CBS’s Smith: Stock Rally ‘Vindication’ for Obama Administration
March 24th, 2009 12:48 PM
On Tuesday’s CBS Early Show co-host Harry Smith talked to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs about Monday’s stock market rally and wondered: "What was the reaction at the White House yesterday when the stock market closed?...There's been a lot of heat, though, aimed at the White House, aimed at the Treasury Secretary. Was there some degree of vindication?" Gibbs claimed that the…
Whoops! Howard Kurtz Neglects to Mention CBS Hawking DVD of Steve Krof
March 23rd, 2009 5:59 PM
Washington Post media reporter Howard Kurtz performed one of his periodic "beat sweeteners," playing up the network TV stars and pleasing network publicity departments. The sugar cube on Monday was handed out to CBS reporter Steve Kroft, now acknowledged as the top on-air dog of 60 Minutes. But Kurtz left something out about Kroft’s series of interviews with Obama: CBS News sells them on a DVD…
CBS’s Wragge: Obama ‘Overexposed’ After Tonight Show Gaffe
March 23rd, 2009 5:46 PM
At the top of the Saturday Early Show, co-host Chris Wragge took a critical look at President Obama's recent media tour: "The Obama blitz, the President’s appearing everywhere but is his media tour taking attention away from his message?" In a later report, correspondent Kimberly Dozier highlighted Obama’s Tonight Show Special Olympics gaffe as evidence: "It can and did go a little bit wrong with…
ABC Actually Examines Economic Effects of Ending CEO Bonuses
March 23rd, 2009 5:17 PM
On Saturday's "Good Morning America," co-anchor Bill Weir and reporter Gigi Stone actually took a look at whether or not it's a good idea to tax CEO bonuses and what effect it could have on Wall Street. While much of the mainstream media have been playing off populist anger over bonuses, Weir teased the segment by wondering, "With tempers flaring over executive payouts, Congress considers cutting…
A Playground You Can Believe In
March 23rd, 2009 4:38 AM
Steve Kroft caught Barack Obama "laughing and chuckling several times while discussing the perilous state of the economy", at one point asking "Are you punch-drunk?" Politico says "his awkward laughter highlighted an issue Obama has faced dating back to the campaign, a sense that he sometimes is too 'cool' and detached to fully grasp the public anxiety over mounting job losses and economic…
NBC Buries Obama Special Olympics line; ABC Knocks 'Late Night Gaffe
March 20th, 2009 1:02 PM
NBC's "Today" show on Friday minimized and neglected a gaffe by Barack Obama that his bowling skills are on the level of the "Special Olympics or something." In contrast, ABC's "Good Morning America" and CBS's "Early Show" heavily covered the remark. GMA devoted the first two segments to the ill advised joke the President made on Thursday's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno." And although "Today"…
CBS Covers AIG Bonuses, No Mention of Chris Dodd Amendment Protecting
March 18th, 2009 3:43 PM
At the top of Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez interviewed Democratic Congressman Barney Frank about upcoming hearings on bonuses AIG gave to top executives after receiving government bailout money: "And who in the government didn't vet this company well enough before it gave the money to address the issue of bonuses...So who's responsible here in government? You said the…
CBS News Poll: Limbaugh Has Higher Approval than Pelosi
March 17th, 2009 9:26 PM
“Limbaugh’s Favorable Rating: 19 Percent,” shouts the headline at the top of CBSNews.com tonight. A look, however, at the PDF of the full CBS News poll results, posted at 6:30 PM EDT Tuesday, pegs House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorable rating a point lower at 18 percent -- within the margin of error, but evidence Limbaugh is no less popular than the leader of congressional Democrats. (Friday's…
All Three Morning Shows Skip Cheney Jab That Obama Has Made U.S. Less
March 16th, 2009 4:07 PM
All three morning shows on Monday skipped a rather serious charge made by former Vice President Dick Cheney that Barack Obama, through his actions as president, has made America less safe and more susceptible to terrorist attack. Speaking to CNN host John King on Sunday's "State of the Union," Cheney criticized some of Obama's actions, including giving the order to close Guantanamo Bay. The ex-…
Big War Over 'Big Love
March 16th, 2009 2:19 PM
CBS merely brushed off the controversy that upset many members of the Mormon Church when interviewing HBO’s “Big Love” star Bill Paxton on March 16, 2009.The TV series about a Mormon polygamist has not surprisingly gotten plenty of attention in its three years on air. This time, however, “Big Love” is causing trouble because the March 15 episode showed a highly sacred Mormon temple ceremony. CBS’…
CBS ‘Early Show’ Praises Obama’s ‘Optimism Offensive
March 16th, 2009 12:47 PM
At the top of Monday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen declared: "Optimism offensive. An upbeat Ben Bernanke tells '60 Minutes' the economy could turn around within nine months." Chen later introduced the segment on the Obama administration’s new economic optimism: "...from bleak to bright. The Obama administration has switched its tone and is now saying the economy is on the road to recovery…
Katie Couric Wins Award for Sarah Palin Interviews
March 14th, 2009 1:14 PM
Just how liberal is the mainstream media?Well, if you do a highly contentious and hostile interview with a Republican political candidate that ends up assisting in that persons defeat at the polls you'll get an award from your colleagues.Such was obviously the case when CBS "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric was given a "Special Achievement" award earlier this week for her highly-publicized…
Pulling Heartstrings and Straining Credibility: The Media Promote Embr
March 11th, 2009 11:26 AM
Media outlets preyed upon people's emotions this week in its reporting of President Barack Obama's decision to overturn the Bush Administration ban on federally-funded embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research is a hot topic among pro-life advocates because it involves the destruction of human embryos in order to obtain the stem cells needed. CBS' Chip Reid said of…