CBS News reporter Chip Reid, who was general counsel in 1987 for Joe Biden's short presidential run, on Thursday night, unlike his colleagues on ABC and NBC, highlighted how Republican Senator Chuck Hagel denigrated the qualifications of Biden's VP competitor, Sarah Palin. Reid concluded his CBS Evening News story by noting how “Senator Chuck Hagel, a Republican, says it's a 'stretch' to say 'Sarah Palin is qualified to be President,'” and, with matching text on screen, Reid read how Hagel told the Omaha World-Herald: “You get a passport for the first time in your life last year?”
Reid did at least acknowledge that “Hagel has split with his party on a number of issues” (and, though Reid didn't get specific, traveled with Obama to the Middle East in August), but Reid saw Hagel as emblematic of wider concern, asserting “he's one of a number of prominent Republicans who have questioned whether Palin has enough experience in foreign policy.”
Reid jumped to CBS News last year after about eleven years with MSNBC and NBC. A “Revolving Door” item in the MRC's MediaWatch newsletter of October 1996, which I was reminded of recently by the MRC's Tim Graham, reported on some hires for the then-new MSNBC cable channel:
Chip Reid, hired to cover the White House and Capitol Hill, was general counsel in 1987 for Democrat Joe Biden's unsuccessful presidential run. For the previous four years Reid had been chief investigator for the Senate Judiciary Committee's Democratic Senators [Biden amongst them]. After Biden, Reid accepted a producer slot with ABC News and was a reporter for Washington, D.C.'s ABC affiliate, WJLA, when tapped by MSNBC.
The CBSNews.com bio of Reid skips over his direct Biden connection:
Chip practiced law, first as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee (1982-86) and then as a litigation and lobbying specialist at a major Washington, D.C. law firm (1986-88).
Reid's conclusion to his Thursday night story:
Meanwhile, Senator Chuck Hagel, a Republican, says it's a “stretch” to say “Sarah Palin is qualified to be President,” asking, quote: “You get a passport for the first time in your life last year?” Hagel has split with his party on a number of issues. Still, he's one of a number of prominent Republicans who have questioned whether Palin has enough experience in foreign policy. Chip Reid, CBS News, Green Bay, Wisconsin.
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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Comments Policy
Reid Was A Democrat?
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 20:45 ET by Intellectual HonestyReally not surprising that Reid worked for a Dem. He should disclose this. And Hagel is just needing some love again.
I H
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 21:07 ET bywhat do you mean "WAS"?
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -Chief Justice John Roberts
........highlighted how
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 21:12 ET by MidAmerica........highlighted how Republican Senator Chuck Hagel denigrated the qualifications of Biden's VP competitor, Sarah Palin.
David Gergen, you better watch out. There's another republocrat working your territory.
.... a David Gergen Republican
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 10:04 ET by allanfYes Hagel is a David Gergen Republican. I understand Hagel is well set financially. But Gergen needs to be wary. Hagel's thirst for attention may make him the go to guy when the Old Media needs to pull out a "Republican" to bash Republicans.
Reporters and full disclosure
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 21:19 ET by zachlindWhen you see information like this about a reporter it makes you wonder just how many other media people are directly related to the person they’re interviewing? I’m sure you can’t tell us but how you find out this information but I sure am curious.:)
For something to be funny there must be some truth
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 22:00 ET by Iowa BoyI used to work with a broadcaster who is now an aide to Sen. Ben Nelson (D). Once, when he and the Senator were at the radio station where had worked together, I asked him how he liked working for the conservative Senator from Nebraska. We both laughed heartily. Senator Hagel is not a conservative. If anything, he is an oportunist. If he has to say anything to get some facetime with the MSM, he'll say it. Even if it means saying something against the nominee of his party and his running mate.
"Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain." Official Motto of the State of Iowa
State motto
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 23:05 ET by easygoerI went to school at Grinnell College and I have always thought Iowa had the greatest of state mottos. As for Hagel, you've got him pegged, he is a disgraceful opportunist.
Survivor
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 10:21 ET by nkviking75Don't let Grinnell College hear that you emerged from the college as a conservative. They'll revoke your degree.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Gee Chuck Hagel is a pasty of Nation Rapist Warren Buffett
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 22:38 ET by Lame CherryWow how amazing that Warren Buffett made over 30 billion this year off of the housing collapse he and his cronies helped engineer to get at government funds, is now hammering the stock market for Obama and making more money as the Treasury pours in funds and fellow comrade from Nebraska Hagel is taking shots at American Sarah Palin.
This nation needs a Teddy Roosevelt answer in busting these traders and speculators who have a monopoly and are not only raping the poor of this nation but now manipulating elections by attacking the stock market.
Indict these soundrels, seize their ill gotten funds in economic warfare and distribute them into real families.
Buffett's stolen money would make $500,000 checks out to almost every family in the United States.
Put the money back into the people's hands and throw Obama, Buffett, Soros and company into prison where these criminals againsts humanity belong.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
I've met Hagel and he does
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 23:12 ET by Gat New YorkI've met Hagel and he does not seem to be operating on all cylinders.
And this of course was balanced by a report
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 22:59 ET by ExZonieof Bill Clinton saying nice things about both McCain and Palin, right? Right??
Didn't think so...
MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 23:47 ET by Rush FanMSNBC's Norah O'Donnell interviewed Sen. Lindsey Graham today and also brought up RINO Hagel's statement regarding Gov. Palin. Sen. Graham deftly handled the question by stating that Hagel also was wrong about the Surge.
No matter what station I turn to, with the exception of FoxNews, the hosts are constantly searching for anything negative to publicize regarding Gov. Palin.
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The liberal media continues to sacrifice ethics and morals for the greater cause: The Election of Barack Hussein Obama to the Presidency of the United States.
Hagel won't get re-elected
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 00:54 ET by Amber23Hi Mr. Hagel.
Did you forget where you live? Let me remind you.. it's Nebraska. Did you forget that Nebraska, along with Wyoming are the most Republican states in the country?
Chuckie doesn't care.
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 06:48 ET by Red JeepSenator Hagel is not seeking re-election to the Senate when his current term expires. So he can say any idiotic thing he wants.
So, Chuck Hagel says Palin
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 07:10 ET by Pete WilsonSo, Chuck Hagel says Palin does not have enough foreign policy experience to be VP.
Does he also say that Obama has enough foreign policy experience to be President?
Unless a politician is a member of Congress on the appropriate committee, or is a former State Department Official, who has "appropriate" foreign policy experience to be VP or President? Did Reagan? No. Did Clinton? No. GHW Bush did. But, he is the only one in recent history.
Since Hagel is not running for re-election, as I understand it, he is free to spout nonsense to his hearts desire, but to the detriment of those who elected him.
Please Senator Hagel, please!
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 12:04 ET by okiehawk44If I were McCain or Sarah, I'd pay Chuck Hagel to say negative things about me.
The senator has always reminded me of Sad Sack -- the monotone voice; the hang dog look -- and he just doesn't seem to enjoy life.
People do not have a positive impression of this person and his opinion of others is tainted by this.
A big problem with the MSM
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 13:27 ET by greenfairieIt's full of Democratic activists, party hacks, ex-campaign workers, former aides, and communications/PR flacks. For every Roger Ailes, there's an army of Chris Matthewses and George Stephanopoloses.