CBS Bias Diet: Heavy on the Banzhaf, Light on Conservatives

Are your a trial attorney with a record of frivolous lawsuits and a legal mind tailor made for con-tort-ing the law to fit your liberal agenda? Are you looking for some free air time on the "CBS Evening News"?

Then give Trish Regan a call. My colleague Julia Seymour noticed that on the November 30 edition of the news program the CBS correspondent gave GW Law prof George Banzhaf an infomercial compared to the paltry 10 seconds of opposition she gave to a critic of the food police.

“This could be the smoking gun. We could say that fat is the next tobacco,” said John Banzhaf of the George Washington University Law School, best known for his crusading lawsuits against the tobacco companies. Regan explained that Banzhaf wants to “go after fast food companies” and has already been involved in lawsuits that “resulted in settlements or industry changes.”

Banzhaf said he thinks if fast food companies had to clearly disclose fat and calorie information and provide “appropriate health warnings” it will immediately and dramatically impact “the overall problem of obesity.”

Regan then tried to provide some balance to her report by quoting Elizabeth Whelan of the American Council on Science and Health, an adviser to the Business & Media Institute. “When you say a food is addictive,” said Whelan, “what you’re really saying is that the obese person is a victim…that’s abandoning individual responsibility.”

But Whelan’s comments took a mere 10 seconds of the broadcast, a third of the time taken with Banzhaf’s comments and Regan’s explanation of what the lawyer wants to do about fast food companies.

KFC, Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Arby’s logos were all distinguishable during the broadcast. Despite that, Regan neglected to speak with any food companies about the cost impact of changes Banzhaf wants to see.