top
|
1. NBC Excoriates McCain-Palin Fouls, Sees None from Obama-Biden NBC anchor Brian Williams reported Wednesday night "there were no devastating or towering moments in the Obama/McCain debate in Nashville last night," but he insisted, though neither ABC nor CBS mentioned them in their next day stories, "two moments from last night loomed large today." Both, no surprise, were supposed insults from John McCain, but before getting to those, reporter Andrea Mitchell focused on the "rowdy" McCain and Palin crowds and elevated the importance of a local Lehigh County, Pennsylvania GOP official who dared use Obama's full name: "At one point, someone shouted 'off with his head' about Obama. And the Republican County Chairman, William Platt, asked, 'Imagine if you woke up on November 5th and Barack Obama -- Barack Hussein Obama -- was our new President?' The campaign later said: 'We do not condone this inappropriate rhetoric.' But that kind of rhetoric is becoming commonplace, especially at Sarah Palin's rallies. Today Joe Biden challenged her." 2. All Three Morning Shows Skip Bogus Obama 'Net Spending Cut' Claim All three morning shows on Wednesday skipped a startling claim by Senator Barack Obama during the previous night's presidential debate. During a discussion on spending, he bizarrely asserted: "Actually I'm cutting more than I'm spending so that it will be a net spending cut." However, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, that statement doesn't even close to being true. Their numbers show an increase in spending of $425 billion over four years of an Obama administration and only a decrease of $144 billion. And this is factoring in Obama's tax increases as a way of "saving" money. And yet, ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's Early Show and NBC's Today all failed to report on the discrepancy or the math oddity of including more taxes as a cut. GMA reporter John Berman even filed a "fact check" segment on the debate, but ignored the Obama claim, 3. Networks Interview Biden, Bash 'Ugly' Palin for Not Showing Up On Wednesday, all three network morning shows interviewed Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden and offered no Republican counterpoint, punishing the McCain campaign for Sarah Palin declining to make similar appearances. Meanwhile, all three shows asked Biden about his reaction to Palin's criticism of Obama. On Today, Ann Curry wondered: "But let's talk about the new style of the campaign because Sarah Palin is now saying that the gloves are off. She's linked Obama to domestic terrorism. She's, she's been bringing up Reverend Wright's name. She, she was hearing at one of these events, Obama introduces 'Barack Hussein Obama.' Is there a tone, where is this, all this going? Explain what's happening here Joe...Is this an ugly stop? Can you characterize how you view this stop?" Finally, on the Early Show, Smith asked: "Let me ask you about Sarah Palin on the other side of the -- on the other side of the aisle. She's been going to these rallies, tens of thousands of people showing up. Talking about a friend of your running mate's as a domestic terrorist. Does your campaign have an answer for that?" 4. ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson, 15 Years of Shilling for Universal Care ABC's liberal medical editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning America to boost Barack Obama's universal health care plan and critique the more market oriented proposals of John McCain. Co-host Robin Roberts began the segment by seriously asserting: "We're not endorsing one plan over the other. We're just showing the differences between the two." But after she mentioned Obama's assertion during Tuesday's presidential debate that health care is a right, Johnson marveled, "But, I'm struck by the language of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without good health, and that usually means without good health care, it's hard to have those other rights." Johnson, despite being a doctor, adopts the standard liberal positions of most journalists and has a 15 year-plus history of advocating universal health care, including once asking if Republicans who opposed the policy were "immoral." NBC Excoriates McCain-Palin Fouls, Sees None from Obama-Biden
NBC anchor Brian Williams reported Wednesday night "there were no devastating or towering moments in the Obama/McCain debate in Nashville last night," but he insisted, though neither ABC nor CBS mentioned them in their next day stories, "two moments from last night loomed large today." Both, no surprise, were supposed insults from John McCain, but before getting to those, reporter Andrea Mitchell focused on the "rowdy" McCain and Palin crowds and elevated the importance of a local Lehigh County, Pennsylvania GOP official who dared use Obama's full name: After a clip of Biden castigating Palin, Mitchell relayed how "Democrats are also buzzing about McCain's debate performance last night, saying he seemed dismissive and disrespectful when he referred to Obama as 'that one,'" a reference she asserted has "spawned howls and a cottage industry of headlines on liberal blogs and even T-shirts on Web sites." Again, for expert condemnation of McCain she went to the Democratic VP candidate: "Biden with Ann Curry on Today explained..." Mitchell then moved to the second McCain foul: "Critics also jumped on McCain for seeming to patronize one questioner in the debate, Oliver Clark, who asked what it will take to help people having a difficult time in the economic crisis." While NBC was only concerned about McCain, in a "Reality Check" on Wednesday's CBS Evening News, Wyatt Andrews de-constructed McCain's $300 billion home mortgage idea, but also hit a Barack Obama claim: "Obama made his own stunning claim on spending -- that all of his promises on energy, health care and education, are paid for with his budget cuts. The facts is, Obama's promises will increase the deficit...." [This item, by the MRC's Brent Baker, was posted Wednesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] The story on the Wednesday, October 8 NBC Nightly News, as provided by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth, who corrected the closed-captioning against the video: BRIAN WILLIAMS: Now, a related topic: presidential politics. And about last night, looks like 63 million of us watched on television -- more than the first presidential debate, but fewer viewers than that Biden/Palin VP debate. There were no devastating or towering moments in the Obama/McCain debate in Nashville last night. All we heard beforehand was that McCain was most comfortable in the so-called town hall format, though many viewers saw something less than that. As it turned out, two moments from last night loomed large today as the campaigns went back on the road with just 27 days to go now until the election. Our report tonight from NBC's Andrea Mitchell.
ANDREA MITCHELL: In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, today, the Republican candidate's wife, Cindy McCain, accused Barack Obama of not supporting the troops in Iraq, including her son.
All Three Morning Shows Skip Bogus Obama 'Net Spending Cut' Claim All three morning shows on Wednesday skipped a startling claim by Senator Barack Obama during the previous night's presidential debate. During a discussion on spending, he bizarrely asserted: "Actually I'm cutting more than I'm spending so that it will be a net spending cut." However, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, that statement doesn't even close to being true: www.usbudgetwatch.org Their numbers show an increase in spending of $425 billion over four years of an Obama administration and only a decrease of $144 billion. And this is factoring in Obama's tax increases as a way of "saving" money. And yet, ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's Early Show and NBC's Today all failed to report on the discrepancy or the math oddity of including more taxes as a cut. GMA reporter John Berman even filed a "fact check" segment on the debate, but ignored the Obama claim, which was picked up the AP: news.yahoo.com [This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] Instead, Berman focused on other issues and critiqued the town hall format, rival network NBC and debate host Tom Brokaw: "And finally, with more questions coming from the moderator than the audience, it's safe to say the biggest factual error in the debate last night, was calling it a town meeting to begin with." A transcript of ABC's fact check, which aired at 8:03am on October 8:
CHRIS CUOMO: The economy did play a big part in last night's presidential debate as well. The candidates made many charges against each other, on everything from taxes to health care. The question is, did they get it right? Here's John Berman within the fact-check.
Networks Interview Biden, Bash 'Ugly' Palin for Not Showing Up On Wednesday, all three network morning shows interviewed Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden and offered no Republican counterpoint, punishing the McCain campaign for Sarah Palin declining to make similar appearances. On ABC's Good Morning America, co-host Diane Sawyer concluded her interview with Biden by declaring: "And we want you to know that we have asked Governor Palin to come on Good Morning America. And, of course, debate Senator Biden again here. And repeatedly, she has declined. Although, Senator Biden has said that he's willing to debate her again, if she wants." On NBC's Today, co-host Ann Curry made a similar declaration: "And we should also note that we invited Governor Sarah Palin to join us this morning, but she declined. The Governor has an open invitation to appear on Today, but so far she has not accepted our offers." On CBS's Early Show co-host Harry Smith explained: "We also invited Governor Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate, but the McCain campaign declined." [This item, by the MRC's Kyle Drennen, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] Meanwhile, all three shows asked Biden about his reaction to Palin's criticism of Obama. On Good Morning America, Sawyer asked: "Governor Palin has become the point person for the McCain attacks in her speeches. Do you think -- she said she's taking off the gloves, putting on the heels. Is it fair game? Or gone too far?" On Today, Curry wondered: "But let's talk about the new style of the campaign because Sarah Palin is now saying that the gloves are off. She's linked Obama to domestic terrorism. She's, she's been bringing up Reverend Wright's name. She, she was hearing at one of these events, Obama introduces 'Barack Hussein Obama.' Is there a tone, where is this, all this going? Explain what's happening here Joe...Is this an ugly stop? Can you characterize how you view this stop?" Finally, on the Early Show, Smith asked: "Let me ask you about Sarah Palin on the other side of the -- on the other side of the aisle. She's been going to these rallies, tens of thousands of people showing up. Talking about a friend of your running mate's as a domestic terrorist. Does your campaign have an answer for that?" All three network morning shows have routinely attacked Palin since she was named as McCain's running mate in late August: www.mrc.org Here are the relevant excerpts of the three October 8 interviews: # ABC's Good Morning America:
SAWYER: One question about style and debate last night, and there was one moment that's gotten a lot of attention. Some people say -- asking was It respectful or not? Other people saying, right on. It was Senator McCain. He was talking about Senator Obama.
CURRY: Okay, well I'm gonna turn and, and ask you about something else. Your campaign made much of the fact that last night, John McCain referred to Obama as, "that one." Was this, in your view, dismissive, Joe?
SMITH: Let me ask you about Sarah Palin on the other side of the -- on the other side of the aisle. She's been going to these rallies, tens of thousands of people showing up. Talking about a friend of your running mate's as a domestic terrorist. Does your campaign have an answer for that?
ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson, 15 Years of Shilling for Universal Care ABC's liberal medical editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning America to boost Barack Obama's universal health care plan and critique the more market oriented proposals of John McCain. Co-host Robin Roberts began the segment by seriously asserting: "We're not endorsing one plan over the other. We're just showing the differences between the two." But after she mentioned Obama's assertion during Tuesday's presidential debate that health care is a right, Johnson marveled, "But, I'm struck by the language of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without good health, and that usually means without good health care, it's hard to have those other rights." Johnson, despite being a doctor, adopts the standard liberal positions of most journalists and has a 15 year-plus history of advocating universal health care, including once asking if Republicans who opposed the policy were "immoral." [This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ] Regarding Senator McCain's idea to give people the opportunity to buy individual plans, even if they don't have an employer, Johnson criticized: "That's a difficult thing to do because there are so many different plans marketed." Accentuating the negative, he added: "So, you've got to do a lot of work on your own and read the fine print. It's a very difficult job for an individual." Johnson found no such criticisms for Senator Obama's proposal. After describing the various insurance plans the Democrat would offer, he approvingly observed, "But these plans will have been vetted by the government, just like they do for federal employees...But you know they've been vetted for basic care and coverage and that the cost is fair." On October 19, 2007, Johnson interviewed then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over her health care proposals and rhapsodized: "She certainly knows health care better, I think, than any other candidate....I'm very impressed with her knowledge base." Speaking of GOP members, he offered this loaded question: "Do you think the Republicans who are against it are immoral?" See an October 23, 2007 CyberAlert posting for more: www.mrc.org On April 26, 2007, the medical expert touted a universal health care plan proposed by Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and Democratic Representative John Dingell. Introducing Johnson, co-host Roberts enthused, "You're very happy about this. You say it's bold and politically brilliant." See an April 27 CyberAlert posting: www.mrc.org Going back to the early '90s, Johnson was even more laudatory towards the Clintons and their plans to nationalize health care: # "So at least from the physicians represented here, you get a 100 percent vote, including mine, for universal coverage." -- ABC reporter Dr. Tim Johnson to Hillary Clinton on Good Morning America, July 19, 1994. # "I say the Clintons are almost heroes in my mind for finally facing up to the terrible problems we have with our current health care system and bringing it to the attention of the public....Most people, I think, will be better off." -- ABC Medical Editor Dr. Tim Johnson, September 24, 1993 20/20. See an October 21, 2003 CyberAlert posting for more: www.mediaresearch.org A transcript of the October 8 segment, which aired at 7:43am:
ROBIN ROBERTS: And now, health care. Big topic in the debate last night, with each candidate trying to convince the American public that he had the better answer. So, what are the real differences in their plans? And how will they affect you? Our medical editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, is here to explain. Tim, it's good to see you this morning.
-- Brent Baker
Home | News Division
| Bozell Columns | CyberAlerts |
|