In an interview with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez touted the signing of ObamaCare into law: "the Senate bill...becomes law today. You're going to be stuck with a bill you don't like." She then wondered: "What if the catastrophic scenario that you've been warning about doesn't play out?" Rodriguez referred to an interview that her fellow co-host Harry Smith had just concluded with White House advisor David Axelrod and asked: "What if, as David Axelrod suggests, now that it's a reality and people start to see the benefits, they actually like... continue reading
Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts on Tuesday pressed Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty to account for the "tone" of conservatives and Republicans following the passage of health care legislation. Speaking of protests in Washington over the weekend, she complained, "And some things that didn't help, and I don't know if you agree or not, the tone, the tone that it took." Guest co-host Bill Weir uttered similar disapproval of the "vitriol." He talked to White House senior advisor David Axelrod and worried, "How do you regard this white-hot anger we heard yesterday? " Weir also opined that some Americans are... continue reading
On Monday's Countdown show, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann reaffirmed his accusations of racism against both the Republican party and Tea Party activists, and even tied in the recent racist statements made over the intercom at a Wal-Mart by a disgruntled employee as he tried to link isolated incidents of racism to these mainstream organizations. After recounting reports that someone shouted the "N" word at black members of Congress as they walked past protesters outside the Capitol, Olbermann continued: But in a backwards, sick-to-my-stomach way, I would like to thank whoever shouted at Mr. Lewis and Mr. Carson for proving my... continue reading
NBC's Lester Holt, substitute hosting for Matt Lauer on Tuesday's Today show, questioned Michael Steele about the GOP taking a risk in its opposition to Obamacare as he explained a lot Americans have looked at the bill and found things they liked and pressed the RNC chairman: "Do you want to be in a position of taking something away?" For his part Steele fired back: "I disagree with your premise that a lot of Americans have now taken a look at the bill. Taken a look at what bill? They're still writing the thing." [ audio available here ] LESTER... continue reading
Looking at the state of both parties after President Obama's health bill win in the House, ABC's Terry Moran elevated the view of "prominent conservative" David Frum, author a year ago of Newsweek's " Why Rush is Wrong " cover story, who blamed Rush Limbaugh and Fox News for what he's dubbed the GOP's "Waterloo." On Nightline, Moran contended "anger, stoking it, expressing it, riding it...was the Republican strategy to defeat health care. And over the weekend all that anger got ugly , as some Democratic Members of Congress were called vile, racial and anti-gay slurs." But, he warned, "in... continue reading
ABC anchor Diane Sawyer shared the glow of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's victory of health, showing her, in an "ABC News exclusive" interview, a Washington Post with the headline of "Democrats Claim Health Votes" as she wondered: "What do you think your dad and your mom would have said about this moment?" Sawyer followed up: "Did your dad have a phrase, a sentence that meant the most to you when he'd say it to you, or your mom?" Pelosi's answer, "make sure you have the votes," cracked up Sawyer, who chuckled: "No so sentimental." Sawyer framed her sit-down by trumpeting... continue reading
MSNBC's David Shuster and liberal Professor Michael Eric Dyson on Monday took turns smearing Rush Limbaugh. Discussing conservative reaction to the passage of the health care bill, Shuster berated, " But, nobody on the right produced as much controversial venom this afternoon as Rush Limbaugh ." Shuster also linked the radio host to isolated outbursts over the weekend during protests in Washington. Talking to guest Michelle Bernard, he connected, " Is it possible, Michelle, to draw a link between Rush Limbaugh and when he talks, in a clip we didn't play, but how supporters should be wiped out? " He... continue reading
Obama-care passed the House, and New York Times financial reporter Tara Siegel Bernard escaped the confines of the Business section for a slanted front-pag e story in Monday's off-lead slot, " Taking Stock Of the Impact On the Wallet." The story itself is more positive than the headline, taking for granted the multitude of benefits to flow from Obama's health "reform" legislation, with hardly a mention of the negative outcomes, like tax hikes or limitations on care, until the very last sentence, which warned of "higher premiums or reduced benefits" on more expensive health-insurance packages. American consumers, who spent a... continue reading
Monday's American Morning on CNN slanted toward guests who supported ObamaCare versus opponents, by a margin of six to two. The program also devoted three segments specifically to interviewing supporters, versus only one to opponents. Correspondent John Zarella interviewed customers at Lester's Diner in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, asking them for their take on health care "reform." During a segment 43 minutes into the 6 am Eastern hour, Zarella questioned two supporters of ObamaCare. Over an hour later, the CNN correspondent found two who objected to the proposed legislation, thereby covering both sides of the debate. Anchor John Roberts, on the... continue reading
At the top of Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith proclaimed the passage of ObamaCare: "A major victory for President Obama as House Democrats work late into the night to pass health care reform." A headline on screen read: "Historic Victory." Co-host Maggie Rodriguez later introduced a report on the legislation by remarking that Smith, who was pleased with his NCAA March Madness bracket picks, was "not the only one who's happy this morning. So is President Obama." She went on to declare: "We begin with Congress's historic passage of health care reform late last night." Rodriguez recited ObamaCare... continue reading