Reminiscent of the high dudgeon Washington press corps reaction after a few hours passed before they were notified of Vice President Cheney's hunting accident, on Tuesday some reporters denounced the White House for failing to publicly announce how last month First Lady Laura Bush had a skin cancer growth removed from one of her legs. On FNC, Brit Hume played a montage from the daily briefing showing how journalists “demanded to know why they hadn't been told earlier." NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, for instance, asked “how was the decision reached not to disclose this publicly until questions were asked?" And she challenged White House Press Secretary Tony Snow: "Do you feel any obligation as a person of public status to talk about this?"
On the CBS Evening News, Katie Couric framed the story not around the cancer but around how the White House didn't reveal it: "Laura Bush has been treated for skin cancer, and today she and others in the administration were defending her decision to try to keep that story out of the press.” CBS reporter Jim Axelrod at least noted the lack of threat to the First Lady's health: "In October, Mrs. Bush noticed a sore that wouldn't heal. A biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, among the most common and treatable skin cancers."
In contrast to CBS, which fallowed Axelrod's story with a look at skin cancer from Doctor Jon LaPook, the ABC and NBC evening newscasts skipped the DC press corps' whining and used the disclosure only as a hopping off point to examine the symptoms and treatment of skin cancer. ABC anchor Charles Gibson, for example, set up a medical-based story: “We learned late yesterday that First Lady Laura Bush had a skin cancer tumor removed from her leg last month. She is said to be healing well, but one in five people in the U.S. will develop some form of skin cancer.”
On the December 19 Special Report with Brit Hume on FNC, Hume played a montage of clips from the White House press briefing:
Kelly O'Donnell, NBC News: “Tony, can you tell us about Mrs. Bush's skin cancer, how is she doing and how was the decision reached not to disclose this publicly until questions were asked?”Victoria Jones, Talk Radio News Service: “Which was it, was it that it was medical privacy that was the reason for not informing us, or was it that it was no big deal?”
O'Donnell: “Do you feel any obligation as a person of public status to talk about this?”
Jessica Yellin, ABC News: “Did the White House doctor treat her?”
Kathleen Koch, CNN: “Does the First Lady say she actually does not plan to come out in any way? She could potentially have a great influence on a lot of people's lives, especially young women.”
Tony Snow: “You guys are really stretching it. I mean, it is now officially a really slow news day.”
The MRC's Brad Wilmouth corrected the closed-captioning against the video for the CBS Evening News story:
Katie Couric: “Laura Bush has been treated for skin cancer, and today she and others in the administration were defending her decision to try to keep that story out of the press. Jim Axelrod has the latest."
Jim Axelrod: "It was at last night's White House Hanukkah party when a reporter asked about a bandage on Mrs. Bush's shin. Until then, not a word had been said about the First Lady's skin cancer."
Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary: "And, again, it's no big deal. In this case, it's just not a big deal."
Axelrod: "In October, Mrs. Bush noticed a sore that wouldn't heal. A biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, among the most common and treatable skin cancers."
Dr. Elizabeth Hale, New York University School of Medicine: "There is a very low chance of any serious consequence from a squamous cell cancer confined to the skin."
Axelrod: "The tumor was removed. End of story, says the White House. This was not Nancy Reagan's or Betty Ford's breast cancer, but a smaller, private medical matter, more like the flu, according to Tony Snow."
Snow: "They did local anesthetic, they removed it."
Axelrod: "First Lady's aides say she didn't miss a step, traveling to Asia, and then hosting 24 holiday parties for 12,000 guests in the first few weeks after the procedure."
—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center
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Comments Policy
As Tony Snow noted, it must h
December 19, 2006 - 22:04 ET by NazarethAs Tony Snow noted, it must have been a REAL slow news day lol
http://sacredscoop.com
As Tony Snow noted, it must h
December 19, 2006 - 22:05 ET by NazarethAs Tony Snow noted, it must have been a REAL slow news day lol
http://sacredscoop.com
Katie, Catty, whatever . . .
December 19, 2006 - 22:07 ET by Free StinkerI was about 30 feet away from Ms. Couric today and heard her speaking to various people.
I was even more underwhelmed than when she was on the Today Show . . .
Every one of these "repo
December 19, 2006 - 22:07 ET by MikeBEvery one of these "reporters" should be asked, "Just how is this matter any of your f*$#*&^ business?"
If the First Lady has squamous cell carcinoma, or the President has ingrown toenails, or the Vice-President has a hunting accident, it is not any of the Press' business. I see nothing in the First Amendment, or anywhere else in the Constitution or in any federal law that requires the press to be informed of a bleeding thing. If they find out, fine, but they are not entitled to be informed of anything, especially things of a personal nature even of public figures.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Notice if this was any First
December 19, 2006 - 22:16 ET by UnsaneNotice if this was any First Lady of a Leftist, the reporters would have kept their mouths shut and scolded the public, telling us all to shut the hell up about it, that it is none of our business.
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
I'll agree that it is not t
December 20, 2006 - 04:27 ET by polliwogI'll agree that it is not the business of the press. They hound celebrities, and the First Lady is some sort of celebrity. It is none of their business, none of our business.
But I am curious. Do you have any evidence that the situation would be different if the subject were a leftist, or are you just making that up? Like, is there at least one situation where such a thing has occurred? Please cite it.
Yep. When Clinton disgraced
December 20, 2006 - 08:32 ET by fosstenYep. When Clinton disgraced the office of the Presidency by attempting to suborn perjury and lied to a federal judge, the media and the Democrats shriekingly circled the wagons, distracting from the issue and declaring that what somebody does in their private life is nobody else's business.
... but they reported every
December 21, 2006 - 03:17 ET by polliwog... but they reported every juicy detail, didn't they? Hardly what I would call "shutting up".
Laura v. Bill
December 20, 2006 - 12:41 ET by jw919In August 1998 when Bill Clinton did his "mea culpa" re: Monica on national tv, we were told that "even President's have private lives." So, if its true for BC, isn't it true for Mrs. Bush? Once again, the MSM making something out of nothing...
I wish I could take credit
December 19, 2006 - 22:08 ET by Tom1969caI wish I could take credit for the brilliance that follows, but the HT must go to "Clay in Old Saybrook, Connecticut" who called in to the Rush Limbaugh show today:
Game. Set. Match!
~~~
"Government should only do what only government can do."
-- Prime Minister Kim Campbell, 1993
EXCELLENT! Wish I'd have hear
December 19, 2006 - 23:43 ET by Indiana JoeEXCELLENT! Wish I'd have heard that one! Bet Rush LOVED it!!!
Well, come to think of it, now I have.
Great response!!!
Zinggg! Great job Clay in
December 20, 2006 - 08:21 ET by JerryZinggg! Great job Clay in Connecticut!
But.. but.. even though the cancerous growth has been convicted of attempted murder, it should be spared. It was just a victim of it's environment, probably abused by some drunken father cancer.
Surely you aren't trying to imply a moral equivalence between the murder of living cancer cells and the extraction of some non-viable blob that presents a TRUE threat to the mother.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment
vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any
President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
I wonder if people asked Ke
December 20, 2006 - 08:54 ET by Red JeepI wonder if people asked Kelly O’Donnell or Katie Couric or (insert female reporterette’s name here) if she ever had a nonviable tissue mass removed would she answer or would she slap the person asking?
mental health day
December 19, 2006 - 23:13 ET by ucLet's call it a mental health day >> Press obviously doesn't want to talk about Hillary Clinton or look into all repercusions of flauting Hillary (not to be confused with Helen who launched many ships) and may be too stressed about alternatives that would make them have to do their jobs for themselves. Why not go off on another non-newsworthy story decision to avoid looking at new Time magazine cover - for what it might truely reveal.
May all the prayers be in your healing interest, First Lady Laura Bush.
So about this other first lady is it now forteen or fifteen years she has been living with the luxury and security of secret service protection as well as all the yes-m lawyers to tell sure have it your way Hillary. To wake up Hillary must be like waking up saying you have written the words I am to speak today and have scripted the emotions I should show today and have vetted all the questions I could possibly receive today and have not brought up any negatives about me. ??? A vote for Hillary would be a vote I think for a candidate with the longest amount of secret service protection ever in our American history. Which First Lady should have been the story today? Oh and are there studies of post traumatic disorder among first ladies and past presidents or just separation anxiety - and about PTSD it isn't likely we would know for sure until such time as events presented themselves to trigger such subsurface mental conditions possibly brought on by too much time holding up the highest office in the\our land.??
Hillary as a candidate really should have to be put through a new and stricter barrage of test even than astranauts go through. It should be in her interest to comply if she wants voters to believe at the first crisis she won't go calling for Bill. How about twice as strict as NASA and secret service standards. Just some democratic of the people thinking.
uc
December 20, 2006 - 00:34 ET by foolnomoreLa'shrillness::don't know if you could get the "veterinarian" to get that close,plus he'd have to get hazardous pay for those duties,
Actually, uc, that is a brilliant point you have made.
December 20, 2006 - 07:59 ET by acaiguanaActually, uc, that is a brilliant point you have made.
I had never thought of it exactly this way. Neither have I heard it expressed. You are totally right. This woman is the personification of the Left's screaming about Reagan being an 'actor' scripted by a cabal of right-wing secret shadow government authoritarians. Further, she definately cannot be allowed to think for herself.
She has done nothing - repeat nothing - to deserve the accolade of 'smartest' woman in the universe. She shrilly screams through whole speaches rather than just being stuck on stupid for one moment like Howard Dean (who I think only has one scream to his credit).
She is completely scary as a person.
But, she'll run and then lose and then we'll have a Republican President for the next 8 years. Of course with the small exception of the last election I am always right in my predictions.
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "Ya can't win if ya don't play."
Driveby Media Vanity
December 19, 2006 - 23:39 ET by doctorfixitOnly the Driveby Media have the right to decide what stories the American people will never hear. It's for our own good, you see.
Bee Blogger
Ten Reforms That Will Save America
If they HAD announced this be
December 19, 2006 - 23:41 ET by Indiana JoeIf they HAD announced this before the election, wouldn't they have been accused of trying for the "sympathy" vote? Not that Bush was running, as we've all probably pointed out at one time or the other, but just to get some sympathetic votes for the party?
I know that would have been the accusation.
What will Nun see Pee Low See
December 19, 2006 - 23:53 ET by ucWhat will Nun see Pee Low See (Nancy Pelosi) have to say about a story holding so much water about holding of office?
Pick one...
December 20, 2006 - 00:24 ET by The Ohio TheoryWhen O'Donnell asked, "how is she doing and how was the decision reached not to disclose this publicly", Tony Snow should have replied, "that's two questions...I'll let you pick...which one do you care to have answered?"
Can't anything be private f
December 20, 2006 - 00:38 ET by awffp1890Can't anything be private from the mainstream media vultures? Idiots! Mrs. Bush handled this situation with dignity. Take a lesson MSM!
Good question, but when you'r
December 20, 2006 - 00:41 ET by balboaGood question, but when you're the First Lady, there isn't much privacy.
If she'd had sex with an inte
December 20, 2006 - 08:36 ET by fosstenIf she'd had sex with an intern, and her name ended with Clinton, the press would have screamed about privacy.
This gaggle of conservative h
December 20, 2006 - 04:37 ET by Andrew H.This gaggle of conservative haters actually think they own any tid-bit of news... unless its about their dim dem brothers and sisters where they are sure to frame the story to do the least harm. They're not even amusing any more.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
These shameless sensationalis
December 20, 2006 - 04:42 ET by NL207These shameless sensationalists in the MSM know no limits. One would think that Mrs. Bush's private medical information is, well, PRIVATE! But he press in this country thinks they get to decide what is private and what is not.
hmm...
December 20, 2006 - 05:00 ET byAs much as I agree that the first lady has every right to keep her medical business private, she appears to have at the very least, wanted it to be found out. Had she really not wanted it known, she would have warn a longer dress.
And yes, I agree that the news was slow that day, as it is today. And I find that to be a good thing. Is it not?
Debra... of: www.InformingChristians.com
…she appears to have at the
December 20, 2006 - 07:40 ET by PeskyDane…she appears to have at the very least, wanted to be found out...
You may not have meant to do this, but that statement implies grade-school level thinking on behalf of the First Lady. Since she didn't make an overt effort to hide it, she and the White House surely anticipated the question being raised.
The point of the article though is to simply highlight the sense of entitlement on the part of the press. Sitting in the press room of the White House is a privilege, not a right. The White House provides briefings as a courtesy.
Had I meant my statement to b
December 20, 2006 - 22:29 ET byHad I meant my statement to be an implication that the first lady has a grade-school level of thinking, then it would be such. However, considering that I did not mean such, I am left to believe that it was your translation that was not up to the standards of which you appear to be looking for.
Debra... -
First Lady's Health
December 20, 2006 - 10:16 ET by conantThese fools were all up in arms over patient privacy and we wound up having to deal with HIPAA. Ever stood by your 90y/o mother's hospital bed and had some twit with a white coat refuse to speak with you citing HIPAA? Did the First Lady give each one of these losers a signed authorization? If not I guess they have no right to the info just like the rest of us
The MSM has been fooled again
December 20, 2006 - 11:26 ET by GalvanicThe MSM has been fooled again. Even the cancer announcement was a cover for the actual procedure ---- the First Lady's PAP smear. But don't tell the gals in the Press Corps.
Not since Herbert Hoover !!!!!
December 20, 2006 - 12:39 ET by Pickaxe PeteWait for it...... and second now....
This cancer thingy is obviously just another attempt to divert America's attention from this administrations failed policies blah blah blah blah blah
The Bodie Specter - "I'd rather be hit with Dick Cheney's shot than with Bill Clinton's wad"