Skip to main content
  • CNSNews.com
  • MRC TV
  • Biz & Media
  • Culture & Media
  • TimesWatch
  • Take Action!

Join Us @:
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon Kindle

Free email alerts!

NewsBusters logo
May 22, 2013
  • Home
  • Blogs
  • About
  • Forum
  • Take Action
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Search
  • RSS

Hot Topics

  • Obama Targets Fox News
  • IRS Targets Tea Party
  • Censoring the News
Home » Blogs » Matthew Balan's blog
  • NBC's Lauer Uses Oklahoma Tornado to Bash GOP Over Sandy Relief
  • New York Times: Obama Administration 'Threatening Fundamental Freedoms of the Press'
  • ABC’s Cokie Roberts Acknowledges Obama’s Contempt for the Press, Blasts 'Presidential Propaganda'
  • NYT Lawyer: Obama Worse Than Nixon, 'Worst President Ever' on Press Freedom
  • Chuck Todd: Obama Administration Wants to 'Criminalize Journalism'
  • Al Hunt On Rosen Outrage: Obama 'No Better Than Nixon'; Holder Should Take Hike
  • Bozell Column: Obama And 'Overreach'
  • Three Labor Unions, Including Teamsters, Want ObamaCare Repealed; When Will Media Report?

Study: Media Go to Bat for Abortion Giant, Ignore Catholics vs. Obama Controversy

By Matthew Balan | February 06, 2012 | 11:28

A  A
Matthew Balan's picture

When the Susan G. Komen Foundation announced on February 1 that it would no longer be donating to Planned Parenthood, the Big Three networks -- ABC, CBS, NBC -- rushed to the defense of the left-wing organization, which is the largest abortion conglomerate in the United States. Over the course of about 60 hours, ABC, CBS, and NBC emphasized the controversy with a whopping 13 morning and evening news stories. A  Media Research Center study found that the soundbite count was loaded: 76 percent of the quotes came from supporters of Planned Parenthood (35 in total). Only 11 clips or statements came from Komen representatives or new allies.

By contrast to those 13 reports on the feminist "firestorm," when the Obama administration announced on January 20 that it was giving religious institutions one year to comply with a mandate for coverage of sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception in their health plans without a co-pay, these same networks all but ignored the face-off with angry Catholic bishops and their flocks.  It took CBS 10 days to air one news brief about the controversy on CBS This Morning on January 30. Neither ABC nor NBC have aired anything on their morning and evening newscasts over the past two weeks, and CBS hasn't done anything since giving that one brief.

Claire Shipman, ABC News Correspondent | NewsBusters.orgOn February 3, ABC's Claire Shipman trumpeted the negative responses to the breast cancer charity's decision: "This morning, outrage and disappointment engulfing the Internet. 'All lies.' 'You have lost my support.' 'Playing politics with the lives of women.' 'I'll never buy pink again.'" ABC showed the strongest tilt towards Planned Parenthood, with 10 sound bites or statements in favor of the organization, versus only two supporting Komen, a five-to-one margin.

The day before, both CBS and NBC highlighted a talking point from Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, who hyped that a "right-wing political campaign [was] bullying" the breast cancer foundation. NBC trailed not far behind ABC in terms of slant towards the abortion giant, with 15 clips in favor of the liberal darling, and four supporting Komen, a nearly four-to-one imbalance.

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

The Big Three's on-air journalists also gave strong hints that they supported the left-leaning giant. NBC's Brian Williams teased a segment on February 1's Nightly News on the controversy by proclaiming how "a decision...[is] making a lot of women furious at the world's largest breast cancer organization. Why did it cut off funds for critical breast cancer screenings?" Correspondent Lisa Myers spotlighted the "explosion of anger among your lifetime supporters" during an interview of Brinker the following evening.

For the full Media Reality Check, visit MRC.org.

<< Help us take on media bias by donating to NewsBusters (there's also a PayPal option on that page). Without the support of our readers, NewsBusters would not be possible.>> 

About the Author

Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow Matthew Balan on Twitter.
  • Bias by Omission
  • Birth Control
  • Christianity
  • Conservatives & Republicans
  • Labeling
  • Liberals & Democrats
  • Medical Insurance
  • Pro-choicers
  • Pro-lifers
  • Culture/Society
  • Health Care
  • Religion
  • Sexuality
  • Obama Watch
  • ObamaCare
  • Matthew Balan's blog
  • Login to post comments
  • Printer-friendly version
Stop Censoring The Gosnell Trial!

Comments

Nothing New

Submitted by John21 on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 11:39am.

Nothing new here freedoms and rights are never on the medias' agenda (unless it is some minority). They believe in the socialist agenda and anything that stand in the way of it implementation is wrong. Religious freedoms stops or at least slows down the worship of their master in this administration so it must be blacked out of impugned.

Abortion is high priority with all the far left, justifying it as a women health issue. Like that had even a small amount of facts attached. The loss of Planned Paranthood would have almost NO effect on women health in American and they know it but it does not fit into their agenda.

Credibility of American media is at 0 and falling, soon most people won't even believ local news unless they can observe ti with their own eyes.

The lack of a realistic news source in America wil continue the doenward trend in this country.

  • Login to post comments

NBC has a rank of 100 % on

Submitted by ray johnson on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 11:56am.

NBC has a rank of 100 % on the " lib media scale ", so that they manifestly are pro abortion is always true. The sacrament of the left is abortion, and it's still the number one issue that divides us.

  • Login to post comments

If you can't think

Submitted by HockeyKid on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:35pm.

or connect the dots, Planned Parenthood sounds like a compassionate and helpful organization. It's not until you grow up and learn to think critically that their actual practices cause cognitive dissonance.

Grow up, MSM.

"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me

  • Login to post comments

Will NOT give next year. $120 for someone else like NB.

Submitted by MaximusBraveheart on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 5:33pm.

Good article today: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.aspx?id=1530704

snip of start: Call it Planned Parenthood's war on choice. In less time than it takes to scald a child to death with a saline injection into the womb, the rabid pro-abortion lobby descended like vultures down upon the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. The Komen crime? They dared exercise their right to choose when it came to whom they gave donations and funding.

Donations date 8/17/11 Susan G Komen For The 800-996-3329 TX $120.00

Everyone knows WHAT they stand for now. Let us see how the cards fall.

-- Maximusbraveheart -- Is TRUTH knowable? Moral Relativism is the abandonment of Truth. Truth is knowable. Truth conforms to Reality. Reality is observable by evidence & witness in this day & from history. Relativism is Sesame Street play land.

  • Login to post comments

when

Submitted by grammajane on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:36pm.

I see a picture of williams, know for a fact he again has made some stupid unworthy news story full of bias and bashing. Same story, different day preaching his radical lib aganda.

  • Login to post comments

State run media

Submitted by JLin on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:39pm.

The Vichy Press doing their duty.

  • Login to post comments

Why does Komen owe these fools anything?

Submitted by JLin on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:41pm.

This is like getting bit in the face by the stray dog you just fed. If that happened to me I'd blow its effing brains out.

  • Login to post comments

⇒ That's easy, Jlin

Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:49pm.

Because to Liberals, women are the vessels that carry the sacrifice to Molech.

Apostasy will not be tolerated in this most sacred rite of Liberals.  Abortion is the practice from which Liberals draw their dark power.

  • Login to post comments

I remember that...

Submitted by JLin on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:56pm.

The demon worshippers would lay their live children on red-hot sacrificial altars to be burned alive. That sounds about right. Does anyone remember those "civilizations" today?

  • Login to post comments

⇒ Not me

Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 1:05pm.

The Lord, God, was especially adamant that His people not participate.

  • Login to post comments

The Fog of Opinion War

Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:46pm.

More than one news network (including Fox News) cited social networking as the vehicle by which opposition to Komen was mustered and put into action. The result was a resounding win for the Left.

But overlooked in this awe of the social networking phenomena is the fact that while it can move information rapidly to mobilize like-mined interests, it in no way guarantees that information is accurate. Lies and half-truths transmitted at the speed of light is still lies and half-truths. In fact, we know that a lot of info was not true. Nonetheless, the reaction was mob-like.

It's likely that Komen buckled to the pressure of 24/7 anti-Komen news and what appeared to be an overwhelmingly negative reaction to their announcement. Only time will tell what the actual +/- ratio was.

A valuable lesson learned for all sides.

  • Login to post comments

Formal cooperation=self-excommunication as a Catholic

Submitted by celator on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 12:49pm.

The MSM considers abortion to be a political "right". What they do not report is that, for Catholics, participation and facilitation of abortive practices is cause for self-excommunication. For Catholics, it's more than a "political opinion":, it's worse than a mortal sin, it's more than a sacrilege: by formal cooperation with the evil of abortion, you've tossed yourself out of the Catholic Church.

According to the Catholic Catechism: 2272
" Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. "A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,"77 "by the very commission of the offense,"78 and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.79 The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society."

And from Bishop Michael J. Sheridan,Bishop of Colorado Springs, who expresses Catholic teaching on the issue:

"There must be no confusion in these matters. Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research or for any form of euthanasia ipso facto place themselves outside full communion with the Church and so jeopardize their salvation. Any Catholics who vote for candidates who stand for abortion, illicit stem cell research or euthanasia suffer the same fateful consequences."

http://www.ewtn.com/library/BISHOPS/capolvot.htm

"This is not your mother's Democratic Party"--Andrew Breitbart, CPAC, February 2012
  • Login to post comments

blitzkrieg

Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 1:14pm.

Komen is no longer an independent organization. It is now a subsidiary of Planned Parenthood.

  • Login to post comments

⇒ A fully leveraged subsidiary

Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 1:27pm.

The dream of a woman for her sister's legacy has now been placed reverently on the altar of blood.

I admit to having been ignorant of the early affiliation of Komen to PP, and was therefore uplifted when Komen tried to extricate itself from the snare.  But now it's all out in the open, and having turned back to its vomit, I doubt Komen's reputation can be repaired.

  • Login to post comments

I agree. I live in the Peoria

Submitted by Soldat44 on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 1:58pm.

I agree. I live in the Peoria Illinois area, the birthplace of the SGK Benefit, and this is really taking it's toll here.

'One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church'
  • Login to post comments

murder

Submitted by angelann1 on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 1:16pm.

The democrats and their henchmen are a party of death and depravity!!The MSM are complicit in the murder of babies, gay marriage and the attack on Christianity!!

BDK
  • Login to post comments

Agreed.

Submitted by Soldat44 on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 1:55pm.

Agreed.

'One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church'
  • Login to post comments

Williams Lies

Submitted by Schofield Kid on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 2:11pm.

He says "Why did it cut off funds for critical breast cancer screenings?"

Breast cancer screenings are a very little to non-existent part of the operations at PP. Most are referred to other facilities. Everybody with a brain (including Williams, I would hope) knows that the overwhelming main purpose of PP is to provide abortions and has basically nothing to do with cancer whatsoever. So, I'm really not sure why Komen would give them so much in the first place. And it really chaps my hide that our federal dollars are heavily subsidizing this outfit.

  • Login to post comments

Abortion and the Catholic Church

Submitted by NVRAT on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 4:15pm.

Not only did they rush to the aid of the Obama Administration and Planned Parenthood but they have forgotten to mention the shoving of birth control healthcare down the throats of Catholics. Now we find out that the Muslim community is upset because this law impacts them also. The Catholic Church is working with the Administration to come to some kind of solution while Muslim community is threatening civil disobedience, Obama might have a real problem here because how will he give the Muslims a waiver and not the Catholics. As for civil disobedience from the Muslims what else can we expect from Alla's gang of cut throats but, after all civil unrest is one of Obama`s objectives. Just saying.

NVRAT
  • Login to post comments

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Stop Censoring The Gosnell Trial!

Editors' Picks

  • Deputy kills PBS NewsHour staffer (Washington Examiner)
  • Oklahoma disaster was tragic, but larger ones have occurred (USA Today)
  • Mainstream Media Scream: Today’s Savannah Guthrie questions GOP ‘overreach’ (Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner)
  • Desperate Carney complains asking about scandals like asking about birth certificate (RCP)
  • Look at NYT's partisan-hack rewrite of the IRS hearing (Draw and STRIKE!)
  • Study: Christians who tithe have better finances than those who don't (TGC)
  • The media are willing accomplices to Obama (PolitiChicks)
  • FBI has suspects in mind in Benghazi; Obama prefers to try them in court (AP)
Chuck Norris's picture
Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris Column: Why Tim Tebow Is an Ultimate Clutch Player
Walter E. Williams's picture
Walter E. Williams
Walter E. Williams Column: Hating America
Michelle Malkin's picture
Michelle Malkin
Malkin Column: Obama's Emptiest Benghazi Talking Point
Ann Coulter's picture
Ann Coulter
Coulter Column: Sorry, Sen. Rubio, But Your Immigration Plan Is Still Problematic
David Limbaugh's picture
David Limbaugh
David Limbaugh Column: Partisan Obama Culture Spawned a More Abusive IRS
More >

RSS FeedAmazon KindleFacebookTwitter

Stop Censoring The News!

Gosnell's Just the Tip of the Iceberg
more cartoons
  • IRS Charged With Unfair Scrutiny of Pro-Life Groups' Prayer Events, Protest Signs
  • Ex-AccuWeather's Bastardi Slams 'Ambulance Chasing' by Global Warming Theory Activists
  • Howard Dean Dismisses Benghazi Scandal as ‘Laughable Joke’
  • Letterman: 'Obama's in So Much Trouble Politically He's Thinking of Killing Bin Laden Again'
  • NYT Gets Sen. Cruz's Opposition to Marketplace Fairness Act Dead Wrong
More >
NewsBusters

Executive Editor
Matthew Sheffield

Editor at Large
Brent Baker

Senior Editors
Tim Graham
Rich Noyes

Managing Editor
Ken Shepherd

Associate Editor
Noel Sheppard

Contributing Editors
Tom Blumer
Geoffrey Dickens
Dan Gainor
David Limbaugh
Mithridate Ombud
Clay Waters
Scott Whitlock

Senior Contributor
Mark Finkelstein

Contributing Writers
Matthew Balan
Michael M. Bates
Erin R. Brown
Jack Coleman
Kyle Drennen
Douglas Ernst
P. J. Gladnick
Stephen Gutowski
Matt Hadro
D. S. Hube
Kathleen McKinley
Dave Pierre
Amy Ridenour
Julia A. Seymour
Terry Trippany
Rusty Weiss
Brad Wilmouth

Publisher
Brent Bozell

Site Design
Dialog New Media

 

  • Home
  • Blogs
  • About
  • Forum
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Search
  • Account
  • rss
  • CNSNews
  • MRC TV
  • Biz & Media
  • Culture & Media
  • Take Action!
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Amazon Kindle
  • Advertise
  • Jobs

Copyright © 2005-2013 NewsBusters.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use