Byron Pitts, Kerry's TV Toady - Tell the Truth! 2004 - The Weekly Worst -- Media Research Center

The Weekly Worst

Byron Pitts, Kerry's TV Toady

Tuesday, August 3, 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. The "award" for last week's worst bias goes to CBS's Byron Pitts who more than any other network reporter used his airtime to promote pro-Kerry spin rather than aggressively cover the Democratic candidate.

» John Kerry's Presidential "Destiny." On Thursday's Early Show, Pitts narrated a Kerry profile that could easily pass for a Democratic campaign commercial: "Tonight's acceptance of the Democratic nomination is more than merely a day, it's his destiny."

In more than three minutes, Pitts made no reference to anything negative or controversial about Kerry's career, and he ended by summoning some of the campaign's favorite imagery: "The day before his speech, Kerry crossed Boston Harbor with some of his crewmates from Vietnam. They have one battle left. But tonight the loner will stand alone here in his hometown one more time and look to do what John F. Kerry has nearly always done — find a way to win."

Byron Pitts narrated a fawning version of John Kerry's life story for CBS's Early Show.

• For more, see the July 29 CyberAlert, PM edition.

Did We Mention Vietnam? During live coverage moments before Kerry's convention speech on Thursday, Pitts sycophantically told CBS viewers how "inside his left jacket pocket are...the Vietnam dog tags he wore in Vietnam, still wrapped in the black gaffers tape he used in Vietnam to keep those dog tags quiet as he went on patrol....Often in his life John Kerry has been down, but he always finds a way to get up."

At the convention, Byron Pitts trumpeted John Kerry as a brave man of faith.

• For more, see the July 30 CyberAlert, AM edition.

Scenes From His Parents' Deathbeds. After the speech, Pitts was even more treacly: "Four years ago, during the Democratic convention, not far from where we stand tonight,...John Kerry stood near his father on his deathbed. Earlier, as the family was preparing to leave John Kerry's home in Boston, I'm told he whispered to his sister, ‘remember the words of our mother on her deathbed when she said, ‘John,' knowing he would run for President some day, ‘remember, John, integrity, that's what matters.' Tonight, John Kerry tried to show that integrity."

After John Kerry's speech, Byron Pitts continued with his toadying commentary.

• For more, see the July 30 CyberAlert, AM edition.