NBC's Kelly O'Donnell Twice Tags Disgraced Rep as 'Conservative,' All Three Network Mention GOP
All three evening newscasts on Wednesday and the morning shows on Thursday identified disgraced former Congressman Chris Lee as a Republican. On the February 10 Today, Kelly O'Donnell twice tagged the ex-representative, who resigned after shirtless photos of him surfaced online, as "conservative."
The NBC reporter asserted, "The former Congressman is a former businessman, considered an up and coming conservative." Just seconds later, as a picture of the politician appeared, she added, "This is the image, shirtless and flexing, that tanked the political career of Chris Lee, a conservative, Republican Congressman from Western New York."
Continuing to made ideological references, O'Donnell pointed out: "He had even been given the plum job of delivering the weekly Republican address last spring."
On ABC's Good Morning America, George Stephanopoulos wondered, "This is- he's a Republican congressman from near Buffalo. This is still a seat likely to be held by the Republicans?"
Early Show correspondent Nancy Cordes on CBS noted, "Before yesterday afternoon, Christopher Lee was known as an upcoming Republican congressman from New York."
Today news anchor Ann Curry covered the story briefly in the 8 and 9am hours, but did not mention party ID.
On Wednesday night, World News and Evening News anchors Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric both identified Lee as a Republican.
Sawyer's take: "And, we have word tonight in the news that Republican Congressman Chris Lee of New York has resigned, effective immediately." Couric remarked, " According to Gawker.com, Republican Christopher Lee sent a topless photo of himself to a woman he met on Craigslist." On Nightly News, O'Donnell appeared and just referred to Lee as a"upstate Republican."
A partial transcript of the February 10 Today segment can be found below:
KELLY O'DONNELL: What's so sudden about this is how fast it all unfolded, from the time of the revelation of the scandal to resignation was just a few hours. The former Congressman is a former businessman, considered an up and coming conservative. And he said that he wanted to leave office so that his actions would not be a distraction. This is the image, shirtless and flexing, that tanked the political career of Chris Lee, a conservative, Republican Congressman from Western New York.
CHRISTOPHER LEE: We're here to get something done and that's really what it's really bout.
O'DONNELL: His stunning message was read by a clerk on the House floor.
HOUSE CLERK: I here by give notice of my resignation from the United States House of Representatives, effective 5pm, eastern standard time, Wednesday, February 9, 2011.
O'DONNELL: A lightening fast fall for the married father, just sworn in for a second term last month.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: Mr. Lee is recognized.
O'DONNELL: Lee took part in a House hearing just hours before quitting Congress.
LEE: Why, I think, Congress gets such a bad name is we don't listen to the American people. [cut to Lee ad] Hello, I'm Congressman, Chris Lee and I have the great pleasure of representing New York's 26th congressional district.
O'DONNELL: He had even been given the plum job of delivering the weekly Republican address last spring.
LEE: I've been in Congress now 16 months, but it doesn't take that long to figure out Washington does more talking than listening.
...
— Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
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Comments
Well, the guy is a schmuck,
Submitted by Seashell on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 1:59pm.
Well, the guy is a schmuck, but I'm sure the press was just gleeful (and thankful) that he had an "R" after his name instead of a "D", and ever so happy to report that little tidbit.
I agree
Submitted by StarAZ on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 2:00pm.
He "tagged" himself and he is going to get what he gets. So sad, too bad.
→ Tru Dat Star
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 2:09pm.
If only he had run a male prostitution ring out of his apartment he'd be all right. Certainly could've learned something from Barney Frank.
Or like another Mass. "D"
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 2:52pm.
merely left a woman to die in his partially submerged car at night, swam back to his motel, taken a shower, gotten a good night's sleep and consulted with his campaign advisors before reporting the accident.
Nothing wrong with that for a "D."
More relevant
Submitted by TexasMom0517 on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 3:25pm.
It's far more relevant that he, like Teddy, Bobby, Jack, Patrick, Robert and the rest, is a member of the "lucky sperm club"- its members think they're not subject to the rules of common decency and behavior that the rest of us are supposed to abide by.
I don't get your point
Submitted by StarAZ on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 3:22pm.
Of course they may forget to mention party on Ds--we have established that. But this guy was a twit and how he will pay. I can't fault them for that--even if it's a double standard. As upstanding conservatives, we believe people should take responsibility, right? We aren't crying don't give our party since you didn't mention the party of the other guy--cover up for us. Are we?
Not a chance, Star
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 3:30pm.
I'm proud the Republican party wouldn't stand for Lee keeping his job.
But it doesn't hurt to remind Democrats of just how immoral they are. If Lee resigns for taking off his shirt, it's good to remember Barney Frank is a sex-for-hire reprobate and Dems are just fine with it.
You know he probably takes his shirt off...
Submitted by Red Jeep on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 4:05pm.
...at the beach.
Yes, we are
Submitted by ckc1227 on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 6:47pm.
It's called being objective and consistent. No one is asking for this guy to get a pass, they are asking for the media to call it both ways. If they aren't, then yes, I'm going to complain about it. Being an upstanding Conservative doesn't mean you have to be a fool.
His mistake
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 2:11pm.
He should have kept his shirt on, and gone down the road of hiding close to $100,000 of cash in his freezer at home.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
Soo it is possible to name that party, who knew.
Submitted by upcountrywater on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 2:17pm.
Cone of shame...h/t Michelle Malkin
You Didn't Build That.
shirtless by another name
Submitted by Agnostic on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 2:56pm.
Yet I bet everyone of these people drooled over Putin's shirtless photo and have framed copies of Mao's famous proganda photo of him shirtless.
Agnostic
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 2:58pm.
This guy could make a killing working the pole or serving burgers at any DC Hooters.
That's a rack!!!
CA-->
Submitted by Agnostic on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 3:03pm.
You need to warn liberals to keep their hands above the keyboard if your going to post that.
WHAT?
Submitted by lisa-alba on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 3:02pm.
Are you telling me that had this been a Democrat, that FIXNEWS would just say that a congressman was caught in a scandal? Not mentioning that he was a Democrat? I think not. I beleive that FIX would have run the top of their news for a week with this story. So just shut the hell up and let the news be told. This ass was a God fearing, family values conservative that was screwing around on his wife and family. How awesome is that?
missed opportunity
Submitted by MidAmerica on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 3:31pm.
It's a shame that this man resigned. There has been a real sense of loss for the fact there are no Kennedy's in congress now and obviously this guy would be able to assume that role.
FIXNEWS? Have you come over
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 3:53pm.
FIXNEWS?
Have you come over from Kos to test the waters oh 16 week wonder? Do you not know what this site is all about?
This is Liberal Media Bias 101.
If the disgraced politician you are reporting on has a (D) after their name you shall not utter the party affiliation unless it can be buried down near the end of the story or drag the opposition party into it.
If the politician has an (R) after their name you are free to state the following as much as you can; GOP, Republican, Conservative, Right-Wing.
Get that?
Good. Now get a clue and post like an adult.
Not quite tommytard
Submitted by ckc1227 on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 6:42pm.
Fox would have said he was a democrat, just like they correctly labeled this guys as a republican.
"This ass was a God fearing, family values conservative that was screwing around on his wife and family. How awesome is that?
As opposed to what, being a no morals, no values democrat, lol? Too bad for him that he isn't a democrat. He'd be in line for a promotion now, lol.
promoting democrats
Submitted by Agnostic on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 8:08am.
or at least a show on CNN
The thing about God fearing
Submitted by Radical1979 on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 6:54pm.
The thing about God fearing people is that they do sin, but they regret it and repent.
I think the only Slick Willy regrets is the lack of interns available to him in the Secretary of State's office. If Hill would have won he'd have so many to choose from...
And wow, FIX news! You've impressed us all with your wit. Not.
what was the week long story
Submitted by TruthMonger on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 4:10pm.
what was the week long story on "fixnews" again? the one about the dem congressman's indescretions...? i missed it
Congratulations Jimmy Carter!
I think the real question is
Submitted by shawn. on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 4:17pm.
Was he on Atkins and how often did he go to the gym?It didn't take long...
Submitted by Mary Louise Turner on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 4:43pm.
It didn't take long for the make believe media to splash "married" and "Republican" all over the place when Mr. Lee was hounded out of office for alleged "hypocrisy" (never mind that he never broke the law). The MBM loves to point out any GOP hypocrisy about morality; however, they jealously protect actual law-breakers in the Democratic Party (Charlie Rangel, Bill Clinton, Eliot Spitzer, Barney Frank). Not only do Democrats get a free pass, but they are also allowed to rehabilitate their image (see Mr. Clinton). There's something wrong with this picture...
Republicans quit at the slightest hint of scandal.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 6:49pm.
Scandal is a reume enhancer for Democrat politicians.
It bugs me though his quitting. Yes, he shouldn't have done what he did on one hand, but from what I read the picutre he sent is of a part of him that strangers would see at the beach.
Mark Foley sent not so nice emails and text messages to Pages. First whiff of scandal and he's gone. Neither Foley or this man touched anyone inappropriately or sent pictures of their privates, or broke the law, but they must go.
Just bugs me....
You're bugged?
Submitted by Jer on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 9:11am.
Then call the exterminator Tom Delay who is one of gobs of Republicans--such as John Vitter, Larry Craig, Mark Sanford, Duke Cunningham, John Ensign to name but a few--who didn't "quit at the slightest hint of scandal."
I'm bugged too.
However, I agree a shirtless pic seems a rather trivial trigger for an immediate resignation, but it is being reported it was merely the tiny tip of a very messy iceberg involving extensive partying and philandering.
Jer
→ Bugs me too, Jer
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 7:55pm.
But the point is that he got exposed for soliciting an extra-marital hookup.
I give him credit for stepping down.
I realize there are any number of Congresscritters engaging in the same game, but it's this, and other problems Boehner had already detected with staffers.
Well, at least we agree on that point, Cool...
Submitted by Jer on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 8:47pm.
Jer
These kind of actions have no
Submitted by Radical1979 on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 6:50pm.
These kind of actions have no affect on the political ability of this man. The press and the people should stay out of the private lives of politicians. Oh, wait, this isn't Bill Clinton gettin' busy with whoever he could?
Never mind, keep this in the forefront of politics for the next year.
/sarc off
Is Clinton
Submitted by Cowboy on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 8:34pm.
Is Clinton conservative?
Did the Congressman get a Lewinski on-line?
Looks like when it came to ice cream
Submitted by shawn. on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 11:36am.
The congressman wanted to sample more of the chocolate variety http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=12890665&sid=77Shawn
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 11:45am.
Why do you say it was "chocolate"?
Does your comment refer to a particular sex act or something else?
Cool---
Submitted by matthewdean on Fri, 02/11/2011 - 7:42pm.
Maybe Callahan was originally from the "Chocolate City" - ?
:o)MD