Nets Yawn at Obama's Patriot Act Renewal; Hyped Bush's 'Broad Powers'
On Friday, the morning shows of the Big Three networks barely touched on President Obama approving the renewal of key provisions in the Patriot Act, avoiding the kind of criticism they launched during the terms of former President George W. Bush. During that time, the networks often expressed "concern...that civil liberties are threatened as never before" by the law, as CBS Evening News put it in 2003.
ABC's Good Morning America devoted one news brief to the development 17 minutes into 7 am Eastern hour. News anchor Josh Elliott noted how "President Obama signed an extension of the U.S. Patriot Act. He used a device called the auto pen because the bill had to be signed before midnight Washington time." NBC's Today show devoted the most attention to the presidential action with three news briefs from Ann Curry at 15 minutes past the 7 am Eastern hour, and at the top of the 8 and 9 am hours.
On The Early Show, CBS's Jeff Glor's brief on the Patriot Act extension, which aired at the same time as Curry's first brief on NBC, gave the most negative hint against the law of the three networks:
GLOR: Also, in France, by the way, President Obama signed into law a four-year extension of the terrorism-fighting Patriot Act. The Senate and House passed the extension just before it was due to expire. That bill extends the life of roving wiretaps, court-ordered searches of business records, and the surveillance of suspects without known ties to terrorist groups.
In a November 22, 2010 item for NewsBusters, Rich Noyes observed that after the TSA introduced more aggressive screenings at airport security checkpoints, the Big Three networks steered clear of accusing the Obama administration of violating citizens' freedom. He noted that this was a clear double standard compared to how they treated the Patriot Act during the Bush administration, citing a 2006 MRC study which found that 62% of their stories on the law "presented fears about a police state as valid and reasonable."
For example, on the October 4, 2004 edition of CBS Evening News, correspondent Wyatt Andrews spotlighted one woman's concerns after she was approached by the FBI for records on Iraqi refugees: "Under the Patriot Act, the FBI has broad powers to go after terrorists, but [Mary] Lieberman says she felt a chill for Americans."
The transcripts of ABC's and NBC's news briefs on the Patriot Act from their morning shows on Friday:
ABC's Good Morning America:
7:17 pm
JOSH ELLIOTT: And in France this morning, President Obama signed an extension of the U.S. Patriot Act. He used a device called the auto pen because the bill had to be signed before midnight Washington time.
NBC's Today Show:
7:15 am
CURRY: This morning President Obama signed a four-year extension on some provisions of the Patriot Act, including roving wiretaps and surveillance of so-called lone wolf terror suspects. Congress raced to pass the legislation just hours before the midnight deadline last night. The President signed the act using an auto-open, rather auto-pen machine that he's currently – because he's currently in France attending the G-8 summit.
8:01am
CURRY: And in the news, Congress and President Obama barely beat the deadline and extended portions of the Patriot Act that were set to expire at midnight last night. President Obama, who is in France for the G-8 summit, used an auto-pen machine to sign the four-year extension which gives the government broad powers to to spy on terror suspects.
9:01 am
CURRY: Congress and President Obama barely beat the deadline and extended portions of the Patriot Act that were set to expire at midnight last night. President Obama, who is in France for the G-8 summit, used an auto-pen machine to sign the four-year extension which gives the government broad powers to spy on terror suspects.
- Matthew Balan's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Bush came right out and TOLD
Submitted by mostlymoderate on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 7:53pm.
Bush came right out and TOLD the American people what he had to do and why he had to do it. This is why so many people hated him. Obama tells the American people NOTHING but "puffery" and lies while he is bending them over. This is why people like Obama.
Not to mention the sad fact that the MSM can literally alter the way the American people think about somebody.
It's sad, but Obama is about nothing besides getting re-relected. Period. I would expect this out of a congressman or maybe a senator but the POTUS??? Hideous.
It was the Auto Pen!!
Submitted by GregE on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 9:30pm.
Because NOTHING surprises me with this puppet. One day, if needed, he will say he never signed a Patriot Act renewal.
No bad mouthin' our GOP man in the White House, Mainstream!
Submitted by lrgon on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 7:58pm.
The Media never aprreciates when our GOPer prez steers the country and protects us little ol' patri-idiots from them bad ol' terrorists.
We GOPers - we knows how to fight terroriosm: we throw our Bill of Rites at them terrorists!
We knows how to fight dem terrible ol' terrorists; we cut up our constitution and build a big ol bonfire and sing hossanas to the Harry Reid .
Dem bad ol' terrorist fellows they don't got no ICBM like weez got; day aint' got none of them air-o kraft carriers like we does; they don't even got any of them dare armies with regiments and battalions like wez do. Our secret weapon is the Harry Reid.
We GOpers can sure give him heck when it dun't count for squat but we sure will back Harry Reid And Nancy Pelosi with passage of the Patri-idiot Act.
Excuse us Gopers patri-idiots while I wipe a tear from our eye. But I duz get teary eyed every time I see "Mitch McCan't Tell "go on about how he's made us safe from them there terrorists guys with this act of Unfounding Fathers.
I don't know why them muslims are mad at us we only bombed them for peace stuff. They are not very understanding when all's we want to bring 'em is DEMUC-CRACY.
So lrgon, do you hate the GOP
Submitted by Van Halen on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 8:51pm.
So lrgon, do you hate the GOP for going along with the Patriot Act like you knew they would (and they should NOT have), or do you hate Obama and the Left for telling you they would NEVER accept something as terrible as the Patriot Act - er, um, that is until one of THEIR guys got into power and signed it. At which time it will be OK. Or something.
Troll much?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 9:38pm.
.
It was worse than you
Submitted by jdhawk on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 7:59pm.
It was worse than you describe. The lamestream media and their accomplices had all sorts of lies about how normal everyday Americans would be surveiled without our knowledge and a bunch of nonsense about being able to "listen" to the billions of telephone conversations that are made every day in the United States.
The lamestream media was in full "scary government" mode when Bush was president. Now, when dufusbama is in charge, not a single word of distrust or supposed malice.
The one-sided "reporting" on the part of the lamestream media is unbelievable.
You gotta wonder if the
Submitted by Van Halen on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 8:26pm.
You gotta wonder if the JournOList media are privately asking themselves what they have done putting Obama into power who continues to forward every policy they hated for 8 years. Or, are they so blind with love for the Obamas that they'll continue to look the other way while Obama makes Bush look like a piker?
The "Patriot Act" has no place in a truly free country
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 9:34pm.
They are already molesting your wives children at airports.
Now they are looking to get their hands on your daughters when the enter their proms.
Will the zombie sheeple of America finally "get it" when the feds start probing their wives and daughters in their own bedrooms?
And don't bother telling me it can't happen here.
I can't seem to escape the sick feeling that the America I grew up in is gone for good, as it becomes more apparent to me as each day passes that we as a people have lost our love of freedom, and are damn near being wussified into a bunch of mindless droids, who are only concerned with their security.
Freedom be damned.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
When the government wields
Submitted by tobiasdog on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 9:49pm.
When the government wields its power against its own people, every citizen becomes an enemy of the state. Will you fight the system, or be ground to dust beneath the boot of tyranny?
I think it's time to get rid of the Patriot Act
Submitted by Phryj1 on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 9:57pm.
It gives the gov't too much power, and terrorists have adapted to it anyway. What gets rid of terrorists can be done without the Patriot Act.
And these TSA violations have to come to a halt. They certainly aren't necessary to find explosives, bomb sniffing dogs can do that, and if a terrorist gets a knife or blunt weapon on a plane, the passengers will kick the crap out of him before he does any harm anyway.
Another thing that bugs me is when I'm arguing with an Obama fanboy and point out all the infringements on civil liberties and other unconstitutional things he's done and they always come back with the Patriot Act. It's annoying, because Obama renewed the damn thing, but they STILL blame Bush. Obama fanboys are just completely out of touch with reality.
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
Who cares?
Submitted by wjneill on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 10:32pm.
What's the big deal?
Un-Patriot Act?
Submitted by wjneill on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 10:30pm.
Gee, harkening back to President Bush signing into law The Patriot Act up to January 20, 2009. it's fascinating to recall how commentators on NewsBusters.org harpooned anyone who dared question the legality of the Act and its bastard stepbrother warrantless wiretapping, calling such persons "traitor", "un-American", "un-patriotic", and "terrorist sympathizers.
-
Gee, whatta difference a new President can make in the security of the nation. Where's that resolute attitude of "I'm not doing anything wrong so I don't have anything to worry about"? Real Americans don't care about who might be monitoring your electronic communication and transactions.
-
The only persons who should be worried are drug dealers, organized crime, militias, and threats to national security. Real Americans, christians all, don't fall into these categories, do they?
To Steal a Line
Submitted by sentry_99 on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 10:42pm.
TROLL...do not feed the troll.
A sleeper troll,no less
Submitted by UpNorth on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 12:08am.
at least 3 whole posts in two years? WOW!! I agree, snap it on the nose with a towel, just don't feed it.
Your the
Submitted by Boudin on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 11:00pm.
Nitwit that helped elected the fascist commie
Boudin, Now, you've done it -
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 11:06pm.
You fed him a troll snap. Now, he'll just want more. :)
Probably
Submitted by Boudin on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 11:15pm.
Since all I got are Soylent Green chips
Boudin,
Submitted by Chris Norman on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 11:20pm.
Somehow, Soylent Green Chips don't sound nearly as yummy as "Bacon! Bacon, bacon, BACON!" :)
Hey! wjmoron! Pat attention!
Submitted by Rukus on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 8:45am.
It doesn't matter what we say about it, the story is about the MEDIA'S DOUBLE STANDARD! Get it? No, you probably don't, after all, you are wjmoonbat McMoron! Go troll somewhere else plant!
Two hour Special
Submitted by Boil It Down on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 11:27pm.
Of course there are double standards on both sides but those on the left are far more numerous and pronounced. They also seem to be a lot more nasty. A book or two hour special could be made of them using only the ones since 2008. -bidn-
Just more continuation of
Submitted by TerryWest on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 1:30am.
Just more continuation of Bush policy, no change to see here folks
We are living in a dystopian
Submitted by tobiasdog on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 3:08am.
We are living in a dystopian society!
Whether or not a society is perceived as a dystopia is usually determined by one’s point of view; what oneperson may consider to be a horrible dystopia, another may find completely acceptable or even nigh-utopian.For instance, if you don’t care about procreating, then living in a world in which the birth rate is strictlyregulated wouldn’t seem very dystopic to you; to someone who values that very much, however, havingsociety tell you how, when (or how often) you can procreate would seem like something out of a nightmare.Or a person who doesn’t enjoy reading or intellectual thinking might not care if books are banned.Or if you have the mental disorder known as liberalism, and the edicts are coming from a leader of whom you approve, then you will have no problem with it.
@ wjniell, It doesn't matter
Submitted by tobiasdog on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 3:18am.
@ wjniell,
It doesn't matter what the opinion of newsbuster posters was on the patriot act during the Bush years, the purpose of the article is to contrast the media outrage back then with the utter silence of them now that it is their man in office.
TOTUS pissed at AUTOPEN.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 9:42am.
AUTOPEN stealing headlines. TOTUS insinuates bill not really legal.
But seriously, why didn't he just sign the damn thing before he left without all the last minute drama? Was he on the fence about it up until the last minute?
Rep. Tom Graves joins TOTUS: also pissed at AUTOPEN.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sat, 05/28/2011 - 6:13pm.
This afternoon, AUTOPEN released the following statement: "Barack H. Obama."