WNBC-TV NY Ignores Ayers' Name in Palin-Obama-Terrorist Report

October 5th, 2008 1:44 AM
The following is a report from WOR Radio's Steve Malzberg:
 
WNBC-TV Channel 4 in NYC during Saturday evening's 11PM newscast briefly touched on the story of Sarah Palin's remarks about the relationship between Barack Obama and William Ayers.  

After giving the viewers an Obama campaign update, anchor Melissa Russo reported that John McCain took the day off from campaigning. However, she noted that Palin, speaking at a campaign event in the Rockies, accused the junior senator from Illinois of "palling around with terrorists."

The problem is Russo never mentioned William Ayers by name (continued below the fold, photo courtesy Stuff.com.nz).

Instead, Russo identified the subject of Palin's accusation as "a member of a radical 60's group." She also said that he's a man who "Obama has since denounced."

That statement is absolutely untrue.

In the past, Obama has denounced what Ayers did, but he has never said anything to permanently disassociate himself from Ayers.

In fact, in defense of the relationship they have enjoyed, Obama has noted that Ayers and his group planted bombs in this country "40 years ago," as if that makes it alright.

It will be interesting to see just how the rest of the mainstream media handle the reporting of this issue as the McCain camp starts bringing it up more and more.

In fairness, as Sarah Palin alluded to, Saturday's New York Times published a front-page story about the Obama-Ayers connection concluding that a review of records and interviews with a dozen people who know both men "Suggest Mr. Obama has played down his contacts with Mr. Ayers."

Steve Malzberg is host of The Steve Malzberg Show on the WOR Radio Network. You can listen live to the show and get podcasts at www.worradionet.com