Daily Kos: In Wisconsin, the Plutocrats Plot 'Walkercide

The hatred of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker continues in the fever swamps of the Daily Kos. The blogger "Patience John" posted an article Wednesday headlined "Walkercide: Killing the American Dream for Corporate Paymasters." Try not to pay attention to the mangled syntax: that "Walkercide" sounds like a plot to kill the governor, not the other way around, or that the headline suggests a plot to…
Tim Graham
February 25th, 2011 8:36 AM

'Immigration Hardliners' in Arizona Draw 'Scorn' From Unidentified Opp

Thursday’s National section of  The New York Times led with “Arizona Lawmakers Push New Round of Immigration Restrictions.” Phoenix Bureau Chief Marc Lacey did not sound pleased with the prospect, pitting unidentified opponents against "immigration hardliners." Never mind that the proposals would target illegal immigration, not legal immigration. Illegal immigrants would be barred from…
Clay Waters
February 25th, 2011 8:15 AM

Gay Soccer Fans in Poland Face Violence Thanks to the Catholic Church

The Associated Press reported that a Polish gay activist group called Rainbow Stand (or Teczowa Tribuna) wanted separate seating for gay and lesbian soccer fans to protect them from harassment and violence. William Donohue of the Catholic League took exception to this outburst of anti-religious bias: Polish soccer matches are often the scene of violent attacks and fights involving hooligans…
Tim Graham
February 24th, 2011 11:07 PM

NPR Notes 'U.S. Struggles to Evacuate Libya, Others Don't

Earlier today I noted that mainstream media have not been critical of the Obama administration's poor efforts at evacuating American nationals from Libya. Oddly enough it appears the taxpayer-subsidized NPR has. From Bill Chappell's Feb. 24 blog post, "U.S. Struggles to Evacuate Libya; Others Don't":
Ken Shepherd
February 24th, 2011 9:08 PM

The View Brings on Two Congressional Abortion Advocates, No Pro-Lifers

ABC's The View on Thursday neglected one side of the abortion debate by bringing on two staunch supporters of Planned Parenthood in Congress without any other guests arguing the pro-life side. As the two championed giving tax money to the abortion provider, Barbara Walters herself defended the organization, while Whoopi Goldberg assisted in spreading a falsehood about "federal dollars" for…
Matthew Balan
February 24th, 2011 7:22 PM

The Rand Paul 'Chainsaw' Massacre: ABC's Apocalyptic Take on 'Radical

According to Nightline anchors Terry Moran and Bill Weir, new Republican Senator Rand Paul is "radical," "controversial" and longs to take a chainsaw to the Department of Education. Using hyperbolic language, Weir profiled Paul for Wednesday's program.  Co-anchor Moran previewed the segment by attempting to isolate the Kentucky politician: "Up next, even the most conservative Republicans…
Scott Whitlock
February 24th, 2011 5:51 PM

CBS Applauds Obama's 'Strong Words' on Libya While Even MSNBC is Not I

At the top of Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Chris Wragge touted President Obama's statement on the violence in Libya: "...making his first public statements on the situation there with some very strong words." However, moments after Obama's Wednesday comments, liberal MSNBC host Chris Matthews admitted: "...that was pretty tame language given the horror that's going on in Tripoli." On…
Kyle Drennen
February 24th, 2011 5:26 PM

Chris Jansing, Karen Hunter Gang Up on Pro-Life Pastor Over Provocativ

Journalist Karen Hunter belittled Pastor Stephen Broden over his provocative pro-life billboard on MSNBC's "Jansing & Co." Thursday, calling the ad "racial," "sexist," and "completely offensive." Host Chris Jansing didn't do much moderating over the segment, essentially giving Hunter a pass for her statements and further pressing Broden on the billboard. Pastor Broden is a board member…
Matt Hadro
February 24th, 2011 5:10 PM

Blogger Who Prank Called Scott Walker, Now a Media Darling, Has Sordid

Since lefty blogger Ian Murphy prank called Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on Wednesday, various media outlets have devoted significant coverage to the prankster. None have seen fit to mention some of Murphy's more colorful antics - proclaiming "f**k the troops," for instance, or pretending to be autistic to gain access for a story. CNN has been out front covering the prank and its…
Lachlan Markay
February 24th, 2011 4:49 PM

WaPo-Published Express Tabloid Trumpets Obama Shift on 'Indefensible M

"Indefensible Marriage Act" blares the cover page headline for the Feb. 24 Express tabloid, a free publication of the Washington Post available around the D.C. metro area. "In a major victory for gay rights, President Obama says the U.S. will no longer defend the federal law banning same-sex marriages," notes the caption for the photo depicting a hand holding both a miniature American flag…
Ken Shepherd
February 24th, 2011 4:49 PM

New York Times Reporting Dotted With Warnings of 'Far-Right,' 'Hard-Ri

A couple of loaded ideological labels made it into Wednesday’s New York Times. On the first page of the National section, Sabrina Tavernise and A.G. Sulzberger (son of Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr.) collaborated on the latest news from Wisconsin: “Thousands March on Capitols as Union Turmoil Spreads.” But Republicans could also gain, said Gene Beaupre, a political science professor at…
Clay Waters
February 24th, 2011 4:07 PM

Huckabee Strikes Back At Matthews: 'See a Doctor - You’re Off Your M

As NewsBusters previously reported, MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Wednesday accused former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee of wanting to commit "ethnic cleansing" on Arabs in Israel's West Bank. After conservative radio host Laura Ingraham played the "Hardball" clip to Huckabee on her radio program Thursday, the affable Fox News contributor had some choice words for the man that admits getting…
Noel Sheppard
February 24th, 2011 3:50 PM

TV Networks Give Scant Coverage to Democrat David Wu's Strange Antics

A sitting congressman admitted earlier this week to seeking psychiatric treatment after news broke that he had sent bizarre photos of himself in a tiger costume to staff members and taken prescription pain killers given to him by an unnamed campaign donor. Seven of Oregon Democrat David Wu's staff members reportedly quit after the 2010 campaign due to his bizarre behavior. The second largest…
Lachlan Markay
February 24th, 2011 1:58 PM

AP Fails to Note That Jan. 2011 Was Worst Single-Month New Home Sales

Although it would be unfair to characterize Derek Kravitz's report at the Associated Press this morning on the Census Bureau's new home sales report as anything but bleak, the AP reporter missed what should have been the most obvious stat: The 19,000 new homes actually sold nationwide in January 2011 (i.e., not seasonally adjusted, real number) is the lowest for any single month on record in…
Tom Blumer
February 24th, 2011 1:39 PM