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1. ABC Finally IDs Spitzer as Democrat, NBC Fails to for Third Night For the third evening in a row Wednesday, the NBC Nightly News refused to identify Eliot Spitzer as a Democrat, but after ABC's World News failed to cite his party affiliation on Monday and Tuesday night when Elizabeth Vargas anchored, on Wednesday evening substitute anchor George Stephanopoulos finally properly tagged him: "The Democrat resigned today just two days after reports that he patronized a high-priced prostitution service." In contrast, fill-in NBC Nightly News anchor Ann Curry on Wednesday teased news about "New York's crusading Governor" and then led her broadcast sans any party identification: "Good evening. I'm Ann Curry, in for Brian Williams tonight. Today New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who painted himself as a champion of ethics and moral conviction, resigned just two days after the bombshell news linking him to a prostitution ring. NBC's Mike Taibbi now joins us with more on this breathtaking fall from power. Mike?" Taibbi, just as on Monday and Tuesday, avoided informing viewers of Spitzer's party. 2. Today Show Continues Embargo on Spitzer Party Affiliation For the second consecutive day, NBC's Today show refused to identify Eliot Spitzer as a Democrat. In a total of seven Spitzer-related segments on Wednesday's Today show, and one interview with Barack Obama where the scandal was mentioned, not one anchor, reporter, guest, talking head or on-screen graphic mentioned Spitzer's party affiliation. However, following the pattern of Tuesday's NBC's Nightly News, the Today show graphics department did take time to place an "R" next to Rep. Peter King and New York state Rep. Joe Tedisco. 3. SNL Parody? ABC's GMA Puffs Obama, Grills Clinton Supporter In a striking resemblance to a pair of recent Saturday Night Live skits, Wednesday's Good Morning America began with a fawning interview of Barack Obama, then grilled Hillary Clinton supporter Geraldine Ferraro. 4. Tickets Now Available for MRC's 2008 'DisHonors Awards' Tickets are now available for MRC's 2008 "DisHonors Awards." The MRC's annual video awards with the "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year presented to Tony Snow, will take place in Washington, DC on Thursday evening, April 10. Confirmed participants: Ann Coulter, Larry Kudlow, Mark Levin, Cal Thomas and many more since surprise conservative guests will accept the awards in jest. 5. 'Top Ten Surprises During Eliot Spitzer's Resignation' Letterman's "Top Ten Surprises During Eliot Spitzer's Resignation." ABC Finally IDs Spitzer as Democrat, NBC Fails to for Third Night For the third evening in a row Wednesday, the NBC Nightly News refused to identify Eliot Spitzer as a Democrat, but after ABC's World News failed to cite his party affiliation on Monday and Tuesday night when Elizabeth Vargas anchored, on Wednesday evening substitute anchor George Stephanopoulos finally properly tagged him: "The Democrat resigned today just two days after reports that he patronized a high-priced prostitution service." In contrast, fill-in NBC Nightly News anchor Ann Curry on Wednesday teased news about "New York's crusading Governor" and then led her broadcast sans any party identification: "Good evening. I'm Ann Curry, in for Brian Williams tonight. Today New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who painted himself as a champion of ethics and moral conviction, resigned just two days after the bombshell news linking him to a prostitution ring. NBC's Mike Taibbi now joins us with more on this breathtaking fall from power. Mike?" Taibbi, just as on Monday and Tuesday, avoided informing viewers of Spitzer's party. CBS anchor Katie Couric also named Spitzer's party on Wednesday's CBS Evening News -- describing "a dramatic end to the political career of a man who was once one of the Democratic Party's rising stars" -- after CBS was the only broadcast network evening newscast to have done so on Monday, the day news of his dalliance with a prostitute broke. [This item, by the MRC's Brent Baker, was posted late Wednesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] (On Wednesday morning, for the second day since the revelation, the broadcast network morning shows all failed to utter the word "Democrat" in relation to Spitzer. As on Tuesday, on CBS's Early Show the only indication of Spitzer's party came from a "(D)" on screen by his name for a few seconds, the MRC's Kyle Drennen informed me. ABC's Good Morning America, the MRC's Justin McCarthy observed, re-ran the Brian Ross story from the night before in which Congressman Peter King was identified on screen as a Republican and Ross noted how "Republicans in the state capital...are threatening to begin impeachment proceedings unless Spitzer is out by the end of the day today." In CyberAlert item #2 below, the MRC's Geoff Dickens recounts how "in a total of seven Spitzer-related segments on Wednesday's Today show and one interview with Barack Obama, where the scandal was mentioned, not one anchor, reporter, guest, talking head or on-screen graphic mentioned Spitzer's party affiliation." However, matching Tuesday's NBC's Nightly News, "the Today show graphics department did take time to place an '(R)' next to Rep. Peter King and New York state Rep. Joe Tedisco.") The March 12 CyberAlert posting, "For Second Night, ABC and NBC Refuse to Utter Spitzer's Party ID," reported: Just as occurred Monday night, viewers of Tuesday's ABC and NBC evening newscasts never heard the word "Democrat" applied to New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, nor did they even put a "(D)" on screen by his name as ABC did briefly Monday. CBS didn't announce his party either on Tuesday night, but Katie Couric had done so Monday night. The ABC and NBC newscasts, however, did put "(R)" on screen over soundbites from Republicans and NBC's Mike Taibbi twice referred to the reaction from "Republican" politicians. Fill-in ABC anchor Elizabeth Vargas avoided any party tag: "New York's Governor, Eliot Spitzer, spent most of the day today huddled behind closed doors debating whether to resign after being linked to a prostitution ring." On NBC, substitute anchor Ann Curry led: "Tonight, the investigation of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's fall from grace is broadening..." Viewers could only figure out Spitzer's party by implication as both shows aired a soundbite from Republican Congressman Peter King with an "(R)" on screen. ABC's Brian Ross led into it by referring to how Spitzer will soon "end what even his political enemies called a once-brilliant career." NBC's Taibbi cited King's party as he described "Republicans threatening impeachment if he doesn't resign." Before video of State Rep. James Tedisco with an "(R-NY)" on screen, Taibbi also noted how "some Republicans in Albany would welcome" the move up by Lieutenant Governor David Paterson.... For the previous CyberAlert in full: www.mrc.org The March 11 NewsBusters item, "'Straight Arrow' Governor 'Eliot Ness' Spitzer (?-NY)," began: Incredibly, in lead stories Monday night about New York Governor Eliot Spitzer being linked to a prostitution ring, neither ABC's World News nor the NBC Nightly News verbally identified Spitzer's political party. Must mean he's a liberal Democrat -- and he is. CBS anchor Katie Couric, however, managed to squeeze in a mention of his party. Last August when news of Larry Craig's arrest broke, both ABC and NBC stressed his GOP affiliation.... For the complete CyberAlert rundown: www.mrc.org The MRC's Brad Wilmouth provided me with excerpts from the Wednesday, March 12 newscasts: # ABC's World News: GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Good evening. New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's fall from grace has been far and fast, and it may not be over. The Democrat resigned today just two days after reports that he patronized a high-priced prostitution service. But in these last few days of a political career that took off when he prosecuted corrupt corporate officials, the tables have been turned. Spitzer and his lawyers are now trying to convince prosecutors not to press charges. Our chief investigative correspondent, Brian Ross, is here with more.
KATIE COURIC: Good evening, everyone. Well, the pressure just kept building on Eliot Spitzer since the news broke that he'd been patronizing a prostitute. And today he resigned as Governor of New York, a dramatic end to the political career of a man who was once one of the Democratic Party's rising stars. Here's our national correspondent, Byron Pitts. ... COURIC, INTRODUCING A LATER STORY: In a later story: When he steps down Monday, Spitzer, a supporter of Hillary Clinton, will no longer qualify as a Democratic super-delegate.
ANN CURRY: Good evening. I'm Ann Curry, in for Brian Williams tonight. Today New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who painted himself as a champion of ethics and moral conviction, resigned just two days after the bombshell news linking him to a prostitution ring. NBC's Mike Taibbi now joins us with more on this breathtaking fall from power. Mike?
Today Show Continues Embargo on Spitzer Party Affiliation For the second consecutive day, NBC's Today show refused to identify Eliot Spitzer as a Democrat. In a total of seven Spitzer-related segments on Wednesday's Today show, and one interview with Barack Obama where the scandal was mentioned, not one anchor, reporter, guest, talking head or on-screen graphic mentioned Spitzer's party affiliation. However, following the pattern of Tuesday's NBC's Nightly News, the Today show graphics department did take time to place an "R" next to Rep. Peter King and New York state Rep. Joe Tedisco. [This item, by Geoffrey Dickens, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] National correspondent Natalie Morales did note that "the Governor was under lots of pressure from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle" to step down but never bothered to explain on which side of the aisle Spitzer stood. The following opening story from the March 12 Today show was typical of the rest of NBC News' Spitzer reports, in its refusal to note his party affiliation:
MEREDITH VIEIRA: But we're gonna begin with New York Governor Eliot Spitzer under the gun again today. Our national correspondent Natalie Morales is at the state capital in Albany with an update. Natalie good morning to you. To read more on NBC Nightly News disregarding Spitzer's party affiliation: www.mrc.org
SNL Parody? ABC's GMA Puffs Obama, Grills Clinton Supporter In a striking resemblance to a pair of recent Saturday Night Live skits, Wednesday's Good Morning America began with a fawning interview of Barack Obama, then grilled Hillary Clinton supporter Geraldine Ferraro. Co-host Chris Cuomo first congratulated Obama for his Mississippi victory, then questioned if it "seals the deal." Cuomo added he is "sure you're [Obama] gaining the confidence that you have a very good change of winning the ticket." Cuomo pressed for an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket then asked Obama for a reaction to Geraldine Ferraro's allegedly racially charged comments. To conclude the interview, he inquired into Obama's family plans for the next six weeks leading to Pennsylvania, asking if he is "going to pretend you're Michael Jordan" with his children? [This item was adopted from the NewsBusters post by Justin McCarthy: newsbusters.org ] Immediately following the interview, co-host Diane Sawyer spoke with Ferraro on her controversial statement that "if Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position." The tone and the questions were noticeably tougher. Sawyer challenged Ferraro's assertion that she is not directly involved with the Clinton campaign. Sawyer also noted Obama's popular vote totals and the 11 Senators that support him, asking if they're just caught up in "the concept." In the end, Sawyer asked if Ferraro is "sorry" for her statement? The transcript first from the Obama interview at 7:02 AM on March 12:
CHRIS CUOMO: First let's turn to the presidential campaign. I spoke with Senator Obama after his big win in Mississippi, and we wanted to talk specifically about the latest sparks from the Clinton campaign, Geraldine Ferraro's comments to a newspaper that, quote, "if Obama was a white man he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman [of any color] he could not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept." Here's what Senator Obama had to say about this, his big win, and more. Senator Obama, thank you for joining us. I congratulate you on winning Mississippi. Let me ask you, do you think this seals the deal for you? Then the Ferraro interview from 7:06 AM:
DIANE SAWYER: Should have to leave the finance committee of Senator Clinton and we're going to hear from Ms. Ferraro in just a moment. We do turn to her. She has caused a controversy, and of course, we do remember back, 1984, it was pioneering candidate on that national stage, the first woman to be on a national ticket. She ran with Walter Mondale. And as we said, she is a Clinton supporter on the finance committee. Senator Clinton herself issued a statement last night after a couple of milder statements, she did say "Well, I said earlier today in Harrisburg that I obviously disagree and reject the comments. And Senator Obama and I have both said on several occasions that we want this campaign to be about issues." And Geraldine Ferraro is here live this morning.
Tickets Now Available for MRC's 2008 'DisHonors Awards' Tickets are now available for MRC's 2008 "DisHonors Awards." The MRC's annual video awards with the "William F. Buckley Award for Media Excellence," this year presented to Tony Snow, will take place in Washington, DC on Thursday evening, April 10. Confirmed participants: Ann Coulter, Larry Kudlow, Mark Levin, Cal Thomas and many more since surprise conservative guests will accept the awards in jest. "It was a terrific show...It was a great, great, great assemblage of people... Everybody just had a blast!" -- Rush Limbaugh, 2007 recipient of the William F. Buckley Jr. Award for Media Excellence. Make your reservation today. Every year our gala sells out, so don't delay. Individual seats available for $250. To reserve your seat(s), contact the MRC's Sara Bell at: sbell@mediaresearch.org Or call, 9 to 5:30 PM EDT weekdays: (800) 672-1423. Online page with information: www.mrc.org For a look at all the fun at last year's event: www.mediaresearch.org
'Top Ten Surprises During Eliot Spitzer's Resignation' From the March 12 Late Show with David Letterman, the "Top Ten Surprises During Eliot Spitzer's Resignation." Late Show home page: www.cbs.com 10. Entered to the sounds of Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'" 9. Opening line: "Are you a cop?" 8. Spent two minutes seductively stroking the microphone 7. Reaffirmed his policy of "Bro's before Ho's" 6. His decision not to wear pants 5. Admitted he also once made out with former Governor Pataki 4. Credited downfall to fast-paced lifestyle of Albany 3. He was kinda pitchy, dawg 2. Said he thought the Emperor's Club was a Chinese restaurant 1. When reporters asked how much he paid per hour, his wife said, "Believe me, he doesn't need an hour"
-- Brent Baker
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