INS Psychiatrist Without Rebuttal; Cuba Not Communist; Judge Judged Reno; DiCaprio/Clinton 1) To bolster the drive to add another entitlement, Families USA released a study on soaring drug prices. ABC cited how "the White House released a study today," but NBC's Lisa Myers referred to the "liberal advocacy group" and told viewers the other side. 2) Sans rebuttal CBS's Byron Pitts relayed the INS psychiatrist's analysis of Elian, how he "was not traumatized during Saturday's raid." ABC's Linda Douglass remarked how Elian "likes to cuddle" with his father, but at least noted a retort from Cuban-Americans. NBC's Jim Avila promoted... continue reading
ABC & CBS Avoided Clinton Lie; Gun to Elian "Warmed My Heart"; "Crazy Family" 1) NBC's Lisa Myers uniquely noted Al Gore's break with Reno on Elian and how liberal Laurence Tribe called the raid a "direct violation" of "constitutional rights." Myers and FNC picked up on Bob Graham's charge that Clinton promised not to act at night. 2) Questioning Joe Lockhart, The Early Show's Jane Clayson ignored the Graham charge, but Today's Matt Lauer pressed him about it. On Meet the Press Eric Holder maintained they did not go in at night: "We waited til five in the morning,... continue reading
Force Justified; Grandma: Elian "Finally" Happy; Clinton's Broken Promise Not Pursued 1) ABC decided that on "four key questions" the Miami relatives were wrong. CBS's Byron Pitts relayed how the reunion "was moving." On NBC a psychiatrist said the relatives "abused" Elian and Andrea Mitchell insisted "psychiatrists say the use of force was justified because Elian's greatest need was for his father." 2) From Cuba, NBC's Jim Avila fled two reports relaying the communist line from the grandparents. One "says Elian finally sounds happy." Avila reassured: "Juan, Sr. sees no permanent damage to Elian." Avila even allowed Fidel Castro to... continue reading
Reno's Righteous Raid; Reno & Castro Care About Kids; Journalists "Laughed" At Fears 1) Looking at the bright side, the raid on Elian's Miami home wiped out Earth Day coverage. Jane Fonda's CNN special bumped. 2) Saturday's New York Times headline warned about "U.S. Gathers Officers" to "Take Cuban Boy," but the Washington Post announced: "Hope Grows in Elian Talks." 3) On Saturday's Capital Gang and Inside Washington Al Hunt, Evan Thomas and Nina Totenberg all backed the raid. Newsweek's Thomas called Reno "principled" and denigrated the Miami family's "bogus, paranoid fear" that Elian would be taken to Cuba. 4)... continue reading
McCain Applauded; DiCaprio's ABC Frog Pond; SUV Dumped for Hybrid; "Oh, Mr. President!" 1) ABC's Peter Jennings insisted Columbine "shattered the nation a year ago today," but other than a story tying "rampage" killers to the availability of "high-powered guns," the networks resisted pushing gun control. CBS and NBC led with Juan Miguel's comments. 2) NBC's Matt Lauer picked up on a charge from Castro's regime "that armed gunmen are positioned somewhere in the neighborhood in Little Havana" who will prevent Elian's reunion with his father. 3) A night after CNN and NBC highlighted the "mansion" with a slide awaiting... continue reading
Reporter Called "Communist"; Redlener's Radicalism; Anti-Anticommunists 1) Live on MSNBC from Little Havana on Wednesday, a Newsweek reporter relayed how he saw another reporter "being called a socialist and a communist by one of the protesters." 2) Time praised Bush from the left: "Shows he cares about real people, just like the Democrats." And denounced his policies from the left: "Tax credits may be too small to help those in need" and "Tax cut for the rich could squeeze money for the poor." 3) The MRC's Campaign 2000 Web page features all of our campaign coverage analysis organized in one... continue reading
Castro's "Luxurious" House for Elian; Helping Elian "Readjust"; Dangerous Global Warming 1) NBC marveled at how the house where Castro will put Elian is "a mansion by Cuban standards" while CNN marveled at how "even by American standards" it's "luxurious." Both portrayed the placement as benign. Only FNC raised the issue of communist re-education. 2) GMA and Today benignly played clips showing the Havana home, but both shows were more interested in focusing on the letter from a pediatrician claiming Elian is in "imminent danger" in Miami. Only FNC noted the doctor once served on a Hillary task force. 3)... continue reading
Rather's Tears; Elian "Brainwashed?"; Stars Came Out for Gore 1) Dan Rather near tears. Referring to the video of Elian saying he does not want to go to Cuba, Rather demanded: "Did you weep?" After Elian's father replied that he's "run dry" of tears, a choked up Rather mumbled: "Ah, but a father never dries up." 2) After playing the tape repeatedly of Elian saying he does not want to go to Cuba, an MSNBC anchor asked a psychologist: "Do you think this young boy was brainwashed?" 3) ABC and NBC morning show stars treated Juan Miguel Gonzalez's statement as... continue reading
Unsure Elian Better Off in U.S.; Pro-Castro Bias Dissected; Gore Exaggerations 1) Would Elian be "better off" in Cuba or the U.S.? "There's not a simple answer," insisted ABC's Peter Jennings. Morton Dean touted the "free" medical care and lack of crime in Cuba, though he also noted the bread lines, but did not mention political repression. 2) "Geez," Morton Kondracke exclaimed after hearing FNC's Brit Hume read aloud from a Newsweek article on how Elian can expect "a nurturing life in Cuba." He conceded liberal bias and even NPR's Mara Liasson was perplexed by the pro-Castro reporting. 3) ABC,... continue reading
"Authoritarian" Rule in Miami, Elian to be "Sheltered" in Cuba from "Social Breakdown" No regular CyberAlert today. Instead, a reminder about a gun special today and tonight on MSNBC and the text of this week's MagazineWatch which highlights this in a Newsweek story about the upside of Elian returning to Cuba: "The boy will nestle again in a more peaceable society that treasures its children." Time trumpeted that before Elian fled "the boy's father even had a car, a 1956 Nash Rambler, in which Elian rode through town like a prince, while many people relied on horse-drawn carts." How can... continue reading