Blago: Morning Shows Dance Around D-Word
December 10th, 2008 8:48 AM
If Rod Blagojevich were a Republican, what's the over-under on the number of times the network morning shows would have mentioned that fact in their coverage today?But Blago is a Democrat. So how often did Today, Good Morning America and the Early Show explicitly identify him as such during their opening half-hours today? Not once. The closest any came were references at Today and Early Show…
Will Media Cover Obama/Rod Blagojevich Connection
December 9th, 2008 4:42 PM
The mainstream media aggressively covered the controversies surrounding Republicans such as Mark Foley and Jack Abramoff and speculated about their connections to President Bush and other high profile members of the GOP. So, it will be interesting to see how tenaciously journalists investigate any linkage between President-elect Barack Obama and scandal ridden Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich,…
ABC on Caroline Kennedy in the Senate: 'Exciting,' 'Tantalizing
December 9th, 2008 3:17 PM
On Saturday's "Good Morning America," various hosts and reporters gushed over the "exciting," "tantalizing" prospect that Caroline Kennedy could replace Hillary Clinton in the U.S. Senate, should the former first lady be confirmed as Barack Obama's secretary of state. ABC News political director David Chalian enthused that "on top of the new Obama administration that she was a huge proponent and…
Label Bias: Previous Corrupt Illinois Governor Labeled 'Republican
December 9th, 2008 1:38 PM
Much as when then-New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was caught with a prostitute last March, the arrest Tuesday of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on allegations he was trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat raises the issue of whether or not the Big Three networks will forthrightly tag him as a “Democrat.”Among wire services, the Associated Press has included the “Democrat” label…
ABC's Ross: Governor Blagojevich Called Obama A 'Motherf***er
December 9th, 2008 12:29 PM
As more comes out about Tuesday's arrest of Democrat Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, it has been learned that he was caught on tape referring to Barack Obama as a "motherf***er".I kid you not.As reported moments ago by ABC's Brian Ross (h/t NB reader Steve):
Meryl Streep Argues Stern Nun Role Similar To War on Terror Absolutist
December 8th, 2008 4:43 PM
Actress Meryl Streep, who plays an authoritarian nun battling a "passionate liberal priest" (according to Newsweek) in the new film "Doubt," told the Boston Herald on Sunday that the film is actually a metaphor for those who think the war on terror can be won with force. She argued, "It's about someone who thinks you can control evildoers with force and a firm hand and an unrelenting, 'We will…
Walters Talks With 'Lovable Little Fuzzball' Rush Limbaugh
December 6th, 2008 11:28 PM
After reading my colleague Colleen Raezler's piece about Barbara Walters' interview with "harmless, lovable, little fuzzball" Rush Limbaugh, watch the video:
Obama 'Most Fascinating' to Walters: He 'Redeemed the American Promise
December 5th, 2008 12:14 AM
Unveiling President-elect Barack Obama as her “Most Fascinating Person of 2008,” Barbara Walters wrapped up her Thursday night prime time special by championing how Obama “has redeemed the American promise that an individual can make his own destiny and create a new world.” (Obama hasn't even taken office, yet he's already managed to “create a new world”?) She then presumptuously gushed: “We are…
Joy Behar Mocks Rush Limbaugh's Physical Appearance
December 4th, 2008 3:59 PM
Joy Behar knows why Rush Limbaugh is such a success on the radio: He’s too ugly for television! On the December 4 edition of "The View," the panel discussed Barbara Walters’ upcoming interview with Rush Limbaugh and his comments on Hillary Clinton and our looks obsessed culture. Behar quipped, to the audience amusement, "I think looks do matter on television. That’s why he’s on radio."Limbaugh’s…
'Good Morning America' Gushes Over the 30 Day Anniversary of Obama Win
December 4th, 2008 3:31 PM
Sounding like junior high students reveling in their first romance, "Good Morning America" co-host Diane Sawyer and ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos on Thursday celebrated the one month anniversary of Barack Obama's election as president. While talking to the former Clinton aide-turned journalist, Sawyer cooed, "Well, speaking of the President-elect, kind of an anniversary today. 30 days since he…
GMA Celebrates Britney's Crotch-Kicking Return
December 2nd, 2008 9:21 AM
If Britney Spears wants to launch her grand return with a trite and tacky rough-sex pantomime, I suppose that's her business. She's not known as a pop tart for nothing. What I do find noteworthy is the way GMA celebrated that bit of rough stuff, featuring it in its opening minutes. Even there, it's not ABC's descent into schlock that jumps out so much as the double standard. Can you imagine the…
No Raining on Obama’s Parade, As Nets Fail to Remember Attacks on Hi
December 1st, 2008 3:32 PM
Less than nine months ago, the Obama campaign was slamming Hillary Clinton as utterly unqualified on foreign policy, having had no substantive experience during her husband’s administration and being dreadfully wrong in her judgment as a Senator when it came to “the most critical foreign policy judgment of our generation,” the war in Iraq.A March 11, 2008 memo by Obama ally (and now incoming…
ABC Ignores Party ID of Dem Mayor Accused of Racist Remarks, Nepotism
December 1st, 2008 12:46 PM
Over the course of two segments and seven minutes, "Good Morning America" co-host Diane Sawyer on Monday completely ignored the party affiliation of a Kansas City mayor embroiled in a lawsuit over racist remarks and charges of nepotism, at no point identifying Mayor Mark Funkhouser as a Democrat. The only designation of Funkhouser came in the form of a bland, onscreen graphic: "Mayor Mark…
Walters Put Bush on Defense in 2001, But Tosses Softballs to Obama
November 30th, 2008 10:07 PM
In the interview for Wednesday’s Barbara Walters Special on ABC with Barack and Michelle Obama, excerpts of which were also shown on Wednesday’s World News with Charles Gibson, Walters asked few questions that put the Obamas on the defensive, in contrast with her January 2001 interview, aired on 20/20, with then-President-elect Bush in which she challenged him on a number of fronts. Most notably…