Even by MSM standards, Harry Smith's "interview" of Barack Obama was a disgrace.  How soft were Smith's lobs?  Had this been a slow-pitch league, Harry might still have been booted for insufficient MPH. CBS aired Smith's chat with the Dem candidate, conducted yesterday, on this morning's Early Show.  After a clip of McCain saying he questioned Obama's judgment, not his patriotism, Smith teed it up for his guest.

HARRY SMITH: Many of the attacks that have come from John McCain's campaign have been, quite frankly, condescending.  Were you surprised by that?  Does it anger you?

Tough stuff! Smith didn't explain what is condescending about a candidate questioning his opponent's judgment, and gave no other example of the alleged phenomenon.  Answering the "question," Obama allowed that it's "a little disappointing."

View video here.

The schmooze-in segued into the flap over the number of properties the McCains own . . .

As CBS aired [for the second time in the half-hour] the TV commercial the Obama campaign had dashed together about it.  The Early Show anchor then tossed the ultimate softball: "What point are you trying to make?" Smith of course had the good-breeding not to raise the Rezko matter with his guest.

And they say Harry isn't a hard-hitting reporter!

Note also how Smith framed things in the set-up piece preceding the interview.  After airing the Obama ad, he continued.

SMITH: The McCain camp took off its gloves and came out swinging, suggesting Obama purchased his home in a deal with a shady Chicago real estate developer.

So Obama hits first, but Smith portrays McCain as the aggressor.  And instead of reporting the facts of the Rezko deal, Smith casts matters as a nasty suggestion by McCain.  Hey Harry: Rezko isn't simply "shady." As of June, he's a convicted felon.

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.