Networks Spin Violent 'Occupy' Protesters as 'Pushing Back,' Minimize

October 26th, 2011 12:08 PM
According to the network morning shows, violent Occupy Wall Street protesters are fighting back against government officials who are trying to rein them in. Early Show's Erica Hill highlighted "this growing crackdown on the anti-Wall Street protests around the country." She added, "In Oakland, California, the protesters are pushing back." The "pushing back" came in the form of throwing rocks…

Network Morning Shows Tout 'Comedian in Chief' Obama Mocking GOP on Le

October 26th, 2011 10:41 AM
All three network morning shows on Wednesday cheered President Obama's Tuesday appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. At the top of ABC's Good Morning America, co-host Robin Roberts declared: "Comedian in chief. The President hits late-night TV talking about all the people taking swings at him right now. And why what he's really worried about is what the First Lady's giving out for…

Ultra-Liberal Daily Beast Rips Leno's Obama Interview: 'Might Just as

October 26th, 2011 10:27 AM
A tremendously unlikely source came out Wednesday with a scathing review of Jay Leno's interview with President Obama on NBC's Tonight Show. Lloyd Grove, editor at large for the perilously liberal Daily Beast, wrote, "Obama couldn’t have found a more willing accomplice. Leno—who wears his American flag pin on the right lapel, in contrast to the president’s flag-on-left—might just as well been…

Big Three Nets All But Ignore Occupy Oakland Violence and Arrests

October 25th, 2011 7:21 PM
The morning shows of ABC, CBS, and NBC on Tuesday devoted just 19 seconds to the arrests of 75 people in northern California, after police evicted Occupy Oakland from their encampment in front of city hall there.  The Early Show devoted a news brief to the story during its last half hour, noting the violent reaction from some of the protesters. Good Morning America and the Today show both…

NBC's Lauer to O'Reilly: Did Obama 'Erase' Idea of GOP Being Tougher o

October 25th, 2011 10:30 AM
Updated : Video added During an interview with Fox News's Bill O'Reilly on Tuesday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer cited recent foreign policy successes for President Obama and wondered: "Republicans have run on a perception that they are tougher on national security, that they're the ones who can keep Americans safe....has Barack Obama done a lot to erase that perception?" [Audio available…

NBC's David Gregory: GOP's 'Lack of Understanding' of Foreign Policy i

October 24th, 2011 5:02 PM
Appearing on Sunday's NBC Today, Meet the Press host David Gregory cheered "a big week for the President's foreign policy" as a "leadership moment" while smearing Republican presidential candidates: "...there has been the betrayal of a lack of understanding in foreign policy in some sections of these debates that is stunning to a lot of people..." [Audio available here] Gregory fretted: "…

NBC Admits Obama Mortgage Plan Won't Work, But Cheers it As Good Polit

October 24th, 2011 11:45 AM
At the top of Monday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer touted a new plan to address the housing crisis: "After a series of foreign policy victories, President Obama is hitting the road to sell his plan to help turn around the struggling economy and today the focus is on the housing market." Lauer later wondered to chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd if the plan would, "help politically…

David Gregory Asks Hillary Clinton: Will Foreign Policy 'Be a Disadvan

October 23rd, 2011 10:08 PM
There are softballs and then there are softballs. On Sunday's Meet the Press, host David Gregory teed one up for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that was specifically designed to mock the Republican presidential candidates while allowing her to brag uninterrupted about the foreign policy successes of Barack Obama (video follows with transcript and commentary):

Former Democrat Congressman Scolds NBC's Andrea Mitchell for Defending

October 23rd, 2011 3:05 PM
During the roundtable segment on Sunday's Meet the Press, NBC's Andrea Mitchell typically acted as Barack Obama's press secretary defending the President from any and all criticism lodged by other panelists. Apparently having witnessed enough shameless advocacy from a so-called journalist, when Mitchell used the Occupy Wall Street movement to defend Obama's economic policies, former…

Chris Matthews: Republicans 'Don't Have a Thrill Up Their Leg' for Mit

October 23rd, 2011 12:04 PM
Chris Matthews this weekend made a somewhat self-deprecating comment about presidential candidate Mitt Romney telling the guests on the syndicated program bearing his name that Republicans "don't have a thrill up their leg about this guy." After some laughter, they agreed (video follows with transcript and commentary):

NBC: Occupy Wall Street a 'Civics Lesson' for Kids; GOP Debate an 'Ant

October 21st, 2011 5:48 PM
During a panel discussion on Friday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer asked of the Occupy Wall Street protests: "What's the civics lesson in this for our kids as they're watching this on TV?" News anchor Natalie Morales argued: "...there's a huge civics lesson....the idea of having that civil discourse is important to teach our kids and it's something in history we've seen." In contrast,…

NBC Portrays Herman Cain's Presidential Run as Money-Making Scheme

October 21st, 2011 3:05 PM
On Friday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer noted Herman Cain leading the Republican presidential field but wondered: "is he really aiming for the Oval Office or something else?" In the report that followed, correspondent Michael Isikoff proclaimed: "Herman Cain is facing new questions about whether he is profiting from his own campaign." Isikoff reported: "Cain's campaign committee has used $…

NBC's Guthrie to McCain: Do You Retract Foreign Policy Criticism of Ob

October 21st, 2011 10:47 AM
Updated : More analysis and full transcript added. Guthrie takes swipe at GOP 2012 field.  On Friday's NBC Today, fill-in co-host Savannah Guthrie grilled Arizona Senator John McCain on his criticism of Barack Obama's foreign policy positions in the 2008 campaign and urged: "Bin Laden is gone. Anwar al Awlaki, who was the rising star in al Qaeda, is gone. Qadhafi is gone. Drone strikes have…

Networks Ignore Occupy Demands for 'Socialist' Revolution

October 21st, 2011 10:29 AM
The Occupy Wall Street protests marked off a full month of occupation Oct. 17, and the network news media continue to gloss over protesters calls for "revolution" as well as the socialistic mentality espoused by many of the protesters. One protest speaker was videotaped saying, "Long live the revolution! Long live socialism!" Others in Chicago and Philadelphia marched with Communist flags.…