The three network morning shows on Thursday devoted a staggering 18 segments to the revelation that South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was having an affair with a woman from Argentina, adding up to over 54 minutes of coverage. NBC's Today show spent the most time on the subject, highlighting the infidelity with six segments and 25 minutes of air time.
Co-host Matt Lauer even talked to disgraced former Governor Jim McGreevey to get his thoughts on the matter. (However, while NBC made sure to label Sanford a Republican, the Today anchors failed to do so for the Democratic ex-New Jersey governor who resigned under a cloud of scandal.)
ABC's Good Morning America touted the sex scandal for 17 minutes and 26 seconds, featuring seven stories on Sanford. (It should also be pointed out that GMA came within seven minutes of Today's total, despite the fact that the NBC program is four hours, double the time of ABC's show.) During one such segment, Sam Donaldson insisted that it's hard to forgive Republicans who get involved in sex scandals: "They thump the Bible. They condemn everyone else, and when they- human- they don’t have much credit in the bank for forgiveness."
CBS's Early Show had the least amount of coverage, offering only five segments over 11 minutes and 44 seconds. As the MRC's Kyle Drennen noted in his June 25 posting, all three morning shows repeatedly identified Sanford as a Republican. However, during the first week's coverage of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and his prostitute scandal, he was labeled a Democrat only 20 percent of the time.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.




















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Yes, let's not talk about
June 26, 2009 - 14:27 ET by dscottYes, let's not talk about what Congress is about to vote upon without reading much less comprehending their votes: Cap and Trade (new energy taxes), Health Care Reform (new medical taxes), and Amnesty for Illegals (more competition for jobs against the poor).
By all means let's disparage the cheater, Lord knows we don't have more important things to be on guard against like politicians fleecing the public and enriching themselves and their campaign contributors in the process.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
You would think the man
June 26, 2009 - 14:31 ET by danboYou would think the man left a woman to drown in the back seat of his car.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Ooooooooh!
June 26, 2009 - 14:37 ET by BlondePost of the day, danbo. It needs a beverage alert, though.
I hope he fails, too.
Oooooh baby! High-five on
June 26, 2009 - 14:59 ET by arkansaszippersOooooh baby! High-five on that one, right!
Your trollishness is boring
June 26, 2009 - 15:01 ET by BlondeYou might want to think about dialing it back.
I hope he fails, too.
Oh c'mon, I'm just fooling
June 26, 2009 - 15:09 ET by arkansaszippersOh c'mon, I'm just fooling about. Just harmless fun.
If it bothers you that much though, than I won't reply to any of your comments anymore. I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.
Well apparently getting
June 29, 2009 - 13:59 ET by motherbeltWell apparently getting caught in adultery is worse. You forget, all Teddy did was "leave the scene of an accident." No biggie.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
How much time did the conviction of Conyer's ..
June 26, 2009 - 14:44 ET by Gary HallHow much time did the conviction, yesterday, did the wife, Monica Conyers, of Judiciary Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., pleads guilty to federal bribery charge, receive on the networks?
..not to mention the gross number of ongong trials, investigations, and pending indictments of Democratic politicians all around our country.
(;~/ gary
Michael Jackson OD'd
June 26, 2009 - 15:57 ET by CrashWhat did you expect from the GE, conflict of interest, global warming network? At least they took time off the MJ nonsense! Did they fill their quota by mentioning that Sanford is a republican at least a dozen times?
huh?
June 26, 2009 - 14:55 ET by lotrPardon my acronym, but WTF is he talking about? "They thump the Bible"?????
Who? John McCain? Sarah Palin? Mitt Romney (does he "thump the Book of Mormon")?? Fred Thomson?? Rudy??? Sean Hannity??? BOR??? I have yet to hear anyone of them even mention the Bible, but funny how I've heard several prominent Democrats quoteth the Scriptures.
Could it be that the pop-liberal programmed talking head let slip a bigoted caricature of "them thar' Republicans" that is condescendingly shared in his elite social circles?
Look, I think most of us agree -- Sanford, I mean, what the hell was he thinking? But Sammy boy is way out of line and out of his league, and is the pot calling the kettle black if he wants to talk hypocrisy. He should retire.
"Let's wrap him up, alright?" -- Keith Olbermann
Hmm, constantly mentioning
June 26, 2009 - 14:57 ET by arkansaszippersHmm, constantly mentioning that he's a republican - that's kind of like constantly mentioning that Obama's middle name is Hussein...
I see the irony is lost on all of the hypocrites who frequent this site, but I can't say that I'm surprised.
constantly mentioning that
June 26, 2009 - 15:11 ET by PeskyDaneconstantly mentioning that Obama's middle name is Hussein...
if only that actually happened outside the syphilitic fevered dreams of libtards...
Zip - hope you get well soon.
Clearly you've never heard
June 26, 2009 - 15:56 ET by arkansaszippersClearly you've never heard of Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, just to name a few...
Here are just a couple of examples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEmnrKyWyPM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZewDb4CMgw
Clearly you have brought a
June 26, 2009 - 16:11 ET by PeskyDaneClearly you have brought a knife to a gun fight. Calling the president B. Hussein in an occasional column (Coulter) or mentioning it with a smirk and a nudge once in a while (Hannity, Limbaugh) can hardly be compared to acting as though the word "Republican" is found on Sanford's birth certificate.
Typical libtard. Kicking the dog is the same as sledging it into the sidewalk until there's nothing left but a pulpy stain, right? Riiiiiight.
Do you have a problem with
June 26, 2009 - 16:13 ET by danboDo you have a problem with the president's middle name? Is this your issue? Should people named Adolph be ashamed of their name.
It is a his name. The fact that you folks keep running away from it is funny. But then a lot of folks also try to run away from Obama's friends.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Danbo - I've find that
June 26, 2009 - 16:38 ET by PeskyDaneDanbo - I've find that pretty amusing myself. The libs are forever caterwalling about any mention of his middle name, all the while screaming it at the top of their lungs.
"Don't say 'HUSSEIN!'" Whatever you do, no one is to mention that his middle name is HUSSEIN!" "If you say the word, 'HUSSEIN,' we are going to call you a racist! We're not sure why, but we will!"
Makes the devil in me just
June 26, 2009 - 17:05 ET by danboMakes the devil in me just want to go Hussein! Hussein! Hussein! Just to watch them wet their pants.
BTW King Hussein of Jordan was a man I greatly admired. And I think he and Sadam were related. Cousins I believe. Guess you can't pick your relations.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
As I said below, play dumb
June 29, 2009 - 13:36 ET by arkansaszippersAs I said below, play dumb if you want. Not that anybody is buying it, but if it makes you happy...
You're the one playing
June 30, 2009 - 06:30 ET by danboYou're the one playing dumb.
We know zippers cover.
And you're trying to cover.
It's interesting how after everyone left this topic to snuck back in to write your protest.
You'll have to sneak back in again.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Hmm, constantly mentioning . . .
June 27, 2009 - 03:20 ET by DoktorFranken''Hmm, constantly mentioning that he's a republican - that's kind of like constantly mentioning that Obama's middle name is Hussein...''
The media constantly mentioning that Sanford is Republican has been done it a way as to condemn all Republicans for doing what Sanford has done - which is, of course, stretching the truth. A lie, really.
Hussein's middle name is, after all, Hussein and it's like calling George W. Bush ''W''. I always call the 'Asshat in Chief'' Hussein. It's still showing much more respect for him than anyone on the Left has shown W or Governor Palin. It is also not intimating anything.
Using this 'middle name argument' shows a distinct lack of intelligence since it is beyond lame. But, thank you for playing.
Don't play dumb, ok? If
June 29, 2009 - 13:34 ET by arkansaszippersDon't play dumb, ok? If that's the case, than how come republicans weren't refering to Bill Clinton as "W. Jefferson Clinton?"
I referred to him as Slick
June 29, 2009 - 13:39 ET by Jack BauerI referred to him as Slick Willy Jefferson Clinton. Is that close enough?
Sure, why not. I'll take
June 29, 2009 - 13:55 ET by arkansaszippersSure, why not. I'll take it.
In their major role as shills for the Democrats, the MSM...
June 26, 2009 - 15:05 ET by ThalpyIn their major role as shills for the Democrat party, the MSM will be forever trying to stick it to conservatives or Republicans. Teddy Kennedy has been trying to get into women's pants since was five years old, but there is no press criticism of the "lion of the Senate," nor will there ever be. Members of MSM just don't like Republicans (can't blame them, really). They don't like them because Democrats and the press belong to a different tribe. Truth is always murky for them; there are no rights and wrongs--sort of a social justice thing for everyone with its diversity, affirmative action, inclusion, fairness, and equality.
The morning shows did hype the Mark Sanford story, but what were we expecting?
When it was Edwards or McGreevey
June 26, 2009 - 15:30 ET by averageschmoeThey covered it for a day. After that, please leave the family alone to sort out their problem in private. If it is a Republican, we must keep the story going for the entire week and then some.
"consulting with his spiritual advisor"
June 26, 2009 - 15:40 ET by SickofLibsAs soon as you hear the key phrase "_______ is consulting with his spiritual advisor", then that's pretty much the end of the coverage for Dems.
Or "entering
June 26, 2009 - 15:50 ET by BuffNBoneOr "entering rehab."
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
When the msm say "This is a
June 26, 2009 - 15:24 ET by gopsteveWhen the msm say "This is a scandal that will not go away," they mean "This is a scandal that (WE) will not (LET) go away.
MSM
June 26, 2009 - 15:56 ET by ForbusFor instance, go to the CBS website and try looking for a story on the cap-and-trade bill. You can't find one with a search warrant.
gov. sanford
June 26, 2009 - 18:59 ET by ronshould have announced a change to the democratic party during the news conference and all would be well.
Absolutely
June 27, 2009 - 12:20 ET by BlueCat57That's absolutely right. And he should have renounced family values.
Forgot or Edited?
June 27, 2009 - 07:30 ET by BlueCat57Did Scott Whitlock forget to mention McGreevy's party affiliation or did someone edit it out? It wasn't there with the first mention of McGreevy.
I've noted that NB has a tendency to leave out party affiliations when complaining about other sources leaving it out.
I don't particularly care about which party someone belongs to. If what they did is wrong it is wrong. It is the act of the individual and the individual bears responsibility. Their actions in no way apply to me or the party's goals or standards. It would be nice if someone would mention that every once in a while.
I can't imagine that any party (well some of the activist ones might) has as part of their platform "let's go out and violate the law (this is the one that some parties may actually have as part of their platform), morals or ethics and then lie about it." The ones that violate the first three as a matter of policy aren't going to lie about it, they're going to hold a press conference to take credit for their actions. The individual that did the violation may try to avoid and/or evade prosecution. But the party will certainly hope to further their cause by taking credit.
Hypocracy doesn't make the underlying laws, values and ethics invalid. Laws, morals and ethics are difficult to keep. Even the simplest ones such as "treat others as you want them to treat you" are difficult to keep. I can't imagine that the Democrats and MSM want us to treat them the way they treat Republicans.
My desire is that NB and other outlets be consistent. Report it or not, but remember it is the individual(s) and generally not the party that is responsible.
I guess mud is easier to sling than truth.
Ehem, McGreevy is a
June 27, 2009 - 08:23 ET by dscottEhem, McGreevy is a DEMOCRAT! I hope you like the taste of mud. The theme of this thread is MSM immediately and consistently noting the political party IF the pol in trouble is GOP. The MSM at the time as usual declined to note the party affliation of McGreevy as a DEMOCRAT. And if I take the trouble to do a search of NB's archives, I'm sure there will be a thread on that lack of identification. Ah, look at that:
http://newsbusters.o...
Sure enough McGreevy or rather the DEMOCRATS got a pass from the MSM, now what were you babbling about?
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
For sickoflibs and dscott
June 27, 2009 - 12:37 ET by BlueCat57Why did you both attack me? Why do you hope I like the taste of mud? Do you think I'm a lib or attacking NB?
I knew McGreevy's party affiliation before I wrote my comment.
While NB may assume a certain level of sophistication, that assumption in invalid. Not all who visit would know and the way that line of this story is written it could easily be interpreted by the unsophisticated to indicate that McGreevy is also a Republican.
If NB's purpose is not to educate then why do they exist? (Yes, I know the real reason they exist is to sell conservative T-shirts.)
My point was to advocate consistency by all media outlets. Either label or don't.
Edited?
June 27, 2009 - 09:11 ET by SickofLibsThere is a certain level of sophistication and political awareness required here on NB for one be taken seriously...
...if you don't know McGreevey's affiliation (D-H-NJ*) at this point, you don't have a point. It is not NB's mission to educate you.
And that is my point.
*Democrat-Homosexual-New Jersey
Absolutley Correct
June 27, 2009 - 08:49 ET by BourbeauThe networks went right off the deep end on the Sandford affair, but here's something you're missing and deserves equal condemnation. Fox News cancelled Special Report, in it's entirety, on Thursday night to cover the Jackson story, as it evolved. On the contrary, the major networks chose to treat it as a 'story' and dedicated appropriate time with other more material news stories. This is standard operating procedure for Fox, and their attitude is we hope you watch but tough cookies, we do what we think will attract the most audience. Fair is fair; the major networks deserve bashing on a regular basis for their biases; but sometimes, so does Fox.
Actually, you missed the
June 27, 2009 - 10:53 ET by dscottActually, you missed the point entirely, the reason for being of any business is to provide a service to the public which the public decides if they like the product and in what quantity. FNC decision to cut short the Jackson coverage because people like me are miffed when you spend over 20 minutes telling us someone is dead. While Jackson was an interesting character he doesn't rate crowding out the other important events that actually do effect me, like Tax and Crap, Obama's health care flim flam, illegal alien amnesty and other stuff that threatens to harm my finances or country.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.
Actually, you missed my point!
June 27, 2009 - 11:20 ET by BourbeauWe both agree totally, Fox News erred in cancelling Special Report to cover the Jackson story. I just had a rather testy exchange with Bret Baier on this subject, and his attitude is, ". . . thanks for watching; we're back to covering the news; we hope you stay tuned; but that's your choice." I find their programming decisions favor the frivolous tabloid stories over hard news and can't understand this dynamic. Again, they were going to devote resources to the Jackson story 24/7 for the next few weeks, what's the point of cancelling your nightly news, when you know your audience, for the most part, couldn't care less about Michael Jackson, or any other pop star who chose to drug themselves to death.
Jenny Sanford Speaks...
June 27, 2009 - 09:38 ET by Cacciato...and Mark Sanford is really wishing she didn't.
Her interview with the AP is brutal to read. Sanford is a bad man. Total scumbag.
The opening paragraph is unbelievable:
South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford sat in her oceanfront living
room Friday, recalling how her husband repeatedly asked permission to
visit his lover in the months after she discovered his affair.
LINK
No wonder the Networks are feasting. There's prime meat in this story.
Just think this guy threw away all of his power, his job, and his chance to be president for a woman. That is bad decision making.
No wonder there's a frenzy.
June 27, 2009 - 11:44 ET by danboNo wonder there's a frenzy. We have prime meat. He left a woman to drown in the back seat of his car? No. There was a prostitution ring operating out of his appartment? No. He was accused of rape by a woman whom he had authority over? No. He got oral sex from one of his interns? No. He kept asking his wife's permission to see his other honey. That's it. At least he wasn't swimming accross the channel to pretend he wasn't there.
I did a yahoo search with the supposed rape victims name and the word rape and got 7190. The name of the drowning victim and the word drowning 36,000. Jim McGreevey and the word affair only got 295,000. Mark Sanford and the word affair and got better than 4 million.
Part of the difference is the stories dropping from the net. But there were also works defending those politicians or trying to minimize the problem. Pointing out in one post story that being charged with rape does not mean you did it.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
And in this corner...
June 28, 2009 - 11:38 ET by Rukusdanbo: 1
Chachi: 0
Gary
I want my country back!
I think poeple will
June 27, 2009 - 11:27 ET by NonArabOmarI think poeple will eventually catch on. House passed global warming bill. Democrats and Obama seem hellbent on piledriving the economy into the pavement.
By the end of 2010, we'll probably have energy prices through the roof, record unemployment, and a ton of democrats under indictment.
Humpy dumpy is going to have a great fall and all the king's media and all the king's propaganda won't be able to put him back together again.
Sanford will be an old story in 2010. Nice to have this done with. Any other Republican with an affair just come forward now or cancel the affair. 2010 will be WAR.
GOP has a good chance. Democrats may sabotage themselves sooo bad that Republicans could eat babies on camera and still win seats.
Good to see a weakling eliminated
June 27, 2009 - 13:07 ET by theBike45The good news for the Republicans is that at least this weakling , McCain type won't be mistaken for a strong candidate come 2010.
I notice that the media are suddenly and unexpectedly proclaiming Sanford as some sort of leading Repub Prez candidate. Why?
If true, then this is a good thing - eliminate the weak hands the earlier the better. Btter this happened now than during a Prex campaign as the Party nominee. His statements and handling of the affair, and the fact that it happened at all, are dooming him.
The media attempts to equate Sanford's acts with those of Clinton, etc. fall to pieces at the slightest touch - apparently a first time
offender who should have divorced his wife first and then followed
his heart, as opposed to a serial philanderer and person who used state police to "encourage" selected young state govt employee ladies to satisfy Gov Clinton's desires, payoffs and purjury, etc.
Sanford dared to challenge Ears
June 29, 2009 - 11:35 ET by Mary Louise TurnerThe adultery scandal wouldn't have been so big if Mr. Sanford had accepted the "stimulus" money. But because he dared to stand up to Ears, Ears found his favorite method of destroying enemies...the sex scandal.