CNN host Piers Morgan argued for tax hikes during interviews with two separate guests on his Tuesday night show. The former British tabloid editor tried to persuade Rudy Giuliani, a possible GOP presidential candidate, that the Tea Party is in the minority in its stance against higher taxes and should consider spending cuts paired with increased tax revenues to cut the deficit. [Video below.] Later on in the show, Morgan hosted libertarian author Penn Jillette and stumped for raising taxes. "The solution is probably to raise taxes, to cut spending, to do special incentivizing for small business people," he told... continue reading
As the presidential candidacy of Republican Gov. Rick Perry of Texas revs to life, the New York Times is doing its best in both its opinion and news sections to throw sand in the gears. Times reporter James McKinley Jr. actively led the cheers for Perry's Democratic opponent during Perry's 2010 gubernatorial race. This time around, columnist Paul Krugman on Monday tried and failed to knock down Perry's successful economic record as Texas governor with a misleading column, 'The Texas Unmiracle.' After refuting Krugman's specious points on wages and population growth, Kevin Williamson at National Review Online concluded: 'All of... continue reading
Just as criticism builds over President Barack Obama's plan to spend the next week-and-a-half on Martha's Vineyard while the economy flounders, the CBS Evening News came to his defense, suggesting he's been a workaholic compared to his Republican predecessors. While 'Obama has taken 61 days of vacation so far,' anchor Scott Pelley noted over a photo montage of those he cited, 'at this point in their presidencies, George W. Bush had spent 180 days at his ranch, where staff often joined him for meetings, and Ronald Reagan 112 days at his ranch. Among recent Presidents, Bill Clinton took the least... continue reading
One day after trashing Rick Perry as " Bull Connor with a smile ," MSNBC's Chris Matthews took the statement back. But he also trashed the Republican presidential candidate, saying he probably would have opposed racial integration of schools. The Hardball anchor played a clip of Barack Obama touting bipartisan acts from the late Dwight D. Eisenhower. Matthews brought up Eisenhower's role in desegregating public schools and spewed, " Do you think Rick Perry would be for that? Do you think he'd be cheering for Ike today if he brought the troops in to desegregate the schools in Little Rock?... continue reading
According to Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos, companies that go overseas as a result of high taxes in America are " unpatriotic ." The ABC host, who has repeatedly lobbied for higher taxes throughout his journalistic career, endorsed Warren Buffett's call for the rich to pay a higher percentage in taxes. Talking to Donald Trump, Stephanopoulos cajoled, "Warren Buffett made another splash, saying it's not right, he a billionaire, pays 17 percent in taxes when his secretaries and receptionists pay more. Isn't he right about that?" Trump insisted that he would be willing to pay higher taxes in order to... continue reading
At the top of Wednesday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer declared: "In your face. The Tea Party puts its confrontational style on display during a stop on President Obama's bus tour." Later, chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd lamented how "uplifting moments" of Obama's Midwest tour were interrupted by "a bitter taste of the energy and confrontational style of the Tea Party." Throughout Todd's report, the headline on screen read: "The Politics of Anger; Tea Party Tactics Change Race for President." Todd noted how: "For their part, the leading Republican presidential candidates are going out of their way to defend... continue reading
'Republican presidential contender Rick Perry rustles up a controversy when he appears to threaten the head of the Federal Reserve,' CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley teased Tuesday night in taking literally GOP presidential candidate Rick's Perry's remarks about Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. CBS then played a clip of Perry: 'We would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas.' Brian Williams teased the NBC Nightly News by promoting President Obama's scolding, in a CNN interview, of Perry: 'On the broadcast tonight, fighting words. Rick Perry comes out swinging and talking and the White House tells him to watch what... continue reading
Hardball host Chris Matthews on Tuesday smeared Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry as "Bull Connor with a smile," referring to the segregationist Commissioner of Public Safety who famously used attack dogs and fire hoses on civil rights protesters in the '60s. Left-wing journalist Wayne Slater, who has previously lumped Tea Party protesters with the Holocaust museum shooter , attacked Perry as someone who talks about "states rights, states right, states rights, states rights" and "could make some voters, again, very nervous." In response, Matthews excoriated, " Yeah. This could be Bull Connor with a smile. " [ MP3 audio here... continue reading
CNN's own poll recently showed that voters 60-to-one believe the economy is the most pressing issue facing the United States, as opposed to policies toward gays and lesbians. CNN's Anderson Cooper apparently thought the views of Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann toward gays and lesbians important enough to merit the lead segment on his Monday show. "We begin tonight 'Keeping Them Honest' with Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and her sudden silence on a topic she was once anything-but-silent about," Cooper began his show. He accused the Minnesota congresswoman of "judging" gays and lesbians and highlighted her sudden silence on gay rights,... continue reading
Ex-Newsweek Editor on Rick Perry: If Bush People Are Calling You Shallow, It's Time to Ask Questions
Former Newsweek editor Howard Fineman, Sunday, offered a snarky, condescending take on both Rick Perry and George W. Bush. Appearing on the syndicated Chris Matthews Show , he delivered a less than enthusiastic take on the new presidential candidate. Talking to Matthews, he informed, "Some people, especially the Bush people, think that Rick Perry is shallow. They say he's- they say he's only in for the sound bites." Fineman continued, " And you know when proponents of George Bush...are accusing Rick Perry of being shallow, you've got some questions to ask, okay ?" Fineman, who was the senior editor of... continue reading