During Thursday's NBC News special coverage of New York Congressman Anthony Weiner announcing his resignation, congressional correspondent Kelly O'Donnell remarked to Nightly News anchor Brian Williams: "Anthony Weiner showed much of his strength as a Congressman in what he talked about just now in trying to talk about a message that was something other than this scandal." [ Audio available here ] After Weiner finished speaking, Williams wondered: "Kelly, was there ever any salvaging this? It's been – it's been said that if he'd been candid at the beginning he could still have his seat in Congress." O'Donnell acknowledged how... continue reading
In a combined ten hours of programming, Wednesday, the networks devoted a mere 41 seconds to an important ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court that allowed Scott Walker's collective bargaining law to be implemented. NBC Nightly News' Brian Williams, however, found time to focus on Spider-Man and the 2012 Academy Awards. On June 15, only NBC's Today and CBS's Early Show covered it. That day's newscasts, including Evening News and World News, totally skipped it (as did Nightline). On Tuesday, the Wisconsin court ruled 4-3 to reinstate the law's ability to limit collective bargaining and require state employees to pay... continue reading
On the June 14 edition of NBC's Today, President Barack Obama ascribed part of the blame for the high unemployment rate to ATMs, yet most media outlets continue to ignore the gaffe. "There are some structural issues with our economy where a lot of businesses have learned to become much more efficient with a lot fewer workers," lectured Obama in an interview with NBC's Ann Curry. "You see it when you go to a bank and you use an ATM, you don't go to a bank teller, or you go to the airport and you're using a kiosk instead of... continue reading
Tuesday's CNN Newsroom acknowledged Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann as a "rising star" in the GOP, but moved quickly to write her off as a far-right extremist. "As far as the general election goes, [CNN analyst John] Avlon says Bachmann doesn't stand a chance. She needs independents to win and despite her charm last night, Bachmann's views are too conservative to many Americans." said CNN's Carol Costello. Among these views that make Bachmann an unelectable radical is her belief in the Constitution. "She has said God encouraged her to run for higher office, and that government should be limited only to... continue reading
Wednesday's World News on ABC led with a report from the left-leaning Center for Public Integrity (Arianna Huffington is one of several liberals on the Board of Directors) documenting Barack Obama's failure to meet his promise to 'change' politics as usual and thus not sell access and give jobs to big donors, a report not touched by the CBS or NBC evening newscasts. 'Today,' Jake Tapper relayed, 'the Center for Public Integrity issued a report concluding that, quote, 'about one-third of Obama bundlers or their spouses joined the administration in some role,' and '80 percent of those who collected more... continue reading
The network morning shows on Wednesday offered a scant 41 seconds to a major Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling permitting the state's collective bargaining law to go into effect. These are the same shows that, just four months ago, praised the "people power" of the liberal protesters and ignored signs comparing conservatives to Nazis. On February 20, This Week host Christiane Amanpour compared events in the Middle East to protests in the U.S.: "This week: people power making history...Populist frustration is boiling over this week, as we've said not just in the Middle East but in the middle of this country... continue reading
Politico's write-up of Barack Obama's Puerto Rican trip depicted the President as a conquering hero making his long-awaited return to the "adoring island." Carrie Budoff Brown, in her June 14 article headlined: "An Adoring Island Welcomes Obama" painted scenes of jubilation as she wrote Obama was "greeted by thousands of cheering Puerto Ricans," and added: "Much of San Juan appeared to stand still for a few hours, soaking in the brief presidential appearance." Brown also observed: "Peopled held up signs showing Obama's face superimposed on Superman's body." After Brown explained the reason for Obama's trip was to both drum up... continue reading
The night after CNN's debate in New Hampshire with seven Republican presidential candidates, Anderson Cooper brought aboard left-wing 'comedian' Bill Maher to ridicule them. Asked if he 'had to vote' for one of them, he named Ron Paul since 'he's a cut from a different cloth than the rest of those people who are of course selling their souls to the corporate interests who back them and who have just horrible, society-killing ideas about America.' Later discussing Anthony Weiner, Maher used it as an opportunity to deride one of the left's favorite targets they never tire of vilifying: 'Dick Cheney... continue reading
CBS hounded four Republicans from the left during a town hall on the economy which aired on Tuesday's Early Show. Bob Schieffer, Erica Hill, and Rebecca Jarvis pressed Reps. Paul Ryan and Allen West, Senator Tom Coburn, and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to consider tax hikes to deal with the deficit. Schieffer also specifically accused the three members of Congress of " doing nothing " to fix the economy. The two online questions which Jarvis took from viewers touted Democratic talking points about deficits under former President George W. Bush and how cutting the federal budget would lead to... continue reading
CNN's Ali Velshi apparently believes the idea of a federal government limited within Constitutional powers is a little far-fetched. He made his thoughts known in an interview with Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) on Tuesday's American Morning, hours after Bachmann declared her candidacy for president during a GOP primary debate. "Now, the fact is, when we have to change things in society, government has had to provide incentives to capital to move into certain areas. Think about energy, think about the environment," he told Bachmann. [Video below.] "Do you really believe that the federal government should offer no incentives, should undertake... continue reading