500th Edition: Tracking media bias since April 1996 Networks Hit GOP from Left: End Impeachment, Emulate Moderates 1) The network anchors and analysts scrutinized the GOP setback from the left, seeking a mandate to end impeachment but ignoring how Republican leaders failed to pursue a conservative agenda. Reality Check: Exit polls show Lewinsky not a major factor. 2) "Moderate" Governors were the media heroes contrasted with the conservative ideology of those who lost, ignoring the conservative policies of those Governors and how conservatives also won. The new model Republican for NBC's Brian Williams: Christine Whitman. 3) The first bi-annual CyberAlert... continue reading
CBS: Clinton Broadcasting Service; Jefferson "Clintonized"; Predictions Scorecard 1) Monday night CBS featured soundbites from Al Gore, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, but none from a Republican. ABC stressed a "voter backlash" against the GOP ads and how Republicans have been "too hard" on Clinton. 2) NBC: If Jefferson "could end up on Mount Rushmore and the $2 dollar bill despite being sexually active with a subordinate, it might put Mr. Clinton's conduct...in a different light." 3) CEPAS: CyberAlert Election Prognosticator Accuracy Scorecard: Race by race predictions from Capital Gang, McLaughlin Group and Fox News Sunday. Margaret Carlson predicting Faircloth's... continue reading
Clinton Just Like Jefferson; "Nastiest" Campaign Ever; Hero Feingold 1) CNN's dream: "Could a new genetic study suggesting Thomas Jefferson fathered a child with a slave be a boost for President Clinton in fighting impeachment?" 2) CBS denounced "one of the shortest, nastiest mid-term election campaigns ever," as it gave Clinton time to show his healing with blacks. Tom Brokaw applied biased labeling to Jeb Bush. 3) Howard Kurtz contrasted how the networks blame conservatives but not liberals for terrorism and murder. NBC's VP says it's because they just report what liberals say about conservatives. 4) During the Lewinsky affair... continue reading
Gentler Dem Ads; "Bleh! Sick of It"; CNN's Cold War: McCarthy = Stalin 1) Glenn's launch pushed politics aside Thursday night, but Peter Jennings, who referred to the GOP's "advertising attack," goes gentler on Democratic ads. NBC: "Who can blame Mr. Clinton if some of Glenn's glory reflects onto him?" 2) Today's Ann Curry emphasized how "the President is not happy about" the GOP ads. ABC's Lisa McRee hoped: "Could everybody just go 'Bleh!' Sick of it." 3) Geraldo Rivera's mantra: "Arthur Schlesinger said of Ken Starr that he is America's number one pornographer." 4) This Sunday on CNN's Cold... continue reading
CBS & NBC Led with Clinton's Retort to "Ugly" GOP Ads; Bye-bye Keith? 1) CBS and NBC played Clinton's response to the new GOP ads before even showing an ad clip. NBC's Tom Brokaw called the ads "an October Surprise" as NBC argued they "could backfire." 2) Geraldo Rivera denounced the ads as "ugly" and insisted the probe of Clinton is "unprecedented in the annals of American jurisprudence." 3) MSNBC's Keith Olbermann complained the ads are part of the coarsening of politics and impugned Senator Faircloth as one of "the junior Grand Wizards of the vast right-wing conspiracy." 4) Tuesday... continue reading
Putzhead Pounce; Pro-Lifers "Incite...Murderous Violence"; Carville's Hate 1) Putzhead Pounce. ABC, CBS, FNC and NBC all decided to do the same story Monday: the dirty, mean and nasty New York Senate race. 2) ABC, CBS & CNBC gave validity to blaming conservatives for the doctor killing. "Critics charge rhetoric from the anti-abortion movement is helping to incite this kind of murderous violence," insisted Dan Rather. Geraldo: "Doesn't anti-abortion rhetoric... verge on almost a back-handed pat on the back" to killers? 3) Today's Matt Lauer gave James Carville a virtually challenge-free platform to sell his mean-spirited attack book on Ken Starr... continue reading
Impeachment Would Ruin Nobel Peace Prize; Rivera's Located HQ/VRWC 1) Soundbite of the weekend: Clinton's legacy might become "it's okay to lie and it's okay to spy." 2) NBC's team used MSNBC, Today and Nightly News to highlight how the peace deal proves Clinton worthy. Tim Russert marveled at how Clinton might get the Nobel Peace Prize while being impeached and asked Netanyahu to agree that it's best if Clinton stays in office. 3) HQ/VRWC located by Geraldo Rivera. It all stems from the American Spectator. Rivera tied together Starr, Tyrrell, Olson, Hale and Scaife into proof Hillary was correct... continue reading
Liberal Rhetoric Not Blamed for Eco-Terrorism; "Kneepad" Nina Is Back 1) Some real media diversity: No uniformity in what the network evening shows led with this week. CBS acknowledged that NASA "inadvertently added fuel to the argument that Glenn's presence on the mission has little real scientific purpose." 2) Instead of blaming liberal environmentalists for incendiary rhetoric that encouraged eco-terrorists, the networks worried that they "are afraid their cause will be tainted by the violence." 3) Killer soda, bad weather caused by global warming and too many black men can't vote. CBS and NBC jumped on reports from liberal activist... continue reading
China Military Gains Thanks to Clinton; Justice Before Microsoft 1) Nothing on impeachment or Paula Jones on ABC or NBC Monday night. CBS, CNN and FNC looked at the new Jones documents. 2) The New York Times detailed how Clinton's decision to relax export rules enabled the Chinese to obtain sophisticated technology, "some of which has already been diverted to military uses." Network coverage of this non-sex scandal: Zilch. 3) "A case of legal hardball and computer software" said Dan Rather of the Microsoft trial. The network intros all relayed the government's contentions about Microsoft's evils. 4) Two Today hosts... continue reading
Lott & Armey Okayed Gays Being "Destroyed"; Lying Fine with MSNBC 1) A quiet weekend, scandal-wise. ABC and NBC speculated about a Jones deal. NBC's Tim Russert let Louis Farrakhan spout off about how oral sex isn't as bad as murders ordered from the Oval Office. 2) Nightline, Time and Gannett join the blame the right for murder crusade. Deborah Mathis: "The Christian Right per say and some particular members on Capitol Hill have helped inflame the air" so that the murderers breathed air that was filled "with the idea" that "gays are different and...therefore evil can be destroyed." 3)... continue reading