Tipping the scales: Cable news channels dedicate more coverage to RNC's scheduled programming during peak hours than to DNC's
On September 2 and September 3, MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News each dedicated more on-air time -- significantly more in most cases -- to official Republican convention programming during the most-watched portions of their coverage than each channel dedicated to official convention programming during the same times on comparable nights of the Democratic National Convention. Read More
Media uncritically repeat McCain claim that Obama "will raise" taxes
In reports on Sen. John McCain's acceptance speech at the RNC, several media outlets uncritically reported McCain's claim that Sen. Barack Obama "will raise" taxes, without pointing out that McCain's own chief economic adviser has reportedly said the accusation is inaccurate or that Obama has in fact proposed cutting taxes for low- and middle-income families and raising them only on households earning more than $250,000 per year. Read More
In text-message poll on McCain's speech, MSNBC offered only four positive responses
In a text-message poll asking what Sen. John McCain's acceptance speech "accomplished the most," MSNBC gave viewers only positive responses to choose from. By contrast, when MSNBC asked viewers the week before what Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech "accomplished the most," one of the options given was, "Attacked John McCain." Read More
Rather than noting immigration reversal, Todd claimed McCain "is not getting votes that his record deserves" from Hispanics
Interviewing McCain campaign manager Rick Davis, who touted Sen. John McCain as differing from his party in his support for immigration reform, NBC's Chuck Todd failed to note that McCain reversed himself on a key component of immigration reform, aligning himself more closely with the base of his party. Todd also said that McCain "is not getting votes that his record deserves" from Hispanics. Read More
Mark Belling called Gloria Steinem a "grizzled old bag," "old witch"
Radio host Mark Belling called Gloria Steinem a "grizzled old bag," "old witch," and "embittered old has-been" and also stated that the "previous generation" of feminists "were so ugly you couldn't stand to look at them." Read More
CNN's Bennett falsely said McCain "hasn't recanted his position on ... McCain-Kennedy" immigration bill
Bill Bennett stated: "On the issues, the immigration debate, a lot of people thought would derail John McCain. He hasn't recanted that position. He hasn't recanted his position on McCain-Feingold or McCain-Kennedy." In fact, McCain stated during a Republican primary debate that he would not vote for the immigration reform bill he co-sponsored with Sen. Ted Kennedy. Read More
Tribune's Silva repeated Palin claim that "Obama-Biden" Dems have attacked her family -- but didn't note complete lack of evidence
The Chicago Tribune's Mark Silva repeated Gov. Sarah Palin's claim that "the Obama-Biden Democrats have been vicious in their attacks directed toward ... my family," but gave no indication that he had challenged Republican aides to substantiate Palin's charge with examples of purported attacks. By contrast, while reporting the charge, NBC, ABC, and the AP all reported that when asked to provide examples of such attacks, Palin aides, the McCain campaign, and the RNC did not provide any. Read More
Two days after decrying "deep sexism that runs through our society," Dick Morris provided more examples
After Gov. Sarah Palin was announced as Sen. John McCain's running mate, Dick Morris characterized the media's coverage of Palin as the result of "the deep sexism that runs through our society." Two days later, Morris said that "when a woman wants to attack, it's hard because she's seen as strident or shrill," adding: "[Sen.] Hillary [Clinton] has that problem perhaps because she is strident and shrill." Read More
CBS' Rodriguez allowed McCain adviser to claim unchallenged that Obama "has a plan to raise" taxes
On CBS' The Early Show, Maggie Rodriguez did not challenge McCain campaign adviser Steve Schmidt's claim that "Senator [Barack] Obama has a plan to raise" taxes, even though McCain's own chief economic adviser has reportedly said it is inaccurate to say "Barack Obama raises taxes." Rodriguez did not point out that, in fact, Obama has proposed cutting taxes for low- and middle-income families and raising them only on households earning more than $250,000 per year. Read More
Wash. Post's Weisman ignored actual criteria used in study finding McCain voted with Bush 90 percent of the time
In an online chat, Jonathan Weisman claimed of the finding that Sen. John McCain voted in line with President Bush 90 percent of the time, "The 90 percent figure is true, but I cover Congress. The vast majority of those votes are procedural, and virtually every member of Congress votes with his or her leadership on procedural motions." In fact, Congressional Quarterly's finding that McCain had voted with Bush 90 percent of the time was based on an analysis of "votes where the editors of Congressional Quarterly determined that President Bush had taken a clear position prior to the vote." CQ did not indicate the "vast majority" of the votes were procedural. Read More
Fox News' Jarrett to Obama adviser: "I'll shut down the microphone if you continue" to use "talking points"
During the September 5 edition of Fox News' Studio B, after Obama campaign senior adviser Anita Dunn stated that "[Sen.] Barack Obama believes strongly that health care has to be accessible and affordable, that you should be able to get health care without having to shop all over the country," guest host Gregg Jarrett interrupted Dunn, and said: "All right, now you're getting into your talking points. ... Now you're getting into your talking points." Dunn responded, "No, no, Nancy gave us the talking points here," referring to McCain campaign senior adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer, who also was on the program and had brought up Sen. John McCain's position on "health care" earlier in the conversation. Dunn added: "Come on, guys. Come on." Jarrett replied, "I'll shut down the microphone if you continue doing that," and then asked Pfotenhauer about Gov. Sarah Palin: "Nancy, the personal narrative -- hockey mom, special needs child, is that especially appealing to undecided female voters who are trying to figure out what to do?" At no point during the interview did Jarrett interrupt Pfotenhauer because she was using "talking points" or threaten to cut off her microphone. Read More
Minneapolis radio host said Code Pink protesters "ought to have all their tubes tied"
On his Minneapolis radio show, Chris Baker stated of Sen. John McCain's speech at the Republican National Convention, "I'll tell you, though, in the speech -- the best part of the speech was when those Code Pink nuts -- another bunch that ought to have all their tubes tied. All right? I can't stand these Code Pink broads." Read More
Levin: "It's not the National Organization of Liberal Women. It's the National Organization of Ugly Women"
Calling into Sean Hannity's radio show, Mark Levin said of the National Organization for Women: "It's not the National Organization of Liberal Women. It's the National Organization of Ugly Women." Moments later, after Hannity stated, "[a]pparently [Sen. Barack] Obama took a shot at me again," Levin responded, "Obama's obsessed with you. ... Maybe he's attracted to you." Read More
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