Tag Archives: good morning america

Jon Stewart Berates Media For Obsession With Palin Daughters: ‘Who Gives a S–t?’

Jon Stewart is finally flaunting some of that “sanity” we've heard so much about. On his show Wednesday night, he had a simple message for the legions of journalists obsessed with Sarah Palin's children: “Who gives a sh*t?” “Kids are off limits,” Stewart added. “In fact, we should all go out of our way to treat her children with kid gloves and respect to show that we don't judge individuals and mock them purely based on who their parents are.” “Stop making me feel sympathy for the Palins!” he begged – hysterically, I might add. “Stop it!” (Video below the break – h/t Charlie Spiering ) read more

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Jon Stewart Berates Media For Obsession With Palin Daughters: ‘Who Gives a S–t?’

Snarky Bill Weir on Being a Careful Journalist: ‘I’ve Drastically Scaled down the Size of My Meth Lab’

Nightline co-anchor Bill Weir talked to TV Newser on Tuesday and offered a sarcastic answer to the question of how he must be careful as a journalist.

CBS, ABC Excited Over Barack Obama’s Bid to Recapture His ‘Glory Days’

Both ABC and CBS on Wednesday played up Barack Obama’s attempt to reignite his Democratic base and defeat surging Republicans. Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos labeled the President’s trip to Madison, Wisconsin a ” glory days tour. ” On CBS’s Early Show, Chip Reid used nearly identical language, claiming the President was “recalling his glory days on the 2008 campaign trail.” The two networks played up the Democratic comeback storyline with little focus on the Republicans. GMA and The Early Show also ignored what it meant for the President to be traveling to an extremely liberal city in order to excite his Democratic base. Reid enthused, “President Obama rallied a raucous crowd of at least 15,000 people at the University of Wisconsin in a speech us that beamed to more than 100 college campuses nationwide. (NBC’s Savannah Guthrie sounded a similar theme on the Today show : “The President proved last night, in Wisconsin, he can still pack tens of thousands of young people into an arena.”) Although CBS did point out that Obama has, thus far, failed to fire up young voters (Jake Tapper made this point on ABC), Reid avoided noting that the President is playing defense in Democratic states. Instead, he closed by highlighting that “there are more campaign-style rallies on college campuses scheduled in the weeks to come.” ABC’s Tapper played up Democratic discontent, featuring the liberal Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake: “[Obama] is telling voters, on the Democratic base, they are irresponsible. They’re, you know, they’re slackers. They don’t care enough to show up.” Pivoting off this, Stephanopoulos later worried to pollster Matt Dowd: “You saw that Vice President Biden came out earlier in the week and said stop whining. You think they [the White House] have to refine the message a little bit?” Stephanopoulos hopefully observed, “The President stepping it up there. He went to church with his family two Sundays ago. Everything you see him doing that, trying to re-establish that emotional connection with the voters.” A transcript of the September 29 Early Show, which aired at 7:06am EDT, follows: HARRY SMITH: Now to President Obama back on the campaign trail, trying to reignite the fire in young voters who helped him win the White House. But getting them to support Democrats this year seems to be a bit of a challenge. CBS News chief White House correspondent Chip Reid is traveling with the President in Des Moines. Good morning, Chip. CHIP REID: Well, good morning. The President is doing whatever he can to fire up the Democratic base before election day. He told Rolling Stone magazine it’s ‘irresponsible and inexcusable’ for Democrats not to go to the polls. And at the University of Wisconsin he gave a barn-burner of a speech. [ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Obama’s Call to Action; Rallies Youth in Midterm Push] BARACK OBAMA: What did you say, Wisconsin?! CROWD: Yes, we can! REID: Recalling his glory days on the 2008 campaign trail. OBAMA: Hello, Wisconsin! REID: President Obama rallied a raucous crowd of at least 15,000 people at the University of Wisconsin in a speech us that beamed to more than 100 college campuses nationwide. OBAMA: We cannot sit this one out. We can’t let this country fall backwards because the rest of us didn’t care enough to fight. The stakes are too high for our country and for your future. REID: This is the first in a series of campaign rallies aimed at reigniting enthusiasm among young voters who helped propel the President to victory two years ago. But, the problem for Democrats is that many young voters are far less interested in the midterm elections, now just five weeks away. DANEZ SMITH [STUDENT]: The level of enthusiasm, as far as like, this election coming up, I don’t think it’s there at all. BROCK FRITZ [STUDENT]: He’s just trying to get excitement for other people, and not himself. So I guess that kind of changes. REID: Makes it a lot harder. FRITZ: Yeah. RALLY ANNOUNCER: Our United States Senator, Russ Feingold! REID: Other Democrats, like Senator Russ Feingold, who recently avoided appearing with the President at a campaign event, but Tuesday night made a surprise stop. RUSS FEINGOLD: You are my president! You are our president! And I’m thrilled that you are here with all us badgers! REID: The President returned the favor, hoping to give a boost to Feingold, who not long ago was favored to win reelection but is now trailing in the polls. OBAMA: Because, if everybody who fought for change in 2008 shows up to vote in 2010, we will win. We will win. The polls say the same thing, we will win. REID: Today, the President changes the focus back to the economy with another backyard event, but there are more campaign-style rallies on college campuses scheduled in the weeks to come. Back to you. SMITH: Chip Reid in Des Moines, thanks.

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CBS, ABC Excited Over Barack Obama’s Bid to Recapture His ‘Glory Days’

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Anti-Death Penalty ‘Advocate’?

Good Morning America’s Jim Sciutto on Friday suggested Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as an example of a human rights “advocate” opposed to the execution of a woman in Virginia. The odd aside came from just one day after the Iranian leader blamed the United States for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Sciutto related the details of Teresa Lewis, who was executed on Thursday for plotting to kill her husband and stepson. The ABC reporter then asserted, ” But advocates, from crime novelist John Grisham, to Supreme Court justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, even to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, questioned whether she deserved the death penalty .” [MP3 audio here .] A transcript of the September 24 segment, which aired at 7:05am, follow: ROBIN ROBERTS: The state of Virginia carried out the death penalty last night in the state’s first execution of a woman in nearly a century. Now, executions aren’t terribly uncommon in Virginia. This is the third one in 2010. But, this particular case is re-igniting the debate over crime and punishment. Jim Sciutto is in Jarrett, Virginia with more on this. Good morning, Jim. JIM SCIUTTO: Robin, good morning. We’re hearing of an harrowing scene inside L block just behind me last night. Eyewitnesses described Lewis as terrified and trembling as she entered the chamber. She turned down a sedative offered to death row inmates. A guard tapping her on the shoulder to calm her as she was put to death. It’s here, inside this cramped death chamber, where Teresa Lewis became the first woman executed in Virginia in 98 years. LARRY TRAYLOR (Virginia Department of Corrections): The execution of Teresa Lewis has been carried out in the manner as described by the laws in the commonwealth of Virginia. SCIUTTO: Just outside, supporters, including her minister of seven years, kept a sad vigil. When you met with her for a final time, did you have a sense that she was ready for this? REVEREND LYNN LITCHFIELD (Lewis’ minister): She resigned herself to this. And she knew for seven years that this was a good possibility. But she didn’t want it. SCIUTTO: Teresa Lewis confessed to a horrible crime. Plotting with her lover and a friend to kill her husband and stepson, to collect on a $250,000 life insurance policy. TERESA LEWIS: I just wish I could take it back. And I’m sorry for all the people I’ve hurt. JIM SCIUTTO: But advocates from crime novelist John Grisham to Supreme Court justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, even to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, questioned whether she deserved the death penalty. She did not pull the trigger. The men who did got life in prison. And, crucially, court-appointed doctors found she has an IQ of just 72, with the moral judgment of a 12 to 14-year-old. RICK WILSON (American University Law School): The practice of the death penalty in the United States is incredibly sporadic. One justice of the Supreme Court said, it’s almost like being hit by lightning. SCIUTTO: For the victims’ families, it is not random at all. But just punishment for murder. CATHY LEWIS (victim’s daughter): A lot of people are not taking into consideration that it was my father and my brother that paid the ultimate price.

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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Anti-Death Penalty ‘Advocate’?

ABC’s Shipman Gushes Over Hillary the ‘Political Celebrity’

ABC’s Claire Shipman waxed ecstatic over Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday’s Good Morning America, as she reported on Mrs. Clinton’s efforts in the Middle Eastern peace process. Shipman exclaimed how the Secretary had a ” distinct, quite public moment of triumph ” in her meetings with leaders from both sides, and noted how Clinton has become an ” international political celebrity .” Anchor George Stephanopoulos, former communications director for President Bill Clinton, introduced the correspondent’s report, which aired 44 minutes into the 7 am Eastern hour. Stephanopoulos noted past administrations’ failure “to broker a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians” and then proclaimed how it was Mrs. Clinton’s ” turn to try to make diplomatic history .” Shipman began by highlighting how Hillary “remains one of the most popular members of the administration” and how she was now “squarely center stage” with the possibility of bringing “something different to this Middle East process.” After using her “moment of triumph” line, the ABC correspondent emphasized how Secretary Clinton was apparently “hard on the trail of a dream that has eluded so many before her, and those who know her well say she brings a special touch to wooing both sides back to the table .” She also underlined Clinton’s reported modus operandi in the peace process: “It’s a trademark recipe of pragmatism and discipline over ego- no high-profile shuttle diplomacy for her, for example.” Shipman used three sound bites from the liberal Brooking Institution’s Michael O’Hanlon and one from former Clinton administration official and current Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P. J. Crowley to heap praise on Mrs. Clinton. After O’Hanlon highlighted how the Secretary apparently “chose to really marshal her resources and guard them jealously, and wait for the right moment,” the correspondent added her own lauds: ” The other asset she wields: a bit of female EQ, and an astute political instinct .” The high point of the gushing language over the senior diplomat came near the end of the report: SHIPMAN: It doesn’t hurt, of course, that over the years, she’s perfected her ability to shift gears in an instant . Hard-working Hillary, suddenly transforms once again into international political celebrity . O’HANLON: She’s a multi-dimensional public figure. She’s part global rock star, part everybody’s friend, because she goes by Hillary more than Secretary Clinton . Shipman even remarked about the Secretary’s new hairdo: ” Her hair is even back in the headlines. She’s getting rave reviews on her longer, cool, new do .” Earlier this year, on the June 9 edition of GMA, ABC’s Elizabeth Vargas credited Mrs. Clinton for the primary success of Republican women candidates: “So many women saying- doing so well, and many saying perhaps Hillary Clinton helped by running for president. All these other women about to possibly take office, high office, in those states.” The full transcript of Claire Shipman’s report from Friday’s Good Morning America: GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Henry Kissinger got the two sides of the Middle East conflict to stop fighting for a time. Jimmy Carter forged the Camp David agreements. But every administration since then has tried and failed to broker a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Now, it’s Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s turn to try to make diplomatic history. And Claire Shipman joins us from Washington with more. Hey, Claire. CLAIRE SHIPMAN: Hey, George. This is a big moment for Hillary Clinton. Her poll numbers show she remains one of the most popular members of the administration, but she’s tended to avoid the spotlight. Now, she’s back, squarely center stage, and we took a look at how she may bring something different to this Middle East process. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON: Want us to stand here? SHIPMAN (voice-over): For a secretary of state whose style has been very much head down, nose to the grindstone, it was a distinct, quite public moment of triumph. CLINTON: I fervently believe that the two men sitting on either side of me- that you are the leaders who can make this long-cherished dream a reality. SHIPMAN: Peace talks back on track, she’s hard on the trail of a dream that has eluded so many before her, and those who know her well say she brings a special touch to wooing both sides back to the table. ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: The people of Israel, and I, as their prime minister, are prepared to walk this road. PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS (through translator): The road is clear, in front of us, in order to reach peace. SHIPMAN: It’s a trademark recipe of pragmatism and discipline over ego- no high-profile shuttle diplomacy for her, for example. MICHAEL O’HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Secretary Clinton, unlike some of her predecessors and unlike some previous presidents, chose to really marshal her resources and guard them jealously, and wait for the right moment. SHIPMAN: The other asset she wields: a bit of female EQ, and an astute political instinct. P. J. CROWLEY, STATE DEPARTMENT: She’s been in the arena. She’s been bruised- you know, in that arena. And this gives her a credibility that helps relate to leaders. SHIPMAN: And it doesn’t hurt, of course, that over the years, she’s perfected her ability to shift gears in an instant. Hard-working Hillary, suddenly transforms once again into international political celebrity. O’HANLON: She’s a multi-dimensional public figure. She’s part global rock star, part everybody’s friend, because she goes by Hillary more than Secretary Clinton. SHIPMAN: And her hair is even back in the headlines. She’s getting rave reviews on her longer, cool, new do. CLINTON: And now, it’s time to get to work. SHIPMAN (live): Well, George, not the hair again- but, of course, ultimately, she will be judged not by her appearance, but by results in this process. There is a lot of hard work to be done. The two sides are hoping to talk to each other as frequently as every week, and Hillary Clinton is hoping to have another high-profile meeting in the Middle East as early as September, but we’ll see. STEPHANOPOULOS: And they’re facing a real deadline at the end of September on whether or not to continue- to start building those settlements again. SHIPMAN: Exactly, and a lot of people worry that that could put this process, so new, in jeopardy again. STEPHANOPOULOS: Okay. Claire Shipman, thanks a lot. 

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ABC’s Shipman Gushes Over Hillary the ‘Political Celebrity’

George Stephanopoulos Zeroes-In on Meghan McCain’s Spat With Palins

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos interviewed media darling and nominal Republican Meghan McCain on Tuesday’s Good Morning America and devoted the bulk of the segment to her love-hate relationship with Sarah Palin and her daughter Bristol. Stephanopoulos devoted so much time to the Palin issue that McCain interjected, “For the record, my book is not just about Sarah and Bristol.” The anchor gushingly endorsed the McCain daughter’s new book, “Dirty Sexy Politics,” at the beginning of the interview, which aired 42 minutes into the 7 am Eastern hour: ” It is savvy, it is saucy, and it’s just what you’d expect from the first daughter of a presidential candidate ever fired by her father’s campaign .” He then labeled his guest a “fun writer” and first asked about her “firing,” in which she actually sent away from the main stops of her father’s presidential campaign and did a bus tour in the battleground state of Ohio. After four questions on her “firing,” Stephanopoulos raised the issue of Mrs. Palin with McCain. She put all of her answers in the context of herself and her experiences, while the ABC anchor pressed her on the former governor of Alaska, with two negative follow-up questions about Palin and two neutral: STEPHANOPOULOS: Since the campaign, you had said you didn’t want to talk about Sarah Palin. But you write about her quite a bit in the book. You say there were a lot of things you like about Sarah Palin, but you also point out that she snubbed your Mom’s efforts to reach out to the Palins, that she wasn’t much of a team player. You believe- you talk about doubts you had at the end where you thought she actually hurt the campaign. ” MCCAIN: Yes, but I do clearly state at the end that we did not lose because of her, and I’m speaking out now because I do have conflicting feelings about her. I mean, she brought so much momentum and enthusiasm to the campaign. I mean, you saw the crowds double, and you saw a lot more women coming to rallies- STEPHANOPOULOS: But you also write that she brought- quote, ‘drama, stress, complications, panic, and loads of uncertainty.’ MCCAIN: (laughs) It’s true. I mean, a lot of things happen, but I think that’s how campaigns are in general, no matter who comes, and- you know, I respect her, as a feminist or Republican feminist, and going out there and working for women, especially Republican women. It’s no secret that I’m more socially liberal than she is, but I’m here to say that two different kinds of Republican women can work together for the same cause. STEPHANOPOULOS: And you talked about this moment in the campaign where you’re being interviewed, and you almost got tongue-tied when you were asked about Sarah Palin. You said you had doubts about her. What are the doubts? MCCAIN: It was a reflection on me, because she was so celebrated in the Republican Party, and it’s- again, no secret that I’m so unlike her, and I thought, how am I ever going to fit in? How am I ever going to do this? And it’s still something that I struggle with today because people so see me as sort of this rebel and this new Republican, which I take pride in, but a lot of, sort of, older Republicans seem to have a problem placing me. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, you say there’s room in the party for both of you, but you want a Republican to win in 2012- you say that as well. Could she be your candidate? MCCAIN: Anyone could be my candidate at this point. I really don’t like these hypothetical questions, but I think that so many candidates are doing or- you know, people that could be running right now, are making very smart moves. I think Mitt Romney is doing a lot of smart things right now. I think it’s going to be a very interesting election, no matter what happens (unintelligible)- STEPHANOPOULOS: Would you vote for her? MCCAIN: It depends [on] the situation. You know, I’d have to hear more on what happens in the primaries. As you’re well aware, anything can happen in the primaries, and I would have to see. It was when Stephanopoulos brought up McCain’s spat with Bristol Palin over teen abstinence and teen pregnancy that the liberal Republican replied with her “my book is not just about Sarah and Bristol” line and added, “a lot of fun stories.” The anchor replied, “I want to ask you about one of those stories in a second. But first, you say that at that point, the campaign seemed to be glamorizing teen pregnancy, that the campaign really wanted to suggest that a pro-life message was more important than the message of how to avoid teen pregnancy to begin with? ” McCain answered, in part, “I have a sister who is almost exactly- my little sister Bridget is almost exactly Bristol’s age, and I just know that I want teens in this country to be aware of what can happen when you have sex. You can die from sex in this era, and not necessarily- I just think that the pro-abstinence complete campaign isn’t necessarily the most effective one.” Stephanopoulos concluded the interview by asking his guest about another of her “fun stories” involving a visit to the White House where she was apparently “dis-invited” from a lunch at the White House with Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna. The anchor repeated his endorsement of McCain’s book at the very end of the interview: “Meghan McCain, it is a terrific book, it’s a fun book, it’s a revealing book about life in politics as well .” ABC has promoted Ms. McCain’s liberal flavor of Republicanism in the past with her appearance as a guest host on The View, where she slammed conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham , and profiled her support of same-sex “marriage” on World News .

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George Stephanopoulos Zeroes-In on Meghan McCain’s Spat With Palins

ABC Links Dan Quayle’s ‘Potatoe’ to His Son: ‘Dust off the Jokes and Hold on to Your Potatoes’

Saturday’s Good Morning America on ABC devoted a full report to former Vice President Dan Quayle’s son Ben’s run for Congress in Arizona, focusing primarily on perceived gaffes by both him and his father. As anchor John Berman set up the report, he gave the impression that he views the former Vice President primarily as a joke: “It’s time to dust off the jokes and hold on to your potatoes. Who can forget the vice presidency of Dan Quayle? His mortal feud with TV’s Murphy Brown. His battles with the dictionary. Well, now, one of his children wants to follow in his footsteps and is making some headlines of his own, not all intentional.” During the piece which recounted a number of activities and statements by Ben Quayle that have come under criticism, or have come across to some as gaffes, correspondent T.J. Winick played a clip of the time that Dan Quayle infamously told a school boy that the word “potato” should have an “e” added to the end during a spelling lesson at a school. Winnick did not inform viewers that it was the teacher who led Quayle astray as she had misspelled the word on the word list she had given to the then-Vice President to check the children’s spelling. Winick also described what he called a “shocking ad” in which Ben Quayle labeled President Obama “the worst President in history,” and promised to go to Washington and “knock the hell out of the place.” The ABC correspondent also informed viewers that Quayle had been criticized for using a photograph of himself with his nieces in campaign literature because he has no children of his own. After the report, co-anchor Bianna Golodryga mused: “You know, every time I write out the word ‘potato’ I can’t help but think of Mr. Dan Quayle.” Below is a complete transcript of the report from the Saturday, August 14, Good Morning America on ABC: JOHN BERMAN: It’s time to dust off the jokes and hold on to your potatoes. Who can forget the vice presidency of Dan Quayle? His mortal feud with TV’s Murphy Brown. His battles with the dictionary. Well, now, one of his children wants to follow in his footsteps and is making some headlines of his own, not all intentional. Our man T.J. Winick has the story from Washington. T.J.? T.J. WINICK: John, good morning. Ben Quayle is the front-runner in a primary field of 10 candidates. He’s really struck a chord with angry voters, and, in more ways than one, he’s proven to be a chip off the old block. BEN QUAYLE, ARIZONA REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Barack Obama is the worst President in history. WINICK: It’s a shocking ad, Ben Quayle looking straight into the camera talking tough like a Washington outsider. BEN QUAYLE: Somebody has to go to Washington and knock the hell out of the place. WINICK: But the 33-year-old may, in fact, be the ultimate insider. He’s the son of former Vice President Dan Quayle who’s tapped into his dad’s massive fund-raising network but also his dad’s history of making mistakes. Dan Quayle became a political punch line during the 1992 presidential race and in his four years as Vice President. (CLIP OF FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DAN QUAYLE TELLING A BOY TO ADD AN “E” TO THE WORD “POTATO”) WINICK: Now his son’s blunders like this campaign brochure have also become late night fodder. JAY LENO, FROM THE TONIGHT SHOW: Look at those two beautiful little girls. Trouble is, he doesn’t have any kids. WINICK: They were, in fact, Ben Quayle’s nieces, but that didn’t stop one campaign rival from accusing him of renting a family. RICK KLEIN, ABC NEWS SENIOR WASHINGTON EDITOR: People are looking for comparisons to his father. They’re looking for reasons not to take him seriously. They’re looking for reasons to make fun of him. And, so far, he’s only fueled that fire. WINICK: Quayle has also taken fire for calling himself the fourth generation of his family to live and work in Arizona. That’s because he was born in Indiana, grew up in Washington, D.C., and only moved to the state full time five years ago. CLIP OF AD: Arizona roots, worldwide experience. WINICK: This past week, the latest controversy, accusations that Quayle, campaigning as a family values conservative, once wrote for Dirty Scottsdale, a raunchy sex-themed Web site that covered the local club scene. The Web site’s creator says that Quayle used the alias “Brock Landers,” the name of a porn star in the movie Boogie Nights. Quayle admits he contributed to the site, but not under that name. KLEIN: Certainly, he benefits from the fact that people know that name and they know the name is associated with politics, but there’s just more scrutiny associated with being a Quayle. WINICK: One of the ways he has benefitted, well, Ben Quayle has raised over $1.1 million, and, not surprisingly, John and Bianna, many of those contributions have come from former colleagues and friends of his father. BIANCA GOLODRYGA: All right, T.J. You know, every time I write out the word “potato” I can’t help but think of Mr. Dan Quayle. BERMAN: I cross my fingers every time. (GOLODRYGA LAUGHS)

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ABC Links Dan Quayle’s ‘Potatoe’ to His Son: ‘Dust off the Jokes and Hold on to Your Potatoes’

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos Hits Michelle Malkin With White House Spin on Dem Corruption

Conservative pundit Michelle Malkin made a rare appearance on Wednesday’s Good Morning America and highlighted the issue of Democratic corruption. Co-host George Stephanopoulos responded to criticisms of a Colorado Democrat by touting White House talking points. Malkin made the point, almost entirely ignored on GMA, that now-defeated candidate Andrew Romanoff was apparently offered administration jobs in order to not challenge the incumbent senator. Stephanopoulos promptly defended, ” Which I should say, [the allegations] were denied by Romanoff and by the White House about whether or not he was offered a job to get him out of the way. ” [MP3 audio here .] Malkin then mentioned e-mails released by the Denver Post backing up the claim of job offers. This prompted the former Democratic operative turned journalist to weakly protest, “Well, except he had been going for the job before the campaign began.” Of course, Stephanopoulos and GMA have showed little interest in the subject of Andrew Romanoff’s troubles. Other than a brief mention by Jake Tapper on June 3, 2010, the morning show has ignored the allegations of job offers from the White House. Even though Malkin was on the program to promote the paperback edition of Culture of Corruption, Stephanopoulos focused on potential Republican problems: “[Democrats] believe that when tea party candidates like Ken Buck in Colorado, like Sharron Angle in Nevada, like Rand Paul in Kentucky win, they actually give the Democrats a better chance of winning in November.” It should also be noted that the Malkin segment aired at the very end of the show, at 8:48am EDT. A transcript of the August 11 segment follows: GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Last night’s primary results have set the political landscape for the fall campaign. What did we learn about President Obama, Sarah Palin and what may happen come November? Here with her always provocative point of view, Fox News contributor and author of the New York Times number one best-seller Culture of Corruption, Michelle Malkin. Good to see you. MICHELLE MALKIN: You too, George. STEPHANOPOULOS: Let’s start out. Quick take on last night. MALKIN: You know, there’s no inevitabilities in politics. And I live in Colorado now which, of course, had a bunch of very high-profile primaries. And the White House is patting itself on the back but probably more exhaling with ultimate relief that its candidate in the Senate race, the appointed incumbent Michael Bennet eked through and he faced a very scary challenge from a far left progressive candidate, Andrew Romanoff. And you’ll recall that there is a culture of corruption angle to this because this was the race where allegations of attempted bribery, in essence, came up because- STEPHANOPOULOS: Which I should say, they were denied by Romanoff and by the White House about whether or not he was offered a job to get him out of the way. MALKIN: Of course. The Denver Post had reported last fall that White House chief of- the deputy chief of staff Jim Messina had approached Romanoff and offered a plethora of White House administration jobs to get him to drop out and Romanoff released E-mails that essentially confirmed that. STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, except he had been going for the job before the campaign began . But, let’s talk about Colorado- MALKIN: Well, I think the point there though is it’s not just conservatives and people on my side of the aisle that are talking about this stench, this culture of corruption that seems to stick to the Chicago team and Obama. This was a Democrat who blew the whistle and he blew the whistle after Joe Sestak came forward and made similar allegations. STEPHANOPOULOS: You talk about the stench. And there is just no question that all across the country there is a real anger at Washington. But in some ways, you can say it’s kind of bipartisan . You talk about Colorado last night, the President’s candidate survived. On the Republican side, you had the tea party candidate win the primary against the more establishment Republican figure. I know you’re deep in the middle of the Tea Party, Tea party supporter. B ut how do you respond to what a lot of Democrats believe? They believe that when tea party candidates like Ken Buck in Colorado, like Sharron Angle in Nevada, like Rand Paul in Kentucky win, they actually give the Democrats a better chance of winning in November. MALKIN: Look, you can look at this as purely from the electoral standpoint or you can look at it if you’re a grassroots conservative like I am, and I live out in the west now, I live in Colorado. And we have a longer view about moving the party to where we think it should be. Committed to conservative principles and we were very dispirited during the Bush administration at seeing beltway Republicans capitulate and essentially become big government versions of the people that they say they opposed. And that’s what’s making 2010 such an interesting period because no establishment Republican is safe. STEPHANOPOULOS: That’s clear. MALKIN: We saw it in Utah. Bob Bennett is no longer in office because grassroots conservatives kicked him out. STEPHANOPOULOS: So, are you saying it’s better to be pure than to compromise for victory? MALKIN: Well, that’s always been my position as a grassroots conservative. And I think that’s what the Tea Party has always tried to say. I was covering the Tea Party movement before it was called a Tea Party movement. And this was in the days around the stimulus debate when it was getting shoved down the American taxpayers’ throat and something unfortunately the mainstream media refused to acknowledge that it was a bottom-up movement that could never have been coordinated by beltway Republicans, that they were tired of a lack of corruption. That they were tired of a lack of transparency and the trampling over the deliberative process. And, of course, Obama and the Chicago team and the Democrat majority have been at the center of that. But nobody is immune to that kind of criticism and revolt and that’s why these beltway Republicans have been under fire. STEPHANOPOULOS: So, given that and you say you take the long-term view. Let’s jump ahead then to 2012. Who is the potential Republican candidate for 2012 that most embodies the Tea Party principles? Is it Sarah Palin? MALKIN: Well, certainly she is a favorite and she’s spoken at tea party conventions and she embodies this outside the beltway mentality. She gets it. She has an authenticity that I think that a lot of these beltway Republicans and old tired names have been lacking. But, just getting back to the culture of corruption for a moment, we didn’t talk about Connecticut where you have this outsider Republican Linda McMahon who easily won against the more establishment candidate Rob Simmons. I think people need to be reminded that the reason that race is happening in the first place is because voters were sick of corruptocrat Chris Dodd. STEPHANOPOULOS: You know, the computer’s going to cut us off. I could talk to you all morning. But, thank you very much. The book is called Culture of Corruption. The paperback is in book stores now. You can read an excerpt on ABCNews.com/GMA.

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ABC’s George Stephanopoulos Hits Michelle Malkin With White House Spin on Dem Corruption

Ground Zero Mosque Backlash a Symptom of Economy Says Think Progress Blogger

Is it “the economy, stupid” or is it just that the economy makes people stupid? Either way Matt Yglesias, ThinkProgress.org blogger extraordinaire , believes the economy is what’s driving conservative furor over the “Ground Zero Mosque.” On MSNBC’s August 9 broadcast of “Countdown,” Yglesias did his best to psychoanalyze people that are upset a mosque is being built in the shadow of Ground Zero, where over 2,600 people died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. According to Yglesias, whose blog, ThinkProgress.org, is a function the George Soros-funded Center for American Progress, opposition to the plan had nothing to do with sensitivities but instead economics. The anti-mosque sentiment, he believed, couldn’t exist without masterminds like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich whipping conservatives against the mosque into a frenzy. “Well, it seems to me that there is or at least there – it’s much more visible than it used to be because we’re seeing it stoked by sort of the leads in the conservative movement, by Sarah Palin, by Newt Gingrich, by others, in a way that we never had before 9/11,” Yglesias said. “And I think what’s happening is that when the economy goes down, people become anxious, you see, historically, a lot of increase in xenophobia, in fear and in sort of intolerance . And we’ve got the conservative movement leaders, very opportunistically trying to take advantage of that, try to play on people’s anxieties, and build this kind of anti-Muslim hysteria in a way that President Bush never did in 2001 and 2002.” Yglesias, who also saw nothing wrong with his participation in Ezra Klein’s JournoList, a listserv that left several members of the liberal media intelligentsia embarrassed for their downright angry, conspiratorial and mean-spirited comments from it that have come to light, then went for a historical analogy. He compared the current anti-illegal immigration sentiment to President Herbert Hoover, Depression-era United States deportation of as many as 500,000 Mexicans, regardless of legality . “I think it’s really part of an interconnected series of rising xenophobic and anti-foreign sentiment,” Yglesias said. “In particularly with immigration, every time there’s a major economic downturn, you see new anti-immigrant measures. In 1929, President Hoover launched what he called the Mexican Repatriation Initiative where they sort of swept around the American southwest pretty indiscriminately, finding people of Mexico origin and kicking them back. And this is what happens when the economy goes down – people get more worried about people who are different from them. And politicians who are unscrupulous, you know, really to play on that instead of trying to address the underlying problems in the country.” It’s not known if Yglesias is aware of the problems in Arizona because of the wave of illegal immigrants coming across the Mexican border , but in his view this is nothing more than people wanting jobs and not other issues that come with unfettered movement across international borders. “Well, the idea is that when jobs are scarce, you know, maybe if you round some people up and kick them out, and their jobs will come to other people,” Yglesias said. “Of course, the economy doesn’t really work that way. If 10 percent of the population vanished tomorrow, it would be economic chaos, not extra jobs. But, you know, that’s the kind of zero sum thinking that people get into when they become nervous about things they’re seeing in their life and in their community. And we had in the 1880s as well. That’s when we shut the door to immigrants from China and Japan.”

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Ground Zero Mosque Backlash a Symptom of Economy Says Think Progress Blogger

CBS ‘Early Show’ Promotes Levi Johnston Pitch for Reality Show

Teasing an upcoming story in the 7:30AM ET half hour on Tuesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith cheerfully promoted Levi Johnston’s pitch for a reality show in Alaska: “He’s going to star in a new reality show and it’s all about him running for mayor of Wasilla. That’s right, he’s gunning for his would-have-been mother-in-law’s old job.” Later, Smith further teased: “Johnston’s quest to follow in Sarah Palin’s foot steps and hold political office.” Introducing the report, fill-in co-host Erica Hill remarked how Johnston would “be chasing Sarah Palin’s legacy.” Correspondent Priya David-Clemens discussed the show as if it was about to go on the air: “He’s inked a reality show deal that will be all Levi and no Bristol. The new show, called ‘Loving Levi: The Road to the Mayor’s Office,’ will follow the young father as he campaigns for the top job in his hometown of Wasilla, Alaska.” In fact, as the New York Times reported , the show is simply an idea being pitched by Johnston and producers but has not been picked up any network yet. David-Clemens touted a description of the proposed show: “In a statement to ‘Us Weekly,’ the show’s executive producer said, quote, ‘he’ll give us a real inside look into who he is as a father, a skilled hunter, an avid dirt biker, and, of course, his journey down the road of small town politics, right after he gets his high school diploma.'” Following the story, Hill noted: “And he [Johnston] was asked at one point what his ideas for Wasilla are. The answer, ‘you’ll have to wait for the show.'” Smith remarked: “I wonder where his – where his politics are? Left, center, Right?” Hill responded: ” I am absolutely intrigued.” In contrast to the Early Show, ABC’s Good Morning America only offered a 15-second news brief to the topic in the 8:00AM ET hour, instead of a three-minute segment. GMA news reader JuJu Chang reported: “And finally, looking to extend his moment in the spotlight, Palin family nemesis Levi Johnston is jumping into politics. Johnston’s manager says he’s planning to run for city council or mayor in his hometown of Wasilla. All that for a new reality show.” NBC’s Today skipped the story. Here is a full transcript of the August 10 Early Show segment: 7:30AM TEASE HARRY SMITH: And on a much lighter note, Levi Johnston isn’t letting his second breakup with – in case anybody’s keeping score – with Bristol Palin slow him down. He’s going to star in a new reality show and it’s all about him running for mayor of Wasilla. That’s right, he’s gunning for his would-have-been mother-in-law’s old job. Did I get that right? ERICA HILL: Which came first, the show or the campaign? SMITH: Oh, I wonder? 7:41AM TEASE SMITH: Coming up next, Levi Johnston’s quest to follow in Sarah Palin’s foot steps and hold political office. 7:45AM SEGMENT ERICA HILL: Just one week after Bristol Palin dumped Levi Johnston because, as she said, he was obsessed with the limelight, it turns out, well, he’s got his own reality show. Only this one has a Wasilla twist. He’ll be chasing Sarah Palin’s legacy. Correspondent Priya David-Clemens has more. [ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: “Loving Levi;” Johnston Runs for Mayor, Gets Reality Show] PRIYA DAVID-CLEMENS: When Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston announced their engagement- BRISTOL PALIN: He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. DAVID-CLEMENS: -rumors of a reality show quickly followed suit. BONNIE FULLER [EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, HOLLWOODLIFE.COM]: Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston are a perfect example of new reality stars. They already have a little fame as a result of being related to Sarah Palin. DAVID-CLEMENS: The two recently went their separate ways. Bristol says Levi’s hunger for the spotlight was partly to blame. Now he’s inked a reality show deal that will be all Levi and no Bristol. The new show, called ‘Loving Levi: The Road to the Mayor’s Office,’ will follow the young father as he campaigns for the top job in his hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. In a statement to ‘Us Weekly,’ the show’s executive producer said, quote, ‘he’ll give us a real inside look into who he is as a father, a skilled hunter, an avid dirt biker, and, of course, his journey down the road of small town politics, right after he gets his high school diploma.’ He’s part of the latest reality in reality TV. People trying to cash in and create industries based solely on their stints on these shows. The most successful example, Kim Kardashian. She’s built a brand that earns more than $5 million a year. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Like what is the point of this? KIM KARDASHIAN: What do you mean what is the point of this? You want to know what your boyfriend’s up to. DAVID-CLEMENS: But if Levi hopes to replicate Kardashian, he’ll have to make small town politics into big time TV. FULLER: The new reality stars are like ‘come on in, come take my picture, come in my house. See what I look like without my clothes on.’ DAVID-CLEMENS: Given his track record of photo shoots, that’s something Levi may not have a problem with. Priya David-Clemens, CBS News, Los Angeles. HILL: There’s a lot going on in this story. Two of my favorite tidbits. HARRY SMITH: Yes? HILL: They approached him with the idea. So at first he said ‘I don’t really know about this’ and then he thought ‘maybe I’ve got something here.’ SMITH: Okay, right. HILL: And he was asked at one point what his ideas for Wasilla are. The answer, ‘you’ll have to wait for the show.’ SMITH: I wonder where his – where his politics are? HILL: I am absolutely intrigued. SMITH: Left, center, Right? HILL: Well, he calls himself half Hollywood, half redneck, so I don’t know what of marriage that gets you. SMITH: And avid dirt biking. HILL: Avid, not just a dirt biker. SMITH: That’s right, that was what jumped out at me. Because if you’re putting in a political resume, if it just said dirt biking, I mean, why would you vote for a guy like that? HILL: But if it’s avid- SMITH: I think that’s- JEFF GLOR: When you’re avid about it- HILL: I think there is more to Levi Johnston than meets the eye. We’ve seen just about all we can. [LAUGHTER] SMITH: No mas.

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CBS ‘Early Show’ Promotes Levi Johnston Pitch for Reality Show