For Second Time, MSNBC's Mitchell Hypes GOP's Racist Budget Cuts

Previewing the network’s “Black Agenda” special, MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell dragged out one of the most liberal members of Congress on April 7 to demagogue Republican budget cuts as harmful to poor minority groups. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) turned what was supposed to be a conversation about the consequences of a government shutdown, which most members on both sides of the aisle want to…
Alex Fitzsimmons
April 8th, 2011 12:00 PM

Video: Media Fawn Over 'Grown Up,' 'Adult' Obama vs. 'Childish' Tea Pa

Prior to this week, President Obama had been so detached from the budget debate that some in his own party have openly criticized him. Obama, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin declared in early March, has “failed to lead this debate or offer a serious proposal for spending and cuts that he would be willing to fight for.” Yet when the President chose to parachute into the budget talks earlier…
Rich Noyes
April 8th, 2011 11:16 AM

NewsBusted for

Happy Friday, NBers! As usual, we have a new episode of NewsBusted out today. Enjoy!
NB Staff
April 8th, 2011 10:59 AM

Rep. Slaughter, Who Wanted to 'Police' Speech After Tucson, Says GOP W

"In '94 people were elected simply to come here to kill the National Endowment for the Arts," claimed senior Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter at a pro-choice rally on the National Mall Wednesday. "Now they're here to kill women." Slaughter, the ranking Democrat on the Rules Committee, went on to compare proposed GOP proposals on abortion, bizarrely, to "show-me-your-papers" policies in…
Lachlan Markay
April 8th, 2011 10:49 AM

Despite Huge Fuel Cost Increases, Networks Criticize Airfare Hikes

If you think it has gotten pricey to fill up your car's gas tank, imagine having to fill the 50,000 gallon or larger tank on a 747. Jet fuel costs 51.4 percent more than it did a year ago, according to IATA and that is taking a huge toll on the airlines.   But when the airlines raise prices or ad fees to make up for the increased cost of flying, the network news media respond with charges…
Julia A. Seymour
April 8th, 2011 10:36 AM

Report: Worried About Ratings, Oprah Won’t Publicly Support Obama

Tina Fey claims her mean-spirited Palin impersonation backfired on her “30 Rock” ratings. The low-rated show remains on the air, though. Because, you know, Hollywood is so money driven. Looks like Oprah’s now worried about the same.
John Nolte
April 8th, 2011 10:09 AM

Ed Schultz Smells Rat in GOP County Clerk's Ballot Error in Wisconsin

MSNBC's Ed Schultz on Thursday expressed a great deal of skepticism concerning Thursday's revelation that a significant number of ballots had not been included in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election held two days prior. While he pointed fingers at the Waukesha County Clerk as being a Republican operative, he completely ignored the fact that a the very press conference he aired a clip from,…
Noel Sheppard
April 8th, 2011 9:49 AM

Facebook CEO Hosts Obama Townhall, Bitter Clingers Probably Not Invite

It wasn't long ago that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was concerned about how he would be portrayed in The Social Network - and with good reason. As John Nolte observed, "there's no doubt that this look at how the creation of a cultural phenomenon left behind a wake of betrayals, broken relationships and billion-dollar lawsuits is an absolutely fascinating one."
Doug Ernst
April 8th, 2011 9:44 AM

ABC’s Tapper Boasts of Giving Anti-Shutdown Talking Point to Preside

Instead of being embarrassed by how their story generated a talking point for the President to use in a partisan political battle, ABC on Thursday night boasted of how President Obama cited Jake Tapper’s coverage to boost his argument. Anchor Diane Sawyer touted how “the President, last night, well, he noticed what Jake was saying.” Tapper recalled: “Last night on World News, we told you the…
Brent Baker
April 8th, 2011 8:57 AM

Obama, Punished as 'President While Black

It was only a matter of time before a blogger at the Daily Kos felt the pain of Barack Obama suffering from being "President While Black." The blogger with the byline "The Plainsman" insists Obama has been treated more disrespectfully than any U.S. president in history: There are few adults in the USA, black or white, who have not at least heard of the expression "DWB" which is short for "…
Tim Graham
April 8th, 2011 7:47 AM

Tea Party Hypocrites: New York Times Sets the Table for Democrats to W

Jennifer Steinhauer of the New York Times offered a story Thursday on already hypocritical freshman House Republicans favoring big-picture spending cuts, but fighting for local projects. The headline was "Gung-Ho for Big Cuts in Spending, Less Fond of the Ones That Hurt Back Home." Steinhauer reported: "While scores of congressmen and women are singing an ode to spending reductions with their…
Tim Graham
April 8th, 2011 7:07 AM

Liberals on Talk Radio Slam Obama for 'Cowardice' and Wimpiness on Gua

While some networks have tried to say next to nothing about Obama’s Guantanamo flip-flop, they are not happy on liberal talk radio shows on Tuesday. Ex-MSNBC anchor David Shuster told Stephanie Miller he was disappointed that Obama’s been so conciliatory (wasn’t that part of his "purple state" appeal?) SHUSTER: I though the President was very clear in his election campaign about okay we’re…
Tim Graham
April 7th, 2011 10:57 PM

NPR Leans Toward Democrats 7 to 3 on Federal Budget Showdown

NPR's Ari Shapiro slanted towards President Obama and two of his Democratic allies in Congress on Thursday's Morning Edition on the continuing battle over the federal budget, playing seven sound bites from them versus only three from Republican House Speaker John Boehner. Shapiro highlighted the late night negotiations over the budget on Wednesday during his report, playing three clips from…
Matthew Balan
April 7th, 2011 7:18 PM

O'Reilly to Lauer: Have A 'Telethon on the Today Show' If You Want Fun

During his Talking Points Memo at the top of Wednesday's O'Reilly Factor on Fox News, host Bill O'Reilly called out NBC Today co-host Matt Lauer for denouncing Republican efforts to cut spending on things like "climate control": "Are you kidding me, Lauer? Funding for climate control? Nobody can control the climate but God. So give a little extra at mass or services." As NewsBusters reported…
Kyle Drennen
April 7th, 2011 5:41 PM