Jennings Scolds Ashcroft; CFR "Finally" Passed; Bush Team Too Secretive; Global Warming To Blame Again; Aaron "Skippy" Brown 1) ABC's Peter Jennings fretted about how "many" of the Arab males in the U.S. who have been "already questioned say it was terrifying that they were, in their words, 'victims of ethnic profiling.'" But Dan Rather led the CBS Evening News by warning: "The Justice Department admitted today that more than 1,000 foreigners, believed to be or have been in this country and wanted for questioning, have not been found." 2) "The shame of Enron finally got Congress to pass a... continue reading
Brock Challenged by FNC; Catholics "Allayed" or "Reeling"? Fox's Fun Over Terrorism; Kid on ABC: "I Want to Watch Letterman!" 1) What a difference the network makes. FNC's David Asman on Monday actually challenged David Brock's on his broad accusations and took on some of the specific allegations made in his book trashing conservatives. Last week, in contrast, CNN's Aaron Brown assumed Brock's claims were accurate and empathized with his plight while on NBC's Today Matt Lauer prompted Brock to elucidate on how wealthy conservatives who directed the anti-Clinton conspiracy allowed him to smear people. 2) Same subject, two Sunday... continue reading
"Environment...the Big Loser"; More Crusading by Sawyer; Anti-FNC Rant from CNN's Aaron Brown; James Garner No Conservative 1) ABC's Diane Sawyer continued her advocacy journalism on Friday morning as she boasted about how nine former Florida legislators who had supported the law which bars adoptions by homosexuals, now say, "We now realize that we were wrong. This discriminatory law prevents children from being adopted into loving, supportive homes -- and we hope it will be overturned.'" 2) MSNBC's Brian Williams referred to how the Senate's decision to not impose higher fuel efficiency standards means "there's concern tonight the environment could... continue reading
Two Hours Pushing Rosie's Agenda; "Flag Waving" Has "Infected Journalism"; NBC on the Real Arafat; Fonda's Vietnam Revisionism 1) ABC devoted two hours of its prime time Thursday night to the personal and political agenda of liberal activist/actress/TV talk show host Rosie O'Donnell so she could press her cause to overturn a Florida law which bars gay and lesbian couples from adopting kids. Lest there be any doubt that ABC centered the show around O'Donnell's views, the network fawningly titled the program, "Rosie's Story: For the Sake of the Children." 2) The Boston Globe reported that CNN's Christiane Amanpour complained... continue reading
Today Showcases Brock's Smears; Gumbel: "Texas Justice is an Oxymoron"; Guantanamo Detainee Complaint Played; A Born "Fetus"? 1) This morning NBC's Today gave a forum to David Brock, whose book is not a best-seller, even though the show has yet to mention Bernard Goldberg's book which has been on the best-seller list for three months. Matt Lauer claimed Brock "made a living as a right-wing hatchet man," as he now "exposes how...the GOP tried to destroy the Clinton presidency through a series of well-plotted smear campaigns." Lauer cued up Brock to endorse Hillary Clinton's insight into the "vast right-wing conspiracy."... continue reading
Upset Bush Not Focusing on Osama; Media Money Goes to Politicians; Concerned About Conservative Bias & Jingoism; Dave Praised Koppel 1) ABC obsessed with Osama bin Laden. Claire Shipman complained about President Bush's speech: "The most wanted terrorist in the world didn't figure into the speech at all." After Condoleezza Rice insisted that she and Bush don't talk about bin Laden regularly, an incredulous Shipman asserted: "It is hard to believe that the President of the United States and his National Security Adviser aren't discussing bin Laden with some regularity. This is the man who perpetrated September 11th." 2) Last... continue reading
Clinton's Greatness "Crippled"; Afghanistan = Vietnam; Bill Simon "Anti-Everything"; Florida Vote More Damaging Than Terrorism 1) "There really was a conspiracy against Bill Clinton on the right," former Newsweek reporter Joe Klein told Tim Russert. Klein claimed that "Republican extremists," who bordered "on being unpatriotic," would have inhibited Clinton's reaction to the September 11 attacks: "Clinton's ability to move us through a war or a crisis would have been crippled by that kind of unrelenting opposition." 2) Vietnam analogy raised by New York Times reporter Rick Berke. On PBS Friday night, he asserted: "Not long ago, we were practically declaring... continue reading
All Tax Cuts "Huge" to CBS?; CNN: Klein's Clinton Book "Balanced"; Today Featured Bruni's "Ambling Into History" & EPA's Bush-Basher 1) Is a tax cut ever seen as anything but "big" or "huge" by CBS News? On Thursday night, Bob Schieffer found the culprit for why the stimulus bill was delayed: "Republicans insisted on coupling unemployment benefits with huge tax cuts for business." 2) Joe Klein's new book is titled, "The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton," but CNN anchor Aaron Brown declared it a "very balanced book on the former President." Klein expounded on CNN about Clinton's "courageous"... continue reading
CBS Firsts: Too Far Left & Klan; Pentagon Reporters Assume Worst; Ted Koppel's Liberal Prism; PBS Discovered Media Bias...on FNC 1) Dan Rather cautioned that Bill Simon's victory in California "could hurt President Bush's hopes of making campaign 2002 inroads in the Golden State" since incumbent Democratic Governor Gray Davis "believes Simon is too far right to win in November." But Rather unexpectedly balanced that claim by adding: "Simon thinks Davis is too far left." And the Los Angeles Times warned: "Simon's Conservative Image Could Play Into Davis' Hands." 2) CBS's Bob Schieffer picked up on a "swipe" from White... continue reading
Rather's Tribute to Valor; Helen Thomas's Rant Against War Strategy; NBC's West Wing "Non-Political"? Hardly; Koppel Top Ten? 1) Dan Rather concluded Tuesday's CBS Evening News by choking up as he delivered a tribute to the U.S. servicemen killed in Afghanistan: "They were some of America's best. They gave this country everything. We close our broadcast tonight thinking of them and of their valor." 2) Helen Thomas denounced the war on terrorism strategy, arguing: "I don't think it's right to be contemplating what other country can we bomb next." She also castigated Reagan's "social Darwinism," minimized the relevance of his... continue reading