MRC Study: ABC, CBS and NBC Cast GOP as Debt Ceiling Villains

July 27th, 2011 9:46 AM
On Election Day 2010, then-CBS Early Show anchor Harry Smith posed a hypothetical question about newly-elected Republicans to Ann Coulter: “There’ll be a routine vote, for instance, to increase the debt ceiling and the Tea Party guys are going to say, ‘Over my dead body,’ and the government comes to a screeching halt. Then what happens?” The conservative author confidently predicted: “Well, the…

NBC's Gregory Claims Obama 'Trying to Help' Boehner by Pressuring Hous

July 26th, 2011 11:49 AM
During an NBC News special report following President Obama's Monday night speech that blamed the GOP for the debt ceiling stalemate, Meet the Press host David Gregory argued the President was doing John Boehner a favor: "...this is a president trying to help the Speaker of the House make the case to freshman Republicans who won't give at all on the idea of tax increases." Gregory declared…

Networks Trumpet News of 'Christian' Killer, But Balked Over Labeling

July 25th, 2011 12:29 PM
The three major networks trumpeted the news this weekend that the man behind a mass shooting spree in Norway is also a Christian, highlighting the fact in eight different programs from Saturday through Monday. The July 25 New York Times used page one to declare, "As Horrors Emerge, Norway Charges Christian Extremist." Yet, these same journalistic outlets were far more reticent to identify the…

In Just Four Days, Networks Devote 13 Minutes to 'Campaign Controversy

July 23rd, 2011 1:33 PM
Over a span of just four days, the three major networks devoted 12 minutes and 59 seconds to highlighting the "campaign controversy" of Michele Bachmann's migraines. The report first appeared online and then was quickly picked up on ABC, NBC and CBS. On Wednesday, Good Morning America's Robin Roberts warned, " But now a new story is raising questions about her health."  On NBC's Today, Kelly…

NBC Uniquely Wonders if Obama Is Using 'Scare Tactics' to Hype Social

July 13th, 2011 12:05 PM
Of the three morning shows on Wednesday, only NBC's Today speculated that Barack Obama might be using "scare tactics" with his dire warning that, barring a deal on raising the debt limit, Social Security checks in August might no be mailed out. Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos simply asserted that the "debt crisis in Washington is getting very scary." Stephanopoulos uncritically…

ABC Endorses Checkbook Journalism in Casey Anthony Trial

July 13th, 2011 9:23 AM
For the past few days, everyone has relished the opportunity to pounce on the lack of media ethics by Rupert Murdoch affiliated tabloid News of the World, but are neglecting to recognize the lack of media ethics by much more mainstream media outlets on this side of the Atlantic. Over the past three years, often to the chagrin of TV news audiences, Casey Anthony has been the star of the…

ABC Turns to the Photoshopping, GOP-Smearing Tina Brown as an Expert o

July 12th, 2011 1:09 PM
Newsweek editor Tina Brown, who last week smeared the Republican Party as "suicide bombers," was featured as a guest on Tuesday's Good Morning America to slam the "amorality" of Rupert Murdoch. Brown appeared to discuss the News of the World scandal and the ethics of the media mogul. Talking to host Robin Roberts, the editor attacked, "But at the same [Murdoch] has no, you know, ethics in…

Elizabeth Smart to Become ABC News Contributor

July 8th, 2011 7:22 AM
Nearly ten years ago, Elizabeth Smart became a household name when she was abducted from her family's home in Utah and sparked a nationwide media frenzy. As a 23-year-old, she has just inked a deal with ABC to cover missing person cases on a number of programs, including "Good Morning America" and "Nightline."

Jake Tapper Concedes Media's Bias on Obama Medal of Honor Gaffe, Doubl

July 5th, 2011 3:44 PM
ABC White House correspondent Jake Tapper appeared on the June 27 edition of Dennis Miller's radio show and conceded to a media blackout of Barack Obama's Medal of Honor gaffe. (The President confused a living recipient with the deceased Jared Monti who died in combat.) Tapper admitted that the President made "a big uncomfortable mistake." He added, "And I don't think that that got the same…

ABC Chides Money-'Obsessed' Candidates' Fourth of July, Gushed Over Ob

July 5th, 2011 12:03 PM
Good Morning America's John Berman on Tuesday offered a condescending, dismissive take on how the money "obsessed" presidential candidates spent their Fourth of July. Yet, four years ago, the same program offered a fawning look at what Barack Obama did on Independence Day. After mentioning Michele Bachmann and Newt Gingrich, Berman suggested that the Fourth of July could be "a chance to take…

Breitbart: Media Ask Palin and Bachmann Gotcha Questions to Make Them

July 3rd, 2011 11:14 AM
Conservative publisher Andrew Breitbart was on Saturday's "Fox & Friends" to discuss the double standard concerning how President Obama's gaffes are reported compared to the miscues of Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann. In Breitbart's view, "Life for [Palin and Bachmann] is a permanent game of Jeopardy where the George Stephanopouloses of the world, he of the Clinton war room, are there to…

Media Lauded Meghan McCain's 'Saucy' Memoir but Call Bristol's Book 'T

July 1st, 2011 10:23 AM
There were two candidates on the GOP ticket in 2008, John McCain and Sarah Palin. Both had young daughters involved in the campaign. Both have written books about the experience. Guess which book was celebrated and which was savaged? The media's character assassination of Sarah Palin knows no bounds, as she's been smeared as everything from "evil" to "unintelligent." But "Palin Derangement…

Networks Omit Blagojevich's Democratic Affiliation After Conviction

June 28th, 2011 5:42 PM
ABC, CBS, and NBC all failed to mention former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's affiliation with the Democratic Party on their Monday evening news broadcasts and the Tuesday morning shows. Blagojevich was convicted by a jury on Monday on 17 out of 20 charges, mainly related to the attempt to sell the Senate seat of President Obama. Only CBS's Early Show noted his party with a "D" on-screen…

ABC, CBS Whack Bachmann with PolitiFact, Have Spared Obama Similar Dru

June 28th, 2011 4:29 PM
ABC and CBS have both recently wielded PolitiFact as a club to bash Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), yet in the 29 months since President Barack Obama took office – despite 49 "false" ratings in Obama's PolitiFact file – the three broadcast networks have cited the fact-checking website only once to challenge the Democratic commander-in-chief. ABC host George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday…