No Republican senator or living president deserves the kind of media attention Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) has received since the announcement of his death on Tuesday.
So stated Emily Rooney, a former executive producer for ABC's "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings," and the current executive editor of WGBH's "Beat the Press."
For those unfamiliar, she is also the daughter of CBS's Andy Rooney.
Appearing on CNN's "Reliable Sources" Sunday, Rooney was asked by host Howard Kurtz what seemed to be a great question, namely, could a Republican senator have gotten this kind of coverage after his or her death (video embedded below the fold with partial transcript):
HOWARD KURTZ, HOST: Let me just jump in and ask Emily Rooney this question. Putting on your media critic hat, don't many journalists identify with Kennedy's causes? I mean, could a Republican senator have gotten anything approaching these kinds of tributes in the last five days?
EMILY ROONEY: Well I don't think there's anybody like Ted Kennedy. I don't know what Republican senator would have deserved it frankly. I was trying to think, any, even any living president I don't think at this point would get the kind of attention. Which one? If George Bush one or two died tomorrow, I'm not sure they would get the same kind of accolades.
Imagine that: no Republican senator's death would deserve such media attention, and neither would the passing of George H. W. Bush or George W. Bush.
Notice, of course, that she didn't mention Jimmy Carter of Bill Clinton.
Absolutely amazing.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Didn't Jesse Helms get this
August 30, 2009 - 10:02 ET by forestDidn't Jesse Helms get this kind of attention when he died? Oh, he didn't, well nevermind then.
Anyway, I just turned it off. I checked FNC and CNN a couple of times yesterday, and just clicked away when they were still dwelling on the funeral.
Emily looks just like her
August 30, 2009 - 10:07 ET by buddycEmily looks just like her father. How nice for her. Isn't there a nice asian, mexican or black that could her job just as well as she could? Elitism sustains itself. That is why they worship Ted. It reinforces their own pathetic elitist actions.
→ What else is new?
August 30, 2009 - 10:08 ET by Cool ArrowEmily Rooney gets a few moments Nationally because her dad is somewhat famous. Do you think she'll progress much further?
Chris Wallace, on the other hand, is building his own body of work.
Let's look at Saudi Arabia funding the Taliban for purposes of shifting hatred from themselves to the US. Wealth is finite, they say, andthe US is holding the share rightfully belonging to the poor of Afghanistan and other Muslim countries.
Teddy Kennedy et. ilk spend a considerable amount of money and rhetoric convincing the generationally dependent poor that in lieu of a more generous government, they will stay poor.
We will Barry you! - Russian prophecy
Network news is gone. It's all done.
August 30, 2009 - 10:10 ET by superconThe standard now is political advocacy. They have all been so jealous of talk radio and Fox News with their format of punditry that they could not contain themselves any longer. At first they used to just try and slip in some opinion and spin under the cover of a "news" story but then they realized they could say whatever they wanted and decided to stop pretending to be fair. They think that if Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity can do it then so can they. Network media is owned by the DNC. No doubt about it and they don't care who knows because in their world you get awards and praise for sticking it to a Republican. Look how Katie Couric got an ward for her ambush interview of Sarah Palin. She would have never dared do that to Barack Obama.
" if Republicans are able to stop Barack Obama on health care, 'it will be his Waterloo, it will break him...." -Sen. Jim DeMint
Part of the reason for
August 30, 2009 - 10:26 ET by MidAmericaPart of the reason for the extensive coverage is that teddy chose a good time to exit. People are extremely tired of seeing obama and sick to death of reports about what obama and this congress wants to do to them so teddy's funeral is a pleasant diversion giving people something new to watch.
emily rooney,
August 30, 2009 - 10:26 ET by larry on LIlooks like the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
larry--
August 30, 2009 - 10:33 ET by Kat Outta the Bag"looks like the apple didn't fall far from the tree."
Or nut, as the case may be...
And since she seem to have
August 30, 2009 - 10:42 ET by fitzfongAnd since she seems to have no neck, it looks like the head doesn't fall far from the shoulders.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Ted Kennedy didn't deserve
August 30, 2009 - 10:28 ET by Conserv1Ted Kennedy didn't deserve this coverage either. It's not about whether some republicans deserve this type of coverage also. No one, except presidents should get it. It's sad how biased the press is in America.
Polls Otherwise
August 30, 2009 - 10:28 ET by slickwillie2001The few polls I have seen and the ratings I have heard about suggest that the public is much less interested in Kopechne's killer than the media is:
Senator Kennedy's Legacy
What will be your lasting impression of Senator Ted Kennedy?
Influential US Senator 21.9%
Last Son of the Kennedy Family 7.8%
Disgraced by Chappaquiddick Incident 65.1%
Other 5.2%
Ref: http://apps.detnews.com
Usually the liberal media jumps on an opportunity for a poll, but in this case I believe they will not take the polls because they fear the results.
George
August 30, 2009 - 10:42 ET by jessieHGeorge H. W Bush was president. George W. Bush was a two term president. Ted Kennedy was a murderer.
Well, of course she's going
August 30, 2009 - 10:46 ET by fitzfongWell, of course she's going to believe that. After all, she's just like Ted Kennedy. She's had a comfortable life and cushy, high-profile job handed to her ahead of the more qualified with less connections. Those types always believe that are due more praise.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
PRESSTITUTES
August 30, 2009 - 11:11 ET by nadadhimmiShe is a prime example, but by no means the worst.
Can we get back to MJ now?
August 30, 2009 - 11:17 ET by slickwillie2001Never thought I would miss Michael Jackson coverage.
I am so with you on this
August 30, 2009 - 11:36 ET by jgarciaI am so with you on this one!
news update on MJ
August 30, 2009 - 12:28 ET by American.Patriothe's still dead
→ Patriot
August 30, 2009 - 13:13 ET by Cool ArrowBut when it comes to getting buried, Teddy beats Michael into the ground.
We will Barry you! - Russian prophecy
Cool--
August 30, 2009 - 14:16 ET by Kat Outta the BagTo be fair, they couldn't keep Ted on ice as long as Jackson has been, what with fat decomposing so much quicker than plastic.
Another Contribution To The Dung Heap
August 30, 2009 - 11:59 ET by rammingspeedThe same people who recognize the abomination that is the Democrat's health care plan also recognize the double standard with the MSM's coverage Ted Kennedy's funeral, compared to Ronald Reagan's. The MSM's steady loss of prestige and power is the consequence of their violations of journalistic ethics. Obviously, they're out of touch and don't know it. They wouldn't care if they did know it. It's like the health care bill: They're pushing Kennedy's funeral onto the nation the way they plan to push health care onto the nation. And if you don't like it, tough!
Yesterday, in the funeral
August 30, 2009 - 12:53 ET by Chris NormanYesterday, in the funeral coverage of Kennedy on Fox News, I was struck by the scene of Chris Wallace with a panel consisting of three men, who, I believe are all liberal Democrts. I thought, this is what Fox News would look like if it went "mainstream"...
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
To be fair...
August 30, 2009 - 13:08 ET by Joe C....Ted Kennedy doesn't deserve the attention his death is getting either.
I saw this...I figured she
August 30, 2009 - 14:25 ET by bigtimerI saw this...I figured she had to be Rooney's kin.
She was an embarrassment to common sense...unfortunately no one tells these elite leftist loons that simple fact...they are too busy patting each other on the back and clinking their glasses together, blowing air-kisses and all that jazz.
Fools all.
Obama's a Community Agitator, a walking, talking destroyer. ~ Rush Limbaugh
I agree
August 30, 2009 - 17:56 ET by Joe CamelI 100% agree with her. But, my reasoning is that "no man" deserves the coverage this idiot got and is getting. There is not a man alive or past who the world could not live or have lived without. So, again, I agree with the statement no man here. Now only if there were a god that we could cover....
you make a pretty good
August 30, 2009 - 18:16 ET by LSawyeryou make a pretty good point
www.endthebias.com
Daaaaaaang. That's pretty
August 30, 2009 - 18:14 ET by LSawyerDaaaaaaang. That's pretty audacious...
www.endthebias.com
Libtard nepotism...how
August 30, 2009 - 23:02 ET by RR GOPLibtard nepotism...how interesting.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 86% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.