The Washington Post's Reliable Source gossip column reported on Friday that ABC anchor Charles Gibson was the emcee for a high-dollar fundraiser (thick with liberal Democrats) for the latest Boston building to honor the Kennedys, the so-called "royal family" of American politics: the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.
Once again, ABC News seems to care not one ounce about the appearance of Democratic bias this creates.
Here's how the Post unveiled the liberal-Democrat guest list:
The ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton was thick with VIPs: Kennedy's widow, Vicki, and his children; Caroline Kennedy and her husband, Ed Schlossberg; Cabinet secretaries Eric Holder, Hilda Solis, Kathleen Sebelius and Janet Napolitano; Sens. Chris Dodd, Chuck Schumer, Carl Levin, Paul Kirk and John Kerry (who recently slipped $20.million for the institute into a defense bill); Speaker Nancy Pelosi; ABC's Charlie Gibson, who served as emcee; and deep-pocket donors from the health-care industry, law firms and labor unions.
Post gossip columnists Roxanne Roberts and Amy Argetsinger said it wasn't true that the fundraiser called for million-dollar tables:
We know the Kennedys are money magnets, but still couldn't believe that Wednesday's dinner for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate featured tables selling for -- wait for it -- $1 million.
Drat! Turns out that rumor wasn't true, although most reports of the exclusive evening with President Obama included the stratospheric amount. "I couldn't fathom where that came from," institute president Peter Meade told us Thursday.
Well, we can: Several of the 240 guests at the private thank-you dinner have already ponied up a million or more for the late senator's pet project.
The Post says the Kennedy Institute will go on the campus of the University of Massachusetts, but not in Amherst, but in Boston: the EMK Institute's web site says.
The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate will be located on the campus of the University of Massachusetts, adjacent to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library on Columbia Point in Boston. The Institute, UMASS, and the JFK Library will work closely together to take advantage of their proximity and enhance the strengths of all three institutions.
Enhancing the Kennedy legacy -- apparently just another job for an anchorman at ABC News.
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
→ Chucky Chucky Chucky
October 18, 2009 - 16:04 ET by Cool ArrowMaybe Charles has a second career with the Gong Show.
NO MORE PRETENSE
October 18, 2009 - 16:12 ET by ptsonAmerican media, unlike most around the world pretends to be neutral, politically. Now that the pretense is completely gone, they should admit the bias that is there for all to see and hear. Imagine the new logos. Umm, Umm, Umm.
Financia disclosure forms for major news anchors and reporters
October 18, 2009 - 16:55 ET by CO2MakerI believe it would be good for all major news reporters to file financial disclosure forms, as precise and as vague as those filed by candidates, and to declare their party affiliation, if they have one. Yearly, and renew them publicly before the presidential primaries begin.
That way, we voters can determine whether any of their reporting suggests the undue influence of their own vested interests in one candidate or other.
I've thought of this since way back when Sam Donaldson was carrying on about farm subsidies on ABC's News Chews with David Brinkley and someone asked him about his own subsidy payments for his sheep farm in Arizona (or NM?). I think about it before presidential debates. Glen Ifil's flap about the Obama book last year was all about the same issue.
I've considered that too CO2...
October 18, 2009 - 17:15 ET by BKeyserbut my guess is that they're almost all registered Independents, and probably don't contribute individually to campaigns. And campaign contributions don't always tell the tale anyway since most entities that have the potential to interact with the administration or major party contribute to both side to cover their bases.
I would, however, like to see a D or R after their name based upon their last major election vote. Everyone has a perspective so it's unfair to expect complete non-bias in a reporter or news anchor, but full disclosure is fair play, I believe.
Oh I mean much more than campaign contributions
October 18, 2009 - 17:32 ET by CO2MakerI mean, disclose your rough net worth and major investments. Some of these folks are making millions a year. They're not putting that money in the local credit union. They're putting serious zeroes into stocks, bonds, mutuals, real estate, etc. Imagine if any of them wanted to invest in, oh, waterfront development in New Haven, hoping for a favorable application of eminent domain? Or as minority investors in an NFL team? Or, like Al "Naomi does my colors" Gore, investing in green businesses whose prospects they would be in the position of strongly influencing for their own benefit.
Folks, as much as Obama and AxelFoley and Rahmbo and lesser minions are on TV and lovingly quoted by the MSM, it's the MSM who are on TV all the time. In one week, we can hear more from Keith the Sports Boy or Rachel Madcow--or Rush and Sean and Glen--than we can hear from Obama (well, after he does all the morning news shows), not to mention Katie C**TUS, Diane "Romper Room delivery" Sawyer, newsy members of the View (e.g., Baba Wawa), etc. The fact is, we see and hear the people who deliver the news way more than the people who make the laws or carry them out. The Fourth Estate is the largest estate, it's the richest, it has the most workers and the national worker bees are very well paid. The guy who blackmailed Lecherman makes $200K--he is one of the rich bastards that Obama want's to tax--and he was a news producer (read: he shaped the news stories that someone else stood up and reported).
Katie C**TUS = Couric Operatives In The United States, previously posted in another blog thread.
Oh, I get that...
October 18, 2009 - 17:47 ET by BKeyserI'm just not so sure that everyone needs to disclose their entire financial portfolio to be able to deliver, or even revise, the news. At some point we have to be accountable to ourselves and verify news reporting by checking several sources. For the time being, anyway, we can still do that through this medium, and Fox. Personally, I don't begrudge anyone their money (and I'm not suggesting that you do) and they can invest it, disperse it, spend it, or contribute it in any way they see fit.
Politicians who serve and represent the citizenry should be required to file financial disclosure reports (except certain democrats, of course) as their financial positions could [do] have an effect on legislation. While its unfortunate that the news can shape the vote, it does so mostly for the lazy and easily led, which is why those that are ultimately swayed by a Gibson or Olbermann almost always vote democrat- followers are looking to be led, especially by someone bearing gifts.
Reporters and anchors could disclose their influence on a story simply by listing their voting record, or by closing each segment by saying, "In this case, I agree with the Democrats." Actually, a sign around their neck or a forehead tatoo would work equally well.
I do see where you're coming from though, I just hope we don't have to get there...
Mr. HAHAHAHAHA.
October 18, 2009 - 16:18 ET by danboMr.
HAHAHAHAHA. HEHEHE. I didn’t even know about it. Um. So, you’ve got me at a loss. I don’t know. (Charles Gibson of the dead media.)
After I read the list
October 18, 2009 - 16:20 ET by MidAmericaAfter I read the list of names of the attendees I had to go get some lotion because my skin was beginning to crawl.
Gee...
October 18, 2009 - 16:31 ET by Kat Outta the BagThink Charlie condescendingly looked down through his glasses perched at the end of his nose at these people?
He could have played his
October 18, 2009 - 18:27 ET by Republic1He could have played his hit piece/interview with Sarah Palin for the delight of his Democratic Party masters. Way to suck up to your real bosses, Charlie!
"I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula." -Muhammad
Bias Getting Worse
October 18, 2009 - 16:37 ET by Nortoin the face of all the criticism we level at them. It seems to embolden them and the lies and contradictions in print are astonishing. Read this AP quote/paraphrase by one Rachel Beck under the "All Business heading:
Goldman Sachs is setting aside $16.7billion for employee compensations(read, bonuses) this year or about $530K PER employee!! They received $22.9billion from various government programs(bailouts).
OK, the number used to project how much in lobbying will be directed at Congress in only the first half of this year is SMALL, only $224million with more on the way. This money is aimed at watering down regulations, which I am not opposed to, except that the very people that voted to give them the money are now going to get some of it back to curry some or any kind of favor!! Or, reverse the very regulations they sought to impose! Astonishing!
Our Senator Snowe might even be lobbied/!
Not exactly a secret....
October 18, 2009 - 17:23 ET by supercon"Once again, ABC News seems to care not one ounce about the appearance of Democratic bias this creates."
Why should they care....? It's the industry standard now. As a matter of fact ,if your are not a DNC rumpswab you can't be part of the organization.
" if Republicans are able to stop Barack Obama on health care, 'it will be his Waterloo, it will break him...." -Sen. Jim DeMint
Andrew Breitbart got it right
October 18, 2009 - 17:35 ET by CO2MakerHe refers to it as the "Democrat-media complex."
I was just reading him....
October 18, 2009 - 18:35 ET by superconover at Big Government.
" if Republicans are able to stop Barack Obama on health care, 'it will be his Waterloo, it will break him...." -Sen. Jim DeMint
ABC's Charlie Gibson served
October 18, 2009 - 17:53 ET by RMRABC's Charlie Gibson served as emcee at an exclusive evening with President Obama? While Obama and his cronies are mounting a full frontal assault on Fox News for it's supposed ideological bias? That's rich!
Nothing for Mary Jo?
October 18, 2009 - 18:00 ET by jon_torlinThink they'll put up something for Mary Jo, an exhibit/display, something of that nature? It'll fit the legacy very nicely.
-Jon
(of course they won't.)
Hey, cut Charlie some slack
October 18, 2009 - 18:06 ET by G. MayHey, cut Charlie some slack - he only just heard of Teddy Kennedy for the first time earlier in the week.
Much ado about Nothing
October 18, 2009 - 18:20 ET by richb313This is really much ado about nothing except the tid bit of Kerry slipping a 20 million dollar tab into a bill. The 20 Million Dollars is public Money. I do not care, and the rest of you should not care either, where these guys/idiots spend there free time. I do care about what is on the air waves. I do admit it is interesting but thats about it. If they want to spend thier time and money on one of thier heros fine. It is no business of mine. If they spend my money, such as the 20 million that Kerry slipped in, that is my business.
We all know they are liberals. We all know most vote democrat. So What.
I guess that's the GIBSON
October 18, 2009 - 18:47 ET by Jack BauerI guess that's the GIBSON DOCTRINE for ya! Shilling for the Democrats whilst pretending to be an unbiased observer. Sarah Palin knows that.
Okay confess, I made that last bit up.
I wonder what they had to do
October 18, 2009 - 19:09 ET by Candance Mooreto get ahold of Charlie on his boat.
→ Nothing at all
October 18, 2009 - 19:16 ET by Cool ArrowCharlie's been dying to act like he's coming out of the closet to formally embrace liberalism for years.
I say "act like) because only a few people would be surprised with the news.
Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign
Charlie's Republican Fundraiser
October 19, 2009 - 08:00 ET by allanfIf Charlie had wanted to host a fundraiser for the George W Bush library, do you think ABC would have permitted it?
Sometimes these things progress slowly, Matthews-esquely
October 19, 2009 - 08:08 ET by SickofLibsFirst, you start wearing a bra under your suit. Then you start adding a few low-profile accessories. Then you get more brazen and go overboard with the orange bronzer like Olbermann... next thing you know, you're wearing pumps and visiting Victoria's Secret at lunchtime.
→ SOL
October 19, 2009 - 08:11 ET by Cool ArrowThen you run into the uncomfortable thought of Olbermann and Maddow being envious of each other.
Give me immortality, or give me death - firesign
Cool: yeah, that's a bit more than "uncomfortable"
October 19, 2009 - 08:16 ET by SickofLibsWhat's the opposite of "penis envy?"
Nevermind, don't answer that.
"Please Join Us For An Exclusive Evening with President Obama"
October 19, 2009 - 07:56 ET by SickofLibsWhat, now he's Barbara Streisand?
Exclusive my butt. You'd have to go to Pitcairn Island to get away from Publicity Dawg.
Forget this slob. The Edward Kennedy Institute is a bad idea.
October 19, 2009 - 07:58 ET by Blogger Guy00001There should be no tribute to this disgusting piece of trash. We don't need to be reminded that the special privileges given to him as a Kennedy and as a certified liberal protected him from going to jail in 1968.
October 19, 2009 - 08:41 ET by jessieHKennedy was a murderer. To give money for his pet projects is the same as covering up a murder.
Dear Charlie!
October 19, 2009 - 09:20 ET by Patriot IIWell poor ol dimwit charlie.....so concerned with"spreading" it around.....promote anything to do with the olympic swimmer from chappaquidic and you definitely are "spreading" it pretty thick! If you are so concerned with the "poor , downtrodden, masses" send that money to the Salvation Army! Not promote the memory of a socialist, drunken womanizer! imho!!!
The Organization will help
October 19, 2009 - 11:40 ET by mattmThe Organization will help provide neck braces for people trying to win sympathy in court, aid deserving (i.e. liberal) political aspirants in avoiding jail, offer swimming lessons, and provide sex partners for horny Democrats.