British Columnist: 'Has Barack Obama’s Presidency Already Failed
February 11th, 2009 10:08 AM
Imagine for a moment an American newspaper publishing a column with the following opening sentence:Has Barack Obama’s presidency already failed? Not in a million years, right?Well, on Wednesday, one of the most respected international publications, the Financial Times of London, published such an article written by its associate editor and chief economics commentator Martin Wolf. In it was an…
ABC's Moran: Obama 'Too Nice,' Empathizes: 'You Got No Honeymoon
February 10th, 2009 8:49 PM
In excerpts aired on Tuesday's World News, of Terry Moran's interview with President Barack Obama for Nightline, Moran was as sycophantic toward Obama as he was during the campaign, lamenting Obama “got no honeymoon” and bemoaning the new President had been “too nice” to Republicans. “Mr. President,” Moran rued in overlooking the ongoing honeymoon from the media, “you got no honeymoon. Not a…
How Will Media Report Tuesday's Stock Market Collapse
February 10th, 2009 5:27 PM
The Obama-loving media might adore flowery rhetoric with little substance, but stock investors sure don't.That's what traders and market professionals said was responsible for Tuesday's stock market collapse after Wall Street was tremendously disappointed with the lack of specifics in the highly-anticipated bank rescue plan presented by newly confirmed Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. As such…
ABC's George Stephanopoulos Grades Obama's Press Conference an 'A
February 10th, 2009 4:42 PM
Journalist George Stephanopoulos appeared on Monday's "Nightline" to offer high grades for Barack Obama's first primetime press conference. He awarded the President an A for overall performance at the event and a B for Obama's bipartisan efforts. During the presidential campaign, Stephanopoulos was consistent in giving high marks to the then-Democratic candidate, announcing that Obama won all his…
CBS’s Reid: Obama Using ‘Pressure of Popularity’ to Pass ‘Stim
February 10th, 2009 4:13 PM
On Monday’s CBS Evening News correspondent Chip Reid described Barack Obama’s efforts to gain support for the so-called "stimulus" bill: "The president aimed the full power of his office, including Air Force One, at the Heartland today, speaking directly to the people in Elkhart, Indiana...For now, the president appears to have the public on his side. A new Gallup poll out today gives him a 67…
In Housing Segment, ABC Ignores Truth Behind 'Bank Terrorist
February 10th, 2009 12:09 PM
On Tuesday's "Good Morning America," financial correspondent Bianna Golodryga promoted the efforts of a radical housing group run by CEO Bruce Marks, a self proclaimed "bank terrorist." Of course, Golodryga skipped that description and glossed over the extreme actions of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America [NACA]. Instead, she simply asserted that the organization tries "to help…
CBS ‘Early Show’ Fact Checks Obama Press Conference
February 10th, 2009 11:57 AM
On Tuesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen took an unusually critical tone toward President Obama’s first press conference on Monday night: "President Obama takes to prime time to pitch his nearly trillion-dollar rescue plan...But does the president have his facts straight? And what does a trillion dollars really buy you? We'll tell you." In a later report on the press conference…
Reuters: Despite Bailout, GM Bankruptcy Possible; Uncle Sam Isn't Firs
February 10th, 2009 11:01 AM
A week ago (at NewsBusters; at BizzyBlog), I noted that government bailout recipients General Motors and Chrysler had horrible sales in January, and that their declines are accelerating. GM was down 49% year over year in January, compared to -32% in December; Chrysler was down 55% in January, compared to -53% in December. Meanwhile, the companies' main foreign competitors turned in January sales…
After Generations, CNN Suddenly Discovers That 'Alaska Families Strugg
February 10th, 2009 5:35 AM
The winter in Alaska has been a particularly harsh one this year. The early winter piled on top of economic hard times has caused some troubles for native people and those that live in remote areas in Alaska. But this is not a new tale of woe, it IS Alaska, after all. While nothing to entirely dismiss, one wonders, why CNN suddenly found this story so compelling? Could it be that they want to…
Obama's 'Teaching Moments,' 'Message' to Ideologues, Fret Not Tougher
February 9th, 2009 10:26 PM
Some quick takes on the very brief presidential press conference wrap-ups on ABC, CBS and NBC before each returned to entertainment shows a bit after 9 PM EST: - ABC anchor Charles Gibson lauded how President Obama treated “each question almost as a teaching moment with long and expansive answers.” - CBS anchor Katie Couric cited how Obama talked “about 'ideological blockage'” against the “…
Ingraham to Renegade Sen. Specter: 'Is It Nice to Be Wined and Dined a
February 9th, 2009 7:51 PM
It's a question we've all been waiting to hear answered. Unfortunately, it took a conservative talk radio host to ask it and didn't come from the mainstream media. In an interview with Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, Pa., on Feb. 9, talk show host Laura Ingraham asked why he and Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are the only three out of 229 Republican members of Congress to support the…
MRC's Rich Noyes on Fox Biz, Discussing Obama's Stimulus Push, Media C
February 9th, 2009 7:10 PM
"I think it's a weaker deal than he thinks," MRC's Rich Noyes told Fox Business Network's Brian Sullivan, referring to President Obama's hopes for passage of the stimulus package. Noyes appeared on Fox Business Network's "Cavuto on Business" program shortly after 6:30 p.m. EST to discuss President Obama's campaigning for his stimulus package.While Obama campaigned on the vague notion of "change…
CBS: Clock is Ticking on Economy, Need ‘Stimulus’ Now
February 9th, 2009 3:25 PM
During the opening of Friday’s CBS Evening News, anchor Katie Couric teased upcoming coverage of the so-called "stimulus" bill being debated in Congress: "Tonight, 13 jobs a minute disappearing...Senate moderates race to trim the stimulus package to a passable size." An image of a ticking clock appeared on screen as Couric spoke. A clip was also played of Barack Obama exclaiming: "These numbers…