2004 Flashback: Times Minimizes Kerry Adultery Story
A story that mildly resembles today's McCain "scoop" came four years ago, the charge that young AP reporter Alexandra Polier may have had an affair with John Kerry. No proof emerged. How did the New York Times cover that charge? On February 17, 2004, on page A-19, the Times ran a 434-word piece by reporter Jim Rutenberg, one of the four reporters on the McCain story today. The rumor had a "…
MSNBC Cites Bozell Blast at NYT On McCain Hit Job
MSNBC has cited and discussed the press release issued today by Brent Bozell, President of NB's parent Media Research Center, excoriating the New York Times for its article on John McCain. The discussion came during the network's post-press conference analysis of McCain's appearance this morning.JOE SCARBOROUGH: Let me interrupt. This is interesting. Mika just handed me a Blackberry quote here…
Stephanopoulos: Will NYT Article Rally Rush, Ingraham to McCain
File under Law of Unintended Consequences . . . There has been significant speculation in the MSM that an upshot of the NYT's McCain piece could be to rally support for McCain from conservatives like Rush Limbaugh who heretofore have been, shall we say, less than enthusiastic about the Arizona senator.Typical was this exchange from today's Good Morning America, which followed an appearance by…
New Republic Editor: 'Times In the Tank' for Dem Nominee
Don't want to take NB's word about the NYT's liberal bias affecting its news coverage? Here's James Kirchick, Assistant Editor of the liberal New Republic, writing in TNR's "Plank" blog last night about the New York Times McCain article [emphasis added]:What Story?So here's the essence of the Times' 3,000-word "bombshell" on John McCain.John Weaver, whom McCain fired last summer (indentified…
MSNBC Employees Laugh as Olbermann Humiliates Matthews
An interesting thing happened during MSNBC's coverage of Tuesday's primaries: Keith Olbermann humiliated Chris Matthews as studio employees laughed in the background (video after the jump). As the campaign coverage waned late into the evening, Matthews was interviewing Barack Obama supporter Kirk Watson (D), and was trying to get the Texas state senator to list some of the Illinois…
Chicago Sun-Times Gives Barack Obama His Own Section
In a July 12th NewsBusters article I noted that the Chicago Sun-Times made a move to revitalize their diminishing subscription numbers by turning back time and returning to its liberal roots. That sentiment was captured by Cheryl L. Reed in a statement she made after being promoted from the paper's book editor to the new editorial page editor.We are returning to our liberal, working-class roots,…
Time: Mrs. McCain Part of 'Rough Republican Attack Machine
It appears now that Barack Obama is the favorite to win the Democrat nomination for president, media are reluctant to use Hillary Clinton's "vast right-wing conspiracy" tag.Apparently, the new strategy when someone on the right says something someone on the left doesn't like is to blame it all on the "Rough Republican Attack Machine."At least this was the way Time editor-at-large Mark Halperin…
'She's Wanted This Opportunity All Her Life
Tim Russert: "Will you run in 2008?"Hillary Clinton: "I have no plans to run for president."--NBC's "Meet the Press," 9/15/02Really? According to a prominent supporter and Arkansan who's known her a long time, Hillary's apparently always had her sights set on the Oval Office.Retired General Wesley Clark, a member of Team Hillary, appeared on today's Morning Joe and had this exchange with host Joe…
If Only That Texas Pol Cornered by Matthews Had Said This
Someone should tell Chris Matthews to go pick on someone his own size . . . Matthews enjoyed himself at the expense of a local legislator during last night's MSNBC coverage of the primaries. Kirk Watson [shown in a clip from today's Morning Joe] is a state senator from Texas and an Obama supporter. Matthews cornered Watson at length over his inability to name specific accomplishments by Barack.…