CNN political analyst David Gergen gave some harsh criticism of the Republican presidential candidates' discussion of contraception at Wednesday night's GOP debate. Gergen thought the debate over contraception could be quite hurtful to the candidates' chances come the November election. "For a lot of women it sounds like four white guys who are out there telling them, 'Here’s how we’re going to control your lives'," Gergen maintained in his post-debate analysis. The post-debate panel was discussing the issue of contraception which has vaulted into the forefront of the Republican presidential debate thanks to President Obama's HHS birth control mandate. Conservative... continue reading
While she grilled Rick Santorum's press secretary over his debate performance, CNN host Soledad O'Brien asked an Obama aide nothing even approaching a critical question on Thursday's Starting Point, and even teed her up to bash Republicans. O'Brien mirrored her own network's treatment of President Obama in Wednesday night's debate – avoiding critical questions on the President's record and past statements. Instead, she kept the focus squarely on Republican missteps in her interviews with both Republican and Democrat staffers. Hosting Santorum's press secretary, O'Brien questioned her on the candidate's explanation of his past voting record. "Do you think that was... continue reading
Instead of turning to one of the GOP candidates or a campaign spokesman, Thursday's CBS This Morning thought it fit to bring on Obama campaign senior adviser Robert Gibbs to discuss the last scheduled Republican presidential debate. Charlie Rose and Bob Schieffer didn't play hardball with Gibbs, like they did with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, but went easy on the former presidential press secretary. On Sunday, Schieffer interrogated Santorum over his attacks on the chief executive, particularly over the former senator's "theology" attack on Obama's environmental policies. The anchor did his best impression of a former MSNBC personality: "... continue reading
Liberal MSNBC anchor Martin Bashir on Thursday declared it "incredible" that Republican candidates such as Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich would "blame the media." A few seconds after making the comment, the host smeared Santorum as having "third century Constantinople" views when it came to social policies. Bashir mocked the GOP presidential candidates for their debate performances and insisted that Republican voters don't like them. He chided, "They don't seem to see the obvious signs of dissatisfaction. They don't hear the criticism. Instead they just blame the media." Bashir added, " It is incredible to hear the fab four complain... continue reading
Citing Rick Santorum questioning President Obama's "theology" and recent comments form evangelist Franklin Graham, on Thursday's NBC Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie wondered: "Does religion belong in our political discourse?" Show panelists – attorney Star Jones, advertising executive Donny Deutsch, and NBC medical editor Nancy Snyderman – gave a resounding no: >JONES: Not if people are going to actually be talking about the relationship that they have with God or Christ or Buddha or whomever. I think it's inappropriate for people to bring in their own personal religion in politics. >DEUTSCH: I think religion is the problem in the world. We... continue reading
An unusually harsh Jake Tapper on Thursday lashed out at Rick Santorum, mocking the Republican's "horrible" debate performance. The ABC journalist appeared on Good Morning America and suggested that Santorum was so bad he should take himself to court. Tapper piled on, deriding the former Pennsylvania senator: " You know when you meet somebody and you make a bad impression, you wish you could take it back? That's what Rick Santorum must be feeling like today...A horrible night for him ." Although much of the reaction to Santorum's performance was mixed to negative, Tapper was over-the-top. [MP3 audio here .]... continue reading
Reviewing Wednesday's Republican debate on Thursday's Today, NBC chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd spun hard for Democrats: "You know, there was something about last night's debate that I know the folks in Chicago, meaning the Obama re-election team, felt pretty happy about....it felt like the shift was a little bit too much to the right and away from the middle." [ Listen to the audio ] Todd detailed the reasons why the Obama camp would be so pleased by the debate: "They felt that the conversation the Republicans were having, 20 minutes on earmarks, you know. Another 10 or... continue reading
Cathy Areu, of the Washington Post Magazine, compared Sarah Palin to unsophistocated redneck Larry the Cable Guy back in 2010. She was back to her old self Thursday morning on CNN's Starting Point, railing against Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) as "a Tony Soprano" character. CNN host Soledad O'Brien also had some fun with Christie's weight, chuckling at Piers Morgan's compliment that governor was doing well in his weight loss regimen. "He's not a governor. He's a character. He's a Tony Soprano," Areu ranted against Christie. When the question was asked if Republicans wished him in the presidential race, she spat... continue reading
On Wednesday's CBS This Morning, Charlie Rose promoted a talking point used by liberals, including President Obama, that Warren Buffett and other billionaires want their taxes raised. After playing a clip of Chris Christie ripping Buffett, Rose asked Jack Welch, " Do you agree with the governor of New Jersey, or do you agree with...Buffett, that there ought to be more tax on the super-rich? " When Welch replied, " I don't feel under-taxed in any way at all ," Rose insisted that " most of the people that are in your economic bracket tell me they're prepared to pay... continue reading
On Wednesday's NBC Today, correspondent Peter Alexander noted how the Republican primary "has increasingly become laced with references to religion" and predicted that in the upcoming GOP debate on CNN, "[Rick] Santorum is likely to be peppered with questions about his remarks on what he called the President's 'phony theology.'" Later in the report, Alexander touted Mitt Romney being drawn into the issue: "Romney has tried to narrow his focus to the economy. But at a town hall meeting on Tuesday he was asked how he would protect religious freedom and answered by attacking the President." After a sound bite... continue reading