Canonize the Popular Clinton; "Held Hostage" by the Trial; GOP Stuck in the '80s 1) ABC and NBC showcased Cheryl Mills for her personal civil rights defense of Clinton; CBS, CNN and NBC highlighted Clinton's popularity. NBC's David Bloom relayed how Clinton "is now the most popular second term President in more than 50 years." 2) NBC Nightly News hyped Clinton's claim about unequal pay, Andrea Mitchell: "For every dollar earned by men, women earn only 78 cents." Not true for those of equal education and tenure. 3) Geraldo Rivera on Bill Clinton: "If they indicted him now, he'd be... continue reading
Public "Loves" Clinton's Plans; CBS: Time for Ruff But Not Hyde 1) CBS and NBC focused on the lack of Republican enthusiasm for Clinton's speech. ABC's Cokie Roberts insisted Clinton delivered a "very conciliatory" address. MSNBC's John Hockenberry imagined most viewers wished Washington would "get down to business." 2) Hours before Clinton's address his retirement system plan got rave reviews. ABC's Sam Donaldson dubbed it "daring, some would say audacious." NBC showcased a man who "loves" his "solutions." 3) The CBS Evening News gave Charles Ruff an uninterrupted minute-plus soundbite for his emotional counter to Henry Hyde's closing argument about... continue reading
Why Is GOP "Dragging This Thing Out?"; Hating Conservatives More Than Clinton 1) NBC's David Bloom called Clinton's expected education proposal a "radical shift" and CBS's Dan Rather critically referred to Clinton's Balkans policy as a "U.S. foreign policy debacle." 2) A new Good Morning America team, but the same old liberal tilt. Charlie Gibson pressed Bob Dole five times about why Republicans push ahead: "Why is your party dragging this thing out?" 3) NBC's Jack Ford put the burden on Republicans to deny they just want witnesses so they can "embarrass" Clinton. 4) Andy Rooney's window on media thinking... continue reading
Discrediting Judge Nixon Comparison; Hyde: "Rabid" Conservative to "Statesman" 1) ABC raised the case of Judge Walter Nixon, who was impeached for perjury, but Tim O'Brien discredited the GOP's comparison by giving more time and arguments to those who disagree. 2) Tim Russert pressed both George Mitchell and John Kerry about their vote to impeach Judge Walter Nixon for perjury. 3) Assessing the House case, Cokie Roberts was less generous than either Sam Donaldson or even George Stephanopoulos. And Bob Schieffer announced his opposition to removing Clinton. 4) ABC couldn't agree whether Senators "sat in rapt attention" or were "tired,"... continue reading
Trial Will Cause Market Collapse?; Rivera Attacks "Snotty" NBC Question 1) CBS gave an ideological label to virtually every Republican. Dan Rather ruminated about doom, asking what if "the stock market should suddenly drop a thousand to twelve hundred points." 2) ABC relayed that bored Senators ate jelly beans and took their pulse. NBC on the House managers: "To conservatives, they may be the dream team....all white, all male, all conservative." 3) Democratic Senators got a private briefing from the House Democratic lawyers, but the networks ignored that and instead focused on how GOP Senators broke the bi-partisan spirit. 4)... continue reading
ABC Flaunts Flynt, CBS & NBC Refrain; Admiring Nancy Reagan for Moderating Husband 1) Tuesday night CBS and NBC skipped Flynt's attack on Barr, but ABC jumped on it and blamed conservatives for starting it all with investigations of Clinton. In the morning, ABC and CBS interviewed Flynt, but at least CBS's Thalia Assuras challenged his premise. 2) Geraldo Rivera lectured: "If you live by the politics of personal attack, you may end up slitting your own throat....Say what you will about Larry Flynt, but he has made it open season on hypocrites." 3) Promoting her new book, Lesley Stahl... continue reading
Rivera Showcases Flynt's Hit, Then Blames Clinton's Opponents 1) Larry Flynt got a national showcase for his latest hit: CNBC's Rivera Live. But he went beyond sex to an intimate detail. Yet Rivera claimed Republicans "brought this upon themselves" and made "all of us part of this sleazy process." Another guest lumped Bob Barr with Hitler and Stalin. 2) Monday night Sam Donaldson noted that judges have been removed for perjury and CNN's Bruce Morton, recalling how the British burned the White House, ruminated: "The Republicans would never go that far, would they?" 3) Larry King contended anyone who made... continue reading
House Managers Similar to Klan "Night Riders"; House's "Pile of Dung" 1) Eleanor Clift equated the "right-wing, zealous" House managers with Ku Klux Klan murderers: "All they were missing was white sheets. They're like night riders." 2) Sen. Tom Harkin abandoned impartiality, disparaging the House impeachment articles as a "pile of dung," but NBC didn't care. 3) Senate plan, good or bad for Clinton? ABC: "The President's team wasn't happy." CBS: "This agreement is not what the President hoped for." But NBC: "The White House...likes the Senate deal." 4) Margaret Carlson denounced Linda Tripp for "lying," Al Hunt condemned Ken... continue reading
A GOP "Coup"; ABC's Labeling; Hyde & Company: "Zealots"; CNN's Cold War Dumps on Reagan 1) In Thursday daytime coverage Dan Rather relayed the Clinton spin about how "the people's business" is getting "put aside" and suggested Republicans should be worried about being perceived as conducting a "coup" against a twice elected President. 2) As they signed the oath book, ABC issued five ideological labels for conservative Senators but avoided tagging any liberals. 3) The networks opened Thursday night by stressing both the historical import of the day and partisan rancor. All but NBC briefly noted the indictment of Julie... continue reading
Conservatives Want to "Torture" Clinton; Byrd's Brain; Perry Smith: Fire Kaplan 1) Cokie Roberts blamed the inability of Senators to agree upon how to proceed on "conservative Republicans who just want to torture the President for as long as they humanly can." ABC and NBC led Tuesday night by emphasizing "impeachment chaos." 2) "Whatever the verdict, Robert Byrd will make sure it's done right, for the Senate and for history" because he's "a Democrat known for integrity and independence." So gushed NBC's Lisa Myers in skipping Byrd's pork-barreling and Klan membership. 3) Today's Matt Lauer wondered if people in the... continue reading