The NewsBusters Weekly Recap: August 25 to September 1

September 1st, 2007 10:45 AM

They Really Care

Several media outlets used the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina as an excuse to promote the 2008 Democratic candidates. On CNN, right after running a glowing piece on Democrats such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, anchor Soledad O’Brien sermonized that "no event has damaged the Bush White House more than Katrina." Over on ABC, "Good Morning America" co-host Robin Roberts claimed that candidates from "both parties" would travel to New Orleans to "point out the Bush administration's shortcomings in fixing many problems that still exist, like those being forced to still live in trailers."

Those Vile Republicans

"Hardball" regular David Shuster managed to combine both the Katrina coverage with the scandal over Senator Larry Craig. He bizarrely claimed that the Craig incident "adds moral insult to the injuries being suffered today by the victims of Hurricane Katrina."

Not That We’re Piling On...

The major networks continued this lecturing theme. NBC’s Matt Lauer labeled the scandal a "conservative crisis." He also excitedly wondered, "Can the right-wing withstand yet another scandal involving one of its own?" CBS’s Katie Couric asserted that the Craig controversy is an example of how the "GOP is already under a cloud" of probes.

No Wonder The Ratings Are So Low

In a recent print interview, Bernard Shaw blamed, as only a former CNN anchor could, virulent racism for the illegal immigration debate. According to Shaw, illegal aliens "are here, and they are a vital part of the American fabric."

Despite all the media bias, everyone at NewsBusters would like to wish our readers a terrific Labor Day weekend!