Thursday, May 21, 2009

Media Matters Daily Summary 05-21-09

Couric, Gibson falsely claim "no member" of Congress offered to take Guantánamo detainees
Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson both falsely claimed that "no member" of Congress wanted detainees from Guantánamo Bay transferred to prisons in their districts. In fact, at least two have made such an offer. Read More

Dobbs, O'Reilly misrepresent Gibbs' remarks about "hasty decisions"
Lou Dobbs and Bill O'Reilly cited remarks by Robert Gibbs to suggest Gibbs said the Obama administration made a "hasty" decision to close the Guantánamo detention facility. However, neither noted that Gibbs made clear his use of the word "hasty" was in reference to "decisions that were made in the previous administration." Read More

Claiming Pelosi was "slapped ... down," USA Today mischaracterizes Panetta statement

A USA Today editorial falsely claimed Leon Panetta dismissed Nancy Pelosi's allegation that the CIA misled Congress about its use of harsh interrogation techniques. Read More

Conservatives repeat inane claim that CO2 can't be a pollutant because "we breathe" it
Pointing to the natural occurrence of carbon dioxide, media conservatives have ridiculed the idea that it can be harmful to the environment. But scientists do not assert that it is inherently harmful; they point to the danger posed to the atmosphere by excessive discharges of CO2. Read More

WSJ ignores key data supporting "liberal-leaning" criticism of GOP health-care plan
The Wall Street Journal cited only "the liberal-leaning Center for American Progress Action Fund" to support a claim that a tax credit in a Republican alternative health-care reform proposal "wouldn't cover half of the cost of the average family's health-care premiums," but ignored relevant data from the Kaiser Family Foundation supporting the claim. Read More

Still wrong, Gingrich claimed Panetta called Pelosi's CIA allegation a "falsehood"
Newt Gingrich again falsely claimed that Leon Panetta said Nancy Pelosi's allegation that the CIA misled Congress about its use of enhanced interrogation techniques is untrue. Read More

Coulter revives campaign falsehood about IL "Born Alive Act"
Ann Coulter revived the false claim that President Obama opposed a bill as an Illinois state senator that "allowed doctors to give medical care to babies who somehow survived abortions." Read More

Buchanan, Peters call Cheney speech "candid," "accurate" despite discredited claims
Despite discredited claims made by Dick Cheney during his May 21 speech, Pat Buchanan referred to Cheney's remarks as "candid," while Ralph Peters said that "every single point [Cheney] raised was accurate." Read More

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