Dash "Independent"; Starr "Pulled a Clinton"; Starr: "Puritan" or a "Gorilla" 1) Instead of seeing a possible political dirty trick behind Sam Dash's maneuver, Dan Rather falsely anointed him "independent" as Tom Brokaw relished "a stunning new blow to Starr's reputation." 2) Nina Totenberg: Starr "pulled a Clinton" by not revealing in advance that Dash would bushwhack him. Evan Thomas: Democrats should have treated Starr as if he were Joe McCarthy. Eleanor Clift claimed that Republicans made the hearing a "circus." 3) Debra Dickerson of U.S. News labeled Sheila Jackson-Lee "Barbara Jordan-esque." To ABC's Kevin Newman, Starr is either "overly... continue reading
ABC's Fairness Decree; Starr Hit in Advance with Democratic Attacks 1) ABC ended live coverage of the Starr hearing before CBS and NBC because, Peter Jennings explained, Republicans weren't attacking Ken Starr and that's not fair. 2) ABC stressed how Democrats didn't defend Clinton. Dan Rather said Starr outlined "alleged" impeachable offenses and harped on how Clinton's lawyers faced "time and content restrictions." 3) ABC's Tim O'Brien gave Ken Starr a preview of Democratic attacks, hitting him with a bunch of questions about his fairness. 4) Spike Starr on Whitewater. ABC's Lisa McRee demanded: "Why should he have a right... continue reading
CBS: Starr "Politically Motivated," Tripp Coordinated Betrayer; Starr Looks Like a Nazi? 1) CBS zeroes in on Starr and Tripp: "Time Out! The tapes show her carefully coordinating her betrayal of Lewinsky with an accomplice -- Lucianne Goldberg -- book agent and self-proclaimed Clinton-hater." 2) Geraldo Rivera posed "just five of the scores of questions I would like to ask the special prosecutor." 3) On Today Rivera claimed the tapes show Lewinsky had "serviced" many men so Clinton didn't take advantage of her. Katie Couric argued about Tripp and Lewinsky on the tapes: "Doesn't this add more fuel to the... continue reading
Tripp Cursed, Called "Pathetic...Loser"; Livingston: Will "Grow" & Has "Matured" 1) The networks used the tapes to denounce Tripp not Clinton as only NBC said it's Clinton's actions that matter. Only ABC played the Clinton on drugs comment but ignored the latest Hubbell evidence which got just a few seconds on the other networks. 2) Geraldo Rivera: "After hearing Tripp's treachery, you may feel the need of a shower." Keith Olbermann on Linda Tripp: a "pathetic, self-destroying, older loser." 3) Despite his "knee-jerk conservative views," the Washington Post praised Bob Livingston for an "enormous capacity to grow" as he has... continue reading
"Outrageous" Hubbell Indictment Just Like McCarthy; Missing Jones Facts 1) Al Hunt called Starr's indictment of Hubbell "outrageous." MSNBC's Keith Olbermann compared Starr to Joe McCarthy and the Washington Post's E.J. Dionne endorsed the historic analogy. 2) On the Jones settlement only FNC and NBC even alluded to Clinton's insurance deal and how the court was looking at his perjury. Only FNC noted he will pay more than Jones asked for. 3) Dateline also looked at a woman under house arrest for lying about sex in a civil case, but Josh Mankiewicz bizarrely asserted: "It is painful as well to... continue reading
CBS Hits Livingston's PAC; Prosecutions for Lying; FNC Takes on CNN 1) First out of the box with a hit on Bob Livingston: CBS's Eric Engberg on the evils of how "Livingston exploited gaping legal loopholes in the election laws." 2) Only the cable networks covered Lucianne Goldberg's appearance in the Tripp taping case. All led the last two nights with Iraq. 3) Today and 20/20 highlighted how people are prosecuted and get prison time for lying about sex in a civil case. NBC's Matt Lauer: "You are currently being punished for doing exactly what the President is being accused... continue reading
Danger of "Extreme Right-Wing"; Gingrich Skipped; Livingston's Outburst 1) Democrats won't appear on ABC but that doesn't mean their views aren't advocated. Lisa McRee referred to "extreme right-wing conservatives." Connie Chung took up the anti-impeachment cause. 2) On NBC's Today Katie Couric coached Jack Kemp about how the Republicans should broaden their appeal, as if they aren't the majority. 3) Tuesday night all the networks ignored Gingrich's Monday GOPAC talk. CNN compared the "bit less conservative" Jennifer Dunn to the "fiercely conservative" Steve Largent. FNC focused on how Clinton's retort to Hyde's questions puts Democrats in a quandary. 4) ABC... continue reading
Gingrich "Hated" by Reporters & Public Won't Miss; "Hamas" Republicans 1) Good-riddance: "A new poll from ABC News shows Americans will not miss Newt Gingrich." Russert's advice to GOP: be "pragmatic." 2) If the GOP had adopted a conservative agenda they would have done worse, Al Hunt argued. Steve Roberts warned of the dangers posed by "the Hamas wing of the Republican Party." 3) Two weeks ago Nightline called the GOP ads "fairly timid." Friday night they were recast as "hard-hitting commercials." 4) CBS's Bob Schieffer dismissed Gingrich as a light-weight egomaniac and made up how Gingrich said the Air... continue reading
Hyde's Letter Is "War"; ABC: Go Left to Replace Newt; No Dems on ABC 1) Dan Rather gloated: "The incredible shrinking impeachment inquiry." Hyde's announcement topped ABC, CBS and FNC. Moves against Gingrich highlighted by all but ABC. 2) "This letter is a declaration of legal war," Geraldo Rivera alleged in denouncing Hyde's effort as "a perjury trap." 3) ABC's Aaron Brown argued Republicans should move left if they replace Gingrich: "You need someone who is more inclusive." 4) No liberal Democrats on ABC News: They won't appear while NABET in a labor dispute. GMA cancels trip. World News Now... continue reading
Rivera Jubilant; Brokaw: Public Disgusted with Attacks on Clinton 1) Geraldo Rivera rejoiced that "now it's Newt Gingrich who's looking over his shoulder" and linked D'Amato's loss to his attacks on Hillary. 2) Only CNN and FNC ran soundbites from conservatives on the GOP loss. ABC and NBC contended moderation is the way to go and Tom Brokaw found a "clear message: disgust with Republican attacks on the White House scandal." 3) Like Brokaw, Donaldson saw the vote as a plea to cease the impeachment inquiry, but Lynn Sherr corrected Donaldson. 4) Dan Rather called the South Carolina Senate race... continue reading