Matt Lauer Presses Obama from the Left on 'Today

A seemingly worried Matt Lauer hit Barack Obama from the left as the "Today" co-host warned the Democratic presidential nominee, on Wednesday's "Today," that "people" were "nervous" about any perceived shift to the center on his part. First up Lauer recited, to Obama, liberal New York Times columnist Bob Herbert's fears that the Illinois Senator was, "lurching to the right."LAUER: Let me read you…
Geoffrey Dickens

The Helms Legacy: Racism and 'Hard-Edged Xenophobia

The family and friends of the late Sen. Jesse Helms filled a Baptist church in Raleigh yesterday, but The Washington Post didn't radiate warmth toward the departed conservative leader. They wanted to highlight that his legacy was an ugly thing. Reporters Sylvia Adcock and Paul Kane noted Democrats did not speak at the service: Those who did generally skirted Helms's often-divisive politics,…
Tim Graham

Is Wikipedia Promoting Global Warming Hysteria

Two weeks ago, a parent-teacher council blamed the online research source Wikipedia for falling test scores in Scotland.On Tuesday, Canadian columnist Lawrence Solomon blamed Wikipedia for helping to spread global warming hysteria around the world.The connection? Oftentimes "inaccurate or deliberately misleading information" published by Wikipedia being taken as fact by unsuspecting readers.In…
Noel Sheppard

ChiTrib's Zuckman: Obama Success Story Just as Impressive as McCain PO

During the noon hour of the July 8 "MSNBC News Live," host Tamron Hall discussed McCain's new TV ad with Chicago Tribune's Jill Zuckman and Washington Post’s Kevin Merida. The ad focused on McCain's time as a POW as demonstrative of his love of country and Hall questioned how Obama could compete with such a story. Zuckman claimed: Well, look, Senator McCain's got this great story about…
Lyndsi Thomas

NYT's Herbert: Obama Flip-flops a 'Very Dangerous Game

You can now add New York Times columnist Bob Herbert to the growing list of liberal media members so concerned with the recent flip-flops by presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama that they're willing to publicly express their angst for all to see.In this instance, the disappointment regarding the junior senator from Illinois's many changes of heart was palpable.In an article…
Noel Sheppard

CNBC's Gasparino Fires Back at Bear Stearns Rumor Charges

Although the collapse of Bear Stearns happened back in March, the debate still rages as to what led to the failure of the 85-year old investment bank that had survived years of previous turmoil, including the Great Depression. After JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon appeared on PBS's "The Charlie Rose Show" July 7 and commented on an August 2008 Vanity Fair article alleging that…
Jeff Poor

Open Thread

NB Staff

Black Cable Channel Will Cover Dem Convention, But Not GOP

Washington Post TV writer Lisa de Moraes reported from the latest summer press tour for TV Critics in Hollywood that the TV One cable channel that caters to African-Americans has unorthodox convention-coverage plans:  Critics also did not seem altogether pleased that TV One plans to cover the Democratic convention but not the Republican convention. "This is a huge deal for TV One, as it is for…
Tim Graham

CNN's Dobbs: Many Government Agencies 'Disappointingly Incompetent

Mike Bates

CNN.com Can't Find Anglican Opposed to Female Bishops

Covering the recent decision by a synod of bishops in the Anglican Church to permit the ordination of female bishops, CNN.com repeatedly alluded to "traditionalist" opposition to women holding episcopal office, but failed to find one such spokesman for traditionalists to defend the theology behind the position. (h/t Damian G. of Conservathink)Indeed, the one traditionalist cited in the article…
Ken Shepherd

Obama Campaign Revives the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy at 'Fight the Sm

Although the term isn't used, it's clear that the Obama campaign sees itself and their candidate as victims of a vast conspiracy of right-wingers. Going all the way back to the 1988 presidential election, Obama's "Fight the Smears" chart (featuring the campaign's new sort-of "presidential seal," replacing the one that was "dropped," at the top left) purports to tell us "Who's Behind These Lies."…
Tom Blumer

Hollywood's Teen Sexploitation

The entertainment industry cashes in on teen pregnancy, at great cost to society.
Brian Fitzpatrick

The Early Show Normalizes Illegitimate Births

CBS's Lara Spencer announced with equal exuberance new births to celebrities in and out of wedlock.
Julia Seward

Political Correctness Run Amok

Toddlers who are picky eaters are racists?
Kristen Fyfe