Even before ObamaCare passed, on CBS's Sunday Morning reporter Tracy Smith touted the bill as the fulfillment of a century of liberal efforts: "After months of rancor in the streets, and histrionics in the halls of Congress, the vote takes place in just a few hours.... if it feels like this long, angry, divisive debate over American health care has gone on practically forever - the fact is, it has." Throughout the segment, Smith spoke with left-wing Brown University Professor James Morone, who began by lamenting how much of an obstacle the Constitution has been in achieving nationalized health care:... continue reading
Over the last 24 hours, MSNBC's David Shuster has been heavily promoting a questionable online poll suggesting that significant chunks of Republicans think Barack Obama is the Antichrist, Hitleresque or wasn't born in America. On Wednesday, Shuster questioned the Harris survey, even as the network's graphic screamed, "Obama 'Hitler Poll' Questioned: Controversial Poll Suggests Hate Fueling Lunatic Fringe ." Shuster talked with Humphrey Taylor, the chairman of Harris Polling and provided some skepticism about the survey's validity. But, he didn't explain why MSNBC has been so heavily hyping it. Additionally, Shuster still embraced the incendiary language of the poll. He... continue reading
Wednesday's front-page "Economic Scene" column in the New York Times, " In the Process, Pushing Back At Inequality ," by Times economic guru David Leonhardt, fed conservative suspicions that Obama's push for health "reform" was not so much about improving health care as it was about social engineering. Leonhardt harped on how the legislation will give a boost to reducing U.S. income inequality (a burning issue for Leonhardt). For all the political and economic uncertainties about health reform, at least one thing seems clear: The bill that President Obama signed on Tuesday is the federal government's biggest attack on economic... continue reading
On Wednesday, both NBC's Today and ABC's Good Morning America exclusively cited the latest Gallup/USA Today poll , which shows significantly more public support for ObamaCare than other recent polls . Both programs failed to mention several polls that continued to show public opposition to the massive legislation. NBC Today co-host Meredith Vieira used the Gallup poll to grill Republican Senator Jim DeMint, suggesting the tide of public opinion had turned in favor of the bill: "by a margin of nine percent, Americans say it was a good thing that Congress passed this bill. Half describe their reaction as enthusiastic... continue reading
ABC News correspondents Brian Rooney and Laura Marquez "are among the ABC reporters whose contracts will not be renewed as the network looks to shed anywhere from 300-400 jobs by the end of the year," TV Newser reported in a Wednesday afternoon post. The names of the two California-based correspondents (Rooney in Los Angeles and Marquez in San Francisco) should ring familiar to BiasAlert readers. During the fires last summer, Rooney featured a resident who affirmed "he would gladly pay more taxes." Multiple offender Marquez last year used her World News platform to express frustration at the difficulty of raising... continue reading
During a segment headlined: "Health Care Extremes, Obama Celebrates New Bill As Right Wing Rants" NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, on Wednesday's Today show, painted a stark contrast of cheery Obamacare supporters versus "conservative voices" full of "anger" and "hateful words" that are being provoked by Rush Limbaugh who is adding "fuel to the fire." O'Donnell began her piece with the Democrats celebrating: "Even Washington veterans wanted a keepsake from a ceremony that may define the Obama years. And to victors, go the pens - 22 of them," but then quickly turned to running clips of protestors and conservative talk show hosts... continue reading
At first glance it appeared Today viewers were in for a balanced segment with NBC's Meredith Vieira interviewing both Republican Senator Jim DeMint and Democratic Senator Dick Durbin about the health care bill bill on Wednesday's show. However Vieira saved her most slanted questions for DeMint as she mocked his earlier prediction of an Obamacare defeat being his Waterloo, "Is it now your party's Waterloo?" and after selectively citing one poll that showed a favorable view of the bill questioned which party was really "out of touch with the public?" First up, in addition to Vieira throwing DeMint's previous "Waterloo"... continue reading
Getting carried away with her enthusiasm, Diane Sawyer opened ABC's World News on Tuesday night by proclaiming: "As of today, it is the law of the land that every man, woman and child in America will have health care coverage." CBS's Harry Smith, however, filling in for Katie Couric, led by reporting the bill President Obama signed "will ensure that 94 percent of Americans have health insurance, the closest the nation has ever come to universal coverage." Later, Smith displayed Obama's signature as he trumpeted: "This is what history looks like , as it came from the hand of President... continue reading
Good Morning America continued its post-health care victory lap for the late Ted Kennedy on Tuesday. An ABC graphic enthused, "The Lion's Legacy: Kennedy's Widow on Health Care." Reporter Jon Karl talked to Vicki Kennedy and prompted her to lament Republican obstruction: " How disappointed would [Kennedy] have been to see that this was a vote without a single Republican in either chamber voting yes? " As video of tea party protesters appeared onscreen, Karl wondered, "Did he anticipate in any way, the level of vitriol?" (It seemed lost on Karl that Ted Kennedy often attacked people with his own... continue reading
In Tuesday's front-page "political memo" in the New York Times, " For G.O.P., United Stand Has Drawbacks, Too, " chief political reporter Adam Nagourney, like many in the mainstream media, used Republican critic David Frum to represent the responsible "conservative" wing of the party in order to bash the lack of Republican support for Obama-style health care reform. Frum has blamed talk radio and Fox News for Republican defeat on ABC News and other outlets, as noted by MRC's Brent Baker. Nagourney's front-page editorializing began in the very first paragraph, accusing the G.O.P. of misleading the public about the health... continue reading