Obama's a 'Powerful New Ally' for Muslim Outreach As 'Myths Abound' in
Eli Saslow, the young Washington Post reporter best known for his giddy promotion of Obama’s "glistening pectorals," touted Obama as a "powerful new ally" against "Islamophobia" on the front of Wednesday’s Style section. The protagonist of Saslow’s story, Aida Mansoor of Hartford, Connecticut, tries to educate an apparently (and painfully) bigoted America about Islam. This is where Obama comes to…
Reid Hasn't Read One of Sotomayor's Opinions, Media Mostly Mum
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) admitted Tuesday that he "[hasn't] read a single one" of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's opinions despite praising her as "the whole package."Not surprisingly, the Obama loving media gleefully reported the latter while almost completely ignoring the former.What a shock, huh?Here's how Reid on Tuesday responded to the questions: "Is there anything…
UK Journalists Strike Back at WH Press Secretary's 'Sneering and Conde
There is little argument that the British press is doing a better job than its U.S. counterparts covering the Obama administration's less than perfect performance. If the reactions of Nile Gardiner and James Delingpole at the UK Telegraph to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs's blanket criticism of British journalism are any indication, UK reporters are also more willing to stand up for…
WaPo Plays Up Colin Powell Smacking 'Right-Wing Critics' on CBS Sunday
It’s uncommon for newspapers to hype Sunday morning TV interviews in advance, especially if presidents aren’t involved. But Saturday’s Washington Post carries this page 3 story: "In TV Appearance, Powell Plans to Answer Right-Wing Critics." Reporters Michael D. Shear and Perry Bacon Jr. play up a GOP feud: "Under intense fire from the right, former secretary of state Colin L. Powell is preparing…
Media Singles Out Catholic Church, Goes Wild Over Report of Decades-Ol
Since when is the media so interested in keeping America abreast of the latest news coming out of Ireland? A commission in Ireland just released a report detailing awful abuse of children who attended Catholic schools "from the 1930's to the 1990's, when the last of the institutions closed." And what's ensued is practically an all-out media frenzy. The AP, Reuters, the New York Times, the LA…
Media Let Culture Wars Cloud 'American Idol' Win
After the winner of "American Idol" is crowned, the appropriate action is to congratulate the newly crowned Idol on his success. Yet on May 21 media focus was clearly elsewhere. That day, reports on all three networks' morning broadcasts, marveled at how Kris Allen beat Adam Lambert and gave unusual attention to contestants who did not win, but are still successful, leaving little doubt that…
Bill Clinton Fresh with 'The Nanny', WaPo Gossip Column Misses Story
Updated at bottom of post.Did the former womanizer-in-chief pat The Nanny on the fanny? Numerous blogs and newspapers are asking that question thanks to a photo of former President Bill Clinton with his hand over actress Fran Drescher's posterior. Today's "The Reliable Source" column in the Washington Post notes Bill Clinton's global jetsetting and charity fundraising, mentioning the appearance…
WaPo Website Merges Photos of Gays With Mormon Church Fire Story
A 60-year-old Mormon Church in Massachusetts burned to the ground on Sunday. A story about the incident appeared on the Washington Post website last night. It's an AP entry discussing the fire that chased worshippers out of the building in a panic on Sunday. But it is accompanied by a rather odd choice of images. Is it a photo of the fire-damaged church? Perhaps it is a snap of frightened…
Liz Cheney Schools WaPo's Robinson on Interrogation Techniques
Dick Cheney's daughter Liz was a guest on Tuesday's "Morning Joe," and she took the opportunity to wipe the floor with the Washington Post's Eugene Robinson.Earlier that day, Robinson had published a column at the Post harshly critical of the former Vice President:Can't we send Dick Cheney back to Wyoming? Shouldn't we chip in and buy him a home where the buffalo roam and there's always room for…
WaPo Leaves Fizz Out of Frieden Story: Obama's CDC Pick Favors Sin Tax
Naming a man who wants to levy sin taxes on soda pop to be the head of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) might not be the politically wisest thing for President Obama to do, especially on the heels of massive TEA Party protests. But then again, with media outlets like the Washington Post leaving that controversy unmentioned, perhaps the White House calculated correctly…
