Moms Vs. "Powerful" NRA; Why Not Total Gun Ban? SUVs the "Meanest" 1) ABC's Cokie Roberts adopted the marcher's spin, announcing their "call for sensible gun legislation." Rosie O'Donnell's reasoning: "I will always support the Democrats and I love the Democratic agenda about gun control. This is not about politics." 2) Sunday morning NBC's Soledad O'Brien repeatedly bemoaned how it's "a bunch of mothers" up against the "very powerful and well-funded" NRA. She insisted "the Million Mom Marcher's platform is admittedly moderate," asking: "Do you think it's too moderate?" 3) Friday night ABC offered a balanced presentation on how women... continue reading
Million Mom March Hype; Media's "Great Failing"; Today Hit Hillary from the Left 1) NBC Nightly News profiled two women planning to attend the Million Mom March who are "compelled by one powerful cause: protecting their families." 2) FNC's Brit Hume picked up on how the media have mis-portrayed Million Mom March founder Donna Dees-Thomases, a Senate aide and Hilary donor, as an apolitical mom, reporting NPR's Mara Liasson asserted reflected a "great failing on the part of the press." 3) NBC's Matt Lauer declared: "I'd love to be more opinionated about guns." If he could ask President Clinton two... continue reading
Elian Afraid of Cuban Jail; NBC's Tribute to Greg Craig; The Real Donna Dees-Thomases 1) CBS and FNC related how a social worker's report revealed Elian fears that jail awaits him in Cuba, but Peter Jennings called the report "very positive" and Tom Brokaw insisted: "Elian is happy." 2) ABC, CBS and NBC all ran full stories on Rudy Giuliani's separation. NBC's Andrea Mitchell worried: "If Giuliani drops out Mrs. Clinton could face an even tougher opponent" -- Gov. Pataki. 3) CBS campaigned for another entitlement program. Reporting Bill Clinton's latest plan to expand Medicare, CBS's John Roberts anticipated that... continue reading
Bush "Not Qualified?"; Untrue Not "False" Skipped; West Wing's Left Wing 1) McCain's endorsement of Bush topped ABC and NBC Tuesday night. Tom Brokaw asked McCain if he were disappointed that Bush failed to "condemn" Pat Robertson and if he had now "endorsed somebody who's not qualified to be President in terms of foreign policy?" 2) The broadcast networks managed to avoid mentioning the party affiliation of Louisiana's Edwin Edwards in noting the corruption convictions of "the state's colorful former Governor." 3) Bill Clinton's argument that though his testimony implied "facts that are not true," it was not "false," and... continue reading
Bush "Voodoo" or "Far Right"?; "We're Tired" of Gore Probes; Clinton Hit from Left 1) Barbara Walters asked George W. Bush if his tax cut plan is reminiscent of Reagan's which his father denounced as "voodoo," and wondered "which is the real George W," the "man who spoke at the very far-right Bob Jones University" or who met with gays. 2) Friday night ABC caught up with CBS, CNN, FNC and NBC and ran a piece on the Handgun Control attack ad on Bush. ABC also aired a positive profile of a woman who lobbied to allow concealed weapons, but... continue reading
Anti-Bush Ad Promoted; Catholic Church Too Conservative; Dr. Laura Lashed 1) Vague hype over basic facts on the ILOVEYOU virus. CBS: "The virus then infiltrates the computer's address book." No, it only infiltrates Microsoft Outlook and only on Windows computers running MS Internet Explorer. Other operating systems untouched. 2) CBS, CNN and NBC all promoted a Handgun Control Inc. ad denouncing an NRA official's boast about access to a President Bush, but none raised concerns about "coordination" with the Gore campaign as they had with a Bush ally's ad against McCain. 3) Only FNC found newsworthy Thursday night the appearance... continue reading
Bush Up, But; FDA Not Regulating Enough; E-Mail Suppressed; Starr Nice to Lewinsky 1) ABC and CBS ran stories Tuesday night highlighting the White House's conference on teens and relaying Clinton's big government solutions of mandated parental leave and a government Web portal. 2) The broadcast networks ignored Charles LaBella's appearance before a Senate subcommittee while CNN gave him a few seconds and FNC offered a full story. 3) FNC's Brit Hume picked up a Miami Herald story on how a Cuban pediatrician on his way to see Elian was caught by Customs agents with "phenobarbital, a sedative, and Miltown,... continue reading
Drugs for Elian?; Clift Stands By "Better" in Havana; Nostalgic for Clinton 1) ABC and CBS ran stories Tuesday night highlighting the White House's conference on teens and relaying Clinton's big government solutions of mandated parental leave and a government Web portal. 2) The broadcast networks ignored Charles LaBella's appearance before a Senate subcommittee while CNN gave him a few seconds and FNC offered a full story. 3) FNC's Brit Hume picked up a Miami Herald story on how a Cuban pediatrician on his way to see Elian was caught by Customs agents with "phenobarbital, a sedative, and Miltown, a... continue reading
Anything for 5 Minutes of Reno; Helms = Castro; Knocked Down Cameraman Ignored 1) At the White House Correspondents' Association dinner Jay Leno showed video of CNN's Wolf Blitzer dancing with three women who ran their hands through his hair and started to disrobe him. 2) People in lawless nations like Russia and Colombia would give anything "for five minutes of Janet Reno," effused Thomas Friedman on PBS Friday night. He insisted the Miami Cubans had "kidnapped" Elian. Time's Michael Duffy argued Reno should have acted sooner. 3) Looking at the gun held by the SWAT team member in the... continue reading
Reno Showed Her "Humanity"; Elian Adjusting "Very Well"; CNN's Controlled Town Meeting 1) ABC led with how the officer in charge of the Elian raid "felt surrounded by danger." NBC and CBS stressed Janet Reno's concern for Elian: "She tells reporters...her thoughts were focused on the boy" and "Janet Reno may have shown her humanity." 2) NBC's Today and Nightly News picked up how Donato Dalrymple really isn't a fisherman, as if it matters. "Another blow to the extended Miami family," Tom Brokaw intoned, "one of their stars is not quite what everyone thought." 3) Elian "seems to be adjusting... continue reading