The Obama administration launched its air war against Moammar Qaddafi's Libya after a vote of the UN Security Council, but without any congressional authorization - and apparently not even very much consultation with congressional leaders. A review of the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts from Friday night through Monday night found virtually no network interest in Obama's bypassing of Congress - an attitude in stark contrast to their approach to the Bush administration during the run-up to the Iraq war in late 2002. With Libya, only the NBC Nightly News has even mentioned the controversy over the Obama administration's... continue reading
Of the three morning shows, only ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday highlighted anger and dismay on Capitol Hill that Barack Obama did not seek congressional approval for air strikes against Libya. Reporter Jake Tapper pointed out the "real disappointment" felt by "all the Republicans I spoke to and the liberal Democrats." An ABC graphic asserted, "Obama faces critics on Libya." Yet, although NBC's Today found time for the latest on Charlie Sheen's escapades, the program couldn't manage a full report on Barack Obama's decision bomb Libya. CBS's Early Show also failed to cover this aspect of the story. Tapper... continue reading
In a report for the Associated Press on Sunday, Jim Kuhnhenn fawned over President Obama's tour of Rio De Janeiro during a trip to Brazil: "Obama played grand tourist....The president's sightseeing Sunday was sure to endear him even more to a diverse and multicultural country where his personal story already makes him popular." The article described how Obama, while visiting a community center in one of Rio's poorest slums, "shed his coat and tie, rolled up his sleeves and dribbled one-on-one soccer with one surprised boy." And noted: "The president walked out into the streets and waved to throngs of... continue reading
Monday's New York Times "news analysis," " President Underscores Similarities With Brazilians, but Sidesteps One ," found reporters Alexei Barrionuevo and Jackie Calmes with Obama in Rio de Janeiro highlighting the president's positive reception in Brazil, inspiring the citizenry "because of his African heritage." From a visit to this city's most infamous slum to a national address amid the gilded elegance of a celebrated theater, President Obama on Sunday sought to underscore the shared histories and futures of the United States and Brazil, reaching out to the people of one of the most racially diverse countries in the Americas. But... continue reading
Chief New York Times "Caucus" blog contributor Michael Shear celebrated Bracket Obama in a Saturday morning post on the president's college basketball tournament pool picks -" Obama's N.C.A.A. Bracket Is One of the Best ." The wins just keep piling up for the president, at least on the court, in Shear's telling. Being president is an ego trip. So you would have thought President Obama wouldn't need to add to his bragging rights. But Mr. Obama's N.C.A.A. men's basketball bracket stands - for the moment, anyway - as one of the best out there. Out of 32 games, Mr. Obama... continue reading
On Sunday's 60 Minutes, CBS correspondent Morley Safer interviewed New York Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan and pressed him on the his commitment to traditional Church teachings: "No question that you're conciliatory, that you like to have dialog, but underneath that you're an old-fashioned conservative. I mean, in the sense of right-wing conservative." Dolan turned Safer's characterization around: "I would bristle at being termed 'right-wing.' But if somebody means enthusiastically committed and grateful for the timeless heritage of the Church, and feeling that my best service is when I try to preserve that and pass that on in its fullness and... continue reading
NBC's Andrea Mitchell, who after a 2008 presidential debate hailed Barack Obama's foreign policy knowledge ("boy, he did show a command of foreign policy in terms of the nuts and bolts of it"), on Sunday's Meet the Press trumpeted now-President Obama's Libya action: "This was pretty remarkable - bringing this whole coalition together and getting the Arab League" to back military action. Mitchell also proclaimed Ambassador Susan Rice "did a remarkable job at the UN" where she delivered "some very adept diplomacy." Mitchell's praise for Obama came in the context of acknowledging "the problem that the President has in projecting... continue reading
On Friday's Morning Edition, NPR's Mara Liasson conspicuously excluded conservatives who are opposed to "comprehensive" immigration reform proposals, such as those forwarded by former President George W. Bush, during a report on Utah's new and "milder" immigration law. Liasson emphasized the state's " conservative politics ," but couldn't find any conservatives who opposed the law. Host Renee Montagne introduced the correspondent's report by highlighting how " Arizona's tough immigration law has received extensive coverage, and there's been a lot of talk about similar measures in other states. Yet, one of Arizona's neighbors, also known for its conservative politics , has... continue reading
According to Good Morning America host Robin Roberts, reporter Jake Tapper is a "big fan" of South Park. His affection showed on Friday as he interviewed the program's creators, the duo behind a vulgar Broadway play mocking Mormons. At no time during the segment on The Book of Mormon did Tapper feature any on-camera criticism of Parker and Stone. (He simply read a statement at the end of the piece.) Instead, the journalist mildly offered questions such as "Why go after Mormons?" When Stone asserted, " I don't think either of us think that Mormonism is any goofier than Hinduism... continue reading
Following the March 8 release of an undercover sting video of NPR executive Ron Schiller calling Tea Party members "racist," CBS initially gave no coverage to the ensuing scandal and resignations of him and NPR President Vivian Schiller. However, it turns out that the controversy was covered by a CBS News broadcast, the barely-watched 4 A.M. Morning News. On Thursday's CBS Evening News, anchor Katie Couric did a news brief on House Republicans voting to de-fund NPR: "Republicans say NPR does well enough to fund itself, but Democrats say a cutoff of federal money would cripple some 600 public radio... continue reading