On Wednesday’s Good Morning America, reporter David Wright attempted to manipulate the potential voters of the 2008 presidential election by casting a gloomy shadow over the Republican candidates. Meanwhile, according to Wright, the array of candidates for the Democratic nomination could not be any more impressive. First, Wright exalted the Democrats for having a clear front-runner, Hillary Clinton. However, he was skeptical of the same status of Rudolph Giuliani in the Republican field saying, "just how solid is that lead?" Then he went about exposing the inconsistency of Republican candidates, never once mentioning any similar problem for Hillary Clinton or any other Democratic candidate.
John McCain is not competitive, because he is "out of money and out of steam;" Romney used to be a "liberal;" and Fred Thompson and Newt Gingrich are nowhere to be seen. Lastly, instead of putting poll and fundraising results in a partisan context (Democratic primary voters in comparison to Republican primary voters), Wright spoke as if the general election was imminent, saying, "Whether you measure support in dollars or poll numbers, at this point none of the top Republicans matches up well against the top Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton." The transcript is below:
David Wright: "Good morning, Elizabeth. We're still barely past the starting gate here, but already some pretty stark differences between the Republicans and the Democrats. The Democratic side has a clear frontrunner and at least two strong challengers. But the Republicans are tougher to figure. Even with this new poll, it's hard -- you have to ask the question, who is the GOP frontrunner?"
Wright: "The Republican nominee for President may be one of these men, or none of them. This week, perhaps testing the waters himself, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich dismissed the GOP candidates as "pygmies." Our poll shows former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani leading the pack nationally, but just how solid is that lead?"
Kellyanne Conway, Republican strategist: "The intensity of his support according to this new ABC poll has softened and that is attributable to the fact that 51% of Evangelical Christians in the poll say that they believe Rudy Giuliani is too liberal on social issues."
Wright: "Republican voters like what they see as Giuliani's strength and experience, but many conservatives see him as too liberal on issues such as abortion. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is doing well in crucial early states. But to win the GOP nomination, he has to get past his own liberal baggage."
Ken Rudin, NPR: "The fact is that he ran for the Senate in 1994 as pro-choice, pro stem-cell research, pro gay rights. When he ran for governor in 2001, 2002, he was also liberal on these issues."
Wright: "Romney’s now running as a born-again conservative, a tough sell. Our poll showed that 24% don't know where he stands ideologically. The candidate many thought would be the Republican frontrunner is falling badly behind. Senator John McCain appears to be out of money and out of steam."
Rudin: "He spent $25 million and what does he have to show for it? Really nothing. He's fading fast."
Wright: "He is running neck and neck with someone not even in the race. Former Senator Fred Thompson has yet to declare he's in."
Giuliani: "Fred Thompson has a right to do it, Newt Gingrich has every right to do it. Some or all of them may enter the race. God bless them."
David Wright: "Whether you measure support in dollars or poll numbers, at this point none of the top Republicans matches up well against the top Democrats, especially Hillary Clinton. And the Republicans have to be hoping that, by this time next year, the voters will have something other than Iraq to think about. Chris?"
Chris Cuomo: "It’s a big wait and see, David. Thank you for that."



















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At this point the GOP is
July 25, 2007 - 13:24 ET by mattmAt this point the GOP is hopeless, but as soon as they get an endorsed candidate, and if that candidate appears to have a legitimate chance, they will open the floodgates of bias and make the last 8 years of Bush-Bashing look like...well, journalism.
So the word "hopeless" is
July 25, 2007 - 13:27 ET by balboaSo the word "hopeless" is Brendan's interpretation and wasn't ever actually said?
ABC was the manipulative feeling
July 25, 2007 - 13:34 ET by Lame CherryYes apparently ABC only manipulated the story to convey "hopeless Republicans" as they knew saying it would not do as much damage as propaganda promoting the story.
Sort of like Nazi's only showing their victorious reich and sullen American troops. Is the reason they use the pictures at ABC as saying hopeless a thousand times looses it's umph.
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All I see is a story on how
July 25, 2007 - 13:46 ET by balboaAll I see is a story on how the Republican picture is a little more cloudy than the Democrat one. Where you take it from there is really a glass half empty / half full kind of thing.
balboa
July 25, 2007 - 14:59 ET by namronWhy no mention of Gore in this report. The polls I've seen Gore shakes Hillary's foundation. But no mention of this. By all accounts she finshed 4th in last debate. A debate she had less control over shaping her message. hardly a shoe in. I think if Gore jumps in, he sinks her ship, but no mention of this. ???
Oh, Balboa. You and your
July 25, 2007 - 18:18 ET by Chris NormanOh, Balboa. You and your disingenuous nitpicking. If ABC is allowed to interpret the strength of the field of candidates, then NewsBusters is allowed to interpret how ABC arrives at these interpretations and reports them.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Just trying to ensure
July 25, 2007 - 18:23 ET by balboaJust trying to ensure accuracy. If Brendan "feels" that was the slant of the article, then that's bad, right?
Come on, Balboa. Hair
July 25, 2007 - 18:25 ET by Chris NormanCome on, Balboa. Hair splitting like that is beneath you. You're smarter than this.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
What if some poor,
July 25, 2007 - 18:30 ET by balboaWhat if some poor, impressionable young Independent waltzes into this website and gets the wrong perception from this article's headline?! Then where are we as a society!? Anarchy!
You perform a service,
July 25, 2007 - 18:40 ET by Chris NormanYou perform a service here, Balboa. I'm not sure what it is exactly, or if it's worth minimum wage (I know it frequently makes me want to pound my head repeatedly on the edge of my desk), but it's some kind of a service...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Chris, I suspect the
July 25, 2007 - 18:45 ET by BlondeChris,
I suspect the "service" is a continuous reminder of liberal inanity.
Sheesh....like we need to have every liberal bit of nonsense explained to the nth degree. Once is enough for me.
Yes, well, that may all
July 25, 2007 - 18:51 ET by balboaYes, well, that may all be well and good, but someone's got to "watch the watchers," so to speak. Sometimes I see that one Dutch elm, the one on the left, instead of the whole forest.
And we then explain to you
July 25, 2007 - 18:56 ET byAnd we then explain to you that it's a apple tree, and that those red things hanging on it should have tipped you off.
Support our Troops
Balboa, but we aren't a
July 25, 2007 - 18:56 ET by Chris NormanBalboa, but we aren't a Dutch Elm forest. So, your whole self-described function is wrong. I borrowed your "Mr. Literal" method to arrive at this.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Well played.
July 25, 2007 - 18:58 ET by balboaWell played.
Merci. The dogs bark,
July 25, 2007 - 19:06 ET by Chris NormanMerci.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Chris, It used to drive
July 25, 2007 - 19:01 ET by BlondeChris,
It used to drive me nuts....now I just have to laugh.
Balboa would explain pepperoni on a pizza if he thought it would stick in a pin in our conservative viewpoint.
The defense of everything liberal here, as being "not what you think" has become a trademark.
Inanity in extremis.
Sometimes amusing, mostly not.
I have often, however,
July 25, 2007 - 19:05 ET by balboaI have often, however, decried Democratic statements, tactics, policies. I'm not "All Left, All the Time." I think I'm pretty fair most of the time.
Thank you Alan Colmes.
July 25, 2007 - 19:07 ET by BlondeThank you Alan Colmes. :)
ouch...
July 25, 2007 - 19:08 ET by LionKingIsn't that like the ultimate insult to liberal...or, even a conservative for that matter?
Kinda.
July 25, 2007 - 19:12 ET by BlondeKinda.
Good grief, you nailed it,
July 25, 2007 - 19:11 ET by Chris NormanGood grief, you nailed it, Blonde! Like Allan Colmes automatically taking the other side even when he doesn't have a little toe to stand on. I christen thee, "Ms. Perceptive".
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
That's cool,
July 25, 2007 - 19:14 ET by BlondeThat's cool, Chris.
Please, though, be careful with your typing. I'd hate to be known as Mis. Perception.
Ah, if NB only had a
July 25, 2007 - 19:17 ET by Chris NormanAh, if NB only had a built-in spell check... :)
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Blonde,Balboa can drive
July 25, 2007 - 19:08 ET by Chris NormanBlonde,
Balboa can drive me crazy. However, I admit I have a soft spot for him. He can be a disingenuous liberal, but I kind of feel like he's our disingenuous liberal - and woe to outsiders who may criticize him. Sorry to talk about you - in front of you - Balboa. I usually only do that in front of my grandpa...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Quite, Chris, (And it is
July 25, 2007 - 19:11 ET by BlondeQuite, Chris,
(And it is rude to comment in front of someone else, but we just can't help ourselves).
Balboa is ours, we've put up with him for this long, so let's keep him. "Please, please Mom & Dad...I promise I'll feed him!"
Bal...hope you realize this is in jest.
Who's gonna take him on the
July 25, 2007 - 19:20 ET by Chris NormanWho's gonna take him on the drive in the country this weekend? I took him last weekend... :)
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Oh I know. It's all part of
July 25, 2007 - 19:30 ET by balboaOh I know. It's all part of the fun. :-)
My take
July 26, 2007 - 11:44 ET by BinxlyI do have to say, I do sense some inheirent liberal leanings in Bal, but I think the majority of people here have much more than simply 'conservative leanings.' I like to think of myself as 'middle ground' too, simply because there is rarely one defined answer across the board on issues, and sadly, I have to say up to a point I agree with Bal.
However, when I read things like 'They don't have anyone to stand against Hilary...' or when they focus on the conservatives eating their own (Newt dismissing current GOP Presidential canidates) it shows that the network does indeed lean left. I mean, Fox does lean right as well, and also loves to point out when libs eat their own, but I tend to favor Fox since, currently, its in my mind that overall the neo-cons are much less threatening to the American Way than the hardcore left.
I mean, when you have people on the left who are 'exhaulted' by liberals for saying such things as 'All republicans should be jailed, the political affiliation made illegal, and a political party to the *left* of the current left should take it's place for the sake of keeping a two party system. That's scary. It's funny because the MSM portrays conservatives as the society to bring 1984 to reality, when really, if you look at it *objectively,* biases aside, its the liberals who want to 'tell you what to do, cause they know better.'
In closing I think this stuff is just sad. Our government is so busy worried about paying back favors (or vying for future ones) and their own aspirations that the government itself has forgotten it is a service industry. This is the equivelant of walking into your hotel room and instead of seeing the cleaning lady (or man) had done their job and cleaned up the room, you find them in the bed, smoking a cig, wearing your pants, and drinking your booze.
That's why I can't stand the government and I think personally we'd all be alot better off on our own if they just focused on defense, roads, and basic safety nets for *legal* civilians that fell on hard times *BUT* are still hard working to get out of the slump.
Keep counting your liberal chickens ABC
July 25, 2007 - 13:29 ET by Lame CherryOh please David Wright, please keep counting your win in 2008 against these inept Republicans. Please keep thinking Hillary walks on clouds and Obama walks on water.
Nothing is better than having Fred Thompson waiting while all the other candidates wear out the electorate, him polishing his political game plan and Democrats raking in millions being wasted now instead of when it matters in the fall of 2008.
Please David Wright count your hatched liberal chicken victories as you are about to find out the easy summer of 2007 is nothing compared to the cold hard fight which has yet to be begun in the early winter of 2008.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Well, it looks to me...
July 25, 2007 - 13:33 ET by c5thenIt looks to me that the Democratic Presidential Nomination is Hillary's to lose. I really don't see Obama or Edwards beating her unless she really screws up.
The Republican race is still close and right now it looks to be between Rudy and Mitt. If Fred Thompson or Newt Gingrich decide to jump in then the whole race changes and I think that Mitt drops way back and Rudy is in for a real fight.
Of course to ABC, I'm not surprised that they think that being the "front runner" is the most important issue. Remember "front runner" Dean and how he took the election by storm? Then we had "front runner" Gore back in 2000. Yep. Being a "front runner" seems to predict the actual election outcome.
NOT!
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic
I heard Newt G. the
July 25, 2007 - 13:54 ET by bobthemanI heard Newt G. the other day and was completely won over. If Newt decides to run and mainstream America hears his message, Hillary and Barack "The Sun is Shining on Me" Obama will not have a chance.
His quick wit, spot on analysis and historical experience will resonate with the voters. He would absolutely kill Hillary, or any of the Democratic contenders in a debate.
I would pay good money to see Newt debate Hillary... god, what a show that would be.
Wright has merit
July 25, 2007 - 14:00 ET by CalifMoeIn a way, David Wright is correct. The GOP doesn’t have anyone to match up like Hillary. There’s not one single GOP candidate who’s spouse is an impeached ex-president.
Hope Rules Eternal!
July 25, 2007 - 14:28 ET by PawpawNGuess must be the Conservative Religious thing in me, but HOPE RULES ETERNAL! I think the Repubs are just laying back. Holding onto monies now, will start doling it out once the dust settles and we'll rage a fierce campaign. Right now the right would love Shillary to be the candidate, no matter what Dick Morris says. I'm waiting to make a final determination as to whom I'd support on the Repub side, but a few in or near the race are looking pretty good and have Conservative credentials. But the biggest thing we must do is retake the House in 2008, and continue in the White House. Let the Dims duke it out for now. I'm telling you I spell a machine working now on the Dims and starting to refuel(heck we got all them oil profits) for the FINAL COUNTDOWN!
Now I get it
July 25, 2007 - 14:34 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarThe MSM/LSM/NPRSM just overloads the airwaves with "Dems good/Republicans bad" prior to a Presidential election.(A really extended version this time 'round)
Election day rolls around and exit polls report the Republican candidate is ahead. Early precincts report Republicans ahead. At the end of the day the Republican IS ahead and wins.
The MSM/LSM/NPRSM, Dems and every other nutjob out there scream foul, fixed election, hanging chads, threatened minorities, lost ballots, (enter your own paranoid dillusion here).
In the end it is quite clear that the MSM/LSM/NPRSM is out of touch with the American people and they scratch their heads wondering "How could this have happened???".
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
I think it is too late to
July 25, 2007 - 14:56 ET by buddycI think it is too late to complain. The picture is already etched in the public's minds. On the one hand you have this wonderful dynamic election with vibrant wonderful candidates and on the other you have the sour, mean, nasty, bunch of 3rd rate candidates whose own party members "are not happy with". The damage is done. IMHO the election is over. We will never be able to change that image. It makes me hate the media even worse than I currently do. BTW, did you see the Washington Post hit job on mean evil Rudy today?
Good thing yours is only 1 opinion!
July 25, 2007 - 15:12 ET by PawpawNWell, guess it's a good thing your opinion is only 1 of many different ones. Haven't heard too many on the other side talk that way!
Missing Label for Hillary Rodham
July 25, 2007 - 15:47 ET by TEWow. David Wright applied "liberal" and "conservative" labels to the Republican candidates when he mentioned their names, but when he mentioned "Hillary Clinton" (Doesn't she go by: "Rodham Clinton"?) Wright failed to identify her as a liberal. Is anyone surprised by Wright's failure to identify her politics?
Name changes for Hillary
July 25, 2007 - 15:56 ET by dagdaJust as Hillary wants to be called a progressive, she now wants to be called Hillary Clinton, rather than Hillary Rodham Clinton. And the press plays along and the band plays on.
Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow. Dwight Eisenhower
CNN.YouTube ratings were
July 25, 2007 - 15:58 ET by JDWCNN.YouTube ratings were hopeless. Will sen Clinton agree to expose her fat ass to FOX in order to attain the coverage she realizes it can provide her or will she continue to hide behind polls?
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
At this point, the GOP
July 25, 2007 - 16:50 ET by rbosqueAt this point, the GOP would be hopeless if they can't find ANY one who can beat that Borg Queen Hellary.
Again I say, bring her on!
July 25, 2007 - 19:17 ET by PawpawNAs posted earlier: "Guess must be the Conservative Religious thing in me, but HOPE RULES ETERNAL! I think the Repubs are just laying back. Holding onto monies now, will start doling it out once the dust settles and we'll rage a fierce campaign. Right now the right would love Shillary to be the candidate, no matter what Dick Morris says. I'm waiting to make a final determination as to whom I'd support on the Repub side, but a few in or near the race are looking pretty good and have Conservative credentials. But the biggest thing we must do is retake the House in 2008, and continue in the White House. Let the Dims duke it out for now. I'm telling you I spell a machine working now on the Dims and starting to refuel(heck we got all them oil profits) for the FINAL COUNTDOWN!"
The story is factually
July 25, 2007 - 21:19 ET by webdrThe story is factually inaccurate anyway. Fred Thompson is the GOP frontrunner, not Rudy.
All I Can Say is....
July 25, 2007 - 23:33 ET by Felicia LuceAll I can say is "Thank God for technology!" I don't get any of my candidate information from the television media. I use the Internet. I have been aware of the Liberal Media bias from the age of 10.
}}}----> Murdoch is slipping
July 25, 2007 - 23:43 ET by Cool ArrowA couple of times in this blog I've mentioned that:
FOX news is an extended cable channel.
FOX network doesn't do news
FOX news could feed the Shep Smith and Brit Hume shows through Fox Network and lend another view to the basic cable market.