Nets Hype Social Media 'Torrent' in Komen Reversal, Keep Slant Toward
February 6th, 2012 5:45 PM
ABC, CBS, and NBC spotlighted the Komen foundation's about-face on funding Planned Parenthood on their Friday evening newscasts, and played up the apparent role of social media in getting the charity to reverse its earlier decision. On World News, ABC's Diane Sawyer trumpeted the "dramatic day for people power," while on Nightly News, NBC's Lester Holt concluded, "score one for the power of…
After Pounding Romney on Taxes, ABC Gloats That 'More' People 'Don't L
February 6th, 2012 12:42 PM
After pounding Mitt Romney on taxes and wealth for weeks, ABC on Monday touted a new poll finding that the Republican is "struggling on this key issue of taxes," according to co-host George Stephanopoulos. Reporter Jake Tapper trumpeted this result: "And the more that the American people hear about Mitt Romney, the more they don't like."
He added, "They heard about Romney paying only that 15…
ABC Alters ESPN Reporter's Quote to Attack Faith of 'Astonishingly Pol
February 3rd, 2012 5:36 PM
The journalists at Good Morning America on Friday altered a quote from an ESPN reporter, turning a question about Tim Tebow into a declaration that the faith of the quarterback is why he's such an "astonishingly polarizing," "divisive figure."
On ESPN 2's First Take, Skip Bayless wondered, "Do you believe your faith is the biggest reason you're such an astonishingly polarizing figure, a…
Claire Shipman's Misleading Report Hits 'Political' Komen for Defundin
February 3rd, 2012 11:37 AM
Good Morning America reporter Claire Shipman on Friday offered a one-sided, misleading segment on Susan G. Komen's "political" decision to defund Planned Parenthood. Shipman inaccurately described a women who got a breast screening "through a Planned Parenthood screening." The organization doesn't do such procedures.
Yet, an ABC graphic misrepresented that Monique Benoit "received a…
Nets Rush to Defend Planned Parenthood, Ignore Catholic Dispute with O
February 2nd, 2012 6:05 PM
The Big Three networks continued their blackout on covering the controversy involving the Obama administration trying to force Catholic institutions to include coverage of abortifacients and contraception in their health plans without a co-pay. Instead, Diane Sawyer on Wednesday's ABC World News highlighted Pfizer's recall of birth control pills that could "raise the risk of accidental…
ABC's Anti-Romney Highlight Reel Recycles 'Poor' Comment Three Times i
February 2nd, 2012 12:46 PM
The journalists at Good Morning America on Thursday gave an assist to the Obama administration, helpfully creating an anti-Romney highlight reel. The David Muir segment repeated Romney's "poor" comment three times in less than three minutes.
Romney on Wednesday told CNN, "I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there." After showing that, Muir then played a video montage…
Networks Hype Idea of a Long GOP Primary Wounding Romney: 'How Can It
February 1st, 2012 12:52 PM
All Three morning shows on Wednesday hyped the idea of a painful, wounding primary fight between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, pushing the concept of a "damaged" nominee. Today host Matt Lauer interviewed Romney and showcased a cartoon from the liberal New Yorker to make his point.
As an image of the two Republicans playing football appeared on-screen, Lauer pushed, "But if this goes on…
Fox Presses White House on Religious Freedom Controversy; Will Big Thr
January 31st, 2012 9:46 PM
Fox News's Ed Henry challenged White House Press Secretary Jay Carney during a Tuesday briefing over the growing controversy surrounding the Obama administration's move on January 20 to force most employers to cover sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraceptives in their health care policies without co-pay. This new federal mandate would force Catholic institutions, like hospitals…
Donald Trump Schools George Stephanopoulos's Liberal Talking Points
January 31st, 2012 5:42 PM
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday threw every Obama talking point he could at Donald Trump. Highlighting Mitt Romney, the GMA host parroted, "As you know, the Obama campaign is poised to really attack Mitt Romney on the issue of Bain Capital, on Swiss bank accounts, Cayman Island investments."
He continued, "How big on of a problem is this for Romney and how would you…
Not Very 'Interesting': ABC and CBS Morning Shows Ignore Obama Gaffe
January 31st, 2012 2:56 PM
While NBC correspondent Peter Alexander noted on Tuesday's Today how "Republicans are jumping on the president's choice of words" in telling a woman her husband's long-term unemployment was "interesting" to him, neither ABC's Good Morning America nor CBS's This Morning bothered to highlight Obama's aloof flub.
The NBC report played the sound bite of the president's remark: "It is interesting…
NBC Ignores Burning of American Flag by Oakland Occupiers
January 30th, 2012 5:35 PM
NBC whitewashed the anti-American activities of the violent Occupy protests in Oakland. The network dedicated only 34 seconds to covering the riot, but refused to mention the fact that Oakland protestors burned an American flag - despite the fact that both its sister networks, ABC and CBS, had done so.
On Saturday, Jan. 28, nearly 400 Occupy Oakland protesters were arrested for their actions…
ABC: Romney is Looking to 'Drive a Stake' Through Gingrich's Heart
January 30th, 2012 1:00 PM
So, Newt Gingrich is a vampire? Over the course of two segments on Monday's Good Morning America, ABC's journalists goaded Gingrich to repeat his attacks on the "dishonest" Mitt Romney, while suggesting that the former Massachusetts governor is getting ready to "drive a stake" through the ex-Speaker's heart.
Playing up the fight between the two candidates, George Stephanopoulos pushed…
ABC’s Jake Tapper Informs George Stephanopoulos: Obama ‘Can’t Ru
January 27th, 2012 11:18 AM
On Friday’s Good Morning America, ABC White House correspondent Jake Tapper blurted out an uncomfortable reality for Democrats, telling co-host George Stephanopoulos that President Obama “can’t run on so many of his major legislative accomplishments” because “they’re not popular.”
That’s why, Tapper explained, the President is attempting to shift the debate from his record to “fairness,” a…
CBS's Norah O'Donnell Chides: Jan Brewer's 'Finger' 'Has Tongues Waggi
January 26th, 2012 12:36 PM
Reporter Norah O'Donnell chided the governor of Arizona on Thursday, insisting, "...It's [Jan] Brewer's finger that has tongues wagging." All three networks highlighted a confrontation between the Republican and Barack Obama at a Phoenix tarmac. However, CBS, NBC and ABC ignored the context of the conflict, the Justice Department's lawsuit against the state's illegal immigration law.
The…