All three morning shows, Wednesday, pounded Marco Rubio, forcing him to defend a supposedly anti-Hispanic Republican Party and explain that the GOP won't destroy Medicare. CBS This Morning anchor Charlie Rose lectured, "... Many people worry that people who are Hispanic, African-American and other minorities don't have a place in this party ." [MP3 audio here .] He continued, "[Your party is] becoming something that is more narrow rather than outreaching." On ABC's Good Morning America , George Stephanopoulos pushed the same liberal talking point. He quoted Antonio Villaraigosa, the Democratic mayor of Los Angeles, parroting "He [Villaraigosa] said you... continue reading
During a panel discussion on Wednesday's NBC Today, advertising executive Donny Deutsch ripped into Republican National Convention keynote speaker and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: "I'm gonna talk about the Christie brand. Bullying will never be accepted across this country....If you're a woman, if you're a minority...they don't want somebody up there going, 'This is the way it is.' His brand will never sell to the country." [ Listen to the audio ] Co-host Savannah Guthrie attempted to present a different perspective: "It's interesting you say that, because one man's bullying is another man's straight talk." Deutsch immediately dismissed any... continue reading
Appearing during the 8am hour of CBS This Morning , former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani scoffed when co-host Charlie Rose suggested the flurry of national security leaks coming from the Obama administration were not aimed at making the President “look like a superhero.” Giuliani laughed at him: “Oh, come on, Charlie. Why are you leaking all this stuff that shouldn’t be talked about, shouldn’t be discussed? The only reason you’re doing it is to try to make the President look good on foreign policy.” That should have ended it, but Rose’s convention co-host, Norah O’Donnell, tried a second... continue reading
“A lot of women look at the Republican platform on abortion, contraception, a number of issues,” CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley told Ann Romney, “and ask the question whether Republicans have women’s best interests at heart?” Pelley’s loaded question came just after he held up his smart phone so Mrs. Romney could see how the Obama campaign “is starting a tour called the ‘Romney-Ryan: Wrong for Women’ tour, and that’s the logo.” Next week, will Pelley be consistent and hit Michelle Obama from the right on left-wing planks in the Democratic platform which might turn off less liberal women?... continue reading
During MSNBC's live coverage of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, as Paul Ryan was being discussed, MSNBC political analyst Jonathan Alter -- formerly of Newsweek -- asserted that Congressman Ryan's budget proposals are "cruel." Alter: He comes across very well in terms of his presentation. The policies are cruel, Chris. If you have 30, 40, even 50 percent cuts in discretionary non-defense spending, that hurts a lot of people. If you are cutting $800 billion from Medicaid, where are those people going to go for health care? -Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center continue reading
In a Tuesday 10 a.m. et NBC News special report on President Obama declaring a state of emergency for Gulf Coast states in the path of Hurricane Isaac, Today co-host Matt Lauer gushed: "Politics 101, you've got your opponents in Tampa and Mitt Romney's about to tell Americans why he should be elected president, if you're the president, you go out and act like the president." [ Listen to the audio ] Meet the Press host David Gregory agreed: "Yeah, you do your job." As they both anchored the coverage from the Republican National Convention, Gregory observed that Obama's statement... continue reading
During MSNBC's live coverage of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, MSNBC political analyst Howard Fineman -- formerly of Newsweek -- complained that Chris Christie's speech was "nasty, and it was mean in tone," as he asserted that the speech failed to explain why Mitt Romney should be elected President. Shortly after 11:00 p.m., Fineman observed: And I'll say one other thing about Chris Christie's speech. Ithought it was very tough and aggressive toward the Democratic Party. It was a tough, combative speech, but it was nasty, and it was mean in tone. Which might be fine for Chris Christie... continue reading
CNN keeps playing up the controversy that supposedly is the Republican Party's platform on abortion – even though it resembles the language from the 2004 and 2008 platforms. "The platform has this really sledgehammer view that all abortions are going to be outlawed, even for rape or for incest, and even for health of the mother," said political analyst David Gergen during Tuesday night's coverage of the Republican Convention. He added "that is what has brought on this sort of outcry from the other side." Meanwhile, CNN's Candy Crowley cast the issue as one that could hurt Republicans if it... continue reading
Just before Ann Romney's speech at the GOP convention, ABC repeatedly branded Mitt Romney with unfavorable ratings from its latest poll, and emphasized his "likability problem." ABC brought up Romney's unfavorable image four times in five minutes. "Mitt Romney has a real likability problem," announced reporter Cokie Roberts. George Stephanopoulos introduced the ABC News poll saying "It shows Mitt Romney's unfavorable rating is 51 percent. That is the highest of any nominee in modern times." "Every word counts in this speech, because as George alluded to, that new poll shows among registered voters, women in particular, women, only 34 percent... continue reading
Brian Williams wasted no time, on NBC’s live Tuesday GOP convention coverage, in bringing up the Todd Akin controversy, as he pressed Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio if he was worried about the “rape debate” surrounding his party. In fact, all of the NBC Nightly News anchor’s questions were negative as he pestered Rubio about the “closed-in” nature of nominee Mitt Romney and the “language” of the GOP’s platform. The following are all of Williams’ questions to Rubio as they were aired on NBC’s live August 28 coverage of the Republican National Convention: BRIAN WILLIAMS: I want to ask you... continue reading