1. Nets Swoon for Obama, Tout 'Big Step' Toward Presidential Bid
Just as when Democratic Senator Barack Obama said he was considering a presidential campaign last October, his announcement Monday -- via a Web video that he has set up an exploratory committee -- unleashed media excitement. The CBS Evening News treated it as one of the two big stories of the day: "I'm Katie Couric. Two major stories tonight: A vicious attack in Baghdad....And Senator Barack Obama takes a big step toward running for President." After that tease, Couric announced: "He's generated a lot of excitement. And now it looks like Senator Barack Obama is, indeed, jumping into the presidential race." Over on ABC's World News, which devoted more than four minutes to the topic, anchor Kate Snow trumpeted how "Democratic rising star Barack Obama takes a major step toward a run for the White House." She soon trumpeted how "the presidential race got a major jolt today. The man who could become the first African-American President took a major step toward becoming a candidate." Snow even spun a negative into a positive: "His political resume is rather thin, but in the 2008 race, that could be a plus." NBC anchor Brian Williams teased "a big step tonight for Barack Obama" before touting how "a bit of political history was made today..."

2. CNN Reporter on McCain: Senator Fending Off Fire From 'Far Right'
On Tuesday's American Morning, CNN's Miles O'Brien reported on the statement by evangelical leader James Dobson that he could never support Arizona Senator John McCain's bid for the White House. O'Brien twice referred to the comments as attacks from "the far right." Political correspondent Bob Franken went on to characterize the remarks by Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, as "lashing out at Senator John McCain." Franken followed by recounting McCain's sometimes rocky relationship with Christian conservatives. In the process, the CNN reporter simplified and omitted some important facts about the Senator's record. But first, Miles O'Brien led with classic labeling bias: "Senator John McCain takes not-so friendly fire from the far right. Why he is fending off criticism from an evangelical leader." And, a couple of minutes later: "Senator John McCain is fending off fire from the far right flank this morning. A leading evangelical minister says there's no way he could support McCain for President."

3. Olbermann Blasts '24' as Pro-Bush 'Fearmongering,' 'Brainwashing'
The night after the four-hour, two-night season premiere of Fox's 24 ended with a "suitcase nuke" being set off by Middle Eastern terrorists in a Southern California warehouse, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann saw a nefarious plot to aid President Bush: "Is 24 just entertainment or is it propaganda designed to keep people thinking about domestic terrorism to keep us scared?" He demanded Tuesday night: "Gripping drama or thinly veiled propaganda?" Olbermann recounted how 24 "featured a mall attack, a would-be suicide bomber on a subway, and a successful suicide bombing on a passenger bus. Not in places where these things have already happened, but in a country called the United States of America. In case you missed the point, the show finished up with a nuclear weapon detonating in a major American city, literally conjuring up the administration's imagery for the war in Iraq, the good old mushroom cloud." Olbermann soon proposed that "if the irrational right can claim that the news is fixed to try to alter people's minds or that networks should be boycotted for nudity or for immorality," then "shouldn't those same groups be saying 24 should be taken off of TV because it's naked brainwashing?"

4. Letterman's "Top Ten Little-Known Facts About Barack Obama"
Letterman's "Top Ten Little-Known Facts About Barack Obama."

Nets Swoon for Obama, Tout 'Big Step'
Toward Presidential Bid

     Just as when Democratic Senator Barack Obama said he was considering a presidential campaign last October, his announcement Monday -- via a Web video that he has set up an exploratory committee -- unleashed media excitement. The CBS Evening News treated it as one of the two big stories of the day: "I'm Katie Couric. Two major stories tonight: A vicious attack in Baghdad....And Senator Barack Obama takes a big step toward running for President. He says it's time for a change." After that tease, Couric announced: "Hi everyone. He's generated a lot of excitement. And now it looks like Senator Barack Obama is, indeed, jumping into the presidential race. We'll have more about that in a moment."

     Over on ABC's World News, which devoted more than four minutes to the topic, anchor Kate Snow trumpeted how "Democratic rising star Barack Obama takes a major step toward a run for the White House." She soon trumpeted how "the presidential race got a major jolt today. The man who could become the first African-American President took a major step toward becoming a candidate." Snow even spun a negative into a positive: "His political resume is rather thin, but in the 2008 race, that could be a plus." NBC anchor Brian Williams teased "a big step tonight for Barack Obama" before touting how "a bit of political history was made today, kind of, when Illinois Democratic Senator Barack Obama almost declared his candidacy for President."

     NBC Nightly News, at least, held it's Obama story to a 1:30 piece from Chip Reid and Williams, unlike ABC and CBS, took 20 seconds to note the opening of an presidential exploratory committee by Republican Tom Tancredo.

     Of the coverage aired on the three networks, only ABC's Jake Tapper uttered the "liberal" label in connection with Obama: "In recent trips to key early primary states Iowa and New Hampshire, Obama drew praise for presenting fairly traditional liberal views as fresh and inspiring."

     [This item was posted Tuesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

     Last October 23, the CyberAlert item, "ABC & NBC Hail 'Remarkable' and 'Exciting' Obama Presidential Bid," recounted the media's excitement after Obaama announced on Meet the Press that he was considering a presidential run: www.mrc.org

     That thrill continued, as detailed in the next day's CyberAlert: "For 2nd Night, Nets Trumpet 'Political Phenom' Obama, a 'Sensation' and 'Rock Star.'" Go to: www.mrc.org

     The teases and story set-ups on the January 16 evening newscasts on ABC, CBS and NBC:

     # ABC's World News with Charles Gibson (4:15 to Obama story)

     Kate Snow's tease: "On his mark: Democratic rising star Barack Obama takes a major step toward a run for the White House. Why is a first term Senator causing such a stir?"

     Snow's introduction: "To political news now. The presidential race got a major jolt today. The man who could become the first African-American President took a major step toward becoming a candidate. Senator Barack Obama opened an exploratory committee to raise money and hire staff. His political resume is rather thin, but in the 2008 race, that could be a plus. ABC's senior political correspondent Jake Tapper joins us now."

     # CBS Evening News (3:00 on the Obama story, not counting Couric's top of show tease and intro)

     Couric's tease: "I'm Katie Couric. Two major stories tonight: A vicious attack in Baghdad....And Senator Barack Obama takes a big step toward running for President. He says it's time for a change."
     Obama in exploratory site video: "I've been struck by how hungry we all are for a different kind of politics."

     Couric at top of newscast: "Hi everyone. He's generated a lot of excitement. And now it looks like Senator Barack Obama is, indeed, jumping into the presidential race. We'll have more about that in a moment."

     Couric set up for the Obama story: "Now to the Barack Obama story. After months of speculation, the freshman Senator from Illinois says yes, he does want to be the next President of the United States. The official announcement will come next month. But today he said he's forming an exploratory committee. Gloria Borger is our national political correspondent. Gloria, Obama had a thoroughly modern way of getting his message out today."

     # NBC Nightly News (1:30 on Obama)

     Brian Williams' tease: "A big step tonight for Barack Obama. One step closer to running for President. Is it a game-changer for the Democrats?"

     The story intro from Williams: "And in this country, a bit of political history was made today, kind of, when Illinois Democratic Senator Barack Obama almost declared his candidacy for President. Officially, he's forming an exploratory committee, which usually means, unofficially, he's running. Chip Reid will explain all of it for us tonight. He's on the Hill. Chip, what are we seeing here?"

     The Web site of Obam exploratory committee: www.barackobama.com

CNN Reporter on McCain: Senator Fending
Off Fire From 'Far Right'

     On Tuesday's American Morning, CNN's Miles O'Brien reported on the statement by evangelical leader James Dobson that he could never support Arizona Senator John McCain's bid for the White House. O'Brien twice referred to the comments as attacks from "the far right." Political correspondent Bob Franken went on to characterize the remarks by Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, as "lashing out at Senator John McCain." Franken followed by recounting McCain's sometimes rocky relationship with Christian conservatives. In the process, the CNN reporter simplified and omitted some important facts about the Senator's record. But first, Miles O'Brien led with classic labeling bias: "Senator John McCain takes not-so friendly fire from the far right. Why he is fending off criticism from an evangelical leader?" And, a couple of minutes later: "Senator John McCain is fending off fire from the far right flank this morning. A leading evangelical minister says there's no way he could support McCain for President."

     [This item, by Scott Whitlock, was posted Tuesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

     Illinois Senator Barack Obama announced on January 16 that he would be launching a presidential exploratory committee for 2008. What do you think the chances are that CNN will label Obama, who has a lifetime American Conservative Union score of 8, as a member of the "far left?" See: www.acuratings.org

     After being introduced by O'Brien, Franken started the segment by recounting McCain's history with Christian conservatives:
     "Good morning, Miles. Well, he's been trying to enter stage right, but he has certainly not been altogether successful. One of the nation's most influential Christian conservatives is lashing out at Senator John McCain."
     James Dobson: "He's not in favor of traditional marriage, and I pray that we won't get stuck with him."
     Franken: "James Dobson, founder of the evangelical powerhouse Focus on the Family, was speaking on a Christian radio program last week. Dobson said there's no way he'll get behind McCain's bid for the White House."
     Dobson: "I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances."
     Franken: "Those comments highlight a major political problem for the Arizona senator. He remains estranged from his party's core voters, conservative evangelicals, major players in Republican primaries."
     Mark Preston, CNN political editor: "I don't think that they think that John McCain is a true believer, that John McCain is with them on all the issues, that John McCain, if he were to become president, would push a social agenda as hard and fast as they would like."
     Franken: "McCain does oppose abortion and same-sex marriage, but he refuses to get behind a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. And he's generally had an arm's length relationship with evangelical leaders. Back in the 2000 presidential campaign, McCain called his then opponent George W. Bush a 'Pat Robertson Republican,' who panders to Christian leaders like Jerry Falwell. That was then. Now, of course, McCain is struggling to win over those same religious leaders. He recently spent some political quality time with Falwell, delivering the commencement address at the reverend's fundamentalist Liberty University."

     Franken is guilty of some serious simplifications and omissions of McCain's record. He highlighted McCain's "Pat Robertson Republican" remark, but failed to mention other, harsher comments from the same speech, such as this one by the Senator in the February 28, 2000 event: "The political tactics of division and slander are not our values. They areâ€" They are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party, and our country. Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right."

     And, as the MRC's Tim Graham noted in a February 19, 2000 editorial for World magazine, as the media coverage on McCain grew more flowery, his positions seemed to become more liberal:
     "As Mr. McCain's crusade drew strength from national media coverage, he grew more liberal, such as denouncing George W. Bush's tax cut proposal for giving too much money back to the rich. Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen reported in December: 'McCain's people whisper, Don't worry. He's not really so anti-abortion. He'll come around on gay rights, gun control, and almost anything else you can name.'" See: www.mrc.org

     Perhaps this is something to remember the next time the media start attacking "far right" critics of John McCain.

Olbermann Blasts '24' as Pro-Bush 'Fearmongering,'
'Brainwashing'

     The night after the four-hour, two-night season premiere of Fox's 24 ended with a "suitcase nuke" being set off by Middle Eastern terrorists in a Southern California warehouse, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann saw a nefarious plot to aid President Bush: "Is 24 just entertainment or is it propaganda designed to keep people thinking about domestic terrorism to keep us scared?" He demanded Tuesday night: "Gripping drama or thinly veiled propaganda?" Olbermann recounted how 24 "featured a mall attack, a would-be suicide bomber on a subway, and a successful suicide bombing on a passenger bus. Not in places where these things have already happened, but in a country called the United States of America. In case you missed the point, the show finished up with a nuclear weapon detonating in a major American city, literally conjuring up the administration's imagery for the war in Iraq, the good old mushroom cloud."

     Olbermann then posed a series of absurd questions to Robert Greenwald, producer of the comically bad anti-FNC movie, Outfoxed. His options for Greenwald: "Is 24 propaganda? Is it fearmongering? Or is it a program-length commercial for one political party?" Olbermann soon proposed that "if the irrational right can claim that the news is fixed to try to alter people's minds or that networks should be boycotted for nudity or for immorality," then "shouldn't those same groups be saying 24 should be taken off of TV because it's naked brainwashing?" Suggesting some sort of Fox-White House conspiracy, Olbermann tossed up: "But does this not begin to look at this point like the blurring of the lines here," between fact and fiction, "is deliberate?"

     [This item was posted late Tuesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

     Of course, back in September the premiere hour of CBS's Jericho ended with a nuclear explosion caused by a terrorist attack on America. But that never bothered Olbermann. TV.com's page with a plot summary, and an image of the atomic cloud: "After a nuclear disaster caused by several terrorist attacks destroys most of America, residents of a small Kansas town must come to terms with a new and very different reality." See: www.tv.com

     As for TV networks using an atomic explosion for propaganda, what about ABC's 1983 movie, The Day After? TV Land in 2005 re-ran the 1983 ABC television movie about the impact of nuclear war as seen through people in Lawrence, Kansas. The film aired at the height of the "nuclear freeze" movement in protest of President Reagan's move to deploy new missiles in West Germany. For more, check the June 30, 2005 CyberAlert: www.mrc.org

     And 24 portraying terrorist attacks hardly started this week with its sixth season. The program, in which each hour matches one-hour of elapsed time in the show that stars Keifer Sutherland as Los Angeles-based "CTU" (Counter-Terrorism Unit) agent "Jack Bauer," debuted in November of 2001. The second season premiered on October 29, 2002 with a season focused on how, according to TV.com, "a Middle Eastern terrorist group known as Second Wave is planning to set off a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles sometime that day." See: www.tv.com

     Fox's page for 24: www.fox.com

     In previous seasons, the hero Jack Bauer manages to prevent the ultimate goal of the terrorists, but setbacks occur along the way. And that's all that happened in Monday night's show. During a raid to capture a group of terrorists, one managed to set off the suitcase nuke taken from Russia, but while it is the biggest attack in 24 history, with 20 hours to go in the series which will air Monday's at 9pm ET/PT through May, it is surely not the much deadlier ultimate goal of the terrorists which Bauer and CTU will strive to thwart.

     Olbermann's cited the MRC's NewsBusters blog as part of his rant: "Right-wing Web sites leaving no doubt as to what they think viewers should take away from this fictional attack. Case in point: NewsBusters.org says this scene [of atomic explosion], quote, 'should be required viewing for all media members who question what's at risk and whether there really is a war on terror,' and accuses the media of undermining the Bush administration and, quote, 'downplaying the seriousness of terrorism.'"

     Noel Sheppard's posting quoted by Olbermann: newsbusters.org

     Mark Finkelstein's post with video of Olbermann quoting from NewsBusters: newsbusters.org

     The MRC's Brad Wilmouth took down Olbermann's paranoia as expressed on the January 16 Countdown:

     Olbermann, in opening teaser: "And the never-ending fictional war waged on TV. Is 24 just entertainment or is it propaganda designed to keep people thinking about domestic terrorism to keep us scared?"

     Olbermann, before commercial break at 8:12pm EST: "24 is back. It dropped the bomb literally. Al Gore makes a movie about global warming and gets smeared as a fearmonger. Fox portrays a fictionalized America riddled with terrorists, which helps keep part of the real America convinced we might really be riddled with terrorists. And it wins five Emmies and two Golden Globes? Gripping drama or thinly veiled propaganda?"

     Olbermann, during the commercial break: "Suicide bombers in the cities of America, suitcase nuke detonated in Los Angeles. The fear is fictional on the series 24, but is the intent to spark real fear among real Americans? Fear that can be turned into political gain. That's next. This is Countdown."

     Olbermann, setting up the 8:17pm EST segment:
     "It's a familiar tactic for grabbing and holding the public's attention beloved by both the Bush administration and, just as another example, Fox News Channel. Step one: fear. And if step one does not work, step two: more fear. In our fourth story on the Countdown, it is also evidently how the producers of the Fox series 24 plan to keep viewers during the show's sixth year, as evidenced in the first 30 seconds of the season premiere."
     [clip from 24 showing bus explosions]
     Olbermann: "If that wasn't enough to scare or outrage you, the rest of the four-hour, two-night show opener featured a mall attack, a would-be suicide bomber on a subway, and a successful suicide bombing on a passenger bus. Not in places where these things have already happened, but in a country called the United States of America. In case you missed the point, the show finished up with a nuclear weapon detonating in a major American city, literally conjuring up the administration's imagery for the war in Iraq, the good old mushroom cloud. Right-wing Web sites leaving no doubt as to what they think viewers should take away from this fictional attack. Case in point: NewsBusters.org says this scene, quote, 'should be required viewing for all media members who question what's at risk and whether there really is a war on terror,' and accuses the media of undermining the Bush administration and, quote, 'downplaying the seriousness of terrorism.'"
     Olbermann: "At least the rest of us didn't make it into a sitcom. By that logic, of course, somewhere in this country there really is a cheerleader who will never die, there's at least one real-life talking dog, and a mother and a daughter who patter back and forth like the Gilmore Girls. Is 24 propaganda? Is it fearmongering? Or is it a program-length commercial for one political party? I'm joined now by Robert Greenwald, who made the documentary film Outfoxed. Thanks again for your time tonight, sir."
     Robert Greenwald, Outfoxed: "Thank you. Nice to be with you."
     Olbermann: "Most people obviously recognize the show's fictional, but how well does the fictionalizing of seemingly actual terror events, like subway and bus bombings, and sort of templating them over the United States' landscape, work as a fear tactic?"
     Greenwald: "Well, we know how susceptible people are to fear, some of it with good reason. The tragedy, as we know, has been how this administration has played on people's fears and how Fox News and Fox in general has used it over and over and over again. As you say, people can tell the difference. This is fiction. What we're dealing with in the world at times is fact. You know, of course, the question is can this administration tell the difference given that every day we get a different reason about who we should be afraid of, why we should be afraid, and why we went to war."
     Olbermann: "And the old line, of course, seems to apply here about people insisting TV does not impact the public's perceptions, and then you point out, 'Well, gee wiz, all those advertisers must have wasted every dollar they ever spent on television.' But if the irrational right can claim that the news is fixed to try to alter people's minds or that networks should be boycotted for nudity or for immorality, shouldn't those same groups be saying 24 should be taken off of TV because it's naked brainwashing?"
     Greenwald: "Yes, well, I don't think those groups have ever talked about brainwashing, but it's a very good point because I think one of the most devastating things that has happened with that show has been the narrative that torture works, where over and over again they show that there's this ticking bomb scenario, which is a false idea to begin with, right, that you have one second to get X information to save all these people's lives, and the only way to solve it is by torturing somebody. We've seen the results of torture. It doesn't work and you get false information. And that's where the show and other shows like it really do a disservice because they affect a kind of narrative in a way that people throughout the country start to believe, yeah, well, I really don't like torture, but I better use it because it's the only way to save my country."
     Olbermann: "John McCain did a cameo in the series and joked about torture afterwards. Senator Cornyn has now done a promo on Fox News about this series. And, of course, there was the love fest at the Heritage Foundation last year starring the producers, some of the actors, Secretary Chertoff from Homeland Security, and comedian Rush Limbaugh. I mean, we've had lines between reality and TV blurred before. There are the whole alternate universe quality to the West Wing. But does this not begin to look at this point like the blurring of the lines here is deliberate?"
     Greenwald: "Well, it certainly seems to be that way. And, of course, when you have the Vice President and the former Secretary of Defense saying this is their favorite show, it does give you pause to wonder about what really is going on here. Now, I'm not a conspiracy theorist. But, of course, the fact that the show is on Fox raises all of our eyebrows. Now, having said that, you know, there's some very good execution in the show and that's what makes the sort of moral questions that you're asking even more important, and more important that people tell the difference, and that we raise hell when they cross a line that shouldn't be crossed blurring the fact with the fiction."
     Olbermann: "Is there some tangible way that this could actually help a President who has relied, who has campaigned on, you know, our party will protect you and the other guys, well, you're on your own?"
     Greenwald: "Well, I don't know what's going to help this President given where his ratings are. I don't know that an angel coming down would save him right now. But I think any time that one is using fear to create a concern among the electorate, to create a concern in our country and to motivate and push people and say you better be afraid, you better be very afraid, the more we keep hearing that message, I think the more we need to push back against it and ask the hard questions."

Letterman's "Top Ten Little-Known Facts
About Barack Obama"

     From the January 16 Late Show with David Letterman, the "Top Ten Little-Known Facts About Barack Obama." Late Show home page: www.cbs.com 10. As a child, was taunted with "Obama's so fat jokes"

9. After finishing Harvard law, served as Doug Llewelyn's understudy on "The People's Court"

8. Follows Bush's weekly radio address DJ-ing the "Barock and Roll Power Hour"

7. Real last name: Obamawitz

6. At Senate hearings, throws on his iPod whenever John Kerry has the floor

5. Played Kenickie in the Senate production of "Grease"

4. Makes immigration speeches as hilarious, uninformed foreigner "Borat Obama"

3. Even Donald Trump can't think of anything nasty to say about him

2. Presides over congressional committee to lower Al Gore's body fat

1. Only running for President to piss off Hillary

     And from the Late Show's Web site, some of the "Extra" top ten entries that didn't make the cut:

-- Often upset as a child because he could never find his name on any toy license plates

-- Posted a parody video on YouTube called: "Barack to the Future"

-- Once walked in on Congressman Foley showing off his legislative branch

-- Five-time winner on Jeopardy's "Guy Named Barack Week"

-- Brent Baker