CBS’s Smith Compares Obama to Lincoln; Obama Attacks Hannity

In an interview with Barack Obama aired on Thursday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith lobbed softballs at the Democratic candidate, spending half the interview on Obama visiting his ailing grandmother: "Lincoln said, 'all I ever hope to be, I owe to her,' in speaking about his mother. Your grandmother was very much like a mother to you. How important is this trip?" Smith later observed: "Some…
Kyle Drennen

Thanks, NB Readers: 547% Growth Over Last Year

NewsBusters has seen the second most explosive growth -- 547 percent -- in total unique visitors among major "stand-alone political blogs and news sites," according to an October 22 news release by comScore, Inc. ComScore defines such stand-alones as "blogs unaffiliated with larger news properties," such as traditional media outlets like the New York Times or Time magazine.Only the liberal…
NB Staff

Cynthia McFadden to Clinton: Comparisons to Palin Must 'Rankle You

On Tuesday's "Nightline," co-anchor Cynthia McFadden conducted her second interview this week with Hillary Clinton and, once again, offered no policy questions and focused only on pushing the New York senator to bash Governor Sarah Palin. The liberal journalist repeatedly questioned, five times in total, variations on whether or not Palin is qualified or good for women. At one point she even…
Scott Whitlock

Morning Show Cans Food Companies for 'Shrinking' Products

'Early Show' sources say they were 'duped' and blame companies using 'sneaky' tactics.
Paul Detrick

Where's Media Talk About Obama Buying The Election

If John McCain had gone back on his promise to accept public campaign money, and instead set fundraising records that put him as many as fourteen points ahead in the polls with less than two weeks to go before Election Day, do you think there'd be a lot of media carping and whining about rich Republicans buying the White House?Probably 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the final vote had…
Noel Sheppard

CNN: Legalized Prostitution Could Help San Fran Economy

Finding a pro-deregulation stance in the media is often tough, but when if it suits some far out cause against societal norms, don't rule it out. Sunny Hostin, CNN "American Morning" legal analyst, examined the pros and cons of a San Francisco ballot measure to be voted on next month called Proposition K. The measure would decriminalize prostitution. But Hostin said there was a case, not for…
Jeff Poor

Study: 3 Times More Negative Than Positive Reports About McCain

Want to talk media bias?A new study from the Project for Excellence in Journalism found that since the Republican National Convention, there have been three times more negative press reports about John McCain than positive ones.By contrast, during the same period, media coverage of Obama has been more positive than negative.Think this might be impacting voter perceptions?Here are the study's key…
Noel Sheppard

Imperial Brian Williams Huffs: I Had to Wait '55 Days' to Talk to Pali

If observers of this campaign have learned one thing, it's that you had better not stand up David Letterman or Brian Williams if you hope to run for high office, lest you risk their diva-like wrath and pouting. Promoting his exclusive interview with John McCain and Sarah Palin, on Thursday's "Today" show the anchor of "NBC Nightly News" repeatedly complained about how long he had to wait to…
Geoffrey Dickens

Sen. Bingaman (D-N.M.): Fairness Doctrine Would Help Radio Reach 'High

In a stunning on-air admission of his desire to re-regulate radio and infringe on free speech, Obama supporter and New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D) argued recently that the so-called Fairness Doctrine -- which would mandate equal time for opposing viewpoints on radio programming -- would elevate talk radio to a "higher calling." Bingaman lamented that radio without the "Fairness Doctrine" has…
Ken Shepherd

Study: More Voters Know Joe the Plumber than Obama's ACORN Ties

Want to talk media bias?A new survey found that more Americans know who Joe the Plumber is than about Barack Obama's ties to the radical group ACORN.The same study released Wednesday by the highly-respected Pew Resesearch Center found that voters, by a margin of almost eight to one, believe media want Barack Obama to win on Election Day instead of John McCain.Although it is typical the public…
Noel Sheppard

Would One Candidate Make a Better CEO

It's all about leadership. Business & Media Institute columnist and businessman Dan Kennedy looks at the candidates the way the media should. Who is the best leader? Kennedy cites former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, who created a stir when she said none of the candidates were CEO material. He then fills in the gaps in the leadership record of all four people on the tickets.On Obama: Sen…
Dan Gainor

Financial Times Highlights Ethanol 'Bubble

British publication does what U.S. media won't, connects high prices to government-mandated biofuel.
Nathan Burchfiel

Open Thread

NB Staff

Scarborough-Holbrooke Tension Convention

Let's take a break from the tedious MSM spin on the latest polls, and settle back and enjoy the televised spectacle of two people who patently dislike each other going at it on live national TV.Former UN Ambassador/current Obama backer Richard Holbrooke was a guest on today's Morning Joe.  Observing Holbrooke over the years, he's struck me as someone with, shall we say, a deep and abiding…
Mark Finkelstein