Media Matters Daily Summary 04-07-09

Hannity falsely claimed Obama "seemingly apologiz[ed] for our engagement in the war on terror"
On his Fox News show, Sean Hannity falsely claimed that President Obama "seemingly apologiz[ed] for our engagement in the war on terror" when Obama said "[t]he United States is not ... at war with Islam." In fact, in those same remarks, Obama also stated that "Iraq, Turkey, and the United States face a common threat from terrorism" and that "we are committed to a more focused effort to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda." Read More

NY Times uncritically reported GOP claim that F-22 cuts mean Obama "refuses to fund programs critical to our national defense"
In reporting GOP criticism of the Obama administration's decision to end funding for F-22s, The New York Times but did not point out that Secretary Gates said the "military advice" he received is that "there is no military requirement for numbers of F-22s beyond" those that have already been funded. Read More

Conservative media consistently scapegoat undocumented immigrants, ACORN
In discussions of major news stories, conservatives in the media have repeatedly turned to two favorite bogeymen -- undocumented immigrants and ACORN -- in place of substantive analysis, even when those groups have little or nothing to do with the issue. Read More

Outbreak: Limbaugh spreads Obama Derangement Syndrome
Since President Obama's inauguration, Rush Limbaugh has made numerous baseless and ominous claims warning of what will happen if the United States adopts either Obama's policies or those pushed by other progressives, often while invoking fears of rising socialism, communism, and tyranny. Read More

Hannity falsely claimed Obama administration "taking steps to cut defense spending"
Sean Hannity falsely asserted that the Obama administration "is taking steps to cut defense spending." In fact, the administration's proposed 2010 budget would increase funding for the Defense Department and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by billions of dollars. Read More

Ignoring Gates' comments, Hill article uncritically quotes retired general criticizing missile defense policy changes
The Hill quoted a critic of proposed missile defense policy changes who claimed the proposal "will leave us vulnerable to missile attacks from countries like North Korea" without noting Secretary Gates' assertion that the changes would "focus on the rogue state and theater missile threat." Read More

Scarborough claimed Pew poll "said [Obama] split the country," but Pew official reportedly disputed that conclusion
Joe Scarborough claimed that a recent Pew poll "said [President Obama] split the country." However, a Pew official has reportedly stated it is a misreading of the poll to conclude that Obama has "caused this divisiveness." Read More

Media figures advance false claim that Obama ceded economic sovereignty at G-20 summit
Media figures have advanced the false claim that in signing the G-20 communiqué establishing a new Financial Stability Board, President Obama ceded U.S. sovereignty to international economic regulators. In fact, the FSB referenced in the communiqué does not have any authority over U.S. policy. Read More

Human Events allowed McInerney to invoke false ACORN bogeyman in defense-budget attack
Human Events uncritically reported retired Lt. Gen. Thomas G. McInerney's false claim that the "stimulus package ... gives $3-billion to ACORN." Read More