MRC Defers Media Bias Analysis of Terrorist Attack Coverage The Media Research Center has decided to defer, for a few days, documentation of any liberal bias occurring during coverage of the terrorist attacks. Given the tragic events, involving the deaths of thousands and still ongoing rescue efforts, we do not think it appropriate to immediately highlight any political bias when the overwhelming bulk of network coverage, with notable exceptions, is without any political tinge. Furthermore, we realize that at this time the interest of most people is directed at following developments and discussing in what form retaliation should be manifested... continue reading
ABC Leapt on Anti-Tax Cut Poll; Justices on the "Dark Side"; "Champion" Ginsburg vs. "Extreme" Thomas; NBC's Anti-Gun Fashions 1) Peter Jennings highlighted how an ABC News poll found 57 percent want the tax cut reduced. But back in March, when ABC's survey discovered 58 percent thought Bush's tax cut plan was "about right" or "too small," World News Tonight ignored the finding. MSNBC's Brian Williams jumped on the new number as proof the public never liked "Bush's much ballyhooed tax cuts." 2) Newsweek on Bush's State Dinner: "POTUS served buffalo meat, wore cowboy boots and welcomed Clint Eastwood. Meanwhile,... continue reading
Bush "Taking from Granny"; Stephanopoulos Pushed Daschle to Repeal Tax Cuts; More Money = Better Schools; Condit Linked to Bush 1) "Bush being lukewarm on a capital gains tax cut shows that a man can grow in the presidency," Time magazine's Margaret Carlson congratulated on CNN's Capital Gang, adding: "He's already taking from granny...to give a tax cut to the wealthy." 2) ABC's George Stephanopoulos doesn't think a capital gains tax cut would raise revenue as he declared that to restore the surplus "you either have to raise taxes or cut spending." He urged Tom Daschle to repeal the tax... continue reading
"Threats to Social Security"; "Conservatives" Block "Miracle Cures"; Nightline's Tribute to Daschle; ABC's Maher Defends Condit 1) Baseless scare-mongering on Wednesday night from Dan Rather as he referred to the "showdown" between the President and Congress over "who's to blame" for "threats to Social Security and Medicare." 2) Embryonic stem cell research "could provide miracle cures for everything from Parkinson's Disease to diabetes," CBS's Bob Schieffer declared Wednesday night in adopting the exaggerated language of proponents but, Schieffer warned, "the problem is, many religious conservatives oppose such research." 3) Diane Sawyer failed to ask Senator Ted Kennedy even one challenging... continue reading
Not Enough to Spend; Will Reno Run on Clinton "Accomplishments"?; Regulations Led to Shark Attacks?; Blitzer's Odd Labeling 1) Federal spending has soared 22 percent since 1995, but the Washington press corps continues to relay how Democrats blame Bush's tax cut for eliminating the surplus and worry about how there's not enough money for Democratic and Republican-pushed new spending plans. 2) On Tuesday's Good Morning America ABC's Terry Moran drew a less than respectful analogy between school kids and the President: "But for Mr. Bush, as for school children everywhere, the fun is over and now the fall promises a... continue reading
Powell to Block "Extreme Things"; An Aghast Russert: "Another Tax Cut?"; CBS Relayed Castro on "Moral Duty"; Liberal Bias Confirmed 1) On the Labor Day Today Matt Lauer proposed that any ergonomics rules "should be mandatory, not voluntary." Later, Time's Johanna McGeary bemoaned how Colin Powell has failed to prevent the Bush foreign policy team from "doing really extreme things" as Lauer helpfully explained how "a lot of people had hoped that would talk the Bush administration out of missile defense." 2) Tim Russert was aghast on Sunday's Meet the Press at Senator John Kerry's suggestion that a capital gains... continue reading
NBC News "Cheering for Gore"; Clift Defended Condit; Sexist Gumbel; His Anti-Communism Made Helms Intolerable; Latest NQ 1) On election night the NBC News control room was full of staffers "all cheering for Gore," GE CEO Jack Welch revealed, "and two or three of us cheering for George Bush." 2) Newsweek's Eleanor Clift is the only member of the media still willing to defend Gary Condit. Wednesday night on FNC's Hannity & Colmes she dismissed Anne Marie Smith's claims as a "side show" and maintained Condit fully cooperated with police. 3) Bryant Gumbel is such an established sexist that on... continue reading
Media Too Nice to "Racist" Helms; More Proof of Liberal Bias as NY Times is Taken Over By Reagan-Hater; 6% of Media "Conservative" 1) "Those who believe that the 'liberal press' always has its knives sharpened for Republicans and conservatives must have been flummoxed by" coverage of the retirement of Senator Jesse Helms, Washington Post reporter David Broder argued. He complained reporters were "pussyfooting" since they did not reflect Broder's assessment that Helms "is the last prominent unabashed white racist politician in this country." But, in fact, the TV networks castigated Helms for his racial politics. 2) Inches below Broder,... continue reading
Holiday Gas Price Scam; CBS Conceded False SS Fears; Condit Unlabeled, But ABC Found a "Right-Wing Agenda"; Clinton's Bikinis 1) With gas prices rising as a holiday weekend approaches, ABC anchor Charles Gibson demanded: "Is it price gouging?" He speculated in setting up ABC's lead story: "You have to wonder about the timing." Reporter Dean Reynolds acknowledged other factors, but stressed nefarious business practices: "While the oil companies deny any suggestion that they are manipulating the price to boost profits, critics disagree." 2) CBS corrected itself. On Monday night anchor John Roberts hyped how "the fat federal surplus vanishes into... continue reading
"Surplus Vanishes Into Thin Air"; Condit a "Very Conservative Democrat"; Jennings Admitted Reporters Like to Impact Policy 1) "The fat federal surplus vanishes into thin air," CBS's John Roberts misleadingly claimed as ABC, CBS and NBC all led Monday night by hyping fears over new CBO numbers which show spending will "dip" into the imaginary Social Security "Trust Fund." For years the money was always spent, but ABC's Charles Gibson acted as if it were a new concept while NBC's Campbell Brown blamed not only Bush's tax cut, but "his spending proposals." 2) Time relayed fiscal expertise from an Arkansan... continue reading