CBS’s Rude Rebuke of Reagan - Tell the Truth! 2004 - The Weekly Worst -- Media Research Center

The Weekly Worst

CBS’s Rude Rebuke of Reagan;
Downplaying a Million New Jobs

Tuesday, June 8, 2004

The so-called mainstream media never admit their liberal tilt, so the news analysts at the Media Research Center tirelessly document the media's bias and expose their left-wing agenda. The "awards" for last week's lowlights:

» CBS’s Rude Rebuke of Reagan. As President, Ronald Reagan defeated Soviet communism, rejuvenated the U.S. economy and invigorated the American spirit. But only an hour after his death on Saturday — and less than 15 minutes into their live coverage — CBS jarringly focused on a bit of anti-Reagan minutia: complaints he “cashed in” after leaving office. “Their California retirement home, a $2.5 million hilltop ranch house in exclusive Bel-Air, was a gift from wealthy friends,” reporter Jerry Bowen reminded viewers in a pre-taped story played about 5pm EDT. “The Reagans paid them back, but the appearance of impropriety lingered.”

“It was a trip to Japan in October of 1989 that provoked the most stinging comments,” Bowen continued. “For two 20-minute speeches and a few public appearances, Mr. Reagan was paid $2 million by a Japanese conglomerate.” CBS’s jab was a rude interruption in a weekend of coverage that generally recalled President Reagan as a towering conservative leader who left behind a freer and more prosperous world.

Minutes into live coverage of Ronald Reagan's death, CBS charged him with "cashing in" on the presidency.

For more, see the June 6 CyberAlert.

» Downplaying a Million New Jobs. On Friday, we learned the booming U.S. economy created 947,000 new jobs in March, April and May, but CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather devoted just 20 seconds to that good news before reporter Jim Axelrod spent more than two minutes on an Ohio company that is closing three factories. “The 1,300 jobs lost here, at a company whose chairman is one of his strongest supporters, that’s bad for the President. Very bad,” Axelrod insisted.

For more, see the June 7 CyberAlert.