NBC - one of the networks that has virtually ignored the Tax Day Tea Party protests against taxation and government spending - finally mentioned it on "Today" April 15.
The network's chief White House correspondent, Chuck Todd tacked his criticism on to the end of a glowing report about President Obama's economic speech from April 14. He cited "White House aides" who called Obama's speech "a modern-day fireside chat," but Todd said "it also had the feel of an economics class."
After such positive remarks about Obama, Todd dismissed the grassroots movement as "so-called tea parties."
Todd said, "Republicans, meanwhile, are struggling to make use of the day politically. There's been some grassroots conservatives who have organized so-called ‘tea parties' around the company-country hoping the historical reference will help galvanize Americans against the president's economic ideas."
He continued to write off the protests saying: "But I tell you, the idea hasn't really caught on. The RNC has jumped in. A few other radio hosts have jumped in but it hasn't galvanized the party the way they would hope."
"Today" host Matt Lauer didn't challenge Todd's appraisal of the tea party protests despite the fact that there are over 500 protests scheduled across the country today and people will be gathering in every Congressional district.
Todd also didn't provide any statement from Tea Party organizers or supporters.
—Julia A. Seymour is an assistant editor for the Business & Media Institute.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
In other "so called"
April 15, 2009 - 08:16 ET by SickofLibsIn other "so called" breaking news, April 16, 2009 has not yet arrived.
In The Nile
April 15, 2009 - 10:19 ET by In ExcessHe reminds me of Bagdad Bob.
Chuck doesn't realize that
April 15, 2009 - 11:31 ET by kgChuck doesn't realize that the vast majority of people that agree with the tea parties are WORKING hard and paying taxes. I would guess the rallies will pick up as the working folks get off WORK. These are not "paid protesters" the left always report on.
So Chuck, go catch some zzz's since you have been reporting your thoughts since 5am and come back out at 5pm.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
Journalism is dead
April 15, 2009 - 08:23 ET by expatriotJust proves that journalism as we knew it is now officially dead.
How can ANYONE call these
April 15, 2009 - 08:37 ET by Massage_Master07How can ANYONE call these people "journalists", including these self same so called "journalists"? I thought that the press was supposed to be a watchdog FOR the American people AGAINST a power hungry and power mad government? Instead, now it's the OTHER way around. NOW it's a watchdog FOR the same power mad and hungry government AGAINST the American people. Truly, truly these so called "journalists" are absolutely sad and pathetic. Is it any wonder that the press and network "news outlets" are a dying breed?
Send a tea bag e-mail
April 15, 2009 - 08:28 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsSend a virtual TEA bag if you haven't already.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
Spoken
April 15, 2009 - 08:36 ET by Tom in NCLike a true head-up-their-ass-liberal!
Jaws (1975)
Tom in NC...
April 15, 2009 - 08:57 ET by dborschjr68...and we are surprised by his head-up-his-ass ignorance?
Silly silly liberal puppets....I'm gonna give you such a pinch, you cheeky monkeys, you.
After seeing
April 15, 2009 - 10:03 ET by Tom in NCThis country elect an economically ignorant, a national security numb skull and a foreign policy f*ck up like obama, nothing surprises me anymore
Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state. Thomas Jefferson
3rd president of US (1743 - 1826)
BSNBC...
April 15, 2009 - 08:39 ET by danybhoyIf the Tea Parties have not caught on, what about Chuck Todd's network(s)? It's nott like MSNBC has "caught on".
"The Fairness Doctrine = Jim Crow laws for Conservatives". Jim Quinn from "Quinn & Rose"
there are many things that
April 15, 2009 - 08:56 ET by TruthMongerthere are many things that never catch on with our retarded left wing
danybhoy...
April 15, 2009 - 08:59 ET by dborschjr68If the Tea Parties have not caught on, what about Chuck Todd's network(s)? It's not like MSNBC has "caught on".
SLAM!!
I got yer teabag right here, Chuckie.
I posted this in the
April 15, 2009 - 09:26 ET by motherbeltI posted this in the Olbermann thread earlier....MSNBC sure is "catching on".....Riiiiight:
Live + Same Day Cable News Daily Ratings for April 13, 2009
P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 2,643,000 viewers
CNN—1,092,000 viewers
MSNBC –1,006,000 viewers
Just like they continue to tout Obama's far-left policies as "centrist" Chuck and his buds will continue to claim that the Tea Party movement is a "non-starter" as if that makes it so.
Whistling past the graveyard, Chuckie.....
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
the tea parties were going
April 15, 2009 - 08:45 ET by kangaroothe tea parties were going to be alot of frustrated americans, calmly voicing their distress about government spending, the government left funded ACORN are going to show up and in my opionion are going to start riot's and then we will get blamed for it, so if you are going to be filming this, keep your eye on the acorn guys at all times and document them causing the dissent, they won't be hard to spot, they will turn up on busses and travel in packs with bullhorns in hand, just sayin
Is it any wonder ?
April 15, 2009 - 08:54 ET by MozillaIs it any wonder NBC News and it's MSNBC cable channel don't do well in ratings? The people know that this movement is big. As Sean Hannity said yesterday he is covering them to highlight the protests because the Liberals and their networks have not payed one cent of attention to them except to bash them and they would rather look the other way. This thus proves the fact that they are liars and apologists for this administration. They are not fair and balanced and they wanted Bush to fail and Obama to succeed. So you have to realize they helped to make Bush approval low and are trying to make Obama's approval high. I say Obama is worse than Bush.
→ Hey Chucky!
April 15, 2009 - 08:50 ET by Cool ArrowLove to stay and read more, but I'm off to see the Alamo.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
CHUCKIE TODD
April 15, 2009 - 08:51 ET by SgthulkaJust doing the daily polish on his liberal street cred for his superiors at MSNBC.
But don't worry. Contessa Brewer promises that MesSNBC isn't liberal.
Nothing But Crap channel
April 15, 2009 - 08:55 ET by 10ksnookerSpewing more crap ...
Voice Your Thoughts on new Forum Topic...
April 15, 2009 - 09:01 ET by dborschjr68Go to Latest News, find Tea Parties subject, and let 'er rip, folks.
Fireside Chat?
April 15, 2009 - 09:08 ET by BlondeOMO, if I had a freakin' fireplace, I'd brick it up.
I am SOOOOO sick of The One blathering on, day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day after day. Dude, the election is over!
It's bad enough TOTUS lectures us, ad nauseum, but TOTUS is becoming a worse liar than Rahm. Yesterday's bit about ALL economists agree was just too bloody much.
And now I see Rahm's hand behind the "disinformation" about the Tea Parties. First of all, it's not just a tax protest, April 15th was merely a convenient date, at the time of Santelli's rant, for people to plan around. Secondly, the consistent meme that it's a republican movement...it's not, it's the sane people saying "enough"! Thirdly, that it is an "organized" effort of the RNC, and not a grassroots movement, when that is blatantly a lie. And finally, that it's not catching on.
I could easily write Rahm's talking points and deliver the daily lies to Stefffy, et al. The consistent derision we're seeing from the MsM smells to high heaven......LIKE FISH.
What we should be furious about was the effort to conflate "single issue conservatives" to terrorists. Well, I have multiple conservative issues, so what does that make me?
Okay, rant over.
I hope he fails, too.
I am SOOOOO sick of The One
April 15, 2009 - 09:32 ET by motherbeltI am SOOOOO sick of The One blathering on, day after
day after day after day after day after day after day after day after
day after day after day after day after day. Dude, the election is
over!
Damn Skippy, B!! That makes two (gazillion LOL) of us!
The man is worse than Bill Clinton! He never tires of parading himself and his preaching in front of us, even on hijacked prime-time TV!
And now that the election IS over, could the media please take a break from shoving PHOTOS LIKE THIS (which have nothing to do with any story!) in our faces!!!!
They might say "Wow, that sucks!" But at least they'll say "Wow!" -Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes
Pass the Duct Tape!
April 15, 2009 - 09:43 ET by BlondeDo you think "STFU BHO" at the Tea Party today would land me on Homeland Security's list?
I mean, of all my gripes....the DMOTUS (hey that's good!!! Diarreah Mouth of the U.S.) and his never closing mouth is quickly shooting to the top of my favorite hits chart.
I hope he fails, too.
J,
April 15, 2009 - 09:58 ET by R D HelmLOL-Hell, we are all probably already on their list anyway.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Bias, Bias and more Bias!
April 15, 2009 - 09:48 ET by bradbenj5952Todd, your report is "dripping with bias," which is why your audience will never climb above five people. If you would actually listen to the many organizers of these Tea Parties, then you would already know that they did not want this to be about the Republican Party or Politicians, but about America - a subject about which you know so very little.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31
NBC only respects paid demonstrators
April 15, 2009 - 09:57 ET by slickwillie2001"A few other radio hosts have jumped in but it hasn't galvanized the party the way they would hope."
A demonstration of ignorance. Tea Parties aren't about the Republican Party and are not about Republican leaders. Some whores like Gingrich are trying to attach themselves to the movement but they are nothing more than spectators.
Todd said "it also had the
April 15, 2009 - 10:06 ET by fitzfongTodd said "it also had the feel of an economics class."
...with the PE Coach at the chalk board "teaching" the class.
Besides, those anti-Shamnesty revolts didn't "catch on" either, did they? Oh, wait...
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." -Winston Churchill
What else are we to expect from this little UpChuck Toady?
April 15, 2009 - 10:03 ET by R D Helm"Todd said, '"[Republicans,] meanwhile, are struggling to make use of the day politically.'"
I don't much care what the repubs are struggling to do, as the tax protest is being carried out by us REAL Amurricans.
If the republicans want to join in, that's fine.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
Chucky....
April 15, 2009 - 10:05 ET by AgentAmerican1. Fingers in ears whenever someone mentions tea party.
2. Then proceed to repeat "La" as many times until other guy shuts up.
La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La..........
...and so on.
2010: A GOP Hill
Chucky Chucky Chucky!
April 15, 2009 - 14:52 ET by blazermaniacWho in the hell is Chuck Todd?
I posted a question on NBC's
April 15, 2009 - 10:19 ET by d1carterI posted a question on NBC's Daily Nightly asking if there would be any coverage of the Tea Parties? The mod's did not allow it to be posted. It is not what they report, it's what they don't report, that proves that "journalism" is dead.
Sound familiar?
April 15, 2009 - 10:28 ET by 1611LilacLadyThis reminds me of that Iraqi spokesman who denied the FACT that allied troops had invaded and had taken over the Iraqi airport.
Time for these Big Brother spokesmen to be tossed out as traitors!
Isaiah 5:20a Woe unto them who call evil good, and good evil. . . KJV
Bagdad Bob
April 15, 2009 - 11:37 ET by katainkentThere are not in anyplace! We push them - they run away!
chicken
April 15, 2009 - 11:45 ET by xyzzypoofsMS Media are scared. 10 minutes on twitter.com and you'll know that "Tea Parties" have definitely caught on: http://twitter.com/newsbusters and that conservatives have caught on that we can communicate with each other in a method that moveon.orgasmers never even dreamed of.