ABC's George Stephanopoulos Touts Obama's 'Big Day' of Financial Refor
July 16th, 2010 12:26 PM
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Friday offered White House spin for the passage of financial reform, enthusing, "...You've got the well looking like it's capped. Passage of financial reform. Big day for the White House." Over two segments, he touted Obama's take: "But, the President called it a big win for the whole country." Talking to Jake Tapper, the former Democratic operative…
ABC's George Stephanopoulos Touts Negative Poll Numbers for GOP, Spins
July 13th, 2010 1:05 PM
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday spun a new ABC News/Washington Post poll, emphasizing problems for the Republican Party over dour news for Barack Obama. The co-host ignored a finding that likely voters want the GOP to take control of Congress by a margin of 56 to 41. He did, however, repeat the lower number of registered voters who prefer the Republicans, 51 percent.…
No Balance Required? MSNBC Features Only Pro-gay Side of 'Don't Ask, D
July 12th, 2010 3:25 PM
MSNBC's Contessa Brewer on Monday appeared baffled as to why more U.S. politicians weren't 'standing up' to demand the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," touting it as "a civil rights issue." In the span of two hours, the cable network featured a gay member of the military and a conservative to discuss the issue. It was hardly a case of hearing two sides, however. Both guests favored allowing…
NBC Offers Additional 35 Seconds to Story of Controversial Medicare Ap
July 9th, 2010 11:53 AM
NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams on Thursday became the first evening news broadcast to cover the recess appointment of Donald Berwick to run Medicare. Anchor Brian Williams asserted that "Republicans are angry, claiming it's antagonistic." He also observed, "Berwick has spoken about the need to ration medical care to control costs." NBC has offered the most reporting on Berwick: 20 seconds…
Morning Shows Devote 52 Minutes to Lindsay Lohan, a Scant 20 Seconds t
July 8th, 2010 12:13 PM
Over the span of two days, the network morning shows have given just 20 seconds of coverage to the recess appointment of Donald Berwick, a pro-rationing doctor who will run Medicare. In contrast, Good Morning America, Today and Early Show devoted 52 minutes of coverage to every detail of Lindsay Lohan's sentencing. On Wednesday and Thursday's GMA, ABC hosts discussed Lohan for 14 minutes. CBS's…
ABC's George Stephanopoulos Hectors Netanyahu, Saddles Israel With Res
July 7th, 2010 12:10 PM
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday repeatedly berated Benjamin Netanyahu as to what the Israeli Prime Minister will do for the peace process. Focusing almost entirely on Israel, while excluding the U.S. and the Palestinians, he hectored, "What are you prepared to do? More security autonomy for the Palestinians on the West Bank? Prisoner releases?" Stephanopoulos did…
CBS 'Early Show' Follows ABC's Lead, Touts Kagan's SNL-Worthy Humor
July 2nd, 2010 11:58 AM
During the 'Early Wrap' segment on Friday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith discussed the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan with a panel of media pundits: "The almost unknown, practically under the radar, the Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, before committees this week being funny. She was downright funny."GQ Magazine's Washington correspondent Ana Marie Cox…
George Stephanopoulos Lashes Out at Republican Carly Fiorina: Are You
July 1st, 2010 5:01 PM
Former Democratic operative George Stephanopoulos on Thursday attacked Republican Carly Fiorina for opposing the current unemployment plan in the Senate. The Good Morning America host derided, "And are you running for the wrong job? How do you create jobs in the Senate if you don't pass legislation?" Stephanopoulos also recycled the California candidate's June 9 joke about Democratic opponent …
Kagan Hearings, Day #3: ABC and NBC Skip Nominee's Partial Birth Abort
July 1st, 2010 11:39 AM
Wednesday's evening news shows and Thursday's morning programs continued to minimize or leave out important moments of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan's confirmation hearings. ABC's Good Morning America, for instance, has offered only 67 seconds of coverage over three days. Today and The Early Show each provided a single ten second news brief on Thursday. It's not as though the second day of…
NYT's Maureen Dowd Critiques: 'Thin-Skinned Obama' Doesn't Like Media
June 30th, 2010 5:03 PM
Appearing with Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday, liberal journalist Maureen Dowd derided Barack Obama as "thin-skinned" and not happy with media coverage. This prompted Stephanopoulos to admit, "And his press hasn't been nearly as bad as he thinks." Dowd prefaced her critique by analyzing Obama's self image: "...I cut him a lot of slack here, because many presidents like…
Network Morning Shows Unanimously Gush Over Larry King
June 30th, 2010 4:59 PM
The morning programs of the Big Three networks all sang the praises of CNN host Larry King after he announced on Tuesday his upcoming retirement from his program, while overlooking his liberal bent at times. Both Willie Geist on NBC's Today show and CBS's Harry Smith labeled King "legendary," while ABC's George Stephanopoulos heralded how he was "on top of his game" for most of his career.NBC…
Network Morning Shows Laud the Comedy of 'Lively,' SNL-worthy Kagan
June 30th, 2010 11:57 AM
All three morning shows on Wednesday made sure to tout the "lively" sense of humor of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, this as ABC continued to ignore the hearings. Over two days, Good Morning America has devoted a scant 67 seconds to Barack Obama's nominee. After a news brief featuring Kagan cracking jokes at her hearings, former Democratic operative George Stephanopoulos gushed, "...If this…
Morning Shows Spare a Scant Two and a Half Minutes for 'Landmark' Gun
June 29th, 2010 12:16 PM
Despite referring to it as "landmark" and "huge," the network morning shows on Tuesday mostly ignored Monday's Supreme Court ruling, which declared the Second Amendment a fundamental right that cannot be violated by state governments. Good Morning America, The Early Show and Today devoted just two minutes and 34 seconds to discussing the important decision. ABC's GMA offered 21 seconds with a…