Tag Archives: media bias debate

Really Raw Data: July 2010 Is Worst July on Record for Housing Starts, Permits

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Here’s how the Associated Press’s Martin Crutsinger and Daniel Wagner reported the housing portion of their Tuesday report on the day’s economic news (“Factories aid bumpy recovery, housing still weak”): Single-family home construction, which represented nearly 80 percent of the market, fell 4.2 percent. And requests for building permits, considered a good sign of future activity, slid 3.1 percent. … The July increase in housing construction pushed total activity to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 546,000 units. Building activity in June was weaker than first reported. It fell 8.7 percent to an annual rate of 537,000 units, the slowest pace since October of last year. “The bad news is that activity is likely to remain depressed for several years,” said Paul Ashworth, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics. “The good news, however, is that housing is so depressed it is hard to see activity falling much further from such a severely depressed level.” Well, okay, but the situation is already closer to a zero-out than it is to the levels were were seeing just a few years ago–or any time in the 50-plus years such records have been kept. Looking at the raw data on a historical basis, one finds that July 2010 was the worst July on record for the both stats the AP pair cited: This is on top of the worst June ever last month for housing starts and new home sales (noted on July 27 at  NewsBusters ; at  BizzyBlog ; new home sales haven’t been released yet). And note that June 2010 was revised down even further with the release of the July data. It doesn’t matter how much you season (i.e., seasonally adjust) the raw data before presenting it to the public; the raw data still stinks like it never has before. Both stats, which happen be identically awful, are even worse than July of last year, when the economy (but apparently not the housing market) bottomed out. There aren’t a lot of compelling reasons to believe that the housing situation is going to get much better any time soon — at least as long as “An explicit federal guarantee of a large portion of the mortgage-backed securities created to finance American’s home mortgages” is considered a key linchpin of housing policy. The “implicit” guarantees of the debt government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac became explicit as soon as they imploded in September 2008. From all appearances, they’re ready to do what caused that to happen all over again. You don’t get the impression that things are as bad as they really are from the AP pair’s reports. That doesn’t change the fact that things really are that bad, and unprecedentedly so. Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com .

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Really Raw Data: July 2010 Is Worst July on Record for Housing Starts, Permits

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AP Writers Package Months-Old Polling Data As Currently Relevant News

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

Memo to Alan Fram and Trevor Tompson of the Associated Press and two other writers who contributed to this report (“AP-GfK polls show Obama losing independents”): You should have taken the weekend off. When I saw a shorter, earlier version of the referenced AP report this morning, it didn’t mention when AP’s polling arm AP-GfK Roper had done their work. When I went to the polling home page and found that the most recent entries were from June 9-14, I figured I’d come back later and give the group time to post fresh underlying details. Little did I know that AP’s gaggle of writers were treating the June 9-14 “Poll Politics Topline” as fresh. It gets worse. It turns out that Fram, Tompson et al wasted about 875 words on a report based on polling data that gave equal weights to results from mid-June, mid-May, and mid-April. Considering the primary topic of discussion, independents’ take on the Obama presidency and performance of Congress, this AP report is laughably irrelevant — unless its primary purpose, especially given that earlier versions of the story didn’t identify when the polling took place, was to present data designed to make readers and listeners think that things are better than they really are right now for Democrats heading into the midterm elections. Here are selected paragraph from the bylined AP pair’s non-punctual piece : Independents who embraced President Barack Obama’s call for change in 2008 are ready for a shift again, and that’s worrisome news for Democrats. Only 32 percent of those citing no allegiance to either major party say they want Democrats to keep control of Congress in this November’s elections, according to combined results of recent Associated Press-GfK polls. That’s way down from the 52 percent of independents who backed Obama over Republican Sen. John McCain two years ago, and the 49 percent to 41 percent edge by which they preferred Democratic candidates for the House in that election, according to exit polls of voters. Independents voice especially strong concerns about the economy, with 9 in 10 calling it a top problem and no other issue coming close, the analysis of the AP-GfK polls shows. While Democrats and Republicans rank the economy the No. 1 problem in similar numbers, they are nearly as worried about their No. 2 issues, health care for Democrats and terrorism for Republicans. Ominously for Democrats, independents trust Republicans more on the economy by a modest but telling 42 percent to 36 percent. That’s bad news for the party that controls the White House and Congress at a time of near 10 percent unemployment and the slow economic recovery. … Both parties court independents for obvious reasons. Besides their sheer number – 4 in 10 describe themselves as independents in combined AP-GfK polling for April, May and June – they are a crucial swing group. To try winning them over, Republicans say they will contrast Obama’s campaign promises of change with the huge spending programs he’s approved. Democrats say they will warn independents that a GOP victory will revive that party’s efforts to cut taxes for the rich and transform Social Security into risky private investment accounts. … Independents trust Republicans far more than Democrats for handling national security, but give Democrats a 42 percent to 36 percent edge for dealing with health care – a potential sign that distrust over Obama’s signature issue is receding. Hope is not lost for Democrats. The AP-GfK polls show a narrow 44 percent to 41 percent overall preference for a Democratic Congress. The party is holding its 2008 edge among women and urban residents, and still splitting the vote of pivotal suburbanites and people earning $50,000 to $100,000. Let’s look at just a few relatively current data points from elsewhere relating to the Fram’s and Tompson’s topics: Trust on health care — The antiquated AP-GfK report cites a 49-39 average Democratic edge among all voters across April, May and June (at Page 26 of detailed report; not in AP’s story). A Rasmussen report based on late June polling data shows Republicans with a 51-40 edge. Even that was six weeks ago. Since then we have learned that Team Obama is arguing in court that ObamaCare’s health insurance purchase mandate is a tax after telling the country for months before the legislation’s passage that it wasn’t. There have also been instances where abortion coverage was found in high-risk pool plans in several states, which were only eliminated when the Department of Health and Human Services issued regulations doing so. This exercise proved, as if proof was really needed, that the pro-life Executive Order that supposedly won over the Stupak Stooges — er, the Stupak Six — was nothing but a charade. Trust on the economy — AP-GfK shows a 45-42 average Democratic advantage (again at Page 26 of detailed report). The same Rasmussen report noted previously is 48-39, advantage GOP . Given the wave of weak economic news in the past six weeks, it would notbe surprising to see that the Republican advantage here has increased since then. Preference in who controls Congress — AP-GfK cites a 44-41 Democratic edge. This question has been a virtual dead heat in a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll all year . The latest result based on August 5-9 polling showing a one-point Democratic lead. No AP poll would be complete without a bit of cooking. In this instance, the AP-GfK poll’s average Democratic ingredient outweighed the GOP’s by 44. Gallup’s most recent poll on the topic, admittedly a reversal from most of its results during the past several months, shows the GOP with a 2% edge in party affiliation, including “leaners.” It appears that AP-GfK polls on the topics presented every month. It would thus be reasonable to assume that it has data for July, and that in a few days it will have data for August. Thus, it’s odd that the wire service wouldn’t have simply waited a few days to give us fresher information. Or maybe someone has seen that info, and would prefer not to have to report it at all. Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com .

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Juan Williams: Media Always Make Blacks the Victims and Whites the Perpetrators

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

Juan Williams on Saturday said when it comes to news stories about race, America’s media always make black people the victims and white people the perpetrators.  As the discussion on “Fox News Watch” turned to last week’s murders at a Hartford, Connecticut, beer distributor, host Jon Scott read clippings from the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press all claiming the killer had been responding to years of racist treatment. When done, he said incredulously, “Juan, the guy was caught on camera stealing beer and the media turned it into a racial story.” Williams responded in a fashion that likely shocked many viewers (video follows with transcript and commentary):  JON SCOTT, HOST: Those murders in Connecticut last week at a beer distributor near Hartford. This week the business reopened eight days after a guy named Omar Thornton killed eight and wounded two moments after he lost his job for stealing beer. Omar was black, his victims were white, and this is how the coverage went. August 3rd, the New York Times headline read “Troubles Preceded Connecticut Workplace Killing.” And in the second paragraph the Times reported, “He might also have had cause to be angry. He had complained to his girlfriend of being racially harassed at work.” Here is the Associated Press report from August 7th, four days after the murders. It was reprinted in the Washington Post and other places. “To those closest to him, Omar Thornton was caring, quiet and soft spoken. But underneath, Thornton seized with a sense of racial injustice for years that culminated in a shooting rampage.” On August 7th, 2010, the Washington Post headline read “Beer Warehouse Shooter Long Complained of Racism.” Juan, the guy was caught on camera stealing beer and the media turned it into a racial story. JUAN WILLIAMS, NPR: They don’t have to turn it. I mean, this is the way the media treats all race stories in this country, Jon. It’s always that black people are the victims, white people are the perpetrators. You know, it’s white guilt, black victimhood and it’s constant, it’s in every area, not just this, but in terms of our political discussions about race that to me are always one-side and twisted and prevent us from having the honest kind of dialog that is so important. In this story, I don’t have any objection to people saying, “What was the cause of this man committing the act?” But the way that they then back peddle and say. You know what, the unions don’t have any record of this. The employer has no record of this is to me evidence that in fact, this was a racial attack on whites. Subsequently we’ve seen other attacks on blacks in this country. But let’s have an honest discussion. Indeed, Juan. Let’s have an honest discussion. Unfortunately, that has seemed far less likely since the inauguration of Barack Obama despite America being sold on the notion that all of our race problems would go away with the election of our first black President. Quite the contrary, things have seemed to go backwards, especially for media members that have become even less colorblind than they were before. Why might that be? 

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Juan Williams: Media Always Make Blacks the Victims and Whites the Perpetrators

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Fox News Chicago: Rostenkowski ‘As Responsible As Anyone But Ronald Reagan’ for Tax Cuts

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

When former Congressman Dan Rostenkowski (D-IL) passed away this week, Fox Chicago News’s political editor Mike Flannery described the late Ways and Means committee chairman as ‘a giant of Chicago politics, remembered and beloved for negotiating legislation that helped create projects all over the state.”  Rostenkowski did indeed bring home the pork.  But Flannery also writes that the congressman “was as responsible as anyone but Ronald Reagan for the ‘Reagan tax cuts’ of (the) early ’80s.” In an accompanying video on Fox Chicago’s Web site, Flannery recalls (at about 4:30) speaking to Rostenkowski and House Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill (D-MA) in the first days of Reagan’s presidency.  They said that Reagan had been elected and “we’re going to give him what he wants.  He told us the number one thing is this tax deal and they said we’re going to work with him.” Rostenkowski and O’Neill vigorously worked against President Reagan’s plans.  Neither of them joined the 48 Democrats who voted in July, 1981 for tax reduction.  The day after the tax cuts passed in the House, David Rogers of the Boston Globe reported: “Mr. President, you’re tough,” Ways and Means Committee chairman Dan Rostenkowski told Reagan in a telephone call after the House vote, and for the Chicago Democrat and his friend Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill Jr., the defeat was a bitter end to a raw partisan fight which the leadership had hoped would give it a much-needed victory over the President. Roland Evans and Robert Novak wrote: Nevertheless, in his gracious speech to the House Wednesday, Rostenkowski pledged to campaign against the right through steeper graduation of taxes “as long as I’m chairman.” In his considerably-less-than-gracious speech closing Wednesday’s debate, Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill showed he had learned nothing.  Beginning by calling this “a great day for the aristocracy,” he claimed the nation’s big corporations had artificially stimulated that flow of telephone calls to congressional offices.  To the very end, Tip O’Neill could not believe that the people really prefer lower taxes to bigger government. Dan Rostenkowski was as responsible as anyone but Ronald Reagan for the “Reagan tax cuts” of the early ’80s?  Only in the rewritten history books of the mainstream media.    

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Fox News Chicago: Rostenkowski ‘As Responsible As Anyone But Ronald Reagan’ for Tax Cuts

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CBS ‘Early Show’: Nearly Five Minutes on Gay Marriage Ruling, One Sentence to Critics

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

In a report on Friday’s CBS Early Show, correspondent John Blackstone described the fallout of a decision by California Judge Vaughn Walker to lift his stay on gay marriages after overturning Proposition 8: “Inside San Francisco City Hall dozens of same-sex couples lined up for marriage licenses, anticipating their wedding day.” A headline on screen declared: “Save the Date.”   Blackstone explained how gay couples were still upset that the stay would not be lifted until August 18: “Despite a celebration here, these advocates know this may be just a temporary opening. And it turned out it wasn’t opened yet….Among the disappointed couples was one of those who filed the lawsuit challenging California’s ban on same-sex marriage.” Finally taking note of critics of the initial Proposition 8 ruling and the lifting of the stay, Blackstone remarked: “The delay gives opponents time to appeal and a political issue.” The only sound bite of a critic was that of Maggie Gallagher from the National Organization for Marriage: “The extreme nature of this decision is, in fact, going to impact the elections in 2010.” Blackstone then concluded his report this way: “Polls show a majority of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, but in California, where there were 18,000 such marriages two years ago, plenty of wedding plans are now being made for next week.” He made no mention of the majority of Californians also being opposed. Following Blackstone’s report, co-host Harry Smith spoke with liberal George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley about the issue. While Turley described the judge’s decision as “very controversial,” he also made sure to tell viewers where he stood: “I actually support same-sex marriage.” Smith was puzzled by the delay in allowing gay marriage: “Why would the judge leave – well, open the window and then say, ‘okay, we’re going to close the window until next Wednesday’?” Turley replied: “Well, he’s actually doing a very standard and responsible thing….This is a controversial decision. And for the people on the other side of this debate, they should be entitled to make their argument to the court of appeals.” Later, Turley assured his fellow gay marriage supporters that allowing Judge Walker’s decision to be appealed would “add legitimacy to his opinion.”                              Here is a full transcript of the August 13 segment: 7:00AM TEASE ERICA HILL: Save the date. A California judge says same-sex couples will have to wait one more week to get married, allowing for an appeal to move forward. We’ll tell you why this could end up going all the way to the Supreme Court.         7:01AM SEGMENT HARRY SMITH: We begin with the court room battle over California’s same-sex marriage ban, the federal judge that threw that ban out now says that same-sex weddings can be held next week, unless higher courts get involved. CBS News correspondent John Blackstone has the story. [ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Save the Date; Judge Delays Same-Sex Weddings to Allow Appeal] JOHN BLACKSTONE: Inside San Francisco City Hall dozens of same-sex couples lined up for marriage licenses, anticipating their wedding day. Outside, a crowd gathered. The judge, who last week ruled that California’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, said he is lifting the stay he placed on that decision. Same-sex marriage in California has been on a roller coaster, sometimes legal, sometimes not. Despite a celebration here, these advocates know this may be just a temporary opening. And it turned out it wasn’t opened yet. UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: The good news is the stay is lifted. The bad news is the judge has said it’s lifted next Wednesday. CROWD: Aww. BLACKSTONE: Among the disappointed couples was one of those who filed the lawsuit challenging California’s ban on same-sex marriage. JEFF ZARRILLO: We’re hopeful that we will be able to get married and we’ll be able to announce wedding plans as soon as possible. BLACKSTONE: The delay gives opponents time to appeal and a political issue. MAGGIE GALLAGHER [NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE]: The extreme nature of this decision is, in fact, going to impact the elections in 2010. BLACKSTONE: Polls show a majority of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, but in California, where there were 18,000 such marriages two years ago, plenty of wedding plans are now being made for next week. John Blackstone, CBS News, San Francisco. SMITH: And joining us now from Washington is George Washington University Law Professor Jonathan Turley. Good morning, sir. JONATHAN TURLEY: Hi, Harry. SMITH: Why would the judge leave – well, open the window and then say, ‘okay, we’re going to close the window until next Wednesday’? TURLEY: Well, he’s actually doing a very standard and responsible thing. What he’s doing is he’s giving the court of appeals a short period of time to review his decision and decide whether they want to impose a stay. Most federal judges will do that. In fact, if he didn’t do that, it’d be viewed as a little bit odd, if not aggressive towards the court of appeals. What he’s saying is, ‘look, I’m one judge. This is a controversial decision. And for the people on the other side of this debate, they should be entitled to make their argument to the court of appeals.’ SMITH: So what is the likelihood, then, a court of appeals would get involved in this by Wednesday? TURLEY: Well, they’re going to have to. I mean, they’re going to have to take a look at whether they want to impose a stay. And’s it’s going to be tempting for some of those judges. You know, this did overturn a majority of people who voted on the proposition. It’s a very controversial decision. Some judges might be inclined to say, ‘You know what? Let’s go ahead and stay this until other judges have looked at it.’ But what Judge Walker said in this opinion was I don’t see the irreparable harm being done to people by allowing people to get married. SMITH: Right. TURLEY: And he gave a very strong opinion saying, I don’t think this should be stayed by the Ninth Circuit. SMITH: If you are a proponent of same-sex marriage, how should you interpret this? TURLEY: I would encourage my friends on that side – and I actually support same-sex marriage – but I would encourage people on the side of same-sex marriage to understand that they benefit, in some regards, with – from Judge Walker’s move. He’s going to add legitimacy to his opinion. It’s not going to be just one judge. It’s important for this to be reviewed, to satisfy all parties that it’s not just one judge making his own decision, but that it’s going to be other judges making independent decisions of their own. SMITH: Right. Since this thing came down people have said this is likely to end up in the Supreme Court. Do you agree? TURLEY: Well, you know, as you know, you’ve been around a long time, it’s dangerous to predict when the court will accept something. They have actually avoided the same-sex marriage issue in the past, but if any case has a chance, it would be this one. By my count, there seems to be four justices on both sides of this issue, if you’re going to make an early prediction. And as usual, Justice Kennedy’s right in the middle. But Kennedy has been very sympathetic towards gay rights in the past. So, it would be a very interesting issue to go before this court at this time. SMITH: Jonathan Turley, we sure do appreciate your expertise this morning. Thank you very much. TURLEY: Thanks, Harry. SMITH: Alright, you bet.

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Of 351 Reports on Outrageous Bell, Calif. Salaries, Only One Mentions Employees Are Democrats

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

In late July, NB Contributing Editor Tom Blumer busted the Associated Press for neglecting to mention the party affiliations of scandal-plagued officials in Bell, California. The AP piece was one of hundreds of reports on the scandal. Of those hundreds, one solitary report mentioned party labels for the five officials. Can you guess which party they belong to? I’ll bet you can. The only news outlet that mentioned the officials were Democrats was the Orange County Register. And even that paper noted the absence of party labels only in response to reader complaints. “Our readers noticed one part of the story has been left out by virtually all media sources,” the paper’s editorial board wrote. “All five council members are members of the Democratic Party.” The most prominent of the officials in question, former Bell city manager Robert Rizzo, resigned after it came to light that he was making $1.5 million per year – in a town with a per capita income languishing at about half the national average. Ann Coulter noticed the amazing absence of party labels in virtually any news coverage of the scandal. She called this blatant instance of media bias “the greatest party-affiliation cover-up since the media tried to portray Gary Condit as a Republican.” According to my own Nexis search, there have been 351 stories run by newspapers, wire services, and television news outlets. Though 350 of those 351 stories neglected to mention Rizzo’s party, many went out of their way to label California Attorney General Jerry Brown, who’s also running for governor, a Democrat. Forty-one stories mentioned Brown’s party affiliation, but not Rizzo’s. Brown is investigating the lavish salaries in Bell, and his tough talk has made for some good populist campaign soundbites. Journalists have been more than happy to call him a Democrat, while leaving Rizzo and his colleagues’ party affiliations unmentioned. Only the noble, populist warriors are Democrats. The reprobate, quasi-corrupt city managers of a destitute neighborhood in Los Angeles have no party affiliation. In the fantasy realm of politically-neutral media, the Democrat label would be played up by the media, for reasons that Ace explains : When a Republican is caught in a sex scandal, his party affiliation is extremely relevant because the Republican Party stands broadly for family values and sexual restraint, so party affiliation is very relevant, as it shows hypocrisy, that is, it tends to undermine the public image of the party…. Now, what happens when a Republican is caught in a money scandal? Well, that’s not really hypocrisy, really, as Republicans have the reputation of being into dirty filthy money. But in that case — in the case of a money scandal — the media says noting the Republican’s affiliation is relevant because it reinforces widely-held public opinion about the party… If the Republican Party is supposedly money-grubbing and only cares about big business and corporate interest, then the Democratic party is, supposedly, the party that cares about the little guy, that stands stubbornly against monied interests in favor of Joe Six Pack. Is it not the case, therefore, that if hypocrisy dictates that party affiliation is intensely relevant as regards a sex scandal involving a Republican, then hypocrisy should dictate that in a scandal involving a Democrat taking money from big business that the Democrat’s party affiliation should be similarly intensely relevant? And yet, the media continues to report such stories without granting party labels to the villains. But the hero in the MSM narrative – AG Brown – earns a party label, as he upholds the “Democrat-as-friend of the little guy” narrative. By shifting the focus of party label onto him, the media avoid the hypocrisy angle Ace elaborates, and can go on neglecting to give party label to Rizzo and his cohorts. It’s all very circular. In fairness, it is true that candidates for city board in Los Angeles do not list their party affiliations on the ballot. But does that absolve news outlets from doing a bit of, you know, reporting? Even the OC Register, which noted the lack of party labels in the course of a lukewarm defense of its own sins, claimed: On balance, though, party affiliations of elected officials should be noted and easily accessible so voters can make informed decisions about who they elect to public office. Voter registration is public information, but it currently is somewhat difficult to obtain – you need to contact a county’s registrar of voters in person or by phone and provide a full name and city. That brings us to Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, who was quick yesterday to make political hay out of the Bell scandal, declaring he was starting an investigation. He was identified in most news stories as a Democrat. Does that make him a white hat while the Bell officials, whose party affiliations were unreported, become the black hats – from another party? Readers should know both.

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Of 351 Reports on Outrageous Bell, Calif. Salaries, Only One Mentions Employees Are Democrats

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CMI’s Burchfiel Talks Media Double Standards on Fox & Friends

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

Culture and Media Institute Assistant Editor Nathan Burchfiel joined “Fox & Friends” co-host Steve Doocy on Aug. 13 to discuss media coverage of Harry Reid and the media double standard on controversial statements made by liberals versus conservatives. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told supporters on Aug. 10 that he couldn’t understand why “anyone with Hispanic heritage could be a Republican.” “If you watch the national media, there’s no outrage,” Burchfiel said when asked where the uproar over Reid’s comments had come from. “There’s certainly a lot of confusion, I think, among Hispanic conservatives as to the reasoning behind Harry Reid’s comments. It’s clear that he is not reading the same polls that other people are reading about the way that Hispanics feel about the current administration, the way that the feel about the economy and jobs, and even the way they feel about immigration.” Burchfiel suggested that Reid “maybe ask Brian Sandoval why a Hispanic might affiliate himself with the GOP or with conservative ideology.” Sandoval, who is Hispanic, is the GOP’s nominee for Nevada governor. He is leading his Democratic opponent, Reid’s son, Rory, by 19 points in the latest Las Vegas Review-Journal poll . The English-language media often turn to Univision anchor Jorge Ramos as an expert on Latino opinion. Ramos, as the Culture and Media Institute reported, is an active supporter of open borders and amnesty for illegal immigrants. However, a recent AP-Univision poll of Hispanic Americans found that only 9 percent rated immigration as the most important issue facing the United States. Most rated the economy or jobs as most important, and only 43 percent said they felt the current administration was doing a good job of addressing the Hispanic community’s needs. Doocy and Burchfiel also discussed the double standard in media coverage of controversial statements made by liberals versus conservatives in light of the comments made by two New Hampshire Democrats this week about the plane crash that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens. Keith Halloran, a candidate for the state legislature, wrote on Facebook that he wished Sarah Palin had been on the plane that crashed. State Rep. Timothy Horrigan resigned his office after he wrote on Facebook that a dead Sarah Palin would be more dangerous than a living Sarah Palin. The national networks ignored the story. “I mean you get a random guy at a Tea Party rally saying something remotely controversial and the media have his name, his address, his tax records, his elementary school report card, anything they can find that’s going to help them discredit him,” Burchfiel said. “But when you have liberals who are in office or running for office who literally say that they wish Sarah Palin were dead, there’s media silence on it.” “It’s unfortunately par for the course,” he added, “but it’s part of the way that the media have covered Sarah Palin since the very beginning, since she was announced as John McCain’s running mate.” A Culture and Media Institute study of coverage of Palin late in the 2008 campaign found the national media had two portraits of the then-vice presidential nominee. Palin was either portrayed as a Dunce by highlighting her quirks or replaying “Saturday Night Live” impersonations of her, or as a Demon – McCain’s attack dog or poison for conservatives.

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Katie Couric: ‘Obama Has Enough Stress to Last a Lifetime’

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Give the guy a break, he deserves it. That was Katie Couric’s message a week ago in her Notebook blog entry about President Obama’s 49th birthday (emphasis mine): The job has aged him, as it did his predecessors. Dr. Michael Roizen at the Cleveland Clinic stated constant stress can age the Commander in Chief two years for every one year in office. So I guess that means he’s really turning 50. President Obama has enough stress to last a lifetime … and as he blows out his birthday candles, war, recession and a giant oil spill won’t magically disappear. But I hope he’s able to take a break tonight, forget his troubles and spend time doing something he loves. But as Paul Bedard of USNews.com noted in an August 11 blog Washington Whispers blog post, Obama has not exactly been lacking in the R&R department : There they go again. For the fifth time since July, the first family has set plans to board Air Force One for a frilly vacation , a 10-day return trip to exclusive Martha’s Vineyard where they are expected to stay at the 28-acre oceanfront Blue Heron Farm that rents for up to $50,000 a week. But first the Obamas will be traveling to the Gulf Coast of Florida for a mini-vacation as a way to encourage other vacationing Americans to head to the beaches that have been shunned by tourists worried about oil-slicked sands due to the Gulf oil spill. They are expected to travel to Florida this weekend, return to Washington for a few days then it’s off to the Massachusetts island August 19. For a recap, here is this year’s Obama Travelogue: -Full family Christmas and New Years in Hawaii . -March spring break-first lady Michelle Obama, mom Marian Robinson, and both daughters hit Broadway. -Memorial Day in Chicago with the family. -Three days in July in Maine, primarily tony Bar Harbor. -Last week, the president traveled to Chicago for a birthday party with Oprah and others. -Michelle and Sasha spent much of last week on Spain’s southern coast, ending it with a trip to Majorca to meet the king and queen of Spain. -Florida this weekend for a night on the Gulf Coast. -August 19-29 on Martha’s Vineyard. Of course, every president faces unimaginable stress from the weight of responsibility from the job, but the media never ceased to remind us of how many days President Bush spent in the summer telecommuting to work from his Crawford, Texas, ranch.  Yet when it comes to President Obama and his penchant to jet off on vacation every few weeks, Couric and company tell us Obama deserves a break, even as he’s taken care to do that plenty of times already.

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Katie Couric: ‘Obama Has Enough Stress to Last a Lifetime’

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ABC Hypes Michelle Obama’s ‘Lush,’ Luxurious’ Spanish Vacation, Hit Extravagance of Laura Bush

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Good Morning America’s Yunji de Nies on Friday touted Michelle Obama’s “five-star,” “luxurious” vacation to Spain, skipping any discussion of controversy over the $148,000 trip. In January of 2009, however, the very same program chided Laura Bush for introducing new presidential dinnerware, despite the fact that the bill was being paid by a private organization. De Nies gushed, “They toured the plaza in old Marbella. Cooled off with chocolate gelato and bought matching sun dresses. Michelle and Sasha Obama are making a splash in Spain.” News reader Juju Chang vaguely hinted at criticism, allowing, “Michelle Obama may be taking heat for her luxury vacation with her nine-year-old daughter, but as Yunji de Nies shows us, the Spanish can’t get enough of her.” What that “heat” was, exactly, went unsaid. Good Morning America certainly hasn’t reported on it. ( CBS News reported that the”6.5 hour flight to Spain would run $73,781.50 – double for the round trip.”) ABC brought on reporter Ann Compton to defend the vacation: “Whether they’re sitting on a beach or meeting with a king in a palace. It is bringing forth the American culture, the American people, representing the United States of America. It’s never really just vacation.” Yet, on January 7, 2009 , the same Compton worried, “So, why is Laura Bush introducing new Bush china two weeks before they move out?” Co-host Robin Roberts warned about the “brewing brouhaha” and alerted, “President and First Lady Laura Bush are leaving behind a new set of dinnerware when they leave the White House in two weeks.” At the very end of the segment, Compton explained that the $485,000 cost was being paid by the private White House Historical Association. DeNies has a history of fawning over Michelle Obama. On October 1, 2009 , she predicted that the First Lady’s pitch for the 2016 Olympics in Chicago would leave not “a dry eye in the house.” On April 29, 2009 , she lauded Mrs. Obama as the “belle of the ball.” A transcript of the August 6 segment, which aired at 8:03am EDT, follows: JUJU CHANG: And the First Lady’s summer in Spain . Michelle Obama may be taking heat for her luxury vacation with her nine-year-old daughter, but as Yunji de Nies shows us, the Spanish can’t get enough of her. YUNJI DE NIES: They toured the plaza in old Marbella. Cooled off with chocolate gelato and bought matching sun dresses. Michelle and Sasha Obama are making a splash in Spain . UNIDENTIFIED SPANISH WOMAN [through translator]: She’s very beautiful. Very nice. I couldn’t see more, though, because the whole world is waiting. DE NIES: Wherever they go, the press follows. [Montage of Spanish reporters saying “Michelle Obama.] DE NIES: They’re traveling with old friends from Chicago. All staying at this five-star resort. Its website boasts lush gardens and luxurious suites. ROBERT GIBBS: It’s a private trip and is being paid for that way. DE NIES: She’s not the first first mom to jet set with her daughter. Hillary Clinton brought Chelsea around the world. Jenna Bush joined her mother in Africa. ABC’s Ann Compton covered it all. And says, there’s value to these visits. ANN COMPTON: Whether they’re sitting on a beach or meeting with a king in a palace. It is bringing forth the American culture, the American people, representing the United States of America. It’s never really just vacation. DE NIES: America’s littlest ambassadors have toured Russia’s Kremlin, Rome’s Coliseum. Even met with Queen Elizabeth. On Sunday, mother and daughter will lunch with the Spanish king and queen, a royal finish to this summer vacation. For Good Morning America, Yunji de Nies, ABC News, the White House. CHANG: I just love the way the Spanish say Michelle Obama.

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ABC Hypes Michelle Obama’s ‘Lush,’ Luxurious’ Spanish Vacation, Hit Extravagance of Laura Bush

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Bill Press Mocks Southern Senator with Banjo Music; Suggests ‘Taking Citizenship Away from People Born in Alabama’

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Ah yes – liberalism, or as its recent branding has labeled it, progressivism, is the most open-minded and culturally sensitive place to be on the ideological spectrum. Those who subscribe to those beliefs are far more enlightened and far more able to respect those from all over the globe, or least all over the United States, right? Not the case with liberal talk show host Bill Press. On his Aug. 4 program, Press launched into a long-winded rant about a handful of U.S. Senators who question the interpretation of the 14 th Amendment , which allows for so-called “anchor babies” to provide a way for some illegal immigrants to achieve legal status, despite having broken the law by entering the United States. Press took issue with Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, who suggested the 14 th Amendment is being abused and wasn’t what was intended by the original authors of it. But he didn’t just disagree with him for his stance. Instead, he took to mocking his southern accent, playing to a stereotype of people from the South. “You know the only thing we’re missing with that are the banjos, you know,” Press said. “I mean – yeah, Jeff Sessions. I mean give me a freaking break. [ In faux southern accent with banjo music playing ] You know our founding fathers didn’t know them jet skis – they got them jet skis in Tijuana. They do, they just zip up the coast and have their baby on the beach in La Hoya, La Joya, La Jolla and then they back to Tijuana with a little baby American. God darn if Thomas Jefferson had only know’d that we would have been different.” Press went on to show his audacity was boundless and called critics of the way the 14 th Amendment has been used as “mean-spirited.” Press framed the entire debate in a manner that made it seem like legislators were taking their concerns over illegal immigration out on children. “Where do we get these people from?” Press continued. “You know, unfreaking believable. Look this is such a stupid thing. Number one, it’s just – look, it’s so mean-spirited, right? Yeah, OK – we’re going to take it out on the kids. Yeah, we’re going to get even with those illegal immigrants. We’re going to get even with anybody that came here to try to improve their life and do better for their family. Yeah, we’re going to take it out on their kids and throw those little buggers back across the boarder.” But he didn’t stop there with the mocking Sessions. Later in his broadcast, Press launched into another anti-Sessions screed with the same theatrics. [ With faux southern accent with banjo music playing ] “Ah yeah, did Thomas Jefferson know ‘bout dem UFOs?” Press said. “Man, those aliens coming here from outer space, popping out a baby and then hopping in their spaceship and goin’ home. What’s this world coming to? I’m tellin’ ya, if James Madison know’d that he would’ve done different.” And to end his bizarre high-minded, left-of-center condescending anti-Alabama rant, this wizard of smart suggested maybe we should revoke citizenship from Alabamians. “You know, how about we just take citizenship away from people born in Alabama ?” Press said. “That’d be a good start. Just kidding, Alabamans – well, yeah maybe [laughter]. Alright, there we go, yes indeed.” One can only ask what is next for Press. Will he mock someone of another ethnicity which he disagrees with a stereotype? It is hard to imagine a conservative talker pulling such a feat off without some sort of pushback from Press and his ilk.

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Bill Press Mocks Southern Senator with Banjo Music; Suggests ‘Taking Citizenship Away from People Born in Alabama’

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