NBC Relents, Will Air Broaddrick Story, But...

Bozell Slams Pro-Clinton Media's Dismissal of
Broaddrick Story
Bozell: "The Media Are Dismissing Credible Charges of a
Violent Rape While Personally Savaging Juanita Broaddrick.
It Leads Us to Wonder Just What Kind of People These 
Pundits and Reporters Are."

ALEXANDRIA, Va. --- As NBC News relents, announcing it will air the story of Juanita Broaddrick, Media Research Center Chairman Brent Bozell is blasting a growing chorus of media pundits who are dismissing the charges while personally attacking the woman accusing President Clinton of raping her when he was Attorney General in Arkansas back in 1978.

"Not one - not one - of these people is denying Broaddrick's claim. By suggesting that this explosive story isn't 'newsworthy' these so-called reporters are dismissing credible charges of an alleged violent rape. It leads us to wonder just kind of people these pundits and reporters really are? Their comments are insidious and repulsive. They are not credible and are not to be believed," Bozell said.

Bozell noted how angry reporters have either attacked Broaddrick personally or are suggesting the American people shouldn't care even if the story is true.

REPORTERS VS. REALITY

Newsweek's Jonathan Alter: "This story was peddled by the same old right-wing enemies of Clinton in Arkansas" ("Hockenberry," MSNBC, 2/23/99).

Reality Check: Juanita Broaddrick was a Clinton campaign worker when the alleged rape occurred. She came forward entirely on her own, after Clinton was acquitted.

CBS News Anchor Dan Rather: "It happened a long time ago and number three, they've (NBC) gotta be figuring maybe, just maybe the American public has heard all they want to hear about this and are saying you know, 'Next. Let's move on to the next thing'" (Imus in the Morning, 2/23/99).

Reality Check: Because it happened some years ago, does this mean that the charge of a violent rape is no longer important? Does the anchor for the CBS Evening News really think the American people are not interested in the possibility that their president may be a rapist?

Washington Post's John Harris: "This does not fit the pattern or seem to be consistent with that behavior in any way. So I think we need to be highly skeptical of the story" (Washington Week in Review, PBS, 2/19/99).

Reality Check: The next day, 2/20/99, the Washington Post ran the Broaddrick story on its front page.

Then there is perennial and perpetual Clinton apologist Geraldo Rivera, who pulled a bait-and-switch with Broaddrick after his producer had gotten her on the phone.

CNBC's Geraldo Rivera: "She said she didn't want to talk to me. And I said, 'Why not?' She said, 'Because I'm too biased.' 'What do you mean too biased?' [She] said, 'Too biased in favor of Clinton.' I said, 'Well you are only talking to people who are against Clinton?' And that's when she, uh, she hung up on me. So anyway" (CNBC, 2/22/99).

Reality Check: Geraldo biased in favor of Bill Clinton? How did she get that idea? "

The reaction by many of these left-wing reporters and pundits in the media is absolutely reprehensible and it calls into question whether they have any credibility left with the public at all," Bozell said. "We consistently hear about network news executives wringing their hands over their declining viewership, analyzing and over-analyzing why it's happening and what they must do to correct it. Is it any wonder the public continues to tune out the garbage they are getting from partisan activists trying to pass themselves off as responsible journalists? The public can tell the difference between an honest reporter and partisan flack who is just an extension of the Clinton spin machine. The public is not fed up with the stories, it's fed up with the storytellers because they are not credible."

Media Interviews
To schedule an interview with Mr. Bozell, MRC Director of Media Analysis Tim Graham, or another MRC spokesman, contact Bob Adams or Keith Appell at (703)-683-5004.