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Matthews Whacked Fox for Being ‘Stooges’ for Senate Candidates, But What About MSNBC’s Senate Shilling?

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

On Tuesday night’s Hardball, Chris Matthews theorized (confessing he didn’t really have evidence) that GOP candidates like Sharron Angle get to pre-screen their questions before appearing on Fox News. He concluded: “How far will these candidates go in expecting the networks, especially Fox in the case of the right wing, to do their bidding and set them up as basically stooges, asking pre-arranged questions, pre-arranged answers?” Matthews mocked Angle’s chutzpah that interviews should be fundraising opportunities. It’s a little mysterious that MSNBC would get on a high horse for offering repeated bites at the publicity apple for Senate candidates. Take the case of Bill Halter, the staunch leftist who challenged Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D.-Ark.) in a primary for not supporting a socialist “public option” in the health-care debate. From March through the June 8 primary, MSNBC hosted Halter in ten interviews (on programs included in the Nexis transcript database), including seven on The Ed Show, one on The Rachel Maddow Show (on March 3), one on Hardball (on March 12), one on Andrea Mitchell Reports on primary day (June 8).  Don’t like candidates repeating their websites on air, MSNBC? Halter did on the Ed Show. Here’s May 19:  SCHULTZ: Governor, you have gotten the grass roots support, I mean overwhelming compared to your opponent. Is it going to be there between now and June 8th? Can you count on the same people that got you close last night to close the deal for you? HALTER: Well, Ed, I`m just going to ask them right now. Go to billhalter.com. Our average contribution has been $30. That`s something that people across Arkansas and across the United States can do, and I can guarantee you this, we`re going to put that money to good use. Actually, it happened again on that night:  SCHULTZ: Adam, what if the progressive movement in this country can`t pull it off in Arkansas? Would this be a big setback? Because I see this as a real turning point right here. I mean, she is the first corporate Democratic senator that fought hard against health care reform. I don`t think she held insurance`s feet to the fire at all. If she is successful, is that a real blow to the progressive movement? ADAM GREEN: Sure. Any loss would be a blow to any movement. But we`re going to win, and here`s why we`re going to win. One by-product of the fact that she has taken millions and millions of dollars from big corporations is that she really has no grassroots support here on the ground. You can feel it. Meanwhile, thousands of thousands of people are chipping in with their time and their money to Bill Halter, either at BillHalter.com or on our website, BoldProgressives.org. Halter also did two website plugs on the Ed Show of May 24:  SCHULTZ: The latest Research 2000 poll shows you were slightly ahead of the Senator, 48-46. Is it going to be this close all the way? What do you think? HALTER: I think it will be close, but I believe that we`re headed for a victory on June 8th. Certainly, we have all the momentum, Ed. We`ve seen that all over the state. SCHULTZ: Do you have the money? HALTER: We can always use help, Ed. BillHalter.com for anybody who wants to help out. SCHULTZ: But right now do you have the money? HALTER: Well, we`ve got enough to get our ads up, but we can always use more. SCHULTZ: Well, what about her war chest? She doesn`t seem to have the grassroots the way you do. HALTER: No, that`s true. But she`s had six years to raise money, and so she banked over $8 million. We`ve out-raised Senator Lincoln ever since we got in the race, but she just had a big head start. Of course, she spent a lot of that money, too. But we could use everybody`s help, $10, $20, $30. BillHalter.com is the place to go . The Ed Show dates for Halter were March 2, March 5, March 31, May 14, May 19, May 24, and June 2.  But Matthews called Sharron Angle’s grinning insistence to Cameron on fundraising plugs in her interviews as “the most incredible 26 seconds of television history for a very long time.” That’s obviously a very slanted lesson in TV history.

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Matthews Whacked Fox for Being ‘Stooges’ for Senate Candidates, But What About MSNBC’s Senate Shilling?

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CBS and ABC Wish Obama Happy Birthday: Still ‘Full of Energy,’ But Feeling ‘Weight of the Presidency’

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Playing Stevie Wonder’s version of ‘Happy Birthday’ at the end of Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Erica Hill reported: “The Obamas, of course, big Stevie Wonder fans. And President Obama, 49 years old today.” After she observed that Obama looked a little grayer, co-host Harry Smith, who interviewed the President on Friday, chimed in: “He came bounding into the interview area full of energy.” Smith went on to note how “in terms of energy and sort of lines on the face or any of that other kind of stuff….looks like [Obama’s] still got it together.” Hill wondered: “He doesn’t look tired or drawn or stressed?” Smith replied, “No, no. Nope,” and started to joke about his own age: “[Obama] was probably very happy to see me….Because Lord knows, everybody likes it when they see the old- ” At that point, weatherman Dave Price interjected: “But keep in mind, you really never notice it until you see those pictures.” He added: “…the only one who really came out looking just like he did was Reagan….left looking great.” Smith couldn’t resist getting in a quick shot at the late president: “…they insisted till the end that he never dyed his hair.” Back in 2001, Early Show news reader Melissa McDermott offered only a dry, three-sentence news brief on President George W. Bush’s 55th birthday: “Well, today is President Bush’s 55th birthday. Mr. and Mrs. Bush arrived in Maine yesterday to celebrate with family and friends at the family’s home in Kennebunkport, Maine. The White House says his only goals for the day are to make an early tee time and shoot a low score.” In 2002, Tracy Smith and Mark Knoller added a couple extra lines to a nearly identical brief: TRACY SMITH: All right, Mark. Now it is the president’s 56th birthday today, so how’s he celebrating? KNOLLER: Well, he’s celebrating it with his family at the family home here at Kennebunkport, Maine. The president and his dad were up early this morning, teeing off for a round of golf at just after 6 AM. There’ll be a birthday party by the family for the president this evening. We’re told there will be birthday cake and singing. SMITH: Yum. All right. Thanks, Mark. There was no birthday music or discussion of Bush’s energy level and hair color. The Early Show wasn’t the only network morning show to send Obama a special birthday message on Wednesday, ABC’s Good Morning America had a similar segment. With ‘They say it’s your birthday!’ playing in the background, co-host Robin Roberts announced: “…the President of the United States is celebrating his 49th birthday today.” A headline on-screen read: “Happy Birthday, Mr. President: Has White House Aged Obama?” Correspondent Yunji de Nies reported: “It’s the President’s birthday. And apparently, he’s been feeling his age….It was just 18 months ago that the vibrant 47-year-old took the oath.” A clip was played of de Nies fretting over the President’s aging to Press Secretary Robert Gibbs: “Does he feel like the weight of the presidency is, perhaps, accelerating his aging?” She explained: “This president isn’t unique. Bill Clinton entered a fresh-faced baby-boomer and emerged mature. Eight years weren’t easy an George W. Bush, either. And take a look at Abraham Lincoln. No matter the century, the Oval Office takes its toll.” De Nies went so far as to ask Dr. Michael Roizen of the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, “What’s the best advice on his birthday? How can he stay young?” Roizen replied: “Keep playing basketball. And make sure he makes time for family time.” Here is a transcript of the August 4 Early Show segment: 8:51AM [SONG: Happy birthday to you] ERICA HILL: A little Stevie Wonder Happy Birthday for you. The Obamas, of course, big Stevie Wonder fans. And President Obama, 49 years old today. HARRY SMITH: You really tied it all together there. HILL: I just – I just tied it up with a bow for you on a birthday gift. DAVE PRICE: Thank you Casey Kasem. HILL: Any time. Your top 40- DAVE PRICE: How about a long distance dedication? HILL: Oh, coming up a little later in the show. So, it’s President Obama’s birthday today. He’s heading home to Chicago to celebrate tonight. Of course, Mrs. Obama and Sasha are in Spain, Malia’s at camp. He’s hanging out with friends in Chicago. I got to ask you, Harry, he’s looks a little gray, but other than that, you just interviewed him last week- SMITH: It was on Friday. He came bounding into the interview area full of energy. That is the most telling thing, is – he really is grayer, without question, grayer, but in terms of energy and sort of lines on the face or any of that other kind of stuff, we’ve seen over the years what being in the White House can do to a president. HILL: What it does. SMITH: And he looks like he’s- HILL: Even his face? SMITH: -at least overtly, looks like he’s still got it together. HILL: He doesn’t look tired or drawn or stressed? SMITH: No, no. Nope, he was – well, he was probably very happy to see me- JEFF GLOR: Of course, of course. SMITH: Because Lord knows, everybody likes it when they see the old- PRICE: But keep in mind, you really never notice it until you see those pictures one, two – I mean, look at Carter. You know, the only one who really came out looking just like he did was Reagan. He went into the office, you know, being relatively senior, and left the same. And left looking great. SMITH: And you know, PRICE: Right. GLOR: Of course not.         HILL: I have no comment. GLOR: Reagan always looked great. HILL: Hey, have a great day, everyone. If it’s your birthday, happy birthday to you as well. Stay tuned, your local news is next.        Here is a full transcript of the Good Morning America segment: 7:49AM ROBIN ROBERTS [singing] They say it’s your birthday! Around the water cooler this morning, nine days before Sam celebrates his birthday, the President of the United States is celebrating his 49th birthday today. ABC GRAPHIC: Happy Birthday, Mr. President: Has White House Aged Obama? GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Sam’s only going to be 34. SAM CHAMPION: No, we’re oddly the same age. But, I do love you for that, George. ROBERTS: See how close you were to becoming the President of the United States. But, he’s on his own, Barack Obama is, today. He’s in Chicago, because Malia is at sleep away camp. Michelle is with Ms. Obama on vacation in- STEPHANOPOULOS: Spain. ROBERTS: in Spain. And, so, he’ll have a celebratory dinner we’re the boys, with his friends in Chicago tonight. Yunji de Nies decided to take a look, because this is his second birthday in office, to see how the two years have treated him. YUNJI DE NIES: It’s the President’s birthday. And apparently, he’s been feeling his age. BARACK OBAMA [montage]: I have a lot more gray hair than I did last year. I don’t have as much gray hair in that clip. [At a Subway] I want everybody to know when I was 20, I could order a 12-inch. I’m turning 49 next week, which means I need just the half. DE NIES: It was just 18 months ago that the vibrant 47-year-old took the oath. OBAMA: So, help me, God. DE NIES: As months grow, so do the grays. [At a press conference.] Does he feel like the weight of the presidency is, perhaps, accelerating his aging? ROBERT GIBBS: I can’t imagine that the weight of the job doesn’t take a toll. It will just require that he get more frequent hair cuts. DE NIES: This president isn’t unique. Bill Clinton entered a fresh-faced baby-boomer and emerged mature. Eight years weren’t easy an George W. Bush, either. And take a look at Abraham Lincoln. No matter the century, the Oval Office takes its toll. DR. MICHAEL ROIZEN (Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic): We looked at all the presidents and the typical one ages two years for every year they’re in office. DE NIES: Using Aprilage Facial Progression Software, we got a glimpse of what the President might look like after one term in office. And then, after two. What’s the best advice on his birthday? How can he stay young? ROIZEN: Keep playing basketball. And make sure he makes time for family time. DE NIES: For Good Morning America, Yunji de Nies, ABC News, the White House. ROBERTS: I think our stage manager, Angie, said it’s all the secrets they know as president. You think you know what’s going on in the world. But, once you become president and you open up the docket and you go- STEPHANOPOULOS: oh, my god. JUJU CHANG: I have to settle that now. STEPHANOPOULOS: Our gift will be, we’ll send him a case of Grecian Formula 16.

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CBS Continues to Pressure Congress to Extend Unemployment Benefits

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

On Saturday’s CBS Evening News, anchor Jeff Glor decided what should be at the top of Congress’s agenda as it returned from the July 4th recess: “Congress returns to Washington next week to face a big backlog of unfinished business, and topping the list is the future of unemployment benefits.” In a report that followed, senior White House correspondent Bill Plante chided elected officials for going on vacation without resolving the issue: “It’s been ten days since senators went home for their July 4th vacation without extending unemployment benefits ….They’ve now run out for more than 1.3 million people and the Labor Department says that number could rise to 3 million by the end of this month.”   Plante then touted Democrats blaming the GOP for the inaction: “As he campaigns for Democrats, the President paints the lack of new benefits as Republican heartlessness ….There were protests this week from labor unions against some Senate Republicans. This one in Lexington, Kentucky directed at the GOP leader Mitch Mcconnell, calling for action when the Senate returns next week.” Plante noted the Republican response to such claims: “But Mcconnell blames Democrats for refusing to cut spending to pay the $34 billion cost of the extension.” Saturday’s broadcast was taking over where CBS had left off prior to the holiday. As Congress adjourned on July 1 , fill-in Evening News anchor Scott Pelley proclaimed: “We have decided to start with the 1.3 million Americans whose unemployment benefits have run out, stopped cold, in the last 30 days. And we’re starting there because the U.S. Senate went on vacation today without solving the problem.” Correspondent Chip Reid then reported: “So who’s fault is that? On the surface, it appears Senate Republicans are to blame. Led by Mitch McConnell, they killed the bill with a filibuster. But McConnell points the finger at Democrats, especially Leader Harry Reid, for refusing to pay for the bill in this age of sky-high deficits.” Unlike the July 1 coverage, Saturday’s Evening News briefly highlighted the debate among economists over whether unemployment benefits even should be extended. Plante explained: “Some economists contend that unemployment benefits did not help that much in earlier recessions.” A clip was played of University of Maryland Professor Peter Morici citing past abuse of such benefits. Plante then noted: “Others believe the time paid for unemployment benefits is when the economy improves. They argue that the extension is needed right now.” A clip of Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi was played: “It’s the most effective stimulus that can be provided….They get a check and they spend it and it helps the economy immediately.” Despite that back and forth, Plante concluded his piece by anticipating an extension of benefits: “When the Senate returns next week they will bring the benefit extension to another vote, but not until West Virginia’s governor appoints someone to fill the Senate seat of the late Robert Byrd. That should give the Democrats enough votes to pass the extension.” Also on the economic front, on Tuesday’s Early Show, Plante reported the results of a new CBS News poll , which “shows that the public, when it comes to the economy, has very little confidence in either Congress or the President.” He described how 54% of respondents disapprove of the President’s handling of the economy and that a majority believe the recession will last at least another two years. However, Plante tempered the bad news for the White House by noting: “He’ll [Obama will] blame Republicans for the policies which led up to the recession. And it may be small comfort for Democrats, but the public has just as low an opinion of Republicans in Congress.” Here is a full transcript of Plante’s July 10 Saturday Evening News report: 6:35PM ET JEFF GLOR: Congress returns to Washington next week to face a big backlog of unfinished business, and topping the list is the future of unemployment benefits. Senior White House correspondent Bill Plante has more tonight. BILL PLANTE: It’s been ten days since senators went home for their July 4th vacation without extending unemployment benefits. ROLAND BURRIS [SENATOR, D-ILLINOIS]: The motion is not agreed to.                                  BILL PLANTE: They’ve now run out for more than 1.3 million people and the Labor Department says that number could rise to 3 million by the end of this month. As he campaigns for Democrats, the President paints the lack of new benefits as Republican heartlessness. BARACK OBAMA: They said no to extended unemployment insurance for folks who desperately needed help. PLANTE: There were protests this week from labor unions against some Senate Republicans. This one in Lexington, Kentucky directed at the GOP leader Mitch Mcconnell, calling for action when the Senate returns next week. But Mcconnell blames Democrats for refusing to cut spending to pay the $34 billion cost of the extension. MITCH MCCONNELL: The only reason the unemployment extension hasn’t passed is because our friends on the other side simply refuse to pass a bill that does not add to the debt. PLANTE: Some economists contend that unemployment benefits did not help that much in earlier recessions. PETER MORICI [UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND]: Unemployment was a terribly intractable problem and we had big benefits. And many folks abused those benefits to stay out of the labor force to do other things they were interested in doing. PLANTE: Others believe the time paid for unemployment benefits is when the economy improves. They argue that the extension is needed right now. MARK ZANDI [CHIEF ECONOMIST, MOODY’S ANALYTICS]: It’s the most effective stimulus that can be provided. Many of these people are very hard pressed. They get a check and they spend it and it helps the economy immediately. PLANTE: When the Senate returns next week they will bring the benefit extension to another vote, but not until West Virginia’s governor appoints someone to fill the Senate seat of the late Robert Byrd. That should give the Democrats enough votes to pass the extension. Jeff. GLOR: Bill Plante at the White House tonight. Bill, thank you. 

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CBS ‘Early Show’ Follows ABC’s Lead, Touts Kagan’s SNL-Worthy Humor

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

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 agreed with Smith and added: “…a Saturday Night Live skit made live , in part because she looks exactly like Rachel Dratch. And it’s perfect because Al Franken is on the committee. And I kept on watching like waiting for someone to burst into song or Unfrozen Caveman Senator.” Radio host Jane Pratt chimed in: “Her joke was good, the Chinese food joke was good.” Smith remarked: “Very funny. Sunday night, and Christmas.”          On Wednesday’s Good Morning America on ABC, news reader Juju Chang noted Kagan’s “lively sense of humor” and later asked co-hosts George Stephanopoulos and Elizabeth Vargas “who is going to play her in the SNL skit?” Vargas replied: “I don’t think they could be as funny as Elena Kagan was!” While the Early Show touted Kagan’s comedic performance, neither Good Morning America nor NBC’s Today made any mention of the confirmation hearings on Friday. In addition, none of the evening newscast on Thursday made any mention of Kagan’s final day of testimony. Here is a full transcript of the July 2 Early Show exchange provided by NewsBusters’ Scott Whitlock: 8:20AM HARRY SMITH: The almost unknown, practically under the radar, the Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan, before committees this week being funny. She was downright funny.  MO ROCCA: Last Justice Standing. [All laugh] ANA MARIE COX: American justice. It’s funny. I actually thought she was funny, too.  SMITH: Right.  COX: I have to say, watching it immediately, I don’t know if I’m allowed to say SNL, but Saturday Night Live, a Saturday Night Live skit made live, in part because she looks exactly like Rachel Dratch. And it’s perfect because Al Franken is on the committee. And I kept on watching like waiting for someone to burst into song or Unfrozen Caveman Senator. I mean- JANE PRATT: Yeah. Right. I haven’t been able to watch it just because I feel like- like, I see Al Franken looking like he’s kind of falling asleep and I’m like, it makes me feel like I’m going to fall asleep and then I wanted to crack a joke. Her joke was good, the Chinese food joke was good. SMITH: Very funny. Sunday night, and Christmas. COX: She took the fifth on Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, which all women do. [They move on to other topics.]

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Network Morning Shows Laud the Comedy of ‘Lively,’ SNL-worthy Kagan

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

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 Supreme Court thing doesn’t work out, she’s got another career in stand-up .” [Audio available here .]  Guest host Elizabeth Vargas hyperbolically asserted that Saturday Night Live couldn’t “be as funny as Elena Kagan was!” Today’s Kelly O’Donnell prefaced clips of Kagan’s humor by fawning, “But the real surprise has been that both Democrats and Republicans found something to smile about.” She added, “And there were actually a number of other of those kinds of personable, humorous exchanges and maybe some of that came out because it was such a grind, more than 10 hours.” Over on CBS’s Early Show, reporter Jan Crawford warned that “aggressive” Republicans were on the “attack.” She observed, “But Kagan was blunt and didn’t hide her background.” Crawford, too, highlighted Kagan’s comedy: “And while the day was dominated by tough questions, there were moments of levity.” The journalist enthused, “On one point, both sides agreed.” She then played a clip of Senator Arlen Specter touting the nominee’s “admirable sense of humor.” Crawford did note that Kagan wasn’t entirely forthcoming. Referencing the fact that the potential judge has previously called such hearings a charade, the reporter concluded, “…So she really did that dance that we’ve seen from nominees year after year after year up here.” Due to the almost non-existent nature of ABC’s coverage, the program skipped any mention of Kagan’s testimony on Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell. The Early Show reported her statement of opposition to it. Today’s O’Donnell featured this exchange: KELLY O’DONNELL: In the most intense exchange, the committee’s top Republican, Jeff Sessions, pounded Kagan for restricting where on campus where the military could recruit when she was dean at Harvard Law. SEN. JEFF SESSIONS: You were punishing the military. O’DONNELL: Kagan insisted recruiters had access to students. She said the military ban on gays serving openly conflicted with Harvard’s anti-discrimination policy. KAGAN: I have repeatedly said that I believe that the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is unwise and unjust. I believed it then and I believe it now. SESSIONS: I know you were an outspoken leader against the military policy. For a recap of Tuesday’s morning show coverage of Kagan, see an earlier NewsBusters post. A transcript of ABC’s brief segment, which aired at 7:14am, follows: JUJU CHANG: Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan faces what is likely her final round of questioning from senators today. Her first day of confirmation testimony was long and, at times, tense. But, Kagan proves she has a lively sense of humor. SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Where are you at on Christmas day? ELENA KAGAN: You know, like all Jews, I was probably in a Chinese restaurant. SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER: You’ve already said you’re in favor of televising the court. KAGAN: It means I would have to get my hair done more often, Senator Specter. SENATOR ORRIN HATCH: We have to have a back and forth every once in a while. Or this place would be boring as hell, I’ll tell you. KAGAN: And it gets the spotlight off me. CHANG [Laughs]: That’s the news at 7:15. Excellent ad-libs. But the real question, George and Elizabeth, is who is going to play her in the SNL skit? ELIZABETH VARGAS: Oh, it’s ripe for it, isn’t it? Although, I don’t think they could be as funny as Elena Kagan was! GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Yeah, if this Supreme Court thing doesn’t work out, she’s got another career in stand-up. VARGAS: Absolutely.

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‘Early Show’ Panelists on Marriage: ‘Who Wants to Sign up for That?’

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Apparently unmarried men don’t have to bother ‘putting a ring on it’ anymore. A CBS’ “Early Show” panel on June 23 made marriage look like an obsolete tradition by  highlighting several couples who’ve cohabited for years-with little or no intentions of ever saying “I do.” CBS co-host Erica Hill cited statistics showing a record-high 6.4 million couples currently cohabitate in the United States. “This is a cautious generation,” Seligson explained to Hill. “They want to get it right, and they want to make sure that this is the person with whom they can spend the next 60 or 70 years.” “Early Show” guest panelists Dr. Robi Ludwig of Care.com and Brian Balthazar of Popgoestheweek.com supported this shift in cultural attitude. Balthazar pointed out that to many individuals, particularly those whose families have experienced divorce, marriage has a less-than-sparkly image. “They say, why do I want to put myself through that?” Balthazar explained. “If I love my partner, why do I feed a piece of paper and spend a lot of money?” He credited the trend to an “instant update society. I don’t know what I’m having for dinner tomorrow let alone a week. People stayed at the same job for 20 years. Now that never happens. People are thinking, marriage forever? The vows are honor and obey? Who wants to sign up for that?” Ludwig said cohabitation provides a way to experiment with marriage without the burden of commitment. “Living together really always gives the person the option to get out,” she said. “And also it’s like a trial for marriage. So you’re trying out to be a husband, you’re trying out to be a wife. Most of the time it’s a wife trying out, like, ‘Do you want me to be your wife?’ Balthazar called cohabitation “a great test run.” He cited comedian Groucho Marx, who is credited with saying, “Marriage is a good institution. But who want to live in an institution?” Despite the guest panelists’ efforts to characterize marriage as antiquated, Hill never mentioned the ways that marriage benefits both the couple and their children. Hill also never mentioned the numerous studies compiled by groups like The Heritage Foundation and Focus on the Family and  that indicate the damaging results that cohabitation has on marriage (for couples who eventually plan on getting married), or the effect that this non-committal take on relationships can have on children reared in homes lacking the structure of marriage. This isn’t the first time “The Early Show” has promoted cohabitation without mentioning the downsides. On March 9, host Harry Smith neglected to ask author Hannah Seligson about the consequences of cohabitation in a discussion of her book, “A Little Bit Married.”

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ABC Focuses Oil Spill Blame on BP and Coast Guard, Not Obama; CBS Gives President ‘C’ for Response

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| 1 Comment

On Thursday’s Good Morning America on ABC, co-host George Stephanopoulos laid blame on BP and Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen for mishandling the Gulf oil spill response but depicted the Obama administration as having done everything it could. In contrast, on the CBS Early Show, guests from both sides of the aisle gave the President a ‘C’ grade for his response.   At the top of Good Morning America, Stephanopoulos described how BP CEO Tony Hayward would be facing a “public execution” in Thursday’s congressional hearings and how Michigan Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak promised to “slice and dice” Hayward. In a report that followed, correspondent Jonathan Karl furthered the theme of courageous Democrats standing up to the big oil villain: “Tony Hayward may be the most hated man in America. And he’s heading right into a buzz saw of congressional outrage. In his prepared testimony, Hayward declares, ‘I am deeply sorry.’ But the chairman of the committee says that’s not enough.” A clip of Democratic committee chairman Henry Waxman was played. Minutes later, Stephanopoulos interviewed Louisiana Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser and wondered: “…with everything the President and BP announced this week, do you think this is on the right track now?” After Nungesser expressed doubt about local fisherman being reimbursed for financial losses and a lack of organization in the response, Stephanopoulos deflected any criticism away from President Obama and suggested another target: “The White House has approved the building of berms, they’ve sent the boom down there, Admiral Allen is on the scene every day. Are you saying he is not giving you the help you need? And do you think he should keep his job?” Nungesser replied: “I don’t know if it’s Admiral Allen. I don’t know if the chain of command. Something’s not working.” Stephanopoulos pressed further: “So how does it get done? Is Admiral Allen the right man for the job right now?” The headline on-screen during the segment read: “Desperation On the Gulf; Residents Want More Action.” Meanwhile, on the Early Show, co-host Harry Smith invited Republican strategist Dan Bartlett and Democratic strategist Rob Zimmerman to grade President Obama’s handling of the disaster. Bartlett replied: “Well I think, Harry, anything above maybe a C-minus would be difficult to score.” Smith joked: ” ‘Gentleman’s C,’ we’ve heard that before.” Zimmerman actually graded on the same curve: “Harry, I’d have to agree with Dan. I’d give him a C on this, a C at this point.” Unlike the more generic ABC headline, the on-screen headline on CBS read: “Disaster in the Gulf: Day 59; What’s Next Step for Obama Administration?” Barlett later questioned the wisdom of the White House using the crisis to push controversial cap-and-trade energy legislation. Smith agreed with that concern, asking Zimmerman: “…you have to confess….At the end of the speech he says, ‘Well now it’s time for us to think about energy policy and this is a perfect, perfect jumping-off point,’ was that, as you watched, were you thinking, ‘Boy that’s a good idea,’ or were you thinking, ‘Not now, not now!'”   Zimmerman argued: “But unless we, in fact, put in place an aggressive energy policy, we run the risk of this tragedy happening all over again.” Smith agreed: “That goes without saying.” However, he reiterated: “But from a political standpoint, it’s not as if he’s saying, ‘Okay, I’ve solved all the problems, I have got the bully pulpit, I’ve got the momentum. Now’s the time to jump on this.'” On Tuesday, while the Early Show and NBC’s Today challenged White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on the administration’s response, former Democratic strategist Stephanopoulos lobbed softballs to the Obama staff member. 

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ABC Focuses Oil Spill Blame on BP and Coast Guard, Not Obama; CBS Gives President ‘C’ for Response

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Network News Shows Largely Skip President’s $50 Billion Spending Request

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The network morning and evening news shows have all but ignored President Obama’s Saturday letter to congressional leaders asking for $50 billion in additional spending to prevent the “massive layoffs of teachers, police, and firefighters.” Only Sunday’s Good Morning America on ABC has covered the President’s request so far. The chief executive’s June 12 letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader John Boehner urged “swift action” on the multi-billion dollar proposal to prevent the public sector layoffs and “give our nation’s businesses added impetus to hire and grow.” ABC anchor Bill Weir brought up the President’s letter with White House correspondent Jake Tapper 13 minutes into the 8 am Eastern hour of Sunday’s Good Morning America: WEIR: And then, I guess, slightly more difficult than stopping the leak is keeping open the flow of federal stimulus money- I understand the President [is] asking for another $50 billion? JAKE TAPPER: Another $50 billion, and this has been a tough sell for Democrats on Capitol Hill, not to mention, of course, Republicans. President Obama made the request in a letter yesterday . I will be sitting down today with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Minority Leader John Boehner to see if they have any willingness to pass an additional $50 billion. The President says this is needed as emergency aid to state and local governments, to make sure there aren’t massive layoffs of teachers and policemen and firemen. But, so far, Congress has shown no inclination to pass any more spending bills. Neither Sunday’s Today show on NBC nor CBS’s Sunday Morning program mentioned the spending request. This omission continued on all three networks Sunday evening news programs. The networks’ morning shows on Monday also failed to mention the push for further spending by the President. By contrast, CNN’s Christine Romans devoted an entire segment to it on American Morning: JOHN ROBERTS: Twenty minutes now after the [7 am Eastern] hour- Christine Romans here ‘Minding Your Business’ this morning. And we heard mantras of ‘drill baby drill’- now, I guess this one is ‘spend baby spend,’ right? CHRISTINE ROMANS: Right, the President- KIRAN CHETRY: But don’t call it ‘stimulus.’ ROMANS: Don’t call it- whatever you do, do not call new spending in the economy ‘stimulus’ because we have mid-term elections coming up and Republicans and- you know, frankly, a lot of Democrats are not real keen on spending a lot more money. But the President this weekend sending a letter to congressional leadership, saying this is not the time to pull back on some important emergency spending measures because the economy is really at a critical juncture, he says, in the path to recovery. The President, in this three-page letter to Nancy Pelosi, John Boehner, Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell, saying basically, we cannot afford to slide backward, that we must take emergency measures. All told, maybe up to $50 billion in new spending for things like keeping teachers on the job, for helping people pay their premiums for health care insurance, for making sure that first responders have money so that they are out there actually being able to answer 911 calls and the like. Here’s the issue that the President points out in his letter. We have an economy that is in a recovery, but that recovery seems to be pretty fragile. You look at the number of people unemployed- it’s still 9.7 percent. You look at the most recent retail sales number- retail sales fell 1.2 percent in the most recent month. That was a surprise to people. And you have you a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of an unbelievable 4.81 percent. Folks, that is so low for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. But you still have a lot of concerns with the housing market. It’s just not going to recover until you see the job situation recover. So the President is asking for some- you know, solidarity behind some new spending. The letter went over like a lead balloon with Republicans- ROBERTS: I’m sure. ROMANS: And even some Democrats are concerned. Look, they can’t support anything in the next few months that’s going to turn up in a campaign ad against them as some kind of a new stimulus or spending money we don’t have. So it’s a tough fight the President has here. CHETRY: All right. Christine Romans, thanks so much. ROMANS: Sure. CHETRY: Oh, what’s your numeral? Sorry about that. ROMANS: Oh, the numeral is 300,000. And this is one of the reasons why the President really makes it personal about this spending- 300,000. CHETRY: This is how many people sign up for unemployment benefits each month? ROMANS: This is- according to David Axelrod, if you don’t spend more money, you’re going to have 300,000 teachers out of work- 300,000. That means if you don’t find the money to spend- ROBERTS: That’s true, yeah. ROMANS: You’re going to notice this in your school, in your classroom. This is something- ROBERTS: State and local budgets. ROMANS: It affects you, and the President noted that in his letter, that state and local people are really in big trouble here. ROBERTS: Okay. And now it’s time to say goodbye to all our company. ROMANS: Or walk. CHETRY: All right, Christine.

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Network News Shows Largely Skip President’s $50 Billion Spending Request

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Jennifer Garner’s Alias?

Posted on April 30, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Must be school teacher. Can’t you just see it? Jennifer Garner stepped out for an appearance on The Early Show in a pair of high-waist pants and a boring white button-down. Her outfit was so convincing, we didn’t even look twice at the sock puppet.

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Jennifer Garner’s Alias?

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Buzz Break: Put Up Your Daisy Dukes

Posted on April 21, 2010 by | Leave a comment

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