Media Matters Daily Summary 04-20-09

Hume ignored evidence that torture by U.S. is "recruiting tool" for terrorists
Brit Hume falsely suggested there is no evidence that the United States' use of torture has served as a "recruiting tool" for terrorist groups. In fact, military and FBI interrogators have stated that terrorists have employed the United States' use of torture and harsh interrogation techniques as a recruiting device.
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Wash. Times ignored VFW statement that DHS was "doing its job" with extremism report
The Washington Times reported that the recent DHS report on right-wing extremism "set off a firestorm of protest from veterans groups," but ignored the statement from the Veterans of Foreign Wars' national commander, who stated that "[t]he report proves that DHS is doing its job." Read More

Fox Nation says "yes" again to "biased media," claiming "Taliban Copies Democrat Playbook"
The Fox Nation featured the headline, "Taliban Copies Democrat Playbook," but the New York Times article to which it linked -- which described insurgency tactics such as roadside bombs -- made no mention of the Democratic Party. Read More

Fox & Friends -- and friends -- distort Axelrod's "unhealthy" remarks
Suggesting the Obama administration is "trying to put the kibosh on free speech," Fox & Friends' Gretchen Carlson aired a statement by David Axelrod but left out the context of his remarks; guest Brandon Brice falsely accused Axelrod of calling the tea parties "un-American." Read More

CNN's King mischaracterized Axelrod's Face the Nation exchange
John King aired a clip of David Axelrod's Face the Nation appearance and suggested that Axelrod said tea party protests were "unhealthy." But King did not air the question Axelrod was asked, which was about both the tea parties and Gov. Rick Perry's comments about secession. Read More

Wash. Times advanced "myth" that 17 percent of guns recovered in Mexico can be traced to U.S.
The Washington Times advanced a Fox News report that 17 percent of guns recovered in Mexico have been traced back to the U.S. However, FactCheck.org has reported that Fox News' 17 percent figure is a "myth." Read More

Limbaugh falsely claimed that "left-wing blogger" was NYT's source on waterboarding use
Rush Limbaugh falsely claimed that a "left-wing blogger" was The New York Times' source for an article about waterboarding use. In fact, the Times reported that the information came from an OLC memo and that bloggers discovered the information in the memo. Read More

Conservative media figures claim Obama's actions at Americas summit showed "weakness"
Following President Obama's trip to the Summit of the Americas, conservative media figures characterized Obama's actions at the summit as weakness, continuing the trend of portraying Democrats as weak on matters of national security and foreign policy. Read More