This Thanksgiving, Media Still Stuffed with Food Police Message
November 21st, 2011 2:03 PM
In just a few days, Americans will give thanks for their blessings and celebrate them by stuffing themselves with a bountiful feast. Despite this beloved tradition, many in the news media disapprove of overeating and continue to call for taxes on certain foods, and increased regulation.
Time magazine's website, includes an "Ideas" section with what it calls "Essential Insights. Great Debates.…
NBC's Gregory to Kyl: 'Real Deficit Hawk Republicans' Want Tax Hikes
November 21st, 2011 12:18 PM
While grilling Arizona Senator Jon Kyl on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, host David Gregory tried to bolster the argument for tax increases: "The Bush tax cuts...real deficit hawks, many of them happening to be Republicans....said let them all expire for everybody. For the rich, for the middle class. If you really want to get serious about the deficit, let the Bush tax cuts expire for…
Is Chris Matthews Racist? According to His Own Standard, Yes
November 21st, 2011 10:32 AM
As NewsBusters previously reported, MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Saturday expressed his harshest criticism of Barack Obama to date saying amongst other things that he's got "the worst kind of a notion of the presidency."
Roughly three months ago, Matthews on the syndicated weekend program bearing his name smelled racism in the declining number of whites supporting the current White House…
Character on NBC's 'The Office' 'Apologizes' for Republicans Cutting N
November 21st, 2011 9:03 AM
On Thursday's episode of The Office on NBC, character Oscar Martinez, played by actor Oscar Nunez, apologizes to a park ranger at the Gettysburg battlefield for both the ranting of character Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and for "the Republicans who are cutting your funding." [Audio available here]
Despite Dunder Mifflin's accountant taking a gratuitous shot at the GOP, the historic Civil…
David Gregory Echoes Obama Adviser, Asks John Kerry 'Does Romney Have
November 20th, 2011 9:08 PM
White House senior adviser David Plouffe made headlines last month when he told NBC's David Gregory that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney "has no core."
On Sunday's Meet the Press, the host decided to play the part of one of Barack Obama's closest allies and ask Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), "Does Romney have a core politically?" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
Jay Leno Calls Newt Gingrich a 'Hot Air Balloon
November 19th, 2011 1:52 PM
A week after HBO's Bill Maher called Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich "a fat womanizing blowhard," NBC's Jay Leno referred to the former House Speaker as a "hot air balloon."
Tonight Show guest Meghan McCain actually thought that was funny (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CBS Highlights Chu's Solyndra Testimony in Congress, ABC Punts
November 18th, 2011 4:40 PM
On Friday, CBS's Early Show was the only Big Three morning show to cover Energy Secretary Steven Chu's testimony before a congressional hearing on the $528 million loan to the bankrupt solar panel company Solyndra. NBC previewed the hearing on Thursday's Today show, but avoided it the following morning. ABC's GMA completely ignored it both days.
Fill-in news anchor Betty Nguyen gave a 44-…
NBC's Chuck Todd to Hillary Clinton: Are Any GOP Candidates 'Ready to
November 18th, 2011 9:39 AM
In a portion of a softball interview with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aired on Friday's NBC Today, chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd invited her to bash the Republican field of 2012 candidates as he skeptically wondered: "Any of these Republican presidential candidates ready to answer the 3:00 a.m. phone call?" [Audio available here]
Clinton dodged the question by simply…
Big Three Networks Devote a Scant 36 Seconds to Obama's 'Lazy' Gaffe
November 17th, 2011 4:45 PM
According to Politico, Barack Obama's "lazy" gaffe is "catching fire," but you wouldn't know that if you got your news from the major networks. The President's remark, made at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Hawaii on November 12, that "We've been a little bit lazy" in attracting "new business into America" received a grand total of just 36 seconds on the Big Three (ABC, CBS…
Networks Jokingly Highlight 'Unhate' Campaign Featuring Pope in Gay Ki
November 17th, 2011 4:34 PM
The network morning shows on Thursday took a mostly light-hearted look at clothing company Benetton's ad campaign featuring the Pope kissing a Muslim cleric. The ads, which have now been pulled under legal pressure, were summarized by Good Morning America's Josh Elliott. He parroted, "It was part of Benetton 's Unhate campaign, challenging people to have the courage not to hate."
Elliott…
NBC's Harry Smith Wonders if Rahm Emanuel Will Be 'First Jewish Presid
November 17th, 2011 12:59 PM
In an interview with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel set to air on Monday's Rock Center on NBC, correspondent Harry Smith wonders if President Obama's former chief of staff will one day sit in the Oval Office: "They think that you're using this – Rahm Emanuel, first Jewish president." [Audio available here]
During a promo that aired Wednesday night on the broadcast network, the NBC announcer…
Media Pump Up Obama, Despite High Gas Prices
November 17th, 2011 12:39 PM
For years while George W. Bush was in the White House, the three broadcast networks and other media repeatedly hyped the threat of rising gas prices, exaggerated the "record" price of gas and incorrectly predicted, $4, $5 and $6 gasoline or even higher. Now the gas price story has been turned upside down under the anti-oil presidency of Obama, despite sustained high gas prices.
Networks Ignore Reports That White House Shooter May Have Spent Time a
November 17th, 2011 9:51 AM
Updated : More analysis added.
As reports started coming out on Wednesday on the search for White House shooting suspect Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, one common detail was mentioned, including in The New York Times: "Late on Friday, the police searched the Occupy DC protest camp...after reports that the suspect might have spent time there." NBC, ABC, and CBS left that fact out of their…
NBC 'Today' Panel Agrees: 'Shame on People' Who Object to Porn Star Re
November 16th, 2011 4:43 PM
Updated : Video added after the jump.
During a panel discussion on Wednesday's NBC Today, all of the pundits agreed that it was perfectly acceptable for a school in California to let former porn star Sasha Grey read to a classroom of first graders. Advertising executive Donny Deutsch went so far as to admonish critics: "Shame on people, she's volunteering for underprivileged kids." [Audio…