Heston's Hate of Minorities; CIA Report Rift; Latest NQ 1) From the NRA convention CBS denounced Charlton Heston for "a speech filled with bitterness for some minorities." 2) Headline contrast: CIA report of China and missiles delivered or not? 3) CNN dumps Crossfire from West Coast oriented feed; CNBC picks a repeat of Chris Matthews over an original Charles Grodin. 4) June 1 edition of Notable Quotables: Starr "drops another load," Worth trying forced abortions? And 90 percent of Washington reporters voted again for Clinton in 1996, so estimated a DC media veteran. >>> The MRC's Parents Television Council (PTC)... continue reading
Tiananmen Tanked; Stonewalling Admired; Assume Worst When Newt Talks 1) The Supreme Court decision on Starr's request led all but CNN. All but ABC featured McCurry's soundbite blaming Starr for delays and only FNC explicitly suggested a downside for the White House. ABC and NBC skipped the Tiananmen Square anniversary. 2) Who said this, a defense lawyer or a supposed journalist? "Stonewalling happens to be good lawyering and I'm glad the President and Monica Lewinsky have good lawyers." 3) Evan Thomas insisted Goldwater was "a dangerous extremist" and admitted "I assume the worst when Newt opens his mouth." Peter Jennings... continue reading
Koppel: Chinagate Unproven; Contradictory Reports on SUV Danger 1) Nightline finally got to the China connection on Wednesday, but Ted Koppel's theme: "The story may not have the additional advantage of being true." 2) ABC and CBS failed to raise the China connection in reporting Clinton's MFN request, but CNN's John King did and NBC highlighted how "China is selling human organs of executed prisoners." 3) Dan Rather characterized Starr's quest for answers as a "prosecutorial attack" as CBS aired its third China connection story, but insisted an investigation will harm diplomatic options. 4) New tests discovered trucks and SUVs... continue reading
Goldwater: Better With Age; Murphy Brown Says Quayle Was Right 1) Dan Rather insisted that Barry Goldwater swung the GOP "hard to the right;" CBS contended his "extremism" line "haunted him;" no network condemned the "daisy" ad and only CNN noted Reagan's Goldwater speech. 2) Reporters liked how Goldwater grew "a lot less unreasonable" in his later years; ABC and A&E hinted at media bias against Goldwater; Time blasted social conservatives for having "buried Goldwater years ago." 3) Dan Quayle was right, concedes Murphy Brown. Actress Candice Bergen now describes his 1992 speech as "completely sound." >>> "Reporters Cite Flawed... continue reading
Starr's "Personal Life" Probe; Avoiding China Morning & Night 1) Dan Rather keeps endorsing the pro-Clinton spin, insisting Starr is probing Clinton's "personal life." ABC and CBS have yet to mention William Ginsburg's concession of Clinton-Lewinsky sex. 2) Wednesday night Dan Rather portrayed Starr as the unreasonable one: "The President has declined Starr's unprecedented request for his testimony." NBC stressed how Clinton is contradicting his promise. 3) Nightline has yet to look at the China-connection. Total coverage on NBC's Today so far: one story . 4) "Bulworth" star Warren Beatty is angry about the "disparity" in wealth and how Democrats... continue reading
Great Surplus News Ruined By Starr; Stop Tax Cuts; Rivera Awed by Clinton 1) "The Republican independent counsel" dropped "another load on President Clinton," thus intruding on his great economic news, declared Dan Rather. NBC revealed more about Chung's PLA connection. 2) On CNN Steve Roberts made fun of Newt Gingrich for calling China "communist" and worrying about their threat. How impolite. 3) The newest member of NBC News, Geraldo Rivera, castigated Ken Starr as "the special persecutor," but is in awe of Bill Clinton: "I watch him and I wonder how he does it. I watch him and I... continue reading
NBC Finally Got to China; NBC News VP Lobbied Clinton for Loral 1) The CIA reported China could use Loral's technology to improve nuclear missiles, but all the networks skipped that Thursday night. NBC finally aired its first China story and FNC uniquely picked up on how another waiver transferred fighter jet help. 2) NBC reporters call the China connection "devastating" and "explosive," but still zilch on Today, nor ABC or CBS Friday morning. 3) Successfully pleading Loral's case for a waiver to the White House: A former NBC News VP turned Clinton aide turned Loral VP. 4) On CNN's... continue reading
CBS Finally Takes China Connection Seriously, But Not NBC 1) GMA allocated a couple of 13-second items to Gingrich's call for a select China connection committee, but Today remained silent. 2) ABC and CBS aired full reports on the China connection Wednesday night, the first for CBS, but NBC still refuses to give the story anything more than a few seconds. 3) The waiver for Loral story is really old news, first highlighted back on April 4 by the New York Times. But only FNC cared. >>> "Networks, News Magazines Slow to Note Chinese Contributions, Improvements to Chinese Missiles: Take... continue reading
Gingrich on China Gets Seconds; Fearing Social Security Reform; Latest NQ 1) Networks gave just seconds Tuesday night to Gingrich's plan for a select committee, finding "fish-cams," Powerball and jet ski safety more newsworthy. Opposition to raising retirement age and the unfairness of the market stressed on Social Security reform. 2) May 18 edition of Notable Quotables: "Tonight's Special: CNN vs. Burton" and "Not Another Costly Counsel!" 3) "If there's any job where you should be able to....it should be the President. Now, Kenneth Starr -- somebody needs to...." A crude suggestion from a Grammy-winning band leader. 1 The broadcast... continue reading
CBS & NBC Skip China in the AM, All in the PM; Only FNC Recalls Huang 1) Sunday and Monday the network morning shows avoided China. Instead, Cokie Roberts was asked about Bulworth. CBS stuck with stucco homes. ABC posed one question and aired one 12 second news item. 2) Monday night the networks presented the government case against Microsoft and demanded Gates respond. China absent from ABC, CBS and NBC but CNN catches up and FNC uniquely recalls John Huang's role. 3) "That will be a relief to the public," declared Peter Jennings last fall when Fred Thompson's committee... continue reading