ABC: Heckler Is "Voice of the People"; "Free Lisa Myers"; Starr a Felon 1) ABC's Peter Jennings promoted a heckler's outburst: "We begin tonight with the voice of the people heard from the Senate gallery today." The trial may "finally" be over, Dan Rather hoped. 2) "Free Lisa Myers" touted buttons worn by the panelists and Brit Hume at the end of his FNC show in a sign of support for the NBC reporter whose interview with Juanita Broaddrick has yet to air. 3) Another 24 hour news cycle has passed without a syllable uttered by the broadcast networks about... continue reading
Brokaw Denounced GOP "Zealotry" and Hypocrisy; Gingrich Vindicated 1) Direct from the liberal spin manual, Tom Brokaw told David Letterman that Clinton did wrong but there was "zealotry" by Republicans who are hypocrites for not being upset by Iran-Contra. 2) NBC's Tom Brokaw stressed how Clinton "was spending his time on a subject that is expected to be much larger than impeachment in the next election." Medicare. Sidney Blumenthal admitted Clinton lied to him, but FNC suggested Blumenthal lied to the managers. 3) Geraldo Rivera brought his staff on-camera to salute the New York Times for denouncing Ken Starr as... continue reading
Jordan Praised; Starr "A Nut Job"; FNC Picked Up Broaddrick Charge 1) Network spin: Jordan didn't reveal much interesting, but CBS and NBC conceded he contradicted earlier statements and FNC found he broke new ground. CBS poll: Trial politically motivated by GOP. 2) Diane Sawyer gushed over Vernon Jordan's integrity. He pretended not to know about Lewinsky's sexual relationship with Clinton, proving he's "smart, careful, always ahead of the game." 3) Ken Starr's deliberate leaking exposed "himself as a nut job," Geraldo Rivera charged. 4) Juanita Broaddrick's story picked up by FNC, despite White House threats, Drudge reported. And Tim... continue reading
Only FNC Hinted at Clinton-Lewinsky Collusion; Starr Targeted; Tax Cuts Help Rich 1) ABC & CNN described Lewinsky as "poised." All agreed she offered nothing new, but only FNC reported that "knowing glances" between the lawyers for her and Clinton occurred as she was stopped from giving any substantive responses to Ed Bryant. 2) David Kendall's complaint about Ken Starr succeeded in shifting attention to Starr's supposed wrongdoing. The foreign press, CBS relayed, has concluded that the U.S. has "gone completely mad." 3) Charles Gibson argued with Charles Bakaley about how Starr really is guilty as Diane Sawyer demanded of... continue reading
ABC Talks to PI Who Warned Willey; "Stalinist" Trial; Rivera Endorses McCain 1) CBS scolded Ken Starr for a "serious case of poor timing," but it was the New York Times which chose the timing of a story on how Starr associates said he believes he can indict a President. 2) Peter Jennings and Dan Rather marveled at the "remarkable" GNP numbers. CBS delivered only the White House attacks on the GOP while NBC highlighted how "even Republicans" want to move on. 3) A private investigator hired by Democratic fundraiser Nathan Landow's lawyer revealed to ABC News that Kathleen Willey... continue reading
Partisan GOP "Rammed Through" Its Plan; Rather Castigated Senators 1) ABC's Linda Douglass asserted that "Republicans rammed through a plan of their own" and CBS's Dan Rather and Bob Schieffer both referred to how Republicans "pushed through" their plan. 2) Senate Republicans and Democrats disagree. Guess which party the Washington Post blamed for ruining the "bipartisan spirit"? 3) Geraldo Rivera insisted the witnesses "should be pitied" because "they are three private citizens." Sidney Blumenthal? 4) MSNBC's John Hockenberry wove the usual tale about the VRWC and wondered if Clinton "could sue for false arrest if he's not allowed to present... continue reading
Not Enough Reporting on the VRWC; Starr's Vindication Skipped; Pope & Clinton 1) Wednesday night Peter Jennings hoped the end is near as ABC never informed viewers that a Democrat joined the Republicans in the two votes. CBS's Scott Pelley relayed that "the White House seems close to panic" over the idea of a separate vote on guilt. 2) To mark the anniversary of Hillary Clinton's VRWC vitriol, Today brought aboard two defenders. "She obviously was speaking from the heart," assured one as Matt Lauer wondered "Has enough time been spent" by the media examining the VRWC. 3) When a... continue reading
Lindsey Graham's Aunt "Says He's Wrong"; House Managers Remind One of Nazis 1) ABC's Linda Douglass portrayed Republicans as the bad guys for daring to pose questions to President Clinton. NBC charged that "at Lindsey Graham's own church, some say the Congressman has gone too far. Graham's aunt Verna and Uncle Hollis...say he's wrong." 2) ABC and AP delivered loaded reports on how the Supreme Court ruling rejecting census "sampling" will disenfranchise "millions." 3) Despite how the Senate has impeded the House managers, MSNBC's Brian Williams suggested that they have had too much sway. 4) Geraldo Rivera proclaimed that he'd... continue reading
Manager Meeting with Lewinsky Ruins Bipartisanship; Geraldo: Clinton a "Schmuck" 1) Brit Hume thought it "surprising" that journalists would buy the outraged spin of Democrats over an interview of Lewinsky. But they did, blaming the GOP for ruining the bipartisan spirit. 2) The networks led Friday with Byrd's motion to dismiss, heightening his credibility by calling him the "conscience of the Senate" and the "senior statesman of the Senate." 3) Eleanor Clift hailed the prescience of Pat Robertson and dismissed the whole process as an illegitimate "sham." 4) "The White House counsels blew a hole in the House impeachment case... continue reading
Touting Pat Robertson; CBS: Clinton Brought Smiles to Kids; GOP "Un-American" 1) Dale Bumpers praised for his "folksy humor" and "homespun wind-up and wallop." Greg Craig got time every night last week but on Thursday the broadcast networks shut out any GOP critique. 2) The networks enthusiastically touted Pat Robertson's call to end the trial. Dan Rather: "The new argument by Democrats for a fast out and a quick acquittal is getting an unintentional assist from a most unlikely quarter." 3) ABC's John Cochran: "In Iowa, polls already rank Quayle among the top three Republicans. How did this happen?" 4)... continue reading