include the "honeymoon" lament, the tri-anchor of Nightline suggested the banks should just be nationalized: "There are a lot of economists who look at these banks and they say all that garbage that's in them renders them essentially insolvent. Why not just nationalize the banks?" (That question aired on Nightline.)
ABC's Stephanopoulos Grades Obama's Press Conference an 'A'
George Stephanopoulos appeared on Monday's Nightline to offer high grades for Barack Obama's first primetime press conference. He awarded the President an A for overall performance at the event and a B for Obama's bipartisan efforts. During the presidential campaign, Stephanopoulos was consistent in giving high marks to the then-Democratic candidate, announcing that Obama won all his debates against Republican John McCain and that Joe Biden bested Sarah Palin. Speaking to Nightline anchor Terry Moran, the This Week host enthused: "Well, I think he got an A on this, Terry...He had the long answers, five-minute mini-essays or speeches all about the economy, able to explain from his perspective how bad the situation is, how we got into this mess and how his stimulus package will fix it." On the subject of reaching out to Republicans, Stephanopoulos asserted, "I think on that you give him a B."
Tickets Available for MRC's March 19 'DisHonors Awards' and Gala
Every year, we sell out. So don't procrastinate. One of the biggest and best conservative events -- the Media Research Center's annual gala -- is fast approaching. Join us for this year's gala featuring the "DisHonors Awards for the Worst Reporting of the Year" and the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year to be presented to Brit Hume. It will take place on Thursday evening, March 19th, at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The MRC gala is one of the most fun events of the year. Rush Limbaugh called it "a terrific show...a great, great, great assemblage of people....Everybody just had a blast!"
CNN's Borger and Gergen: Obama Comes Across 'Pragmatist,' 'Shrewd'
CNN's two senior political analysts, Gloria Borger and David Gergen, reacted favorably to President Barack Obama's performance at his first press conference on Monday night. Borger highlighted how the Democrat apparently "came across as real pragmatist." Later, Gergen stated that it was a "classic and shrewd exercise of presidential power." The two analysts participated in the network's post-press conference programming, which took up the entire 9 pm Eastern hour on Monday night. Five minutes into the hour, Borger made her "pragmatist" comment, and continued with what she gathered from the president's remarks: "What I heard tonight was somebody who kept saying I can't afford to see Congress play the same usual political games. But the interesting fight that we're setting up here is whether the new president really understands the role or can cope with the role that ideology now plays in our politics today."
'Teaching Moments,' 'Message' to Right, Fret Not Tougher Sooner
Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Some quick takes on the very brief presidential press conference wrap-ups on ABC, CBS and NBC before each returned to entertainment shows a bit after 9 PM EST: ABC anchor Charles Gibson lauded how President Obama treated "each question almost as a teaching moment with long and expansive answers." CBS anchor Katie Couric cited how Obama talked "about 'ideological blockage'" against the "stimulus" bill and wondered: "Do you think some of his Republican opponents on the Hill got the message with this news conference tonight?" On NBC, Brian Williams fretted Obama wasn't as tough sooner, postulating: "It may be said that if the President had used this voice -- some of the forcefulness we saw there at the top -- the result might, might have been different so far leading into this stimulus package vote."
MSNBC 'Impressed' by 'Intellectual' Obama, 'Love to Think w/ Him'
Shortly after President Obama's Monday press conference, MSNBC host Chris Matthews effused that he was "very impressed with his amazing ability," opining that the President was "at his best intellectually." After reciting one of Obama's answers, Matthews further gushed: "What a mind he has, and I love his ability to do it on television. I love to think with him." Keith Olbermann also alluded to his perception of Obama being "intellectual" as the MSNBC host put down President Bush's past performances: "This is an entirely different experience for anybody who really perhaps only knew in their young lives President Bush....This news conference in which a President will answer a multi-part question with a series of four different answers, all of them absolutely common sense and also intellectual and will take seven minutes to answer them. Is he going to adjust to where people were with George Bush's, kind of, more truncated performance, or is he anticipating the democracy to be participatory and people are going to go in there...is he going to demand of, you know, citizens, to go along with him and listen for the whole seven minutes?"
Lauer Fearmongers: 'Draconian Cuts' In 'Jobs, Teachers, Cops...'
Matt Lauer invited on two Senate supporters, and no opponents, of the Barack Obama's stimulus bill on Monday's Today show and asked pro-stimulus bill questions to his guests, even chiding those who opposed it, when he asked Republican Senator Susan Collins about two of her GOP colleagues who are against it: "So what do you get that those two are not getting?" Lauer, also depicted a gloomy picture for the states because of "draconian cuts," made in the bill as he ominously asked: "Senator [Ben] Nelson, to get the support from even these moderate Republicans, cuts had to be made...You lose $40 billion in aid to the states, that means states are gonna have to make draconian cuts in jobs, teachers, cops, firemen. You lose the $16 billion in school construction money. So is it still a real stimulus package? Will it have clout?"
Every year, we sell out. So don't procrastinate. One of the biggest and best conservative events -- the Media Research Center's annual gala -- is fast approaching. Join us for this year's gala featuring the "DisHonors Awards for the Worst Reporting of the Year" and the annual "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year to be presented to Brit Hume. It will take place on Thursday evening, March 19th, at the Grand Hyatt Washington. The MRC gala is one of the most fun events of the year. Rush Limbaugh called it "a terrific show...a great, great, great assemblage of people....Everybody just had a blast!"
CBS Ignores Broad Public Support for Tax Cuts in Recent Poll
A CBS News poll conducted February 2 through February 4 found that 62 percent of Americans believe that tax cuts would do more to get the country out of recession, while only 16 percent thought government spending would. However, when Evening News anchor Katie Couric touted other results from that same poll on Thursday, February 5 she managed to leave out that particular finding.
Stephanopoulos Links Obama's Islamo Dictatorship Metaphor to GOP
Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
On Friday's Good Morning America, George Stephanopoulos turned a statement that Barack Obama made about corrupt Islamic dictatorships and made it into a metaphor on congressional Republican opposition to the President's stimulus bill. Speaking of the difficulty Obama has had with passing his multi-billion dollar spending bill, Stephanopoulos instructed, "And to borrow a metaphor from the President's inaugural address, he might have to replace his open hand with a clenched fist." In comparison, during the President's inaugural address on Febuary 20, Obama spoke to the Muslim world and asserted, "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." GMA news anchor Chris Cuomo seemed to understand Stephanopoulos' linkage. He complained: "Who knew that the clenched fist would be about Congress? We thought he was talking about foreign people, foreign countries, then."
NBC Thrills Over 'Brand Obama': 'The Messiah of Madison Avenue'
On a day when Barack Obama was struggling to push through a stimulus bill in Congress, journalists on Friday's Today show decided to fawn over the branding of the new President, even referring to the Commander in Chief as the "messiah of Madison Avenue." NBC correspondent Jamie Gangel highlighted a batch of new Obama merchandise and enthused: "And the whole world is apparently going Obama." Speaking of the various products and worldwide commercials featuring the first family, Gangel raved: "Everyone wants to be like Barack. He's being called the messiah of Madison Avenue." As video of the Obama children appeared onscreen, the reporter continued, "They're the 'It girls.' Together, welcome brand Obama." After discussing the new brand of Obama-flavored ice cream ("Yes Pecan") and Michelle Obama-inspired fashion, Gangel extolled, "America has embraced the Obama family and a new sense of chic."
Olbermann: Time for 'Dick' Cheney to 'Shove It' and 'Leave Country'
Now that America has a liberal President, it is apparently no longer acceptable for a private citizen to express disagreement with the White House in Keith Olbermann's world. On Thursday's Countdown show, MSNBC host Olbermann delivered his latest "Special Comment" rant, this time calling for former Vice President Cheney to "leave this country," and made a suggestion that Cheney, who recently criticized President Obama's plans for handling counterterrorism, should somehow be "made to desist" from such criticism: "You, Mr. Cheney, you terrified more Americans than did any terrorist in the last seven years, and now it is time for you to desist, or to be made to desist." The Countdown host, who never showed any concern that his tirades against the Bush administration would "undermine" the war on terrorism, accused Cheney of "trying to sabotage" Obama's "efforts against terrorism," and made a number of vulgar implications in attacking Cheney -- including twice pronouncing the former Vice President's first name with emphasis as if to call him by a vulgar word; saying that he would tell Cheney to "shove it"; and asking which "orifice" Cheney was pulling numbers from about the recidivism rate of former Guantanamo detainees.
Steele Stumps Stephanopoulos on 'Make Work' vs. Jobs
ABC's George Stephanopoulos was puzzled on Sunday's This Week when new Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele saw a difference between government-created temporary "make work" jobs and jobs created by the private sector: "I guess I don't really understand that distinction." When Steele charged that "what this administration is talking about is making work," Stephanopoulos interjected, "But that's a job," leading Steele to explain: "No, it's not a job. A job is something that a business owner creates. It's going to be long term. What he's [Obama's] creating" are projects that "have an end point." Answering Stephanopoulos' confusion, Steele elaborated: "Well, the difference, the distinction is this. If you got a government contract that's a fixed period of time it goes away. The work may go away. There's no guarantee that there's going to be more work when you're done that job." To which, Stephanopoulos retorted: "But we've seen millions and millions of jobs going away in the private sector just in the last year." Steele tried again: "Yes, but they come back though, George. That's the point. They've gone away before and they come back."
'Helpful' USA Today Advice to Obama: Carpet White House w/Pizza
Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Two weeks ago, ABC's Good Morning America featured kids who offered up silly liberal platitudes for President Barack Obama ("I want you to make people stop littering because our Earth is dying"), but in retrospect they seem downright insightful compared to the collection of letters from children showcased in Wednesday's USA Today -- which embarrassed itself with a headline that characterized the writers as providing "helpful advice" to the new President. Reporter Greg Toppo, in the "Life" section article plugging a new book, 'Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country,' promised "it contains dozens of frank, heartfelt letters to Barack Obama, offering the new President congratulations, praise, reading lists and reams of helpful, bullet-pointed advice." Amongst the letters with that "helpful" advice listed next to Toppo's story, this from a 6-year-old: "I would fill the White House with chocolate and gravy (but not together) and mashed potatoes or maybe fill it with root beer. I'd drive through the White House on a boat. We'd make the floor out of mashed potatoes and the house would be filled with mashed potatoes....I'd have a couch made out of pudding that you could eat with a giant spoon. And I'd have a pizza carpet."
Irate Matthews Defends Obama's White House Attire, Bashes Bush
Former White House chief-of-staff Andrew Card's suggestion to Barack Obama that his administration should continue the Bush fashion code of wearing a jacket and tie in the Oval Office, out of respect, ignited Chris Matthews, on Thursday night's Hardball, to unleash an angry litany against Bush's foreign and domestic policies and then condemned: "If that's dressing for success I prefer shirt-sleeves." A ridiculing Matthews: "Well let's think of a couple of smart decisions that were made while the Bush administration was smartly dressed. You know, in full suit and tie. Let's see. Starting a war over a baseless argument. Bringing a government in surplus into adding more national debt than all the previous presidents put together. Oh yeah, letting an economic boom under Clinton become an economic catastrophe. If that's dressing for success I prefer shirt-sleeves."
ABC's Sam Champion Touts Living With Filth; Worm Composting
Extreme environmentalist and Good Morning America weatherman Sam Champion on Thursday admiringly recounted the story of a Los Angeles resident, Dave Chameides, who has been living with his garbage for the last year. The liberal meteorologist also extolled the benefits of Chameides' unorthodox methods of disposing waste, including the worm composting program he has set up in the basement of his home. At the same time, Champion, who in 2007 highlighted a toilet paper-shunning environmentalist, attacked the "throwaway society of America." He complained: "We're the most wasteful [society] in the world." Chameides decided that for 365 days, no trash would be thrown away. In order to keep paper from piling up, he began worm composting. The Los Angeles man explained to Champion, who was taking a tour of his garbage-filled basement, "This is an in-home worm composting bin. All of my food scraps and paper and things like that go in here and the worms eat 'em up." Champion replied, "The worms are not for the squeamish," but enthused that they "do the trick."
MSNBC's Matthews to Obama: Explain Stimulus and Don't 'Let Us Down'
Chris Matthews is rooting for Barack Obama to get his so-called stimulus package passed so much he offered him advice on how to sell it, on Thursday night's Hardball, and cautioned him if he doesn't succeed in that sales job he'll "let us down." Matthews advised: "He has to explain how the stimulus package works. If he doesn't do it tonight, he's gotta do it Monday night on television -- that press conference. He's got to explain to us how spending almost a billion dollars is gonna turn the economic engine of this country on. And how it's gonna create millions of new jobs. He better show us, or he'll let us down."
Kroft Denies 'Cheerleading' for Obama in Fawning Documentary
Appearing on Wednesday's O'Reilly Factor on FNC, CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft discussed his campaign interviews with Barack Obama that have been spliced together to create a CBS News DVD, Obama: All Access: "Well, they were dying to have somebody come out, especially 60 Minutes, very early on to kind of explain their campaign...we developed a nice rapport." Host Bill O'Reilly asked Kroft about the documentary: "...what does it say to people other than 'go, go Obama?'" Kroft replied: "It's an historical document. And I think we'll probably sell a lot of copies to libraries and things like that. Maybe to some -- maybe to some Republican political consultants." O'Reilly followed up: "Is there cheerleading in it?" Kroft responded: "No, I don't think so. It's -- we've taken the interviews and it is a straight narrative of the campaign."
Sign Up to Receive the MRC's Notable Quotables Via E-Mail
Another edition of the MRC's new Notable Quotables e-mail, with the media's sappy inaugural coverage, will be distributed on Monday. Amongst the category headings reflecting the infatuation with Obama: "Dastardly Republicans Caused Daschle's Downfall," "Feeling Obama's Pain," "Changing Washington 'At Warp Speed'" and "Rush Limbaugh Criticizes Obama -- Does He 'Hate this Country?'" The new e-mail service is available in two formats: You can receive it as plain text, or in HTML which will feature graphics, images and click-and-play links to video clips. The newest edition will highlight five videos. To subscribe to either format: http://www.mrc.org/subscriptions/
On Hardball: '100,000 People Dead' Because of 'Creepy' Cheney
Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
On Wednesday night's Hardball, Chris Matthews led a not-so-balanced panel of lefties that included Mother Jones's David Corn and Salon's Joan Walsh, in hammering Dick Cheney's concerns, relayed in an interview with Politico, about the Obama administration's softer stance in the war on terror. The Hardball host led the attack on Cheney as he charged the former Vice President: "Was wrong in a way that was lethal. 100,000 people dead including 4,000 Americans are dead, something like 15,000 wounded because he was wrong."
Williams Pleased Obama, Unlike Bush, Admitted He 'Screwed Up'
NBC anchor Brian Williams, apparently still bristling over former President George W. Bush's failure to admit mistakes (at least in media interviews), twice in 24 hours felt it newsworthy to contrast Bush's reticence with President Barack Obama's "I screwed up" admission over the Tom Daschle nomination. On Tuesday's Hardball, following his interview with Obama, Williams relayed how the White House staff was "very proud that the President used three words today that we did not hear in that setting on the record over eight years of the last administration." Then, at the start of Wednesday's NBC Nightly News, Williams adopted the White House line as his own: "Yesterday, in the Oval Office, the President told us in the interview that he 'screwed up.' That's not something we're used to hearing from our President in recent years."
On Regis, Couric Defends Daschle and Obama, Snarls at Critics
Fresh from her interview with President Obama, CBS anchor Katie Couric appeared on Wednesday's Live with Regis and Kelly. She defended Tom Daschle's tax evasion: "But in fairness to him, and I don't know all the ins and of it, but he was given a limousine by a private equity fund that I guess he was consulting for, and I don't think he realized perhaps" it was taxable income. She agreed with Kelly Ripa that losing Daschle is a big blow: "I think he's really well liked, he's very knowledgeable on health care." Couric also protested New York Post and Daily News photos of Obama, where he looked glum at the bad Daschle news: "That was an unfair picture. He was in a second grade class -- listening to a second grader. It makes it sound as if one of his Cabinet, or officials was telling him really bad news." Couric also whacked at her critics: "I always try to be sanguine about it and think, you know, always, it says more about the person who's writing it than often it does about the subject, about their own issues."
Williams Urges Obama to Copy Douglas in 'The American President'
Brian Williams revealed Wednesday afternoon that in a question he didn't get to with President Obama the day before, he wanted to ask Obama if he is "ever tempted" to start over again with the stimulus bill "and give a stemwinder combination fireside chat/speech to the nation," just as did "Michael Douglas and the crime bill" in The American President movie, "and just say, 'look, here's what we got to do. I went wrong. It got loaded up. Now we're going to do the real thing?'" In that 1995 film, in which Douglas played Democratic President "Andrew Shepherd," after compromising with Congress, he returns to his left-wing sensibilities and, in the climatic point of the movie cheered by liberal film-goers, walks to the press room where he delivers an impassioned lecture -- which earns affirmative nods from the journalists -- praising the ACLU, pushing for extreme action on global warming and promises, in the portion Williams admired, "to get the guns."
New Day, New Pro-Obama Spin from Stephanopoulos: 'He Can Move On'
Appearing on Wednesday's Good Morning America, former top Democratic aide-turned journalist George Stephanopoulos assured viewers that Barack Obama can now move on from his multiple failed cabinet officials. Referring to individuals such the (now) former Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle, who resigned on Tuesday due to tax problems, Stephanopoulos asserted that "the good news is, even though the President was forced to apologize so many times yesterday, is that these nominees now are gone. They've chosen to withdraw. So, the President can move on." He added: "This was running the possibility of really hurting his reformist image. He can move on from that."
CBS's Katie Couric Praises Barack Obama as the 'Anti-Bush'
Appearing on Wednesday's CBS Early Show, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric discussed her White House interview with President Obama regarding the withdrawal of recent cabinet nominees: "He is surprisingly relaxed...extremely comfortable, very focused. It's very different than sort of the buttoned-up Bush White House...he said to every person who interviewed him...that he 'screwed up,' he 'messed up.' And I think he really is trying to be the anti-Bush because President Bush was so criticized for never saying, you know, 'I made a mistake.'"
Stop the Presses! ABC Explores Not Passing Giant 'Stimulus'
Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
It hardly balances all of the airtime given to liberal proponents of President Obama's plans for massive government spending as "stimulus," but an actual network news program actually presented a single story outlining the conservative free-market approach to today's economic problems. On Saturday's Good Morning America, ABC correspondent John Hendren examined what he termed "a growing movement among economists, who say the best way out of this recession is to do nothing. Nothing at all." Hendren gave three soundbites to Cato economist Dan Mitchell, who pointed out that "government spending doesn't work very well," how "bad government policies got us into this mess," and that while letting the free market run its course might be painful, "we can make that transition much quicker and have a faster and stronger recovery."
Mitchell: Public Will Blame the GOP for Bringing Down Daschle
During MSNBC's live coverage on Tuesday of the sudden resignation of Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle, reporter Andrea Mitchell suggested to Republican Senator Jim DeMint that the American public will see this as the GOP having "brought him [Daschle] down." The Democratic nominee resigned over a growing controversy which revealed that the former Senate majority leader owed $140,000 in back taxes. (He has since paid them.) Mitchell sympathetically described talking to the ex-Senator: "I just got off the phone with Tom Daschle. And it was an emotional conversation. He was clearly, it sounded as though he were tearful, overwrought." Later, while speaking to DeMint, Mitchell bristled at the South Carolina Senator's contention that Democrats were also skeptical of Daschle's nomination. The journalist chided: "Well, Senator DeMint, you can say that the Democrats were uncomfortable as well, but they were all supporting him publicly." She then lectured: "So, this does read to the public as though the Republicans went after this man, someone that the President very much wanted, and brought him down."
CNN's Blitzer and Vanity Fair's Orth Fawn Over Obama and His Team
Anchor Wolf Blitzer and Vanity Fair correspondent Maureen Orth raved about the core members of the Obama administration and their pictures taken by photographer Annie Liebovitz during a segment on CNN's Situation Room on Monday. Their conversation sounded as if the two were suddenly back in high school browsing a new yearbook. Blitzer gushed over the photos of President Obama and his wife Michelle and that of UN Ambassador Susan Rice, while Orth extolled how "they [the new administration] want a green America. They really do."
Couric and Williams Paint Obama as 'Culture of Washington' Victim
All of the broadcast and cable network anchors challenged President Barack Obama in some questions during their Tuesday afternoon Oval Office interview sessions, but CBS's Katie Couric and NBC's Brian Williams also painted Obama as a victim of Washington's culture which forced HHS Secretary nominee Tom Daschle's withdrawal. "You campaigned to change the culture in Washington, to change the politics as usual culture here," Couric noted as she empathized: "Are you frustrated? Do you think it is much, much harder to do that than you ever anticipated?" Williams noted "you lost two nominees, two appointments today," so, as if Obama were an uninvolved casualty of unfairness: "Did that make you angry, I imagine?" Echoing Couric, Williams fretted: "How do you prevent the lesson from being that, no matter how lofty the goals of the new guy coming in, Washington wins, in the end?" Maybe it was just following the law and paying a penalty for avoiding taxes which won in the end.
After Being Dead Wrong, NYT's DeParle Hits Welfare Reform Again
Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Veteran New York Times reporter Jason DeParle criticized welfare reform on Monday's front page, but has opposed it from the start: In 1996 he accused Bill Clinton of "seeking re-election with a bill that begrudges poor infants their Pampers." DeParle garnered Monday's lead story slot with an investigation into how the U.S. welfare system, which went through enormous changes in 1996 after President Clinton signed a bill replacing cash entitlement with work requirements and time limits, is functioning state by state during tough economic times ("Welfare Aid Failing to Grow as Economy Lags)."
Vanity Fair's Maureen Orth Cheers Obama's Cabinet on Today
NBC's Matt Lauer invited Vanity Fair's Maureen Orth on Monday's Today show to promote her magazine's cover story on Barack Obama and the special correspondent celebrated the new President's incoming Cabinet as she cheered: "They have big plans to green the economy. The Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Interior say, 'This is our moon shot.'" The easily impressed Orth then went on to say government is back in vogue as she crowed: "If you noticed the last eight years...the conservative philosophy is that governs best which governs least. And now people feel it's more of a time for government to intervene and so they can start trying things."
Lauer to Obama: Are You Worried About a Gitmo 'Willie Horton?'
In a portion of Matt Lauer's interview with Barack Obama not aired before the Super Bowl, but aired on Monday's Today show, Lauer asked the President about the release of a Guantanamo prisoner coming back to haunt him. However Lauer couched the question in not public safety, but political terms, as he asked the President: "If one of those people that's released goes back and takes part in the planning of, or carrying out of, an attack against U.S. interests, you're gonna have a Willie Horton times 100 situation." In other words Lauer bypassed asking how upset the President would be if a released Guantanamo prisoner killed U.S. citizens, and went right to how worried Obama would be if Republicans made a Willie Horton like ad, featuring the terrorist, to hurt him politically.
ABC's Sawyer to McCain: 'Are You Offended' by Rush Limbaugh?
Good Morning America host Diane Sawyer on Monday repeatedly pressed Senator John McCain to attack Rush Limbaugh's assertion that he hopes Barack Obama's liberal policies fail. After playing a selectively edited clip that implied racial overtones and left out all context of what the radio host meant, Sawyer challenged: "Are you offended by what he said?" A few seconds earlier, editing together two separate clips of Limbaugh, the GMA host played a misleading, racially-suggestive soundbite of the conservative star: "[From Febuary 16 on radio] I don't need 400 words. I need four. I hope he fails. [From Fox News Febuary 21 interview.] We are being told that we have to hope he succeeds. Because his father was black. Because this is the first black president. We've got to accept this."
ABC Indicates Successful, Safe Election Means 'End' to Iraq War
An epochal media moment Monday night on ABC's World News? In an upbeat story about the election in Iraq "with virtually no violence," reporter Jim Sciutto raised the possibility the war is now over -- just in time to enable President Barack Obama to fulfill his promise to reduce troop levels -- as Sciutto asked a member of Iraq's parliament: "Is this the end of the war?" Mahmoud Othman cautiously predicted: "If the Iraqi leaders could get together and work together sincerely, yes, this could be the end of the war."
CBS Lists Excess Spending Which Prompted GOP Opposition
Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:52:01 -0600
Two nights after the CBS Evening News commiserated with President Obama over his unrewarded efforts to win Republican House votes for the "stimulus" plan as Chip Reid chafed over how "Republicans relentlessly attacked the bill despite the President's extraordinary efforts to get bipartisan support," Friday's newscast provided the first broadcast network rundown of the ineffective spending provisions to which GOP Congressmen objected. Fill-in anchor Harry Smith noted: "The Republicans' biggest complaint about the stimulus bill is it just gives Democrats an excuse to make government bigger. Wyatt Andrews says the examples are not hard to find." Andrews began: "If you are one of those taxpayers who does not want to spend $25 million to repair ATV trails, or $150 million for agricultural losses like damaged beehives, then you'll understand why no Republican supported the stimulus in the House and why most Republicans are trashing it in the Senate." Andrews related how "Congressman Eric Cantor says around one-fourth of the stimulus spending will never go away," such as "$15 billion for Pell grants." Andrews pointed out "anything that Congress couldn't afford before -- $50 million to support the arts, or $70 million to help people stop smoking -- has found its way into the stimulus now."
Time: Steele Pledges 'To Temper Party's Rigidity and Truculence'
Time magazine acknowledged that Michael Steele's election as Chairman of the Republican National Committee "makes history," but their story quoted only social and political liberals for analysis. Steven Gray insisted: "In a TIME interview during that [post-election] period, Steele praised Obama's election as America's first black President. He made clear that as RNC chairman, he would move to temper the party's rigidity and truculence."
Flashback: Showtime Displays Barbara Bush's Abortion of Son W
The Washington Times reported Friday that NBC rejected for the Super Bowl an ad from the Fidelis Center for Law and Policy's CatholicVote.com showing a baby in the womb identified as Barack Obama -- which reminded me of how in Febuary two years ago another network, CBS's Showtime cable channel, featured in one of its prime time series a mannequin "art" piece of Barbara Bush aborting George W. Bush. CyberAlert reported at the time: "Sunday's episode of the L word, Showtime's drama series about lesbians in Los Angeles, featured the Unauthorized Abortion of W, a sculpture of a woman's body with an exposed womb displaying George W. Bush's adult face with each of his hands holding onto a rocket labeled 'U.S. Air Force.' The rockets were angled to suggest they represent forceps. The figure was made to look just like Barbara Bush, with an American flag blindfold, and with the suction end of a vacuum cleaner just below her crotch."
Nets Skip (D) for Blagojevich as Scandal-Plagued Governor Ousted
Seven weeks after his arrest for allegedly attempting to peddle Barack Obama's Senate seat, Rod Blagojevich was removed as governor of Illinois on Thursday. ABC, CBS and NBC all offered full reports last night and this morning, but none of the anchors or reporters provided any hint that Blagojevich was a Democrat.
Zellweger: 'I Have a Crush on Jimmy Carter...He Writes Poetry'
On Thursday's Late Show, actress Renee Zellweger recounted her "emotional" experience seeing Barack Obama's inauguration, but Obama isn't the only liberal politician she idolizes. Zellweger, who stars in a new movie that apparently ridicules small town America and Christians, told USA Today: "I have a crush on Jimmy Carter. I admit it. He has an extraordinary mind. He's an exceptional human being. And he writes poetry, for crying out loud. He's all good things." In a Friday "Life" section profile, "A low-key Renee Zellweger loves to hide in plain sight," reporter Donna Freydkin relayed: "So wowed was Zellweger that she waited in the blistering Manhattan cold for 2 1/2 hours on Monday to have the 39th President sign her copy of his latest book, We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work." Humorously, three pages later, USA Today film reviewer Claudia Puig trashed Zellweger's movie which opened Friday, The New Town, as not only "the worst movie of this fledgling year," but as "one of the worst movies of any year."
Lauer Empathizes with Obama Over 'Sobering' Intel Briefings
Matt Lauer started his live interview with President Barack Obama, from the White House during NBC's Super Bowl pre-game show, on a light note, "So let me ask you the question that's on everyone's mind right now: How's it going living with your mother-in-law?" And he wondered if Obama now gets to read a story to his daughters "at night, tuck them in bed?" But the member of a press corps which usually showed more concern for the Bush administration's tactics than the terrorist threat they were meant to avert, empathized with the burden of the "pretty sobering stuff" the new President now learns about: "There are millions, tens of millions of people watching this broadcast right now Mr. President, and if they were to have access to the same information you have now on a daily basis, how much less sleep would we all be getting?" Lauer next pressed Obama as to whether "a substantial number" of service men and women in Iraq "will be home in time for next Super Bowl Sunday?" Lauer asserted that the House passage of the stimulus bill without one Republican vote "disappointed a lot of people."
CNN's Blitzer on Steele: 'I Don't See Whole Lot of Black People'
CNN's Wolf Blitzer went out of his way to point out the apparent lack of diversity in the leadership of the Republican Party during a panel discussion on Friday's Situation Room. Just minutes earlier, Michael Steele had been elected the chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Blitzer brought up the race of many of those who had voted for him with Republican strategist Leslie Sanchez: "Take a look at the audience, though -- and I want to show our viewers a picture of the audience. Michael Steele, the first African-American leader of the RNC -- Leslie, I don't see a whole lot of black people, at least in that group over there." He went on to say, "It's encouraging. I'm sure you're encouraged that all these white people basically elected an African-American to be their leader."
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