Gov. Chris Christie's keynote address at the Republican convention didn't warrant a full story last week in the New York Times . Yet when San Antonio mayor Julian Castro delivered the keynote to the Democratic convention, Jeff Zeleny offered a full story in Wednesday's edition, giving the Democrats space from which to blast Republicans: " New Democratic Voice Challenges Republican Vision ." Castro was also spared the fact-checking the Times afflicted upon Republicans last week in Tampa. (Manny Fernandez had previously polished Castro's resume in a flattering preview of Castro's keynote : "The speculation lately about Mr. Castro’s future has... continue reading
On Tuesday's CBS This Morning , New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer preposterously alleged that the mainstream media have a conservative bias in favor of Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, giving him an "undeserved halo" when he is, in fact, a "fraud." But the MRC has catalogued numerous quotes, some listed below, documenting the media's hostility to Ryan's budget-cutting approach. Talking to co-hosts Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell, Schumer first claimed that Ryan, “creates this halo for himself that he’s a budget reducer.” Schumer went on to insist that, “the mainstream media, maybe not the two of you, but... continue reading
All three network morning shows on Wednesday ignored a move by Democrats to delete references to God from the party's 2012 convention platform. NBC skipped another controversial decision, removing an assertion that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. (CBS and ABC, however, did cover this decision.) Some top Democrats appear touchy about the decision to avoid mentioning God. Senator Dick Durbin became visibly angry when Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked about it, Tuesday. Baier reminded, " In 2008, God was mentioned once. In 2004, it was mentioned seven times. In 2000, God was mentioned four times. Just a question... continue reading
Each morning, the MRC is showcasing the most egregious bias we've uncovered over the years — four quotes for each of the 25 years of the MRC, 100 quotes total — all leading up to our big 25th Anniversary Gala on September 27. (Click here for ticket information) Already this week, we’ve published the worst quotes of 1988 , 1989 and 1990 ; today, the worst bias of 1991 . Highlights include journalists saluting Anita Hill while disparaging Clarence Thomas (“if you gave Clarence Thomas a little flour on his face, you’d think you had [former KKK Grand Wizard] David... continue reading
On NBC’s Tuesday night coverage of the Democratic National Convention Chuck Todd claimed the crowd at the Republican National Convention could not compete with the “passion” seen “throughout the evening” at the DNC. When asked, by Brian Williams, to compare their respective excitement levels, Todd dissed the GOP attendees: “You saw it only in the last hour...It was almost as if they waited for the television cameras to come on.” The following exchange was aired on NBC’s September 4 live coverage of the Democratic National Convention, right after San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro delivered his Keynote speech: [10:27pm EDT] BRIAN... continue reading
Andrea Mitchell gushed over Michelle Obama on Tuesday's NBC Nightly News , labeling her a " political superstar " and " her husband's best campaigner, hardly needing to practice with the Teleprompters or get a feel for the stage ." Mitchell went out of her way to point out how Mrs. Obama apparently is " all about hugs, connecting to people with a physical embrace ." [audio available here ; video below ] The correspondent also emphasized the First Lady's supposed celebrity status by noting how she has " become a regular on late night ," and playing clips from... continue reading
CNN’s Brianna Keilar cued up Sandra Fluke, Obama’s poster girl for “free” contraception and forcing religious institutions to violate their beliefs, to tar Mitt Romney and all Republicans with a derogatory comment made by Rush Limbaugh: “I’m wondering, do you think that Rush Limbaugh – now he called you, and these are his words, ‘a slut.’ Do you think that his views represent Mitt Romney and the Republican Party?” Fluke took advantage of the opportunity to deride Romney: “I don’t need Mr. Romney to stand up for me. But I do need to have a President who can stand up... continue reading
In a softball interview with Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday's NBC Today , co-host Savannah Guthrie recited Democratic attack lines against Mitt Romney perfectly: "You have made a career of railing against Wall Street.... Is it your job here, as you understand it, to argue that Mitt Romney is the personification of that Wall Street greed and excess?" [ Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump ] After Warren gushed about being "delighted" to have prime speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention and ranted about the middle class getting "hammered," Guthrie again urged... continue reading
For six days and counting (including Tuesday morning ), the broadcast networks entertained the idea that Paul Ryan was lying in his convention speech last week. Yet the problem for journalists was that Ryan’s speech was accurate, even if they didn’t like the implications. NBC’s Chuck Todd on Thursday evening’s Nightly News , for example, even conceded that “what he [Ryan] said many times was technically factual,” but grumbled that “by what he left out,” he “actually distorted the actual truth.” Such a sensitive standard means journalists could endlessly complain, since even truthful speeches or TV ads necessarily omit information... continue reading
At the top of Tuesday's NBC Today , co-host Savannah Guthrie teased an upcoming interview with Paul Ryan by slamming the Republican vice presidential candidate: "Paul Ryan joins us to talk about where he thinks the presidential race is headed and criticism that he's played fast and loose with the truth." [ Listen to the audio ] Beginning the interview with Ryan minutes later, fellow co-host Matt Lauer parroted Guthrie's attack: "There are some people who are claiming that you played a little fast and loose with the truth on certain key elements. And I'm not just talking about Democratic... continue reading