It might not do John McCain any good politically. But once in a while, it's refreshing to hear an MSMer called out on political bias.
It happened this morning when John McCain told Mika Brzezinski "I know you're a supporter of Senator Obama." Mika resorted to her favorite defense to the bias charge, mentioning that she has a brother who works on the McCain campaign and asking the Arizona senator to "say hello" to him for her. Just for good measure, McCain called Mika's tactic "a cheap shot."
It was Mika's question about campaign ads that touched things off . . .
View video here.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Senator, I want to ask you about campaign ads. Do you think the Obama ad, using your words about the fundamentals of the economy. Do you think that ad was fair?
JOHN MCCAIN: Ah, I don't--it's not up to me, Mika, to make those kinds of judgments. I'll leave it up to the American people. I still say to you, and I know you're a supporter of Senator Obama, if you would urge him to come and do townhall meetings with me, as I've asked him to do time after time, the whole tenor of the campaign would change.
Mika didn't quite deny the charge.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Supporter of Senator Obama?JOE SCARBOROUGH: He's been listening to me too much.
BRZEZINSKI: I'm not sure I'd characterize myself as that—but that's OK!
Saying goodbye to McCain, Mika, as mentioned, dragged out her old favorite: the "my-brother-works-for-McCain" defense.
SCARBOROUGH: Senator John McCain, thank you so much for being with us --BRZEZINSKI [seen in the screencap issuing her instructions to McCain]: And senator, as a characterized Barack Obama supporter, which I take objection to, I'll just say take care of my brother working on your campaign. Say hi to Ian for me! Take care.
MCCAIN: Thank you, Mika. Thanks: that was a cheap shot.
Can you feel the love? We'll see if it's smart politics to pick a fight with someone with three daily hours of air time. But it certainly was a bracing bit of straight talk.
PS: Don't anyone ever accuse me of conservative bias. Both my beloved sisters are Massachusetts liberals.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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I saw it
September 16, 2008 - 09:25 ET by Susan II saw it this morning, and I LOVE IT!!! Good job McCain! It's not the first time she has been called out on it, and I'm sure she wont' be the last!
She wasn't nice to him either. A person can tell when they are being slobbered over or not, and she DEFINATELY was not slobbering over McCain.
Newsbusters.... thanks for putting this on your site!
Stay Above it All
September 16, 2008 - 09:26 ET by oilcanYes, Mika has clearly demonstrated her liberal bent when Joe was on his extended maternity leave by hosting a liberal laden guest list on Morning Joe. But, I do think McCain should refrain from calling out the political leanings of any interviewer, no matter how obnoxious they may be. It would serve him well to appear above the fray, not aloof, but humble. If I recall, his campaign manager called out Mika a couple months ago and Joe and crew circled wagons around Mika. As Joe's last comments today indicate his recent "advice" to the Obama campaign. Keep hitting McCain and eventually his temper will flare, as it did today, in Joe's eyes/
I agree. McCain should have
September 16, 2008 - 20:13 ET by FairlightI agree. McCain should have saved it for someone like Katie. Mika has changed a lot and I don't think she deserved this today. She is a mild liberal compared to many others leading the news.
Sorry Mika. John thought you were the old, mean Mika. Not the new & improved Mika.
"She is a mild
September 16, 2008 - 22:03 ET by zf"She is a mild liberal..."
That doesn't say much with the way the dems are going, in two years Micheal Moore will be a mild liberal.
Good point.
September 16, 2008 - 22:25 ET by FairlightGood point.
looks like
September 16, 2008 - 09:29 ET by docbthat temper is bubbling under the surface...We can expect a volcano soon...This latest erruption is an indication that he need not be close to the button or the red phone...His latest ads go to honor, he no longer has any in my opinion....the man is certainly not the one I would have voted for over Gore in 2000..
Democratic Honor and Courage (HAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
September 16, 2008 - 10:05 ET by ahusserIs like that old joke about Italian war heroes, basically a book of blank pages. Personally I like to see a little temper and gumption in politicians. Instead of the sly finger giving, snide asides the left is heir to. It is good to call these assholes out once in a while and listen to their lame excuses while their heads explode. Many on these blogs always lament on the fact that the Republican Pols never show a set or stand up for themselves and basically fight back. Glad to see it hope to see more. I know they will spin it like he is a drooling mad dog fascist pitbull and yes that may hurt him. But then again Republicans, at their peril, should never forget that they are in an adversarial relationship with the press not the cuddly and cozy one the Dems have.
PS even though many on the conservative side dislike McCain because of his literal ignorance of conservative ideals still has more honor and shown more courage in his life, then and now, than any democratic politician I know of ever.
Mika....is that you?
September 16, 2008 - 11:37 ET by BlondeNow I know why docb's ranting sounded so familiar.....Bubbles is back.
No one cares about your vote, honey. We all know wittle baby Brezinski is in the tank for Obama. No matter how hard you protest.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Is Mr. Obama preferable?
September 16, 2008 - 13:14 ET by Mary Louise TurnerOK, if you don't want the hotheaded Mr. McCain near "the button", would you rather have the inept Mr. Obama, who is "Jimmy Carter with big ears (due to his goofy grin)" on the button? The man is a walking, talking disaster area!
Mr. Obama preferable?
September 16, 2008 - 16:03 ET by bluedottxI'm not sure his ears are an issue. But would you hire a guy that graduated at the bottom of his class, and only got into the school because of his father's credentials? Would you hire him over an honor's graduate from Harvard? Would you hire a person that you knew had a very shakey health history - if you knew your company would be deeply effected if anything happened to him? Maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't but it worth thinking about.
Fox does a really good job of breeding left hatred - that's their gig and they make good money at it. God Bless capitalism, that is how it works. But once in a while you might try reading something different and try to hold your objectivity in the middle - see how things look there.
Ultimately, any entity that peddles hate-mongering of ANY fellow American betrays our entire. They should be rejected, and if you're too hooked to reject them completely - balance them out with some other sources of information that aren't hard core right OR hard core left.
Hate liberals - guess what you hate your fellow-Americans. Hate conservatives, same applies. In the end extremism and hatred that divides us pulls us backwards and solves NOTHING.
Just my two cents.
Harvard Schmarvard
September 16, 2008 - 16:51 ET by Secret ConservativeIf Barack Obama's class standing at Harvard is your #1 reason for voting for him, you really don't get what's important in this country. I am so sick of slick, Ivy League-educated politicians thinking they are so much smarter than the rest of the rabble in this country, and thinking that THEY should be put in charge of running our lives! It's likely that John McCain was at the bottom of his class at the Academy because he's a rebel who has issues with idiots with power. Guess what? A lot of the great leaders in this country - political and military (and business) are people who share that rebel profile. John McCain WASN'T busy smoking dope and snorting cocaine while at the Academy, unlike SOME Harvard-educated candidates I could mention... John McCain will call out the idiots with power around the world - and there are a bunch of them who are very dangerous to the future of this country. The Obamessiah will merely sit down with them and have a dialogue, without preconditions, to see what we could do to appease them and make them happy so they won't be mad at us anymore. McCain will kick their butts!
Yeah, Nance
September 16, 2008 - 17:51 ET by DoktorFranken"G-D America" and all those America haters! Ayers, Barack, Michelle, Soros, Hollywood actors, most all of the U.S. media, most all of our educational system, authors, etc.
We do not hate the Left so much as we are afraid of them destroying America - making it into another Great Socialist or Communist Success story. Not unlike Cuba, Venezuela, USSR, China . . .
I can only hope that anyone who thinks George W. Bush has done such a terrible job (and with the Dems and the media pounding away with their - mostly - lies, who could tell the difference?) will be in the next 'Twin Towers' after 0bama is elected. Good luck kissing your butts goodbye while 0bama is trying to set up a little bull session with the IslamoFacists that want to kill you.
You see, Nance, W has been saving your 'brave' butt whether you like it or not. He has brought this country back from financial ruin after the most devastating attack on U.S. soil in years. He has never worried about what the polls say about him - he has worked for the safety and well being of Americans regardless. He has not attacked his, seemingly constant, attackers because he's too busy running the country (adults tend to do that) instead playing the little whiny, baby political games people like Pelosi, Reid, Clinton, etc. (I can't list them all but you get the idea) tend to play. You want those ineffectual numbnuts running the country? How's their approval rating today? 2 digits yet?
Nance, you seem semi-intelligent and I think you may be worth saving. Hint: Cheney, Rove, and W aren't really the 'Evil Empire'. That's just what everyone has been programmed to think. Try thinking smarter.
"He no longer has any
September 16, 2008 - 13:15 ET by MassConserv"He no longer has any [honor] in my opinion."
docb, you incorrectly presume that we ever believed anything to the contrary. As such, your opinion has little bearing.
Honor?
September 16, 2008 - 13:45 ET by DoktorFrankenLike the honorable friends and business associates of Barack Hussein 0bama? Like all of the honorable dealings, 'historical' claims, and friends of Hillary Rodham Clinton? Like the honor of Al Gore's using outright lies to cause economic calamity and unreasoned fear in both adults and young children throughout the world?
I could go on but I would bore the people who actually know and understand all of these things. Needless to say, honor would not be one of my talking points if I were a Leftist.
I saw this exchange and
September 16, 2008 - 09:29 ET by marpelI saw this exchange and almost messed up my application of eye makeup. Yeah, it may not do McCain any good, but God bless him for telling it like it is. He was in a provoking mood, you could tell. Nothing wrong with that. I was a little more disturbed at Joe Scarborough's reaction to the exchange. He back peddled and said he is always just joking around when he calls Mika an Obama supporter. There were times he was not joking. I have been surprised that Mika has been defending Palin though.
So, be that as it may, I'm very glad McCain did it, and he needs to start doing that on all the networks who are so clearly in the Obama tank.
I flipped around
September 16, 2008 - 09:31 ET by kellyEon all the channels (FNC, CNN, MSNBC) while McCain did his circuit and it was fascinating how different each handled the Senator. I loved that McCain called Mika out. Sometimes I feel like the republicans let the dems beat up on them in these talk show type formats (see "The View" yikes). As an avid Fox watcher, I've realized the reason is not because all I hear are conservative views there, but because my views are RESPECTED there. When I watch CNN or MSNBC the conservative view is expressed with disdain and disbelief - like anyone believing that is stupid! I'm so tired of that, and I think a lot of people are. Thank goodness for sites like Newsbusters because I think I would go mad screaming at the TV without the outlets on the internet!! Go McPalin
Brother on McCain Campaign
September 16, 2008 - 09:41 ET by TuariI'm sure that Mika's brother is quite embarrassed of her as well.
Did anyone catch?
September 16, 2008 - 12:47 ET by dronetekDid anyone hear Mika call her brother a "redneck Mccain supporter"?
After this exchange it was hard to deal with Joe and Mika desperately trying to convince the audience that shes not in the tank for Obama.
Yeah Joe, we're all idiots.
Actually dronetek
September 16, 2008 - 12:55 ET by BlondeShe called her brother a "redneck Republican"....(paraphrasing here)....beer drinking, truck driving, etc.
She's back to being Mika the Twit in my book.
Something fishy is going on at that show. I used to believe that Joe really didn't care for Mika at all. Now he seems to be very sweet to her and her stupidly uttered comments. I suspect he may have had his job threatened, or somesuch. In fact, I've kind of quit watching it. A reigned-in Joe isn't worth watching, and it goes without saying Mika doesn't even deserve a chair at the table. Willy's cool, but too much of a lightweight by himself.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
McCain should do this in all Obamabot interviews
September 16, 2008 - 09:49 ET by SickofLibsShe takes objection to that? The Messiah is NOT going to be pleased with you, Ms. B. Now you have denied him three times.
Ah, Mika - so like the annoying, constantly chattering mockingbird (the bird I have grown to despise).
Is it possible that she is truly so profoundly stupid that she has really convinced herself that she is not one of the leading Obamabots?
McCain should do this in every Obamabot interview.
Onec again, Mika does not get to characterize...
September 16, 2008 - 09:56 ET by ThalpyOnce again, Mika does not get to characterize who and what she represents to the viewing audience. Others will do that for her, and with far greater objectivity.
Huh?
September 16, 2008 - 10:00 ET by DingbatRe "We'll see if it's smart politics to pick a fight with someone with three daily hours of air time."
Oh, you think that if Mc is nice to them then they will be nice to him? Give me a break. He gets bashed regardless.
Someone want to explain
September 16, 2008 - 10:05 ET by kit9Someone want to explain Mika's logic? She always says this when accused of bias. How in the world does what her brother thinks counter her own bias? It's such idiotic thinking that I don't know how she keeps spitting it out. You would think someone would have pointed out how ridiculously moronic it is after all this time. Guess her coworkers hate her.
It's a variation of the old
September 16, 2008 - 10:16 ET by motherbeltIt's a variation of the old "Some of my best friends are black."
I wish someone would say to Mika, "so if your brother works for McCain, that means you support McCain?"
If that doesn't prove that she's a McCain supporter, why does she tout it as if it does prove that she's not an Obama supporter?
Good example, MB. Mika
September 16, 2008 - 11:46 ET by maggieqpublicGood example, MB. Mika needs a refresher course in basic logic.
logic
September 16, 2008 - 16:32 ET by MazziMOST libs need a refresher course in basic logic. Assuming that they ever had one to begin with.
"When a government robs Peter to pay Paul, they can always count on the support of Paul." ~ George Bernard Shaw~
Motherbelt, we can't forget
September 16, 2008 - 14:46 ET by marpelMotherbelt, we can't forget that Mika's Dad is Obama's Foreign Affairs advisor...I think Dad's wishes will take precedence over her bro's political persuasions.
facing Mika
September 16, 2008 - 10:24 ET by AgnosticJust another reason Senator McCain really should be thanking Gov Palin. All the big guns are after the VP nominee and McCain is left to deal with the likes of Mika.
The dirty little secret
September 16, 2008 - 10:37 ET by celatorThe dirty little secret here is that Mika says exactly what her daddy, one of Obama's "advisors" tells her to say. No more and no less.
The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?
MSNBC
September 16, 2008 - 10:56 ET by WesternIt is a frustration watching MSNBC. I tend to be open-minded with regards to political bias. But, that channel has gone completely negative towards Conservatives.
Outside of Joe and Pat Buchanan, that channel offers no dissenting voices on their talk shows.
Mike Murphy is a liberal republican--he does not speak for the major of Republicans.
Also, I notice that Chuck Todd is not objective at all. He constantly puts talking points out there for Obama regarding the electoral college race. He wants Obama to win.
NB didn't put her last
September 16, 2008 - 11:03 ET by charlietexasNB didn't put her last comment about her brother being a "redneck". I guess thats ok for McCain. I love rednecks, the elite crowd is boring..............
mom
Mika
September 16, 2008 - 11:14 ET by DanoAll she has to do is open her mouth............
I wonder how much her father pays MSNBC for her to sit in that chair?
Mark... Regarding your
September 16, 2008 - 11:22 ET by Tim the EnchanterMark... Regarding your sisters- you have my deepest sympathy.
Me thinks she doest protest
September 16, 2008 - 11:58 ET by UtherpendMe thinks she doest protest too much....
Seriously, she gets way too upset at the mention of the fact that she supports Obama and would vote for him now even if he was eating babies on the air.
Racist Comments...?
September 16, 2008 - 12:02 ET by PastorBlastorIf you listen to her ramblings as she is desperately trying to text-message her brother on her Blackberry at the end of the video segment you hear her say that her brother is "kind of a red-neck Republican, meat-drinking, truck-driving," one. I am not sure what a "meat-drinkning" Republican is, perhaps she meant "beer-drinking, meat-eating"? Her nervious laugh is one that people use when they have been caught.
Finally McCain calls it as
September 16, 2008 - 13:05 ET by mjgFinally McCain calls it as he sees it. MSNBC is very biased especially towards Obama. Thanks Mark.
I have heard the complaint
September 16, 2008 - 13:34 ET by ForeverOnTheRightI have heard the complaint that Bush does not stick up for himself and that's the reason for is low approval rating. I can see the logic in that. Bush is too much the Sothern gentleman. Now McCain on the other hand will not put up with this political bias in the press. Good for him. I just hope that McCain will be careful in confronting the MSM on their bias, it could backfire on him. Then again the public is wising up to the bias in the media and McCain could use it to his advantage.
Mika Brzezinski
September 16, 2008 - 15:53 ET by bluedottxI haven't watched much of Mika, she just strikes me as another empty headed type (for looks only). Anywhoo - I know her papa, Zbignew (spelling) has openly supported Obama. I heard his endorsement on MSNBC Right, wrong or indifferent - that is a fact.
McCain's temperament.
September 16, 2008 - 15:56 ET by bluedottxMcCain's temperament appears to an issue here. He isn't the same happy warrior we saw 8 years ago. Who could blame him really? No doubt the media can be maddening, but come on, do we really want to put a guy in office that can get riled up by Mika the hair helmet?
I'll pass on that. We need someone a bit calmer with their finger on the button.
Mika -Get Real Girlfriend
September 16, 2008 - 16:42 ET by Lisa JReally Mika. You've got to be kidding. In case you really don't know it, your bias is not only evident, it screams from the rooftops. (not unlike the rest of MSNBC)
Your brother being Republican doesn't change that fact either.
Maybe you should stop snorting, sighing and rolling your eyes when Republicans talk. Maybe then you can start pretending to be a professional politcal journalist and not a liberal cheerleader.
Just sayin.
Wasn't that segment priceless?
September 16, 2008 - 18:17 ET by PicnicIt made my morning- especially when Mika, Joe and whoever else was there repeatedly charged McCain with "attacking" Mika. Poor baby, poor misunderstood baby. They never saw that one coming.
McCain , Finally knows the enemy is the MSM, good job!!
September 16, 2008 - 17:10 ET by upcountrywaterCalling out these wezzels is the only thing to do now.
Only 50 dazes left.
That stupid look on mika's face : PRICELESS!!!
CLIMATE CRISIS
IranianUranium
I don't watch that show
September 16, 2008 - 21:23 ET by Mearlineand i read y'all's comments first before watching the video. I didn't detect any peevishness on McCain's part even when he said that he knew she was a supporter. I definitely detected serious annoyance on her part...and i wonder why that annoyance was so intense. As a woman...i suspect that Mika is not a very nice person period. And it was a cheap shot on her part. She didn't hurt mccain and it sure gave the viewer a peek into what makes mika tick.
I don't watch that show either..
September 17, 2008 - 00:35 ET by Amber23Not only does it show what makes Mika tick, it also shows that MSNBC is imploding, as the Obama campaign will do.
MSNBC Have always been this way.
September 17, 2008 - 02:02 ET by nobamajonLook what happened to Dan Abrams. Replaced by Rachel Maddog. Or whatever her name is. Her politics and comentary makes me wanna hurl dude. Im sure the public ( u and I) paid for her education. Ubbermann made a Complete ass out of himself the other night. Accusing John Mccain of being able to get Osama Bin Laden but for stalling because of the election. I thought he was doing a skit,joking around, but thr freak was dead serious, I say dead because his carrier is over this time as with every other place he has worked. He in emploding, as Rachel just licks her chops and her girlfriends ----. oops couldn't resist. Matthews is through also. So Mika ur next.
Liberal Logic?
September 17, 2008 - 15:30 ET by mibrilaneMy brother works for the McCain campaign = I'm not an Obama supporter?
How does that work, exactly?
OCTOBER SURPRISE !
October 9, 2008 - 15:04 ET by Mgarnett25MY FELLOW AMERICANS! WE HAVE THE SMOKING GUN, THE GAME CHANGER, THE OCTOBER SURPRISE!
IF we can get this into the MSM Sen. McCain WILL WIN the Election, PERIOD!
Sen. Obama, from HIS office in the US Senate sent E-MAILS to a RADICAL Kenyan Presidential candidate ODINGA suggesting campaign strategies, advice and support. Sen. Obama has made SEVERAL phone calls also to Odinga along with several e-mails. Odinga of Kenya HAD SIGNED a document promising to IMPOSE STRICT SHRIA MUSLIM LAW in Kenya if the Muslims would vote for and help him gets elected. ODINGA did NOT win the election, but he and his Muslim supporters have instigated RADICAL VIOLENCE in Kenya, including burning of 100’s of Christian churches. SEATOR OBAMA SUPPORTED THIS RADICAL, HE SUPPORTED THIS ODINGA AND WE HAVE THE ACTUAL E-MAILS, WE HAVE THE PROOF THAT A SITTING SENATOR, OBAMA, FROM HIS SENATE OFFICE HAS PHONED ENCOURAGMENT AND ADVICE! We have an active Senator, from his TAXPAYER PAID OFFICE ON OUR DIME CALLING AND E-MAILING A RADICAL IN KENYA DURING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARIES! THIS IS NOT OLD NEWS, THIS IS THE FINAL STRAW, THE MSM WILL HAVE TO COVER THIS STORY AND COMBINED WITH WILLIAM AYERS AND REV. WRIGHT A STRONG PATTERN IS FINALY EMERGING!!! PLEASE, PLEASE E-MAIL, CALL, WRITE, DO ALL YOU CAN AS US CITIZENS TO GET THE WORD SPREAD! THE PROFF, THE E-MAILS WILL BE PRESENTED ON HANNITY & COMBS ON MONDAY NIGHT 10/13/2008 AT 9pm EST! WE MUST GET THIS INTO THE PUBLIC FORUMS! THIS IS THE OCTOBER SURPRISE, THE FINAL NAIL, THE SMOKING GUN!
Mark Garnett
Hitler's brother was Jesus,
October 22, 2008 - 13:43 ET by oilcanHitler's brother was Jesus, so I guess he's not all that bad.