NBC's Turn: "Has Starr Gone Too Far?;" Puppet-Master Scaife 1) Monday night NBC followed ABC and CBS in picking up the anti-Starr agenda. Tom Brokaw set up the story: "Has Starr gone too far in his pursuit of Monica Lewinsky and the President?" 2) Richard Scaife is the puppet-master controlling Ken Starr according to reporters. One problem: Scaife cut off money for a magazine which failed to denounce Starr. 3) Tonight in Manhattan: Stars to come out for Ted Kennedy. . NBC made it three for three. Last Thursday CBS did it. (See the February 13 CyberAlert) On Friday ABC... continue reading
ABC: Starr "Too Aggressive?" & An IC Leaking in 1992 Not So Bad 1) Sunday night the networks ignored Panetta's rebuke of his old boss and focused on how Starr should be dumped. Saturday night NBC dismissed the relevance of a Secret Service officer's testimony. Friday night ABC asked if Starr is "too rough?" 2) Latest MRC Media Reality Check fax report: "Networks Asking if Ken Starr is 'Partisan and Political' Forget Lawrence Walsh's Last-Ditch 1992 Leak." . On Sunday's This Week former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta insisted of Clinton "that at some point he's got to... continue reading
Qualms About Agent Fox; Starr Abusing Mother & Daughter; Killer SUVs 1) Thursday night ABC and CBS caught up with NBC by relaying what Secret Service agent Fox remembered. CBS aired a Reality Check on whether Starr's political drive is behind "squeezing" Marcia Lewis. 2) Today wondered why anyone would believe Gennifer Flowers over Bill Clinton and suggested that the sex allegations put Starr on trial. 3) Clean air and fairness in dying are "under assault" from SUVs which, in turn, are under assault from the networks. . Former Secret Service agent Lewis Fox's arrival in DC prompted ABC and... continue reading
ABC and CBS Shut Out Secret Service Agent; Left Coast Admirers 1) A Secret Service agent went on the record about knowing Clinton and Lewinsky were alone, but ABC and CBS skipped the news Wednesday night. NBC painted Clinton as a victim of devious taping. 2) More Hollywood praise for Clinton. One actress exclaims it's great we "have a President who gives in to his nature and is relaxed and happy." Corrections . The February 11 CyberAlert stated that "Bob Schieffer highlighted bad news for Clinton: the judge in Arkansas turned down Bob Bennett's request to delay the Jones trial."... continue reading
Dissembling on a Non-Sex Scandal Skipped; Raines Rained Out by CBS 1) The Clinton campaign made "false" statements about a quid pro quo for a donor and some Clinton associates have ties to China, but the networks ignored both Tuesday revelations. 2) The White House leaks too, but only ABC made the point Monday as CBS ignored Ashley Raines and instead ran with an attack on Starr's integrity. Meanwhile, NBC found someone who thinks Clinton's sex habits make him "more human and relatable." 3) Julian Simon, the man who did more than any other to discredit environmental doom and gloom,... continue reading
Starr "Suborning Perjury;" Conspirator Scaife; Special Monicagate NQ 1) A weekend of Starr bashing. ABC used Susan McDougal to suggest "Starr's tactics border on abuse." Eleanor Clift claimed Starr is "the one who is suborning perjury;" Al Hunt compared Starr to OJ Simpson. And CBS profiled the conspirator-in-chief: Richard Scaife. 2) Everyone's sex life is not equally sacrosanct: Walsh probed Weinberger's but that didn't bother the media. 3) The February 9 edition of Notable Quotables: a special Monicagate edition -- Six Years of Clinton Adulation; Ten Days of Guilty Consternation. . On Fox News Sunday yesterday Brit Hume observed: "The... continue reading
Starr Leaks Before Currie Coaching; CNN Takes on Starr 1) The networks followed the White House distraction strategy, putting Betty Currie after their attack on Ken Starr whom Dan Rather obligingly termed "the man they see as a politically biased special prosecutor, Republican Kenneth Starr." 2) CNN's "Investigating the Investigator" delivered a one hour assault impugning Ken Starr, "a man who already has given many people the impression he's on a mission. That may have a lot to do with Starr's religious and Republican roots." 3) "I know he wasn't Slick Willie, and not a scourge," CNN President Rick Kaplan... continue reading
Broken Immunity; CNN Gives Credibility to Hillary's Attack; Dan Rather & Frogs 1) The supposedly broken immunity deal was highlighted Thursday night by ABC, CBS and NBC while only ABC noted Clinton's tepid reception at the prayer breakfast and explored public indifference. 2) CNN lent credibility to the underlying theme of Hillary Clinton's conspiracy charge, insisting "there are connections that tie a loose web of conservative Clinton detractors to the crisis that threatens his presidency." 3) Appearing on Thursday's Late Show, Dan Rather drew together Paula Jones, Ken Starr and the likelihood of frogs with handguns. Go to Sea with... continue reading
Tailgate Tailing Off; NBC Gives Susan McDougal Prime Time to Tar Starr 1) Network interest in Monicagate has plummeted. Wednesday night: 24 seconds on ABC, 17 on CBS. Only NBC aired a full story. 2) Tuesday night CBS uniquely illustrated how Clintonistas speak alike; NBC found an intern expert: their own Brian Williams, who toiled for Jimmy Carter and now empathizes with Lewinsky. 3) Dateline NBC provided Susan McDougal with a soapbox to claim that "it's deja vu all over again" as Starr also asked her to lie about having a sexual relationship with Clinton. 4) Barney Frank and Dick... continue reading
Clinton's Budget Tops; Tripp the Betrayer; Hollywood Defends Clintons 1) Monicagate did not lead any of the Big Three; Dan Rather euphemistically referred to spending as "help;" Donaldson and Shipman clashed on credit for budget surplus. 2) Today and This Morning featured interviews about how women are "horrified" by how Linda Tripp "betrayed" Monica Lewinsky. 3) Left Coast checks in: Hollywood celebrities stand up for Bill and Hillary and denounce Republicans. Exclaimed one: Tripp "should be screwed first, and then paddled." 4) Letterman's "Top Ten Other Accusations Against the President . " 1 None of the broadcast network shows led... continue reading