NBC Reporter's Idea of Balance: Dem Voices Outnumber GOP 4 to

March 15th, 2010 11:06 AM
NBC's Savannah Guthrie gave little time to the GOP view on health care, on Monday's Today, as the reporter offered only one soundbite to a Republican compared to four Democrats in favor of the health care bill. In a report headlined: "One More Last Chance, Will Democrats Pass Health Care Reform This Week?" Guthrie began the piece: "Well we've said it before, but this is it. The White House press…

NBC Applauds Obama’s ‘Fighting’ Mode as He Catches Up with Sawye

March 9th, 2010 10:14 AM
“During the presidential campaign, candidate Barack Obama often used the phrase ‘fired up’ to do just that to the crowd. Democrats have been openly wondering when he was going to bring that campaign energy and fire to an issue like health care reform,” Brian Williams announced at the top of Monday’s NBC Nightly News,” and “today the President chose an event at a quiet Philadelphia suburb to get…

Matthews Sees Alinsky In Obama's Healthcare Summit Performance

February 26th, 2010 2:14 PM
Chris Matthews on Thursday said President Obama was using a Saul Alinsky communication technique during the healthcare summit earlier that day.Talking to NBC's Chuck Todd and Savannah Guthrie about the festivities at Blair House, the "Hardball" host couldn't help but notice community organization skills on display."By the way, that`s the Saul Alinsky in him -- that is the community organizer,"…

'Morning Joe': Internet and New Media Are Dividing America

February 24th, 2010 12:20 PM
If you're reading this or spending time at politically oriented, new media websites, you are adding to the caustic tone in Washington, D.C.Such was discussed on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Wednesday during a roundtable segment wherein no one disagreed with this premise.Joining Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski were conservative contributor Pat Buchanan, Time's Peter Beinart, and NBC's Savannah…

Nets Provide Friendly Reception for Obama’s Plan and Why It’s Need

February 23rd, 2010 1:55 AM
President Obama’s health plan announced Monday is little more than the Senate bill with a new tax and federal price control regime, but ABC’s Diane Sawyer touted how “Obama today officially put forward his plan” and CBS’s Katie Couric hailed “a plan of his own,” though she pointed out “it includes no public option.” (In contrast, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie observed: “This new plan of the President's…

Matthews: We're Learning Obama Can't Change Things With Just The Power

February 21st, 2010 7:40 PM
Chris Matthews is beginning to realize that Barack Obama can't change things with just the power of his personality.Such was amazingly discussed during the syndicated talk show bearing his name this weekend as two White House correspondents made some astonishing claims about the current resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. "He feels that he has some ability to bring people together," noted NBC's…

NBC’s Guthrie on Deficits: $100 Billion Spending Plan No Big Deal, B

February 2nd, 2010 3:41 PM
Historically, there are two kinds of White House reporters: those that confront officials with the strongest critique and demand a response (think ABC’s Sam Donaldson, who dogged Bill Clinton in the late 1990s just as he had Ronald Reagan in the 1980s); and those who see their job as simply repeating the White House spin of the day.Reporting this morning on the Obama administration’s push for…

NBC's Savannah Guthrie: Stenographer to the President Fighting 'Petty

January 29th, 2010 3:27 PM
On the first evening newscasts after President Obama’s State of the Union address, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie won hands down if there were an award for stenography to White House power. Guthrie loaded up with five Obama soundbites and one from Nancy Pelosi, leaving Republicans at the end with with one soundbite from House Minority Leader John Boehner.On ABC, Jake Tapper offered two Obama bites and…

MSNBC’s Savannah Guthrie on Possible Dem Loss: ‘This Is Bad

January 15th, 2010 12:04 PM
Perhaps providing a window into the mind of journalists, MSNBC’s Savannah Guthrie on Friday appeared shocked that a Democrat might lose in next week’s Massachusetts Senate election. "This is bad," fretted the Daily Rundown co-host. [Audio available here.] She prefaced that comment by ominously observing, "With just four days to go in the race for Teddy Kennedy's Senate seat, a new poll is…

'I'm Sure Rahm Emanuel Waiting For Baby Shower Invites He Wasn't Getti

October 26th, 2009 2:17 PM
Slam dunk, or nothing-but-net three-pointer?  Either way, with a line he got off today, Chuck Todd has surely scored some points in the battle over Pres. Obama's all-male White House basketball games.The NBC News political director/chief WH correspondent took his shot while discussing the issue with Andrea Mitchell—whose sympathies were clearly with the distaff side—during the 1PM hour slot on…

Rush: If Fox News Is Talk Radio, MSNBC and CNN Are Pornography

October 22nd, 2009 8:03 PM
Rush Limbaugh has responded to Barack Obama's claim that Fox News is like talk radio by stating that if the President is right, MSNBC and CNN are pornography.As NewsBusters' Mark Finkelstein reported Thursday, Obama replied to a question about Fox News from NBC's Savannah Guthrie on this morning's "Today" show: "[I]f media is operating basically as a talk-radio format, then that's one thing, and…

Obama: Fox Operates More Like 'Talk Radio' Than As 'News Outlet

October 22nd, 2009 8:10 AM
Pres. Obama has described Fox News as "operating basically as a talk-radio format" rather than as a "news outlet."When NBC's Savannah Guthrie raised [in a segment of her extended interview of the president aired on Today this morning] the issue of White House attacks on Fox News, PBO first tried to play the statesman, resorting to the old dodge about "the American people" being more interested in…

NBC Nightly News Champions Obama's Sensitivity to Women

October 21st, 2009 9:01 PM
Tied to NBC's promotion of Maria Shriver's “A Woman's Nation” report, completed in conjunction with the left-wing Center for American Progress, Wednesday's NBC Nightly News showcased Savannah Guthrie's interview with President Barack Obama in which she trumpeted how he “has put women in high places in his administration and the Supreme Court. The first bill he signed, a pay discrimination law.”…

NBC's Turn to Fall In Love With Obama-Adoring Kid

October 16th, 2009 12:27 PM
Last night ABC News, as the MRC’s Brent Baker noted, showcased the "Why People Hate You Obama?" kid and on Friday’s "Today" show it was NBC's turn to be charmed by the Obama-adoring child. NBC's Savannah Guthrie, reporting from College Station, Texas about Obama's latest health care pitch and his upcoming joint appearance with George H.W. Bush to promote volunteerism, squeezed in a clip of Tyren…