CBS's Liberal Senator; CNN "Terrorist" Update; Pulling Maher Defended and Cancelling Suggested; MRC & Limbaugh on Jennings 1) Another fictional liberal Democrat in prime time. On CBS's Citizen Baines, "Senator Elliott Baines" boasted: "I pushed through gun control legislation, helped expand Medicare." Later he complained there's much left for him to do: "You know, every day another river gets polluted." One of the Senator's campaign aides, who is black, was upset that the Senator's opponent is "young, black, Republican. Pisses me off." 2) "CNN has not 'banned' the use of the word 'terrorist,'" a CNN public relations official stated Friday... continue reading
Must Federalize Screeners; Not Terrorists, "Alleged Hijackers"; Andy Rooney Mocked Bush as "Not Too Smart"; Granny Demented 1) Unity on ABC, CBS and NBC. "The President stops short of having federal government workers screen passengers, and many say that's a mistake," declared ABC's Dean Reynolds. "Many fliers," CBS's John Roberts insisted, "believe the government should take over the whole system." NBC's Campbell Brown contended that "some in Congress" want passenger screening to be conducted by people "who are directly employed by the federal government." 2) CNN reporters are supposed to refer to the "alleged hijackers" and not "terrorists," an AOL... continue reading
Reagan Killed "Lots" of Kids; Flag Stands for "Xenophobia"; Cancel Tax Cut "For the Rich"; A Reporter's Bizarre Line of Questioning 1) Phil Donahue argued that "the memory" of those killed in the terrorist attacks would not be "honored by going out and killing other civilians." He charged that back in 1986 President Reagan killed "lots" of children by bombing Tripoli. 2) Many who display the U.S. flag are doing so "for xenophobia, for revenge, for violence," actor Paul Provenza declared on ABC's Politically Incorrect before host Bill Maher delivered more conventional liberalism as he advocated repealing the tax cut:... continue reading
No "Terrorists" at Reuters; No Lapel Flags for ABC News; College Students Want Flag for All of Earth; Criticism Upset Jennings 1) There were no "terrorist attacks" on September 11, just "attacks" according to Reuters since the wire service decided that "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." Following this decree, one Reuters story gave life to inanimate objects as a reporter asserted that "two hijacked planes attacked the twin towers." On Monday night FNC's panel decried the values-neutral approach. 2) ABC News "has barred its journalists from wearing lapel flags," the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz disclosed. But NBC... continue reading
Americans 1st, Journalists 2nd; Bush Scolded for Invoking God; Bin Laden: "Hope for Suffering People"; Bill Maher on the Defense 1) Americans first and journalists second, at least for now. CBS's Dan Rather pledged to give the government "the benefit of any doubt" because "I want to fulfill my role as a decent human member of the community and a decent and patriotic American." The VP of NBC News urged his staff to be careful not to report any secrets which may place the U.S. military in danger. 2) More media plaudits for Bush's speech on Friday's morning shows. He... continue reading
Bush's "Powerful Speech"; Bush Too "Fierce" for Donaldson; CBS Highlighted Military Decline; Cronkite: More U.S. Aid the Solution 1) Widespread network acclaim for Bush's address: ABC's George Stephanopoulos: "He was resolved, he was reassuring, he was sober, he was strong." CBS's Dan Rather called it "a powerful speech, powerfully delivered." NBC's Tim Russert hailed it as "an excellent speech" before historian Stephen Ambrose described Bush's language as Churchillian. Jeff Greenfield applauded on CNN: "This speech definitely met the moment." Newsweek's Howard Fineman echoed on MSNBC: "He met the moment." 2) Sam Donaldson castigated Bush's "fierce speech" and warned that "if... continue reading
What Jennings Really Said; Bill Maher Launched a Screed Against Missile Defense & Tagged Americans as "Cowards" for Using Missiles 1) Media Reality Check. "September 11, 2001: What Did Jennings Say? ABC Anchor Never Insulted Bush During Crisis Coverage, But Did Label His Day Trip 'A Little Strange.'" 2) Jennings on why some hate America. What he actually said over video of celebrating Palestinians. 3) ABC's Bill Maher used the tragedies as a hook to launch into a liberal screed against missile defense, drug laws and all religions. And he denigrated Americans and the U.S. military as "cowards" for launching... continue reading
Dan Rather's Patriotic Fervor; MRC Has Taped 1400 Hours of Network Coverage; Time's Case for Rage; Newsweek: "God Bless America" 1) Dan Rather praised President Bush as "Giuliani-esque" for saying, "Osama: Dead or alive." Later on Monday's Late Show he volunteered for the war effort: "George Bush is the President. He makes the decisions and...wherever he wants me to line up, just tell me where." An emotional Rather broke down twice as he recalled the heroic work of the firefighters and recited a stanza from "America the Beautiful." 2) Time magazine's Lance Morrow argued for rage: "For once, let's have... continue reading
Rukeyser's Inspiring Comments; Bozell Praises Network Coverage of Terrorist Attacks 1) An inspiring message from Louis Rukeyser, with a note of historical caution. He pleasingly observed that most Americans do not want to throw "Israel to the wolves as we did Czechoslovakia," but suggested "the fervor we feel today must be set against the uncomfortable reality, that despite similar fervor in the past, Fidel Castro still rules in Havana and Saddam Hussein in Baghdad." Rukeyser found encouragement, however, in a flag seller's sign which "said it all: 'These colors do not run.'" 2) Statement from MRC President L. Brent Bozell:... continue reading
The Stirring 1973 Canadian Radio Commentary: "The Americans" Thanks to a tip from National Review's "Washington Bulletin" e-mail report, which provided a link to the text, today's CyberAlert relays a reprint of Canadian radio broadcaster Gordon Sinclair's famous 1973 commentary, "The Americans." Snopes.com, which describes itself as the "Urban Legends Reference Page," determined the legend of the "stirring, pro-American" radio commentary was true and provided both a transcript and four-and-a-half-minute RealAudio version of the original broadcast. To access both, go to: http://www.snopes2.com/quotes/sinclair.htm The transcript you'll see in the pink frame is incomplete and inaccurate, so scroll down the page, past... continue reading