With four hours of air time to fill NBC's "Today" show devoted a whopping 11 segments to the Eliot Spitzer scandal but not once did any of the show's anchors, reporters, guests, talking heads or even on-screen graphics mention the fact that Spitzer was a Democrat.
"Today" co-anchor Meredith Vieira set the tone when she ignored Spitzer's party affiliation as she opened the March 11, "Today" show: "Good morning, client number nine. New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, a hard-charging moral crusader caught in a federal sting involving a high-price call girl ring." NBC's Matt Lauer, also bypassing the "D" next to Spitzer's name, piped in: "Just when you thought you couldn't be shocked any more we go from Eliot Ness to Eliot Mess. Another high profile politician making a stunning admission."
The following is a breakdown of all the Spitzer-related segments:
[7:00am]
*Natalie Morales report complete with timeline of Spitzer's alleged involvement with prostitute.
*Matt Lauer interview with "New York Post's" state editor Fred Dicker.
* Meredith Vieira interview with NBC's legal correspondent Dan Abrams about the legal details of the case.
[7:30am]
*Janet Shamlian report on Spitzer and other past political sex scandals that makes mention of Bill Clinton, Gary Hart, James McGreevey,and David Vitter with video but no audible mention of Kwame Kilpatrick and Larry Craig.
*Lauer interview with Dina Matos, the ex-wife of former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey on how she dealt with his sex scandal. No mention that Spitzer was a Democrat or for that matter that McGreevey was also a Dem.
[8:00am]
*Another Morales report rehashing Spitzer story details. Still no Democratic Party label applied.
*Vieira interview with psychologist Jeffrey Gardere, anthropologist Helen Fisher and Dr. Laura Schlessinger about Spitzer and why men cheat.
[9:00am]
*Ann Curry introduces yet another Morales story on Spitzer.
*Curry introduces replay of earlier Shamlian report.
*Curry and Al Roker interview Gardere, Fisher and Matos on Spitzer and the overall impact of infidelity in any marriage.
[10:00am]
*Curry and Hoda Kotbe talk more about Spitzer and why men cheat with Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Still no mention of Spitzer's political party.
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
Perhaps they just assumed
March 11, 2008 - 16:57 ET by lotrPerhaps they just assumed that viewers would already know that prostitution (literal and politically figurative) automatically goes with being Democrat?
no "D" or "R" now means "D"
March 11, 2008 - 17:22 ET by vrwc13...I think that we can now all safely assume that whenever there is no "D" or "R" that the person is a Democrat.
v
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will (h/t Hero Squad)
Figures. 'Course it ain't
March 11, 2008 - 17:09 ET by rbosqueFigures. 'Course it ain't over. Who's client "10"? If Republicans are caught doing this, will the MSM reveal their party afiliation? That's the question.
Heres client #10. Or
March 11, 2008 - 17:18 ET by bassndudeHeres client #10. Or perhaps this is the $1000 hooker. You decide.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
I just sent this pleasant email to NBC
March 11, 2008 - 17:14 ET by kg"Hi, I found out that Spitzer is a Democrat. You guys never mentioned that. I thought
you and your viewers might like to know."
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
They should follow FoxNews...
March 11, 2008 - 17:25 ET by Syrius...and label him the opposite of his party affiliation. So, he should be seen as an (R) instead of a (D).
The absence of either means nothing.
Syrius
"...the dire consequences to society when people begin to believe that by
renaming someone to erase their humanity opens the door to the
devaluation of everyone's life..."-dscott
The absence of either means nothing. - Syrius
March 11, 2008 - 17:28 ET by vrwc13...no it means you are not keeping track...
v
"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will (h/t Hero Squad)
You're going to tell me...
March 11, 2008 - 17:47 ET by Syriusvrwc,
Fox News has never, I repeat, never switched a party affiliation on a political leader?
Syrius
"...the dire consequences to society when people begin to believe that by
renaming someone to erase their humanity opens the door to the
devaluation of everyone's life..."-dscott
Don't know, don't watch TV...but
March 11, 2008 - 17:59 ET by vrwc13...addressing the presence or absence of "D" or "R", I read numerous news reports every day and 9 times out of 10 if it's Republican bad news, the "R" is prominant.
If it's "D" bad news, you have to search for it, "D", and it's 9 times out of 10 missing or far down in the article.
v
"R" = Republican, = democrat
Allow me to show you the way...
March 11, 2008 - 18:09 ET by Syriusvrwc,
http://www.crooksand...
Now, your going to say, "Well, it's true...duh!"
Syrius
"...the dire consequences to society when people begin to believe that by
renaming someone to erase their humanity opens the door to the
devaluation of everyone's life..."-dscott
Syrius, this incidence may
March 11, 2008 - 18:16 ET by lotrSyrius, this incidence may qualify as as typo, which is altogether different from systematic bias.
LOL...
March 11, 2008 - 18:19 ET by SyriusSo, it never happens- just once as a typo??
Syrius
"...the dire consequences to society when people begin to believe that by
renaming someone to erase their humanity opens the door to the
devaluation of everyone's life..."-dscott
Yeah, a typo. Like when the
March 11, 2008 - 19:31 ET by Chris NormanYeah, a typo. Like when the media accidentally bash Republicans and cover for the Democrats over and over and over and over again...
The only reason for cheating
March 11, 2008 - 17:25 ET by ForeverOnTheRightThe only reason for cheating is moral failure, because of lack of moral character. Their is no other reason. It's not intrinsically a male thing, as Vieira, Jeffrey Gardere, Helen Fisher and Dr. Laura Schlessinger may have, and I am guessing most likely implied. I am I right?
What's next, blurring the
March 11, 2008 - 17:31 ET by Chris NormanWhat's next, blurring the faces of any famous Democrats seen with Spitzer in video and pictures?
I usually ignore it,
March 11, 2008 - 20:10 ET by fitzfongI usually ignore it, too...Eliott Spitzer (D)ouchebag, New York.