MRC DENOUNCES TOP MEDIA FOR DOWNPLAYING KERRY’S “GET STUCK IN IRAQ” COMMENT AS GAFFE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 1, 2006

CONTACT: TIM SCHEIDERER OR COLLEEN O’BOYLE AT 703.683.5004

MRC DENOUNCES TOP MEDIA FOR DOWNPLAYING KERRY’S “GET STUCK IN IRAQ” COMMENT AS GAFFE
Media Dismiss Insult as Mistake, Hope Issue Will Vanish For Elections

Alexandria, VA–Senator John Kerry grossly insulted the intelligence of American soldiers by telling college students they would “get stuck in Iraq” if they didn't work hard in school. Yet the liberal media, instead of seizing the opportunity to condemn this offense as they have done with conservatives who make gaffes – for example, Senator George Allen’s “macaca” comment – brushed off Kerry’s insult as, among other things, “an idle political remark.”

“With his rich history of besmirching the military, John Kerry and his cheap insult against our U.S. troops should be held to the same standard as other political misconduct,” said Media Research Center President Brent Bozell. “But liberal anchors have dismissed it as merely an ‘idle political remark’ and have left it up to the White House to demand an apology.”

“Their reaction pales in comparison to the weeks upon weeks of coverage still devoted to lambasting Senator George Allen for his ‘macaca’ comment. If a conservative denoted a particular group of people as stupid, these same reporters would exploit every opportunity to drive the GOP into the ground in the week before elections. The liberal hypocrisy and media bias are loathsome.”

Examples of Downplaying Kerry’s Comment:

CBS’s Katie Couric mimicked a potential GOP ad, impersonating “John Kerry insults the troops. Do we really want the Dems to take over?”
ABC anchor Charles Gibson characterized it as merely an “idle political remark.”
CNN’s White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux stated “we hope and we think that all of this is going to go away tomorrow.”
MSNBC’s Chris Matthews referred to the controversy over Kerry’s comments as a “brouhaha” and a “rhubarb.”
CNN’s Jack Cafferty said “one can only hope” the issue goes away quickly.

To schedule an interview with MRC President Bozell or an MRC spokesperson, please contact Tim Scheiderer (x. 126) or Colleen O’Boyle (x. 122) at 703.683.5004.