Networks Fail to Distinguish Between Xenophobia and Law Enforcement

May 5th, 2010 11:42 AM
Liberal political pundits frequently remind Americans that words matter, which makes broadcast network reporters' coverage of Arizona's new crack down on illegal immigrants so appalling.   Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a law on April 23 that would make it a misdemeanor for immigrants to not carry documentation proving they are in the country legally. The bill gave state law enforcement the…

CBS's Smith: Hispanics See Arizona Law as 'Purely Discriminatory

April 27th, 2010 12:37 PM
Near the end of an interview with Arizona Senator John McCain on Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith turned to the subject of illegal immigration and the new Arizona law to combat it: "a very tough immigration reform bill which basically makes it illegal for you to be in the state without some sort of documentation. Is this law the answer to the immigration crisis?"McCain noted the…

CBS 'Early Show' Ignores Astronaut Criticism of Obama's Space Program

April 14th, 2010 12:11 PM
On Wednesday's CBS Early Show, fill-in news reader Betty Nguyen reported on President Obama's new plan to cut back America's space program, but failed to mention sharp criticism by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Eugene Cernan in a signed letter sent to the White House.Nguyen noted: "President Obama unveils a revamped plan for America's manned space program....reviving part of a plan…

Network Morning Shows Trumpet 'Historic,' 'Landmark' Nuke Treaty, Only

April 8th, 2010 12:32 PM
The network morning shows on Thursday trumpeted Barack Obama's nuclear weapons treaty with Russia as "historic" and "landmark," with only Good Morning America allowing that the reduction plan could be "controversial." However, ABC's George Stephanopoulos also enthused, "But, [Obama and Russia's President] are here first and foremost to make history..."Reporting live from Prague, Stephanopoulos…

Not Interested: NBC, CBS Skip Arrest of Man Plotting to Kill Eric Cant

March 30th, 2010 4:59 PM
CBS's Early Show and NBC's Today on Tuesday ignored the arrest of a man who was plotting to kill Republican Congressman Eric Cantor. ABC's Good Morning America mentioned the story only in a news brief in the 8am hour. Last week, however, GMA highlighted threats against Democrats and worried about "angry talk" from Sarah Palin. The Early Show may have ignored the story of Norman Leboon and the…

CBS 'Early Show' Keeps Up Drumbeat Against Catholic Church, Pope

March 26th, 2010 3:20 PM
On Friday's CBS Early Show, news reader Betty Nguyen continued the media barrage against the Catholic Church and Pope Benedict as she proclaimed: "They are circling the wagons at the Vatican, defending the Pope amid new charges that he helped cover up cases of sexual abuse when he was a cardinal." In the report that followed, correspondent Allen Pizzey treated the Holy Father like a corrupt…

CBS 'Early Show' Touts 'Historic Victory' of ObamaCare

March 22nd, 2010 1:13 PM
At the top of Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith proclaimed the passage of ObamaCare: "A major victory for President Obama as House Democrats work late into the night to pass health care reform." A headline on screen read: "Historic Victory." Co-host Maggie Rodriguez later introduced a report on the legislation by remarking that Smith, who was pleased with his NCAA March Madness bracket…

CNN: Sarah Palin's 'Death Panel' Comment Wins 'Lie of the Year

December 20th, 2009 6:44 PM
If President Obama or any Democrat had actually won the dubious honor of committing PolitiFact's "Lie of the Year," do you think CNN would have reported it?Fat chance, right? Before you answer, consider the glee exhibited by CNN's Josh Levs Sunday when he announced Sarah Palin had "won" for her Facebook comment concerning a "death panel" in healthcare reform legislation (video embedded below the…

CNN Catches Up On Baucus Scandal & Labels as Dem More Than Other Nets

December 7th, 2009 1:41 PM
While it has been documented that CNN's Howard Kurtz chided his own news network for ignoring the recently-revealed scandal involving Montana Democratic Senator Max Baucus nominating his girlfriend for a U.S. attorney position -- after the CNN anchor had monitored CNN on Saturday -- it turns out that on Sunday morning, even before Kurtz's Reliable Sources show had begun, CNN had already started…

Name That Party: CNN Saturday Morning Edition

December 5th, 2009 12:36 PM
On CNN Saturday Morning News today, anchors Betty Nguyen and T.J. Holmes reported on a U.S. senator who nominated his girlfriend to serve as a federal prosecutor earlier this year:HOLMES: Well, it is something -a player, a name that a lot of people normally might not know a whole lot about, from a state that most people don't know a whole lot about. He's been important in the health care debate.…

CNN's Nguyen Asks: 'Was It Taunting, Was It Teasing, Was It Harassment

November 7th, 2009 3:17 PM
On CNN Saturday Morning News today, anchor Betty Nguyen interviewed a psychiatrist about Major Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 and wounded 30 others in a shooting spree Thursday in Fort Hood, Texas.  She began by delving into possible reason for Hasan's actions:NGUYEN: Dr. Paul Ragan, a psychiatrist who specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder joins me now from Nashville. Dr. Ragan, let me ask…

Name That Party: Former Congressman Condit's Affiliation Not Identifie

February 21st, 2009 1:02 PM
CNN and The Washington Post had institutional memory lapses today.  On CNN Saturday Morning News, this was the lead story from anchors Betty Nguyen and T.J. Holmes:BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen. We do want to thank you for starting with us. It is the 21st of February, and we do want to begin with some breaking news.HOLMES: Yes, and kind of a -- a shocker…

CNN Highlights YouTube Debate Questions Posed from Left

November 26th, 2007 4:11 AM