Author of Limbaugh Bio Accused of 'Stockholm Syndrome' by NY Times Cri
In her review Monday of "Rush Limbaugh: An Army of One," Zev Chafets's new biography of the radio host, New York Times entertainment critic Janet Maslin harshly accused Chafets of suffering from "a case of Stockholm syndrome" for his failure to lambast Limbaugh as much as Maslin apparently wanted him bashed: "Limbaugh, Somewhat Airbrushed."Maslin discussed the origin of the book (from a profile…
Seething Scarborough Hits Harwood's Blumenthal Backing
Joe Scarborough was on fire this morning, his ire trained on twin targets: Dick Blumenthal, and the New York Times' John Harwood, who casually dismissed the candidate's lies about having served in Vietnam as just a case of getting "a little carried away." At one point, Scarborough claimed he wasn't calling Blumenthal a "scumbag"—but it sure sounded like it.Harwood began his Blumenthal defense…
Rachel Maddow Show Busts New York Times for Misquoting Rand Paul
Stop the presses: a fill-in for Rachel Maddow on Friday actually busted the New York Times for misquoting Rand Paul in its article about the Tea Party senatorial candidate published earlier in the day.As most readers are aware, Paul made some rather controversial statements on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" Wednesday.Two days later, Adam Nagourney and Carl Hulse of the Times wrote: "Asked by Ms…
The Texas Textbook Massacre: 'Christian Conservative Voting Bloc' on t
Texas-based New York Times reporter Michael Brick was in Austin in anticipation of a Board of Education vote on the political content of textbooks in Texas schools: “Texas School Board Set to Vote Textbook Revisions.” Typical of the Times' coverage of the matter, Brick found lots of “conservatives” on one side of the debate over Texas textbooks in Friday's story, but no countervailing liberals,…
Kids Drinking Soda Pop: Like Smoking Camels or Riding Without Seat Bel
Wednesday's Business Day column by the Times' liberal economic conscience David Leonhardt is another one for the food police files: “The Battle Over Taxing Soda.” Personal responsibility on such personal matters isn't a large concern in Leonhardt's worldview, as he readily compared lobbyists for the soda industry to lobbyists against tobacco companies and pollution laws.Tobacco lobbyists spent…
Establishment Press Largely Covers Obama's Tracks on Disgraceful Danie
President Barack Obama's statement just before he signed the Freedom of the Press Act on Monday painfully avoided reality to the point of giving offense. If it became widely known, it would likely become very problematic. Here is what the President said that was particularly offensive (bolds are mine): And obviously the loss of Daniel Pearl was one of those moments that captured the world’s…
New York Times Sees GOP Jeopardy Over AZ Law, Even As Democrats Stand
The top story at NYTimes.com Friday afternoon, presumably headed for the front-page of Saturday morning’s newspaper, touted how: “Immigration Law in Arizona Reveals G.O.P. Divisions.” All but one paragraph of the 30-paragraph report by Jennifer Steinhauer described the dilemma for Republicans torn between popular sentiment in favor of Arizona’s pro-enforcement stance, and the need to not alienate…
MSNBC's Ratigan Attacks NYT Over Blumenthal Story, Conn. Dem 'Simply M
In the "Busted" segment at the end of Friday's The Dylan Ratigan Show on MSNBC, host Dylan Ratigan went after the New York Times for "accusing" Connecticut Attorney General and Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal of distorting his military record: "We think the Times should investigate some of its investigative reporting." Ratigan dismissed a quote the Times used of Blumenthal…
David Brooks: Richard Blumenthal 'Accidentally' Said He Was a Combat V
David Brooks seemed to be having a coherency challenged moment during his latest scheduled conversation with fellow New York Times columnist, Gail Collins. First Brooks excused what Connecticut senatorial candidate Richard Blumenthal falsely claimed about being a Vietnam combat veteran as an "accident": As for Blumenthal, my guess is he survives his little brush with mendacity. The Connecticut…
Former FEC Commissioners: Free Speech Under Politically-motivated Assa
Eight former Federal Elections Commissioners today blasted proponents of a Senate bill that would "blunt" the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision, which allowed unions and corporations to spend freely on political advertisements.Writing in the Wall Street Journal, the Commissioners called the bill "unnecessary, partially duplicative of existing law, and severely burdensome to the right…
AP, in Playing Defense for Blumenthal, Disses the New York Times (But
Earlier this morning, I was minding my own business, reading this unbylined Associated Press roundup of yesterday's elections, when I got to the report's final few paragraphs. They involved "other concerns" the two major parties have. After noting yesterday's resignation by Republican congressman Mark Souder, the report's final paragraph read as follows: Well, that's rich. I wonder how the…
Treatment of Souder Resignation Illustrates AP and NYT's Double Standa
Today, the Associated Press generally did what is supposed to do when reporting on scandal-plagued politicians. Here are the first five paragraphs of the AP's brief report on Indiana Congressman Mark Souder's resignation announcement (link is dynamic and will probably be updated; "where's the worst one we can find?" picture of Souder at top right is via AP): Here's the opening of the coverage…
Oh My Dodd! Dem Senate Candidate Misrepresented Himself as Vietnam Com
Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd looked at his polls and decided to retire, so Democrats were buoyed by the hope of replacing him with the state's Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal. Credit should go to The New York Times and Raymond Hernandez for digging up something embarrassing. Blumenthal's not a Vietnam combat veteran, as he has implied: “We have learned something important since the days…
Sneak Peek: MRC's Notable Quotables Newsletter
As a Sunday afternoon treat, here’s a sneak peek at the May 17 edition of MRC’s Notable Quotables newsletter, our bi-weekly compilation of the latest outrageous, sometimes humorous, quotes in the liberal media. The entire edition will be posted, with five video clips, at www.MRC.org on Monday morning.Shortsighted Voters Fail to Grasp Obama’s Historic Greatness“Big problems. Big achievements. Big…