A headline in USA Today on Monday worried, "Elections are likely to trim number of women in Congress." It wasn't until the 15th paragraph of Susan Page's story that the numerous female Republican candidates running in the midterm elections were mentioned. Instead, the Washington Bureau Chief explained, "The prospects for female congressional candidates have been hurt by a combination of a tough political landscape for Democrats - women in Congress are disproportionately Democratic- and the nation's economic troubles. Hard times historically have made voters more risk-averse and less willing to consider voting for female candidates. " [Emphasis added.] In an... continue reading
On Wednesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith highlighted supposed division between Sarah Palin and Alaska senate candidate Joe Miller: "...a controversial e-mail, reportedly from Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, that is burning up the internet, it was leaked by a left-leaning website called The Mudflats and is causing quite a stir in political circles." Smith explained that Todd Palin was upset that Miller had not endorsed Sarah Palin when asked about her possible 2012 candidacy in television interviews. Smith then quoted from the email in question: "Todd reportedly sent it to Republican senate nominee Joe Miller, who Sarah Palin endorsed,... continue reading
Just a day after NBC's Matt Lauer engaged in a rough interview with Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, Lauer engaged in a much more friendly chat, with DNC chairman Tim Kaine as he helpfully asked the former Virginia Governor, on Wednesday's Today show, what Democrats could do to best "chip away"at the GOP's lead in the polls and "counter" their messages. Lauer also jumped at the chance to ask Kaine about a rumor that Hillary Clinton may join Barack Obama on the 2012 ticket as he prodded Kaine: "Any reason why that would kind of get your juices... continue reading
It's okay for the news media to attack a candidate, but not for citizens to join together to buy TV ads criticizing one - especially if more of those ads attack Democrats than Republicans. "Earlier this year, in a very controversial decision, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that outside groups may spend unlimited amounts of money attacking candidates for office," Katie Couric intoned Tuesday night. Reporter Nancy Cordes noted that as candidates "unleash their most devastating attacks, they're bolstered this year by record expenditures from outside groups, who are often even less constrained by facts than the politicians they support."... continue reading
In light of the recent suicides reportedly brought about by persistent bullying, CNN has taken upon itself to address not only a national bullying crisis, but any homophobia or anti-gay behavior seen as contributing to such bullying. The network apparently believes that socially conservative groups contribute to the problem of putting kids down who have homosexual tendencies. CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin and author Rosalind Wiseman agreed that conservative groups who oppose protective measures for gay students simply treat them as outcasts. Wiseman, author of "Queen Bees and Wannabees," called their efforts "anti-child." "These groups don't think homosexuality is... continue reading
Touting "faint signs of hope" for Democrats in November, on Monday's CBS Evening News, political correspondent Jeff Greenfield outlined a strategy the DNC could use to stave off major Republican gains in Congress: "So how could Democrats prevent, or at least minimize, their losses? There are three keys." Greenfield began by encouraging efforts to re-energize the left: "First, turn out the base ....That's why President Obama is out trying to persuade his core backers - blacks, Hispanics, the young - not to stay home in November." He then urged marginalizing the GOP: "Second, convince the voters that this election is... continue reading
On Monday's premiere episode of CNN's Parker-Spitzer, pseudo-conservative Kathleen Parker targeted Sarah Palin, labeling her a " tease " for not announcing her candidacy for the presidency, and stated that the Republican is " also coy, which, after a little while, begins to feel dishonest ." When co-host Eliot Spitzer accused Parker of being unfair to Palin, she replied, " I am not unfair to Sarah Palin ." The host devoted her first "Opening Argument" segment to the former vice presidential candidate. After her co-host called for the firing of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in his "Opening Argument," Parker replied,... continue reading
ABC trumpeted a new poll on Tuesday as proof that conservatives and Republicans could be losing ground in the midterm election. Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos excitedly opened the show by speculating, " This morning, is the Tea Party losing traction? Our new poll says the answer may be yes as the movement's most famous candidate releases this ad ." The morning show then replayed candidate Christine O'Donnell's new campaign spot. A graphic deemed the ad, in which O'Donnell asserts, "I'm not a witch," to be "stunning." The Tea Party's most famous candidate? Stephanopoulos' phrasing was somewhat odd. Yes,... continue reading
With Election Day just a month away NBC's Matt Lauer, on Tuesday's Today show, attacked New York GOP gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino repeatedly with such pejoratives as "angry" "nasty" and "dark" and accused him of practicing "gutter politics. " Lauer even told the Tea Party backed candidate that if elected he wouldn't be able to get anything done because political leaders "need not to crack heads, they need to build bridges" and added when "I look at you, I'm not sure you're a bridge builder." This is a far cry from when Lauer interviewed President Barack Obama back on the... continue reading
Aaron Sorkin ( IMDb page ) came aboard the Monday premiere of CNN's Parker Spitzer to promote the new movie, The Social Network , for which he wrote the screenplay, but used more of his air time to spout his anti-conservative and anti-Republican prejudices, starting with Sarah Palin ( jpg screen shot of Sorkin ). Prompted by Kathleen Parker for his assessment of Palin, Sorkin, creator of NBC's The West Wing television drama, insulted Palin: Sarah Palin's an idiot. Come on. This is a remarkably, stunningly, jaw-droppingly incompetent and mean woman. (Audio: MP3 clip ) Parker jumped in: "Wow. What... continue reading