Polls Back Clinton; Rivera: Media Must Apologize to Clinton; Probe Starr? 1) Monday night the networks focused on Clinton trying to show all is normal and how polls show the public opposes resignation or impeachment. FNC focused on Betty Currie as an active facilitator. 2) With Clinton supposedly cleared on Filegate and Travelgate, Geraldo demanded to know when the media will say "We're sorry." And he lashed out at divorcee Peter Jennings for "talking about the President's bad morals." 3) At ABC's GMA it's Starr who needs investigating and Clinton who is the victim of a prosecutor "chasing down his... continue reading
Starr Went Too Far; Reagan & Bush Like Clinton?; Hillary the Idol 1) George Will asked about recalling pizza versus oral sex and Tim Russert wondered if Clinton might seek professional counseling. 2) NBC relayed how Starr's report was called "worthy of...the inquisition" in France. At home, it's causing "harsh" rhetoric. 3) Starr went too far, contended Barbara Walters, Stone Phillips and Jane Pauley. Phillips: "Should the President be subjected to that kind of embarrassment?" Pauley: Why so "adversarial"? 4) Everybody does it, NBC argued, claiming many Presidents, including Washington, Reagan and Bush wandered sexually. "Ronald Reagan was quite a... continue reading
Nets Refrain from Sex; How's Hillary "Coping?"; Awed by Prayer Address 1) The broadcast networks refrained from any details of the sexual episodes, though NBC came close, allocating more time to the abuse of power and obstruction charges. Network tone, anecdotes conveyed and subjects covered Friday night detailed at length below. 2) NBC worried about how Hillary is "coping with this personal betrayal" instead of how she betrayed public. Ken Bode claimed she'll be surprised to learn the sex occurred when she was away. 3) The networks were awed by Clinton's prayer breakfast address, labeling it "extraordinary," "remarkable" and "poignant."... continue reading
Geraldo Lost?; Clinton "Hurting" & "Close to Tears"; A Witch Hunt? 1) Even Geraldo Rivera suggested this "may be the beginning of the end of the Clinton presidency." 2) Death watch-like coverage Thursday night, but Dan Rather insisted impeachment talk contradicts bi-partisanship; CBS and NBC painted Clinton as pained victim not schemer, referring to how he "was hurting" and "close to tears." 3) ABC's Lisa McRee hoped: "Couldn't this be just a witch hunt, couldn't the Democrats and President Clinton's people who've been defending him all these months be right?" 4) Letterman's "Top Ten Signs You're About To Be Impeached."... continue reading
Rivera Suicidal; Starr "Very Violent"; Actress Believed Clinton 1) Starr's report dominated the Wednesday night newscasts. CNN's Frank Sesno complained that "Clinton's lawyer was not even given the chance to see the report" before it went to Congress. 2) Geraldo Rivera, distraught about how Clinton's plight means the loss of heroes for a generation, admitted: "I would have been suicidal, except for McGwire." Rivera scoffed at Dan Burton for "howling like a stuck pig." 3) Didn't Clinton's August 17 speech mean that he "held up his end of the bargain?" asked ABC's Lisa McRee. On fundraising, "Has he done anything... continue reading
Light on Lieberman; Zuckerman's Late Grasp; NPR's "Balanced Journalism" 1) CBS gave 20 seconds and NBC just 19 seconds to Senator Lieberman's momentous remarks last Thursday denouncing Clinton's "immoral" behavior. Both also skipped Moynihan and Kerrey. 2) From MediaWatch: Mort Zuckerman now upset by Clinton's recklessness, but back in 1992 he dismissed the Flowers evidence. ABC's polling analyst rejoiced at how public put Lewinsky aside. 3) NPR denied blacklisting Steven Emerson. Indeed, "NPR has a reputation for fair and balanced journalism." 1 Senator Joseph Lieberman's remarks on the Senate floor late Thursday afternoon (September 3), in which the Connecticut Democrat... continue reading
NPR Blacklists; Chronology of Media Deceit for Clinton; a Lewinsky Top Ten 1) Al Hunt denounced the Christian Coalition and National Right to Life Committee for putting their ability "to buy influence" ahead of "real campaign finance reform." 2) NPR caved in and blacklisted Steve Emerson, a terrorism expert who upsets anti-Western Arab extremists, documented Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby. 3) "Media Apologies Owed After Clinton Admits Lies: A Chronology of Embarrassing Error," a MediaWatch Review details how top journalists aided in Clinton's deceit. Now one admits his "shame." 4) Letterman's "Top Ten Chapter Titles in Monica Lewinsky's Book." 1... continue reading
Clinton's Field Trip; Cronkite Quiet; Mum on Nunn's Call for Resignation 1) Clinton's field trip earned a full story on ABC, CNN and FNC but just a few seconds on CBS and NBC. Only FNC brought up how a local Democratic city council member refused to attend. 2) Cronkite mute. The retired CBS newsman suspended his powers of journalistic observation and refused to tell other reporters about his sail with the Clinton family. 3) Update on coverage of Dick Gephardt's comments on impeachment possibility: Carl Cameron produced a piece for FNC's Special Report. Sam Nunn's call for resignation skipped by... continue reading
Gephardt Accepts Impeachment as Possible, but Nets Ignore 1) House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt said Democrats will not necessarily fight impeachment. Total TV network morning and evening show coverage on Wednesday: 15 seconds on GMA. 2) Reno's decision to begin a 90 day probe of Gore generated 13 seconds on CBS, 35 on NBC. ABC's John Cochran emphasized how Reno gets criticized by both sides, instead of how she has dallied. 3) Nina Totenberg's husband, former Democratic Senator Floyd Haskell, died on Tuesday. 4) How to pronounce Worcester. It aint War-ches-ter. 1 The highest ranking Democrat in the House refused... continue reading
Clintons & Cronkites Set Sail; Hillary's Conservative "Moral Compass" 1) The Clintons pulled up the anchor with former CBS anchor Walter Cronkite. NBC's David Bloom relayed how an adviser complained "we can't eat enough crow to satisfy our critics." 2) ABC's Lisa McRee decreed: it was "courageous professionalism" for Clinton aides to stand by their boss afer lying for him, but Starr's office is staffed by "zealots" on a "witch hunt." 3) With a "blend of her conservative past and political present, Hillary Rodham Clinton defies the pigeon-hole," Bill Kurtis contended on A&E as he certified her right-wing conspiracy claim... continue reading