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ABC’s Crystal Ball: Defeat of ‘Mainstream’ Castle ‘Eliminates’ GOP Chances for Winning Senate

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Good Morning America’s Juju Chang switched into prognostication mode on Wednesday and proclaimed that, along with other Tea Party wins, Christine O’Donnell’s upset victory in Delaware ” pretty much eliminat[es] the Republicans’ chances of taking back the Senate .” [MP3 audio here .] She trumpeted, “We begin with an upset victory for the Tea Party and maybe for Democrats.” The news anchor announced, “Christine O’Donnell has defeated a mainstream Republican candidate for the Delaware Senate seat, thanks to help from Sarah Palin.” Mainstream? Mike Castle’s lifetime American Conservative Union score is 52 . He has an F grade from the NRA, supported cap and trade and is aggressively pro-abortion. These are generally not known as “mainstream” GOP positions. Chang closed by predicting, “Most [tea party candidates] are not expected to prevail in the general election, pretty much eliminating the Republicans’ chances of taking back the Senate.” It’s not clear what the journalist is basing this on. Senatorial candidates such as Joe Miller and Rand Paul are ahead of their Democratic opponents. Sharron Angle in Nevada is tied with Majority Leader Harry Reid. Additionally, isn’t it the job of a supposedly straight news anchor to simply tell what has happened, not predict events 48 days in the future? A transcript of the segment, which aired at 8:02am EDT on September 15, follows: JUJU CHANG: We begin with an upset victory for the Tea Party and maybe for Democrats . Christine O’Donnell has defeated a mainstream Republican candidate for the Delaware Senate seat, thanks to help from Sarah Palin. Tea Party candidates have now defeated establishment ones in at least seven Republican Senate primaries, with New Hampshire undecided. But, most are not expected to prevail in the general election, pretty much eliminating the Republicans’ chances of taking back the Senate.

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ABC’s Crystal Ball: Defeat of ‘Mainstream’ Castle ‘Eliminates’ GOP Chances for Winning Senate

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NBC Reporter Throws Around Conservative Label but Can’t Call Rangel A Lib

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, on Wednesday’s Today show, in reporting about the results from yesterday’s primaries threw around the conservative label around as she identified several Republicans that way but for some reason when it came to reporting on Democrat Charlie Rangel’s win couldn’t manage to attach the “liberal” label to the ethics challenged Congressman. O’Donnell began her piece noting that “Democrats are suddenly very excited” about their chances of winning the Delaware primary seat due to “the conservative rebellion” that led to Republican Christine O’Donnell’s win in that primary, adding that “conservative Christine O’Donnell was propelled by several Tea Party groups.” And later O’Donnell even relayed the Democratic spin that O’Donnell was “an ultra right wing extremist.” However when it came to talking about Rangel’s primary win, the NBC correspondent, didn’t bother to attach an ideological label, merely calling him “20-term Congressman Charlie Rangel.” In total, Kelly O’Donnell used the “conservative” label five times in her piece but never once labeled any of the Democrats brought up in her story a liberal. The following is the full O’Donnell story as it was aired on the September 15 Today show: MEREDITH VIEIRA: But let’s begin with the results of the final primaries before November’s midterm elections and what they mean for both parties. We’re gonna talk to Christine O’Donnell about her surprise victory in Delaware, in just a moment. But first NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell has the latest. Kelly, good morning to you. [On screen headline: “Life Of The Tea Party, Upset Win In GOP Race For Biden’s Senate Seat”] KELLY O’DONNELL: Good morning, Meredith. Well the Tea Party has toppled conventional wisdom again and here in Delaware, the result is both shocking and convincing because it wasn’t close. The most popular Republican in the state, Mike Castle, he is out. Democrats are suddenly very excited and O’Donnell says don’t count her out in a fight to get the seat that Joe Biden held for 36 years. CHRISTINE O’DONNELL: Ladies and gentlemen, the people of Delaware have spoken. KELLY O’DONNELL: The conservative rebellion rolled over Delaware’s Republican Party brass. CHRISTINE O’DONNELL: Don’t ever underestimate the power of we the people! KELLY O’DONNELL: An upset hard to imagine just a few weeks ago. Conservative Christine O’Donnell was propelled by several Tea Party groups and that movement’s most famous figure. CHRISTINE O’DONNELL: You betcha! There’s another woman I gotta thank. You betcha! Thank you Governor Palin for your endorsement. KELLY O’DONNELL: O’Donnell was ridiculed and written-off by other Republicans as unelectable. She had never won before, but knocked out Congressman Mike Castle who had never lost in a dozen races. Castle did not offer his congratulations. REP. MIKE CASTLE: The voters in the Republican Party have spoken and I respect that decision. KELLY O’DONNELL: Castle had called O’Donnell unqualified. (Begin ad clip) ANNOUNCER: She didn’t pay thousands in income taxes. (End clip) KELLY O’DONNELL: Animosity was so intense, the state Republican Party paid for robo-calls where O’Donnell’s past campaign manager attacked her. (Begin clip of robo-call) UNIDENTIFIED CAMPAIGN MANAGER: I found out that she was living on campaign donations, using them for rent and personal expenses while leaving her workers unpaid and piling up thousands in debt. (End clip) KELLY O’DONNELL: O’Donnell denies misusing funds. She claims her own financial hard times actually help her understand voters’ anger. CHRISTINE O’DONNELL: A lot of people have already said that we can’t win the general election. I know. KELLY O’DONNELL: Democratic officials are gleeful and called her an ultra right wing extremist. Ironically, her supporters used an Obama slogan to predict victory in November. O’DONNELL SUPPORTERS AT RALLY CHANTING: Yes We Can! KELLY O’DONNELL: Turning to New Hampshire’s GOP Senate primary, a tight race too close to call. Former state attorney general, Kelly Ayotte, the choice of both the Republican establishment and Sarah Palin against a Tea Party endorsed conservative activist Ovide Lamontagne. On to New York, where the Republican nominee for governor is another Tea Party conservative . Real estate developer Carl Paladino over the party favorite former Congressman Rick Lazio, while New York Democrats stood by 20-term Congressman Charlie Rangel who’s accused of House ethics violations. Rangel beat back several challengers. REP. CHARLIE RANGEL: I go back to Washington stronger than I have ever been. KELLY O’DONNELL: And back here in Delaware, Democrats didn’t have a primary fight for the Senate seat, so Chris Coons is their candidate in November. O’Donnell who has worked as a media consultant for conservative non-profit groups says that she is hoping to get donations, even though the national party is reluctant to get behind her. And she also hopes to get the endorsement of Mike Castle. That has not happened. She is calling for unity, isn’t sure if she can expect it but says the Tea Party is behind her.

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NBC Reporter Throws Around Conservative Label but Can’t Call Rangel A Lib

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Memo to Slate’s Weigel: Those Who Live in Glass Houses Shouldn’t Throw Stones

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Anxiety was pretty high in the heat of battle with the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. However, a lot of that tension exists beyond the state of Delaware and there have been self-proclaimed conventional wisdom wizards critical of how the electoral process in Delaware has worked itself out. One of those has been former embattled Washington Post blogger Dave Weigel, who in a Slate.com post dated Sept. 14, took a few shots at conservative talker Mark Levin, calling him a “creep” for his criticisms of The Weekly Standard John McCormack , author of an unfavorable story about Delaware U.S. Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell. “This is absolutely pathetic,” Weigel wrote of Levin’s critique. “No, Mark, when reporters investigate female candidates, they are not ‘obsessed,’ any more than you’re obsessed with Hillary Clinton when you call her “her thighness” and ‘Hillary Rotten Clinton.’ They’re reporting. For all of your posing about legal theory and the Constitution, you make it pretty clear here that you’re a political hack.” But Levin responded promptly by reminiscing about Weigel’s prior “JournoList” transgressions by compiling his own list of so-called “Weigelisms” and posted him on his Facebook blog : “This would be a vastly better world to live in if Matt Drudge decided to handle his emotional problems more responsibly, and set himself on fire.” “Follow-up to one hell of a day: Apparently, the  Washington Examiner  thought it would be fun to write up an item about my dancing at the wedding of Megan McArdle and Peter Suderman. Said item included the name and job of my girlfriend, who was not even there – nor in DC at all.” “I’d politely encourage everyone to think twice about rewarding the Examiner with any traffic or links for a while. I know the temptation is high to follow up hot hot Byron York scoops, but please resist it.” “It’s all very amusing to me. Two hundred screaming Ron Paul fanatics couldn’t get their man into the Fox News New Hampshire GOP debate, but Fox News is pumping around the clock to get Paultard Tea Party people on TV.” Of course, Weigel apologized for these comments, but if he were serious about that apology and sincerely wanted to try to re-establish some modicum of his credibility, one would think he would refrain from labeling his opponents as “creeps.”

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Memo to Slate’s Weigel: Those Who Live in Glass Houses Shouldn’t Throw Stones

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Adam Sandler, Chris Rock Talk Richard Pryor Biopic

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It’s all being worked on,’ Sandler tells MTV News, after losing director Bill Condon to ‘Breaking Dawn.’ By Eric Ditzian Chris Rock and Adam Sandler Photo: MTV News Richard Pryor died in 2005 at the age of 65, leaving behind a legacy of legendary comedy — and equally legendary debauchery. He was the guy a generation of stand-up comedians modeled themselves after, and he was the guy whose long-standing drug abuse — including a frightening incident in which he lit himself on fire while freebasing cocaine — stood as a warning to rising comics about the dangers of addiction and fame. Two of the comedians who rose to prominence in the decades after Pryor’s trailblazing comedic stylings, Adam Sandler and Chris Rock , are deep in development as the producers of “Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said?” a biopic about the funnyman. Eddie Murphy circled the Pryor role at one point, and before his death, Pryor himself anointed Mike Epps (“The Hangover”) as the guy for the part. But the gig eventually went to Marlon Wayans. Why? Rock had some answers. “Marlon Wayans, he did a screen test and it was just unbelievable,” Rock told MTV News recently. “It’s not just doing the comedy of Richard Pryor. He captures the vulnerability of Richard Pryor.” Long attached to helm the project, director Bill Condon should begin shooting “Is It Something I Said?” in the fall. But now that Condon has signed on to direct the conclusion of the two-part “Twilight Saga,” “Breaking Dawn” — also this fall — things seem to be getting complicated. Is Condon still on board? Will Sandler and Rock get their project off the ground? “Hopefully, soon,” Sandler said. “It’s all being worked on. Hopefully soon.” What do you think of Marlon Wayans playing iconic comedian Richard Pryor? Would you have cast another actor? Let us know in the comments!

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Washington Post, Fox News Cite MRC Vice President Dan Gainor in Weigel Resignation

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The inside-the-beltway media world was turned on its head with leaked e-mails that revealed Washington Post blogger Dave Weigel had some disparaging things to say about prominent conservative figures, including Rush Limbaugh, Matt Drudge and Byron York. This ultimately resulted in Weigel’s resignation. However, some of Weigel’s antics have been previously raised by his critics , including Media Research Center Vice President Dan Gainor, who offered remarks to Washington Post ombudsman Andrew Alexander. Alexander included them in a June 25 post on his blog : With bloggers such as Weigel, “I think The Post needs to decide what it wants to be online,” said Dan Gainor, a vice president at the conservative Media Research Center. “Does it want to be opinion? Or, does it want to be news? The problem here was that it was never clear.” “If it’s going to be opinion, it ought to have somebody on the conservative side — something Dave Weigel never was,” he said. If The Post wants to assign a “good neutral reporter” to cover conservatives, “we’d be thrilled,” said Gainor. But quickly added, Weigel “wasn’t one. He looked at the conservative movement as if he was visiting a zoo. We’re more than that.” Gainor raises valid points. Klein’s blog posts clearly pass through a liberal prism. For that reason, liberals have a comfort level with what he writes, and conservatives know where he’s coming from, even if they disagree. In contrast, Weigel’s blog seemed to confuse many conservatives who contacted me. Was he supposed to be a neutral reporter, some wondered? Also picking up Gainor’s reaction to the Weigel incident was Fox News Channel’s June 25 “Special Report.” During the “Political Grapevine” segment, “Special Report” host Bret Baier offered viewers Gainor’s reaction. “A Washington Post blogger assigned to cover the conservative beat has resigned after e-mails he wrote surfaced that included disparaging comments about the very conservatives he was supposed to cover,” Baier said. “David Weigel’s e-mails to  JournoList, a listserv for liberal journalists were leaked Thursday. In them he wrote it would be a better world if Matt Drudge of the Drudge Report would quote, “Set himself on fire.” Weigel also wished for the death of Rush Limbaugh and accused pundits and Republicans of racism. Weigel did apologize on his blog before calling it quits.” “Ben Smith at the Politico blames the paper for hiring what he calls, quote, ‘A liberal blogger under the false impression that he’s a conservative.’ Dan Gainor of the Media Research Center goes further calling the incident ‘a disaster for the Post,’ writing, quote, ‘the Post brought in someone who tried to tear down conservatives and look at the right as if he were visiting a zoo.'”

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Washington Post, Fox News Cite MRC Vice President Dan Gainor in Weigel Resignation

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