Tuesday's CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News blamed Republican presidential candidate John McCain's reduced fundraising and low rank in the polls, which led two top advisers to leave the campaign, on McCain's view that U.S. troops must stay in Iraq -- not on how out of step he is with conservatives on the immigration bill he crafted with Ted Kennedy. CBS anchor Katie Couric declared: “No public figure has supported the President's Iraq policy more than Senator John McCain, and he's paid a heavy price for that. His presidential campaign is struggling and today, Jeff Greenfield reports, there was a big shakeup.” Greenfield, at least, paired Couric's spin with the immigration issue: “Money woes are only part of the problem. His Iraq views are at odds with more and more in his own party and McCain's a sponsor of the dead for now immigration reform bill that has incensed many conservatives.”
Over on NBC, in a story about the political fight over whether to withdraw troops from Iraq, David Gregory framed McCain's Tuesday morning Senate floor comments around how his stance on Iraq is what has “undermined” his campaign: “Just back from Iraq, Senator John McCain, whose presidential campaign has been undermined by his support for the war, gave the President a big boost.”
On ABC's World News, George Stephanopoulos refrained from blaming any policy view for the troubles facing the McCain campaign.
While McCain may be more outspoken than other GOP candidates in his persistence about the need to keep U.S. troops in Iraq, every Republican presidential candidate but Ron Paul has stuck with President Bush on Iraq.
A partial transcript of Gregory's July 10 NBC Nightly News story:
DAVID GREGORY: Today the White House tried to shore up support among Republicans, who have argued the U.S. cannot wait until September to move beyond the surge. Just back from Iraq, Senator John McCain, whose presidential campaign has been undermined by his support for the war, gave the President a big boost.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN ON THE SENATE FLOOR: From what I saw and heard while there, I believe that our military, in cooperation with the Iraqi security forces, is making progress in a number of areas.
GREGORY: McCain quoted former Secretary of State and advisor to the Bush White House Henry Kissinger, who wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece today that an American withdrawal now would be a quote 'geopolitical calamity, spreading the war to neighboring countries.' Democrats, who will seek a vote on withdrawal this week, argue a pullout is the only way to force political reconciliation in Iraq....
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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Comments Policy
The way speculation passes fo
July 10, 2007 - 20:18 ET by mvfreemanThe way speculation passes for news is ridiculous.
OK -- now explain to me the
July 10, 2007 - 20:24 ET by dervishOK -- now explain to me the continued viability of Giuliani's campaign, when he's as zealous in the terror war as anyone.
Eeeeeehhhhh! Try again, knuckleheads.
Oh, and let's not forget the McCAIN-Feingold legislation, which election time brings to the front of conservative minds...
As usual they ignore what doe
July 10, 2007 - 20:33 ET by mvfreemanAs usual they ignore what doesn't fit the narrative. If I'm not mistaken the only republican presidential aspirant who wants to pull out right away is Ron Paul.
And he's certainly setting
July 10, 2007 - 20:46 ET by dervishAnd he's certainly setting the polls on fire, eh?
And these people know what ag
July 10, 2007 - 20:30 ET by tkeefeAnd these people know what again about what a conservative thinks????????????????? Their statements are like me shooting in the dark hoping to hit a bullseye JEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
First of all, Sen. McCain's c
July 10, 2007 - 20:32 ET by Dave RFirst of all, Sen. McCain's campaign is headed for the bottom for one reason, and one reason only: His unwavering support for the scamnesty bill. Despite the re-shuffling of his campaign staff that we all heard about today, his presidential ambitions are dead-in-the-water. He is now reduced to re-arranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship.
The only person on Planet Earth that does not realize that his presidential bid is history is, apparently, Sen. McCain himself. Yes, he probably could have weathered his RINO fence-sitting over the years, but my guess is, the state that produced Barry Goldwater, who IMHO is the father of the modern conservative movement, could no-longer support this man for POTUS, despite his support for the GWOT, based on his position on illegal immigration.
Personally, I'm glad McCain the RINO is out of the picture for good, as this will, hopefully, make Fred's trek that much easier.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
I agree, but the one thing th
July 10, 2007 - 20:56 ET by Conservative VoiceI agree, but the one thing that doesn't fit is Rudy, why is he still the front runner? He is just as tough on Iraq, was just as stupid with illegal immigration, and yet he still is ahead of the pack. I think it boils down to people not trusting McCain, and going with Rudy because despite his misgivings, he hasn't tried to tear down President Bush for the sake of some media points. (BTW Rudy is not my first choice)
I like Fred, and I'm interested in how he does once he starts running...I hope there is substance to his hype.
CV,I think it boils down to p
July 10, 2007 - 21:11 ET by Dave RCV,
I think it boils down to people not trusting McCain, and going with Rudy because despite his misgivings, he hasn't tried to tear down President Bush for the sake of some media points.
I agree. Admittedly, I have some serious issues with the way Mr. Bush has managed this conflict. While I do not doubt his resolve, I do question his methods, particularly in the area of the rules of engagement, as well as his overall willingness to employ the full resources of our military.
Having said that, McCain's "derision" at the so-called "torture" issue left me truly wondering about the man's resolve.
No evidence has yet been produced that even remotely suggests that any captured Islamic radical was, in fact, tortured. I saw several interviews at the time in which Sen. McCain was alledging exactly that. Curious response, that was.
As for Rudy, I think he is still viewed (and rightly so) as a man who can perform under pressure. He showed real leadership on 9/11, despite his opponents attempts (incl. the MSM) to demonstrate otherwise in the time since.
Believe me, I would vote for Rudy if it came right down to it, despite his questionable "conservative" credentials, as I like the guy personally.
Besides, he absolutely despises the Hildebeast, and that is a huge plus in my book.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
I feel the same way. Rudy has
July 10, 2007 - 21:20 ET by mvfreemanI feel the same way. Rudy has national recognition and I feel that he can garner independent votes which are crucial to any candidate.
If he got liberals in NYC to vote for him he has a good chance to pick up swing voters.
mv,If my man Fred doesn't jum
July 10, 2007 - 21:31 ET by Dave Rmv,
If my man Fred doesn't jump in, (and I am praying that he will, and that right soon) Rudy will be my choice for POTUS.
Besides, watching him tear The Hildewench a few new ones over the course of the campaign would be, well, damned priceless.
Help Fred defeat the RINOs, along with the Hitllary-Obama Axis, & win the White House in '08.
Thompson / Rice 2008
July 10, 2007 - 21:39 ET by Free StinkerIf my man Fred doesn't jump in
Don't say that! We need Fred!
And Connie as V.P. Then she becomse President in 2016!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Fred Thompson and Ann Coulter walk into a bar. The bar is instantly destroyed because that much awesome cannot be contained in one building.
Right, McCain's war stance is
July 10, 2007 - 20:33 ET by SMGalbraithRight, McCain's war stance is the cause for all of his problems.
Well, she is right that his Iraq support has hurt him with one of his (former) constituencies: The MSM.
Anyway, I guess Ron Paul must be picking up all of McCain's former supporters, right Ms. Couric?
Along with Giuliani's and Romney's because they too support the surge and Bush's Iraq policies.
Terrible reporting, just terrible.
Yeah, the MSM liked McCain
July 10, 2007 - 20:53 ET by zhombreYeah, the MSM liked McCain when he was a maverick and an alternative to George Bush but their loyalty lasts about as long as that of the call girls Senator Vitter hired.
Well of course this is how
July 10, 2007 - 20:49 ET by FairlightWell of course this is how Katie would report it. This is the same person that thinks no one watches her because she is a woman.
Proof
July 10, 2007 - 22:39 ET by Clear thinkerThis is just another example of how the left knows absolutely nothing about conservatives.
Liberals... silly people!
The liberal MSM has become an enemy of the USA.
Here is the template, now fit
July 11, 2007 - 06:34 ET by USA4freedomHere is the template, now fit the story to it.= Nightly news!
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Clear thinker, I totally a
July 11, 2007 - 06:42 ET by USA4freedomClear thinker,
I totally agree. remember: “it’s the economy stupid”
Well for conservatives its: Fence/Borders, Spending, Mc Cain/Feingold. The only thing that is giving him *ANY* support is his support of the war.
The MSM does not see the glass half full or half empty, they don’t see the glass.
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Buh Bye McCain!
July 11, 2007 - 07:08 ET by Six String SpiffSometimes you have to stand in awe at what the MSSM 'reports'.
McCains Presidential ambitions are the toilet because his dumb ass thought he could push an amnesty bill down our throats. Let's review, shall we?
1. McCain Announces his disapproval of the War in Iraq.
2. That same day he becomes the 'Maverick' of the Republican party.
3. Launches "Straight Talk Express" tour.. (Laughable)
4. In his drunken like haze induced by the MSSM, his confidence is boosted to dangerous levels, and gets a false sense of worth.
5. At some point he becomes buddy buddy with Ted Kennedy (That said it all, didn't it?) and crafts the 'Comprehensive Immigration Reform' Bill. Also known to Patriots as AMNESTY.
6. Conservatives collectively shout "WTF?!"
7. The amnesty bill gets torpedoed along with the "straigh Talk Express".
8. McCain is exiled.
Oh yeah, the war really killed him..... rrrrrrrriiight
What the MSSM doesn't report can kill you.
What I love about McCain is
July 11, 2007 - 07:16 ET by sarcasmoWhat I love about McCain's woe is that it's forced the media to mention Ron Paul. Yesterday, Pat Buchanan -- who has run in a Presidential race against libertarians before and knows whereof he speaks -- said: "If Ron Paul had raised $22 million he'd have $21 million eight hundred thousand on-hand." Sometimes, experience shows...
JMR
Sarc - Ron Paul
July 11, 2007 - 07:43 ET by Six String SpiffSarcasmo, Honestly, when I watched the debates, I was practically hollering at the television to let Ron Paul speak more. the way the nets situate 'the big three' is blatent bias. I don't a crap who the media thinks is important. I want to hear all of the candidates speak, and just a mud slinging contest between 3 people. Two of which I am not too keen with. I think a Romney/Paul ticket would be great. It's too bad his isolationist stance is killing him. I have been hearing a lot of things about Fred Thompson. Maybe it's my age, but I never heard of Fred thompson until 4 months ago. I don't have any facts on Thompson except that the media hates him, and that is a good sign for me.
PS. Sorry bud
What the MSSM doesn't report can kill you.
I keep running into this wo
July 11, 2007 - 07:53 ET by sarcasmoI keep running into this word "isolationist" -- does it really translate from a vote against the Iraq adventure, even now, despite his previous post-9/11 vote FOR going-after Osama in Afghanistan? And it still astounds me that, from a look at stories posted by the NB masthead (0) apparently there has been absolutely no media bias against Ron Paul whatsoever, and it's all been against other Republicans. Remarkable! Goose-egg!! Clearly, the news media did a great job on things like that asskicking party that outdrew the "debate" in Iowa. To my very-biased eyes, sometimes NB looks almost like the news media, itself!! ;)
JMR
Sarc - Ron Paul 2
July 11, 2007 - 08:12 ET by Six String SpiffHmmm... Good point. He did vote for going after Osama. However, I think that was because there was solid evidence that he was the master mind behind 9/11. I remember one of the (very few) things he said in the second debate. It was along the lines of "pre-emptively war is nonsense". Which I agree with... to an extent. I completely disagree with how this war was executed, but am confident in this country's resolve. The American people can only wander why we haven't kicked the arse off the enemy for so long. Bush's rules of engagement are horrible to say the least.
What the MSSM doesn't report can kill you.
I just wish we'd gotten rid
July 11, 2007 - 08:18 ET by sarcasmoI just wish we'd gotten rid of Saddam on the cheap in the '80s when he first used chemical weapons on the Kurds. Putin seems to have an effective method -- feed 'em some weird radioactive isotope. Now I think the only real hope for peace is if Iraq is divided-up somehow, which won't be easy...But at this point I also think all pro-Israel people should be arguing that Kurdistan deserves to exist, both for moral reasons and for the good of Israel and the region.
JMR
Facts have taken a powder as
July 11, 2007 - 07:22 ET by BeowulfFacts have taken a powder as far as network news is concerned. This isn't rocket science. The MSM is for "immigration reform" and against the war in Iraq. Since the MSM is for "immigration reform", and since the MSM speak for all Americans, then "immigration reform" simply CAN'T be a reason for McCain's drop in the polls. Therefore, ergo, and duh, McCain is suffering in the polls because he is for the war. Pretty simple, huh?
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers