CBS’s Crawford Dismisses Christine O’Donnell’s Response to Accusations
On Thursday’s CBS Evening News, as correspondent Jan Crawford filed a report on the allegations that former Delaware Republican Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell misused campaign money, the CBS correspondent seemed dismissive of O’Donnell’s reaction to the accusations as Crawford harkened back to the 2010 campaign and described some of O’Donnell’s recent words as the Delaware Republican's response "whenever she faced embarrassing revelations." Crawford: "O'Donnell says the charges are dirty tricks by the political establishment. Now, if that sounds familiar, it should. That was often her response during the campaign whenever she faced embarrassing revelations."
After a clip of O’Donnell from the campaign accusing her opponents of "making up stories," then came a soundbite of David Catanese of Politico.com: "It's something she used during her entire campaign, she used in the primary and the general election. And here she is on morning TV again pitting herself against the world, basically."
The report did not relay to viewers O’Donnell’s contention that her accusers are disgruntled former employees who were fired or the left-wing nature of the organization pushing the investigation, the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), or her assertion that she paid rent to her campaign to use the headquarters as a residence, rather than the widely reported claim that her campaign was paying for her rent.
Earlier in the day, as O’Donnell made appearances on each of the broadcast network morning shows, a setup piece by Crawford on CBS’s The Early Show was the only report which labeled CREW as a "left-leaning" group, but this relevant piece of information was ignored in the report aired on the CBS Evening News.
The NBC Nightly News did not mention the O’Donnell story on Thursday, and ABC’s World News ran a short piece that focused on O’Donnell’s supposed suggestion that Vice President Biden was involved in pushing for an investigation of her. The ABC story also did not recount any of the previously mentioned contentions made by O’Donnell earlier in the day as she defended herself.
Below are complete transcripts of the relevant stories from ABC’s World News and the CBS Evening News from Thursday, December 30:
#From ABC’s World News:
DAVID MUIR: We're going to turn now to politics, and even after she lost, Tea Party candidate Christine O'Donnell is back in the news tonight, blaming Vice President Biden after reports O'Donnell is now being investigated. The former candidate told Good Morning America the Vice President is behind accusations that she misspent campaign funds during her failed Senate race in his home state.
CHRISTINE O’DONNELL, FORMER DELAWARE REPUBLICAN SENATE NOMINEE: -don't need a tipster to show that this is politically motivated. We were informed that the Delaware political establishment was going to use every resource available to them.
MUIR: The Vice President’s office is declining comment tonight.
#From the CBS Evening News :
HARRY SMITH: Tea Party Republican Christine O'Donnell today fiercely denied accusations that she diverted campaign funds to her own pocket. O'Donnell ran for the U.S. Senate in Delaware but lost. Chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford reports O'Donnell is not shying away from the controversy.
JAN CRAWFORD: Under scrutiny by federal prosecutors for campaign spending, Christine O'Donnell today came out swinging. She appeared on every morning television show to confront allegations she misused campaign funds.
CHRISTINE O’DONNELL, FORMER DELAWARE REPUBLICAN SENATE NOMINEE: Well, you know, it's obviously politically motivated.
CRAWFORD: Federal prosecutors are reviewing allegations that O'Donnell paid for meals, gas, and other expenses with political contributions. That's illegal until federal election rules.
SMITH, FROM CBS’S THE EARLY SHOW: Did you use campaign money to-
O’DONNELL: No.
SMITH: - pay your rent or pay your personal expenses?
O’DONNELL: Absolutely not. There has been no impermissible use of campaign funds. And, you know, you've got to look at how many ridiculous accusations have been taken out of context.
CRAWFORD: O'Donnell says the charges are dirty tricks by the political establishment. Now, if that sounds familiar, it should. That was often her response during the campaign whenever she faced embarrassing revelations.
O’DONNELL: When they can't attack on substance, they try to call you names. They try to make up stories.
DAVID CATANESE, POLITICO.COM: It's something she used during her entire campaign, she used in the primary and the general election. And here she is on morning TV again pitting herself against the world, basically.
CRAWFORD: And O'Donnell knows her responses could determine her political future. Jan Crawford, CBS News, Washington.
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Comments
The Selective Outrage is Stunning!
Submitted by scottyusmc on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 7:36am.
Selective Outrage by those with no Objective Standards to Guide their Reporting. Nothing New Here!!!!
O'Donnell is a flake.
Submitted by rubberneck on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 8:38am.
O'Donnell is a flake.
Maybe, maybe not
Submitted by UltraC on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 11:14am.
Maybe, maybe not. But the article's about whether the media's giving O'Donnell a fair shake. To dismiss her defense because, to paraphrase Crawford, that's what she always says, is not the mark of an objective and enlightened media.
Seems to me that both witnesses in this latest round of accusations are shaky at best.
Federal prosecutors are
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 8:47am.
Federal prosecutors are reviewing allegations that O'Donnell paid for meals, gas, and other expenses with political contributions. That's illegal until federal election rules.So how do those campaigns pay for stuff like the buses, planes, staff, lodging and meals?
You missed the LiboLyingCrat exception to the rule
Submitted by ConservaSerb on Sat, 01/01/2011 - 3:23am.
See, libs can spend their money by paying the homeless and the unemployable [by choice] to go vote. That's OK.
A wise & frugal government, which shall leave men free 2 regulate their own pursuits of industry & improvement, & shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government. T. Jefferson
Aw, I think it's cute,
Submitted by ant on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 10:23am.
Aw, I think it's cute, they're just filling in time between fluffy little Nancy Pelosi specials.
At some point, Shouldn't we as Americans
Submitted by Calypso Jones on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 10:26am.
do something about this anti american, anti constitution philosophy of the leftist media. I fear that if we sit still for this then we'll be over run with it. My past opinion has been, 'talk on Media' because tea partiers are done talking, we are DOING as evidenced in the last election for the most part. I don't know if i can stomach the continued conservative bashing.
Did they go after Silky Pony
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 10:44am.
Did they go after Silky Pony like this? He used the campaign money to pay his paramour. The US Attorney for Central NC was looking into this until he was replaced by Kay Hagan, a supporter of Silky Pony. You don't hear about the investigation anymore now that a Dem is the US Attorney. That US Attorney, Ripley Rand is the son of FORMER majority leader of the NC Senate, Tony Rand.
Just because you're paranoid
Submitted by nonncom on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 10:58am.
doesn't mean they're not out to get you.....
Can nobody criticize this woman?
Submitted by shawn. on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 11:07am.
The witchcraft comments and the I am not a witch commercial IMO were worthy of the SNL skits. Karl Rove the boy genius was all of a sudden enemy number one after he accurately predicted that she would be destroyed by Coons There is a very good chance she is innocent however, not many people are admitting there is a possibility she is guilty. Sorry for the rant but It seems she is almost immune to criticism by many conservatives.No problem.....you want to criticize
Submitted by nonncom on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:26pm.
stick to the issues and get over attacking her personnaly....after this display, any normal American out there who would consider running for public office would have to be out of their mind....the first thing you would have to do is come up with everything you ever did wrong and beat the media and other leftist backed orginisations to the punch by disclosing any potential skeletons....unless, of course, you have the wealth behind you to steer the media any way you want, as in Obama's case with Soros....
Well
Submitted by shawn. on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:42pm.
The witchcraft comments were made on the Bill Maher show and the I am not a witch comments were on her campaign ad so I figure those are fair game. Karl Rove criticized her and predicted she would be crushed In general election and the backlash on NB was pretty big. I am not saying Karl Rove is right about his opinion, but he still has right to his opinion The fact she said she had inside knowledge of Chinas plan to take over the US was very confusing to me as well. Let's hope the accusations against her are not true, but I leave open the possibility that they are. I figure it's important to keep an open mind regardless of how you feel about someone.Ol Boy Karl Rove
Submitted by texusmc on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:41pm.
didn't back her up either and followed the Leftist hand book and attacked her as well. By not supporting her and tearing her down, many of the people that probably would have voted for her didn't even get out to vote. That is a big reason she lost to Coons. And Karl even defends his position http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/transcript/karl-rove-questions-christine-o039donnell039s-039serious-character-problems039
Does she have some things that are questionable? probably. Do we all? definately.
Karl Rove was not a fan
Submitted by shawn. on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 12:46pm.
And he stated such. Why should he not be honest about how he feels? The Tea Party are sure not quiet about it, why should Mr Rove?For the same reason...
Submitted by ckc1227 on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 1:53pm.
...you never see liberals run down their candidates. It's not helpful. He could have addressed his concerns about that race a little more.....conservatively.... than he did.
As for the witch commercial, imho, that was dumb on her campaign's part, but, why were they addressing it/discussing it in the first place? That would be because everyone one else was trying to make an issue of it.
Bottom line though is she wasn't a good candidate. I hope folks keep this race in mind before decidng Palin should be our candidate in 2012. Otherwise, I fear the results will be the same.
I actually think Palin can beat Obama
Submitted by shawn. on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 2:02pm.
Not because she is so good , it's because Obama has been so terrible. Palin will not be afraid to point out Obamas many double standards and she is not afraid of the MSM If Palin can come across as being at least intelligent and not butcher anymore interviews I beleive she has a shotDon't let your fear guide you.
Submitted by CobraMan on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 2:45pm.
"Otherwise, I fear the results will be the same."
Don't let fear of what might happen guide you. The democrats will play upon that fear and use it as a weapon in the political battle. Don't give them yet another weapon. Deny them that weapon altogether.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Textbook media bias, charges
Submitted by Reaver on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 1:55pm.
Textbook media bias, charges made against a conservative are accepted without question and their defense is summarily dismissed.
Did she?
Submitted by CobraMan on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 2:39pm.
"...blaming Vice President Biden after reports O'Donnell is now being investigated."
DID she actually blame the VP? According to the sound bite they used, she didn't mention the VP at all.
"-don't need a tipster to show that this is politically motivated. We were informed that the Delaware political establishment was going to use every resource available to them."
Just where is th VP mentioned in that statement?
Hay, ABC, if you're going to claim that she is blaming the VP, it would help if you played a clip of her, you know, actually blaming the VP. That's called "corroboration."
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
She would have made a good
Submitted by countryfirst on Fri, 12/31/2010 - 9:50pm.
She would have made a good senator,, I blamem rove and kratthhammer for destroying her, because she beat the rino who they wanted in, don;t be fooled, the likes of rove in DC are scared of strong women like sarah and christine, they know if these women come to town, and win, they lose their power, its the good old boys rinos in DC, they need to go, good example murkowski in ak, one of their favorites, since winning, during lame duck sesion, voted for all of obamas programs.repubs need to get it or they will be gone, we won;t be fooled anymore
She's been accused by the
Submitted by Cowboy on Sat, 01/01/2011 - 1:52am.
She's been accused by the same George Soros funded group who made the ridiculous claims about Palin's wardrobe.
They don't really expect anything to actually happen. They just make announcements to tarnish reputations knowing that when nothing is found later, the media won't cover that, or will put it on page 18a...
Dirty tricks?
Submitted by ConservaSerb on Sat, 01/01/2011 - 3:22am.
Oh, you mean like stealing the Iowa caucuses and hiding your birth certificate and all your school records and all documents that you signed under penalties for perjury?
A wise & frugal government, which shall leave men free 2 regulate their own pursuits of industry & improvement, & shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government. T. Jefferson