Hillary the Clueless; Everyone Lies but Clinton Just Got Caught 1) Hillary Clinton really didn't know about Lewinsky, insisted Newsweek's Evan Thomas and Gannett's Deborah Mathis. 2) NBC reported that Ken Starr is pursuing an "abuse of power" theory and in an In Depth piece NBC portrayed Clinton as a victim in a society in which everyone lies. Only CNN ran a full story on the 2000 census sampling ruling, but pushed liberal complaints. 3) With CNN and CBS in the lead, the networks delivered some evidence that the Sudanese plant did really make chemical agents. 4) The smaller the... continue reading
Clinton the "Amazing" Compartmentalizer; No More Medicine and Candy 1) ABC's Mike Von Fremd marveled at how Clinton's mother taught him to compartmentalize. NBC's Claire Shipman gave credibility to the line that terrorism prevented Clinton from apologizing. 2) Peter Arnett syndrome: Network reporters insist the U.S. missiles destroyed a medicine plant and a "candy factory." 3) Hollywood stands by Bill. A TV producer asserted that "I would have had probably Lewinsky pull off her wig and reveal herself to be a man or something...so he could have gotten out of it easier." 4) "Ken Starr is a right-wing political bulldog"... continue reading
Wag the Dog?; Lewinsky Buried; Rock Crushed; Starr: Face of Nazi & a Persecutor 1) Dan Rather recalled charges that Reagan bombed Libya in order to boost his 1986 presidential re-election bid. 1986? 2) Wag the Dog scenario considered by all the networks as CBS questioned the lack of "bipartisan patriotism." On ABC George Stephanopoulos insisted Clinton refused to apologize "because he was afraid of projecting weakness" to the terrorists. 3) Lewinsky ignored by CNN, but the rest squeezed her in. ABC: Clinton may have "forgotten" their sex and Lewinsky said Clinton "fondled" her. NBC: sex "involved unusual practices." 4)... continue reading
Rivera Linked Starr to Bombings; "Whip Starr's Ass;" Starr Nazi-like 1) Wednesday the networks emphasized growing troubles for Clinton as Democrats are angry and Lewinsky will contradict his claim of one-way sex. All showed his tie and NBC discovered sunglasses. 2) Latest from Geraldo Rivera: money Starr spent could have made "embassies bombproof," Clinton a "damn good President," and Richard Scaife has "bankrolled a hate campaign." 3) Comedian Chris Rock threatens: "I would whip Starr's ass right now. I will get a crew from Brooklyn and we will stomp him." 4) MSNBC's Keith Olbermann apologized for saying Ken Starr looks... continue reading
Carville Still Credible; Starr's Zealotry; "We Like a Virile Leader" 1) Lanny Davis, James Carville, Ann Lewis etc. still treated as credible by the networks despite months of deceit. 2) ABC and NBC skipped a Democratic Congressman's call that Clinton resign, only Lisa Myers reported that Clinton asked about witness intimidation, Brokaw worried about Starr's "zealotry." 3) To ABC's Sam Donaldson the Clinton family walk to the helicopter displayed Hillary's anger at Bill, but for NBC's Claire Shipman it showed family forgiveness and togetherness. 4) Time's Margaret Carlson insisted passing "campaign finance reform is more important in the end" than... continue reading
CBS: "Extraordinary" Speech; Hillary as Victim Not Perpetrator 1) Geraldo Rivera disparaged Ken Starr as "the self righteous prosecutor" and Eleanor Clift decided Clinton's speech "perfectly reflects the emotions of the American people tonight." 2) Prime time reaction: Bob Schieffer awestruck by Clinton's "extraordinary" speech, Sam Donaldson and Scott Pelley less impressed. NBC focused on public support for Clinton and Brokaw kept raising his wish that the scandal can now be put aside. 3) Evening shows: "Will Ken Starr let it end here?" hoped Tom Brokaw. NBC passed along Clinton's favorite psalm. Instead of depicting Hillary as active in Bill's... continue reading
Starr's Arkansas Abuses; Hillary "Deeply Religious;" Starr's "Panty Raid" 1) Hours before Clinton is expected to concede he abused his trust, CBS's 60 Minutes re-ran a hit piece on how Starr abused his power to hurt "small fish" in Arkansas. 2) NBC's Tim Russert pushed Orrin Hatch to agree that if Clinton admits his lie Republicans should drop the matter. Washington Post reporter Fred Barbash begged Starr to cancel Clinton's testimony. 3) If Clinton obstructed justice and committed perjury, Sam Donaldson has decided "he is not qualified to be President." 4) ABC, CBS and NBC all ran admiring profiles of... continue reading
Dan Rather Linked Bombings to GOP "Cutbacks;" MRC in FNC Ad 1) No Monicagate on ABC or NBC Thursday night. But many specials planned for Sunday. If Clinton lied, a new CNN poll discovered, most think that's enough to consider impeachment. 2) "There is a well-financed group of zealots who want to bring down the President. And this guy has no money," insisted one of several Hollywood celebrities on why he gave to Clinton's defense fund. 3) Blame the bombings on the Republican Congress? Thursday night Dan Rather claimed the State Dept. is trying to improve embassy security "despite drastic... continue reading
Clinton the Provider; Geraldo Gunning for Brokaw; Gumbel's Staff Sacked 1) All but CBS ran a Monicagate story Wednesday night. CNN found that aides believe her and Bill Schneider called Clinton "a good provider." Starr will write his report, NBC promised, at "warp speed." 2) Geraldo Rivera is gunning for Brokaw's anchor chair, called Peter Jennings "little Petey" and conceded he "went over the top" in praising Clinton. Then on CNBC he gushed about Clinton, "I want to hug you" and challenged Starr to be "man enough" to go away. 3) CBS cans the staff of Public Eye with Bryant... continue reading
Perry Smith Denounced Turner & Arnett; ABC Castigates Itself on Global Warming 1) All but ABC Tuesday night covered Harry Thomason's grand jury appearance; CNN's Bruce Morton observed that "Clinton expresses regret well for things he wasn't involved in," but not those he was. 2) Perry Smith, the CNN military affairs analyst who quit over the false nerve gas story, thinks Floyd Abrams was wrong in blaming the fiasco on "honest mistakes" and complained that Ted Turner, who "did major damage," never placed promised phone calls to apologize. 3) Time online joins Gore's global warming crusade. An ABC reporter corrected... continue reading