Pulling Heartstrings and Straining Credibility: The Media Promote Embr
March 11th, 2009 11:26 AM
Media outlets preyed upon people's emotions this week in its reporting of President Barack Obama's decision to overturn the Bush Administration ban on federally-funded embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research is a hot topic among pro-life advocates because it involves the destruction of human embryos in order to obtain the stem cells needed. CBS' Chip Reid said of…
ABC Losing Faith in 'Wonky' Tim Geithner
March 10th, 2009 12:21 PM
Perhaps signaling media impatience with the Obama administration's economic policy, Tuesday's "Good Morning America" featured a challenging look at the performance of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, who the show had previously described as "wonky." Reporter Jake Tapper observed that "to some, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's stock has dropped." Citing the various economic problems that have…
ABC Features Gayle King to Sing About, Tout 'Great Ideas' of First Lad
March 9th, 2009 5:26 PM
O Magazine editor Gayle King appeared on Monday's "Good Morning America" to rave about the "un-jaded," "not-complicated" and "so-darned normal" Obama family. The close associate of Oprah Winfrey talked with Diane Sawyer and repeatedly enthused about a Winfrey interview (see picture at right) with Mrs. Obama, at one point cooing that the first lady "only wants to be Michelle Obama, really. And…
ABC Skips Opposing Views; Continues to Fret About No Ice at North Pole
March 3rd, 2009 3:40 PM
Despite evidence to the contrary, Tuesday's "Good Morning America" continued to hype the idea that there could soon be no Arctic sea ice at the North Pole. Co-host Robin Roberts began a segment on the subject by fretting, "But, can you imagine going to the beach and finding it's not there? Sounds like science fiction." Referencing a group of scientists who are traveling 600 miles across the…
In 2001, ABC Saw 'Hard Core' Conservative Bush; No Label for Obama
February 25th, 2009 6:36 PM
Despite calling for massive new spending on education, universal health care and more money for bailing out banks, no ABC anchor on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning used the word liberal in describing Barack Obama's February 24 address to Congress. In contrast, ABC host Terry Moran on February 27, 2001 anticipated that a similar speech by President George W. Bush would be "conservative."…
George Stephanopoulos: Obama 'Made a Start at Inspiring Hope' With Spe
February 25th, 2009 1:12 PM
Former top Democratic aide-turned journalist George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday applauded Barack Obama's address to Congress, lauding it for making "a start at inspiring hope out in the country." The "This Week" host appeared on "Good Morning America" and affirmed co-host Robin Roberts' question about whether Obama "hit his marks last night." Stephanopoulos asserted that the President needed to…
ABC Ignores Personal Responsibility in Segment on Home Foreclosures
February 24th, 2009 3:55 PM
Tuesday's "Good Morning America" ignored the liberal leanings of a Florida attorney who is instructing people on how to stall home foreclosures. In the segment, reporter Jim Avila showcased individuals who have drawn out the process by demanding that banks produce the original note to their home (which has often been sold in loan packages that are then traded on Wall Street). At no time did he…
Chris Cuomo Assures Viewers: Bill Clinton Had No Role in Bank Scandals
February 20th, 2009 12:52 PM
"Good Morning America" news anchor Chris Cuomo interviewed Bill Clinton on Friday and skipped any questions as to what role his administration might have had in creating the current economic scandals that are now plaguing America. Cuomo, whose Democratic brother Andrew was the former Housing and Urban Development secretary under President Clinton, and whose father was the former Democratic…
ABC Frets That NY Post Comic Could Harm 'Post-racial Glow' of Obama
February 19th, 2009 11:51 AM
"Good Morning America" reporter David Wright on Thursday worried that a comic strip appearing in yesterday's New York Post could harm the "post racial glow" that America has been enjoying since Barack Obama's inauguration. Wright recounted the outrage expressed by the Reverend Al Sharpton and others over an editorial cartoon depicting a chimp shot by police and connecting it to the just passed…
Jake Tapper's Not-So-Breaking News: Obama Admires FDR
February 17th, 2009 1:22 PM
ABC reporter Jake Tapper on Tuesday's "Good Morning America" recited several times the not-exactly breaking news from the White House that Barack Obama admires Franklin Roosevelt. During a piece on the stimulus package, he informed, "Obama is said to admire FDR's fireside chats for the President's ability to explain problems so the average American could understand them and feel confident a…
Network Morning Shows Downplay Burris Perjury Allegations
February 16th, 2009 1:52 PM
Monday morning show coverage of allegations that Illinois Senator Roland Burris may have perjured himself with respect to connections to impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich minimized calls for investigation or Burris’s resignation. On the CBS Early Show, correspondent Thailia Assuras explained: "State Republican lawmakers are calling for Senator Roland Burris to resign and be investigated…
Network Morning Shows Mostly Ignore Gregg Withdrawal; Census Grab
February 13th, 2009 4:21 PM
CBS's "Early Show" and ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday almost entirely ignored the embarrassing departure of yet another of Barack Obama's cabinet nominees, with only NBC's "Today" providing any real information on the event. GMA devoted a scant 15 seconds to the withdrawal of Republican Senator Judd Gregg as the President's second nominee for Commerce Secretary. (Previous choice Bill…
ABC Touts Male Bashing Theory: Could More Women Have Saved Wall Street
February 12th, 2009 12:58 PM
On Thursday's "Good Morning America," co-host Robin Roberts and reporter Claire Shipman eagerly touted a theory, recently highlighted by a liberal New York Times columnist, that the problems on Wall Street could have been avoided if women were in charge. As video of bank executives who testified Wednesday in front of Congress appeared onscreen, Roberts mused, "As we saw, the nation's top bankers…
In Housing Segment, ABC Ignores Truth Behind 'Bank Terrorist
February 10th, 2009 12:09 PM
On Tuesday's "Good Morning America," financial correspondent Bianna Golodryga promoted the efforts of a radical housing group run by CEO Bruce Marks, a self proclaimed "bank terrorist." Of course, Golodryga skipped that description and glossed over the extreme actions of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America [NACA]. Instead, she simply asserted that the organization tries "to help…