Liberal columnist Frank Rich claimed on Monday's Piers Morgan Tonight that the "radical right" which began during the Kennedy administration is now the base of the Republican Party. Both he and CNN's Piers Morgan also drew parallels between the environment which led to Kennedy's assassination and the politically-charged atmosphere now. Rich's most recent column for New York magazine asserts that the same "hate" which fueled the assassination of President Kennedy is now alive and well in the Obama era. Rich, formerly with the New York Times, expounded on his article on Monday, claiming that the fringe John Birch Society –... continue reading
In a testy interview on Tuesday's NBC Today, fill-in co-host Savannah Guthrie avoided asking retiring Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank about his role in the collapse of the housing market and yet the liberal Democrat still complained: "You've managed to ask all sort of negative questions.....you're four for four in managing to find a negative approach." Guthrie began the segment by fretting that the Democrats could lose Frank's House seat: "...you said that your district has been redrawn in a way that would make it more difficult for you to win re-election. My question is, are you leaving your fellow Democrats... continue reading
All three morning shows on Tuesday trumpeted the latest woman to make accusations against Herman Cain, hyping this as a possible "death blow" and sign of coming "doom" for the "Sixth Sense" campaign. [MP3 audio here .] Ginger White insisted that she and Cain had engaged in a 13-year affair. CBS, unlike NBC and ABC, made no mention of the woman's past legal problems, which include claims of stalking. On Tuesday's "Good Morning America," co-host Robin Roberts pounced, "Campaign bombshell... Do [White's] shocking revelations spell doom for his troubled campaign? " On CBS's "Early Show," correspondent John Dickerson proclaimed, "At... continue reading
'The first line in Barney Frank's political epitaph,' The Weekly Standard 's Stephen Hayes predicted on Monday's FNC Special Report upon news the longtime liberal Democratic Congressman won't seek re-election, will 'be the housing crisis.' But that isn't what those who decide the first draft of history considered relevant. ABC, CBS and NBC didn't mention Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac as they instead touted him as 'one of the most familiar, powerful and colorful characters on Capitol Hill' (ABC), as 'the Congressman who co-authored the overhaul of financial regulations after the crash' (CBS) and all noted his sexual orientation. NBC's... continue reading
The Big Three network morning shows on Monday all reported on the possible showdown between Occupy L.A. protesters and the LAPD. NBC's Today and CBS's Early Show highlighted that the left-leaning demonstrators held a " block party " as they defied law enforcement. All three media outlets also played up the supposedly " peaceful " nature of the protest, while ignoring other media reports of violence. On Saturday's Good Morning America, ABC's Ron Claiborne claimed that " unlike other cities, the ['Occupy'] protests there in L.A. have been peaceful ." However, Kate Linthicum of the Los Angeles Times noted in... continue reading
Kevin Boyle reviewed two new books on the Ku Klux Klan for the Sunday New York Times Book Review under the heading ' The Not-So-Invisible Empire .' Boyle, an Ohio State University history professor and frequent contributor to the Times Book Review, compared the Tea Party to the Ku Klux Klan. Boyle's review started and ended offensively: Imagine a political movement created in a moment of terrible anxiety, its origins shrouded in a peculiar combination of manipulation and grass-roots mobilization, its ranks dominated by Christian conservatives and self-proclaimed patriots, its agenda driven by its members' fervent embrace of nationalism, nativism... continue reading
Reporting on Monday morning that Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was not seeking re-election, CNN's political team whitewashed his controversial tenure in office with some fond words like "titan," "larger-than-life," and "teacher at heart." CNN's Joe Johns lauded Frank's skills as a teacher - especially as the first openly-gay congressman. "He's taught this country so much about the gay community in the United States and what it means to be an openly gay member of Congress. A leader, in fact, on Capitol Hill," Johns gushed. Political editor Mark Preston praised Frank as a "titan" of financial sector matters in Congress while... continue reading
Good Morning America's David Kerley on Sunday ran down the attempts of various Republican candidates to become the "anti-Romney" choice, decrying the "disastrous" debate performance of Rick Perry and mocking Michele Bachmann's "historical flubs." Speaking of efforts by Iowa conservatives to solidify behind one candidate, Kerley dismissed, "But each of them have their weaknesses. Newt Gingrich, the baggage of his lifestyle and work with government agencies. Michele Bachmann, who has made serious historical flubs. Rick Perry, with his disastrous debate performances ." All of these candidates may have flaws, but this is the same program that hyped the Clinton/Obama battle... continue reading
NBC's Gregory: Idea That Tax Hikes Hurt Economy 'One of the Falsehoods That's Peddled in Washington'
In an interview with Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, host David Gregory dismissed concerns that raising taxes could harm the economy: "But the notion that tax cuts or tax increases somehow impact economic growth, we know historically that's simply not the case....Isn't that one of the falsehoods that's peddled in Washington?" [ Audio available here ] Gregory cited supposed evidence for his argument: "President Clinton raised taxes during boom times. President Bush lowered taxes did not spur great job creation." In reality, over 8 million jobs were created in the wake... continue reading
'Bring the Family: Looking for Adventure with the Kids' reads the tag line over a weekly series of tips to Boston Globe readers suggesting what to do with them on weekends. In Saturday's 'g' section, the headline announced the 'what,' a bizarre recommendation to expose them to a volatile, unsanitary and politically heated situation: ' Occupying Boston with the kids .' The who: ' Globe reporter Mark Shanahan and his daughter, Julia.' Shanahan, who 'covers the comings and goings of Boston's celebrity class in the newspaper's daily 'Names' column,' decided 'it was time to visit Dewey Square so my 11-year-old... continue reading