Olbermann offers Matthews a grape.
In an April 13 New York Times magazine profile of MSNBC host Chris Matthews, Mark Leibovich noted that “sometimes during the commercial breaks” of MSNBC’s presidential primary coverage “Matthews will boast to” his colleague and fellow MSNBC host Keith Olbermann “of having restrained himself during the prior segment.” “And I reward him with a grape,” Olbermann said snarkily. During last night’s primary coverage, when Matthews started to get a little worked up, Olbermann offered a grape. “No, I’ve had enough grapes buddy,” Matthews replied. Watch it:
In the Times profile, Olbermann told Leibovich: “There is a sense at times that we are always joining Chris Matthews already in progress…and he has no idea when it stops and starts. My responsibility sometimes is to grab the wheel when he doesn’t hold it.”
Rove Watch Clock: 77 Days Later, Fox Still Refuses To Disclose Rove’s Ties To McCain
Rove Watch Clock: 77 Days Later, Fox Still Refuses To Disclose Rove’s Ties To McCain
On Feb. 4, Fox News began promoting former White House adviser Karl Rove as its newest contributor. On Feb. 5, Rove made his first appearance in his new job, providing Super Tuesday analysis. Since that time, Fox has refused to disclose that Rove has been described as an informal adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and reportedly provided electoral maps to the campaign.
Once again, Rove’s ties to McCain went undisclosed during last night’s Pennsylvania primary coverage. Throughout the night, he was introduced as a “very frustrated Karl Rove,” a “very happy Karl Rove,” and “Fox News political analyst Karl Rove.”
During this time, he was free to criticize Barack Obama (”His personal instincts don’t put him in synch with these people”), Hillary Clinton (”Now we’re starting to see doubts on Barack Obama’s supporter’s part about Clinton”), and the Democratic party generally (”First of all the Democrat rules are so messed up it’s impossible for somebody to secure the nomination relatively early in the process”).
Coincidentally, Rove was also able pump McCain’s strategy, which the senator shared with Rove during a recent “private gathering.” Watch it:
In a Washington Post chat on Monday, media reporter Howard Kurtz criticized Fox’s lack of disclosure, saying that Rove is “a maxed-out donor to McCain, and Fox should mention that when he’s on.”
Yesterday marked the 77th day that Fox refused to mention Rove’s ties to the McCain campaign. Starting today, ThinkProgress is starting its Rove Watch clock, modeled after Fox’s own Obama Watch clock. Fox News, when are you going to come clean on Rove’s conflict-of-interest?
ABC’s ratings drop after much-criticized debate.
ABC’s ratings drop after much-criticized debate.
Last week, after ABC News’s much-criticized Democratic debate, Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales declared that “the clear loser is ABC.” The ratings for last week’s evening newscasts are now in, and it appears that Shales was correct: “NBC beat ABC by over 600,000 viewers last week — an unusually wide margin for the dueling newscasts.” Huffington Post’s Rachel Sklar notes that “one reason for that wider-than-usual gap” is that “on Friday, NBC beat ABC by 1.1 million viewers — a practically unheard of margin for an otherwise random Friday night.” Here are the numbers:
Snow: I would ‘walk over broken glass’ for Bill O’Reilly.
Snow: I would ‘walk over broken glass’ for Bill O’Reilly.
Yesterday, CNN announced that former White House Press Secretary Tony Show would join the network as a “conservative commentator.” As Think Progress noted, Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly warned Snow in October about working with CNN, saying “it’s going to get bloody” if Snow joined “the devil over there.” Now, in an interview with Politico, Snow says that he bears no ill will toward Fox. “Make no mistake, I love the folks at Fox,” said Snow, adding that he would “walk over broken glass” for Bill O’Reilly.
Kurtz: ‘Fox Should Mention’ That Karl Rove Is ‘A Maxed-Out Donor To McCain’
Kurtz: ‘Fox Should Mention’ That Karl Rove Is ‘A Maxed-Out Donor To McCain’
On Sunday, Fox News Sunday hosted former Bush adviser Karl Rove — who has been a Fox News contributor since Feb. 5 — to offer supposedly independent analysis of the presidential race. As Think Progress noted, Fox refused to mention or acknowledge that Rove has been described as an informal adviser to the McCain campaign and is said to have provided electoral maps to the campaign.
In a Washington Post chat yesterday, a reader asked media reporter Howard Kurtz if Fox News should “label Karl Rove as an advisor to the McCain campaign when he appears on their network?” Kurtz responded that Rove “insists he is not even an informal adviser to McCain,” but that Fox should nonetheless disclose that Rove is “a maxed-out donor” to McCain’s campaign:
NEW YORK: You wrote negatively today about “the lack of disclosure by the networks of some of these government and business connections.” So does that criticism extend to Fox News for continuing to refuse to label Karl Rove as an advisor to the McCain campaign when he appears on their network?
HOWARD KURTZ: I’ve asked Rove about this, and he insists he is not even an informal adviser to McCain, does not get on strategy calls, etc. He is, however, a maxed-out donor to McCain, and Fox should mention that when he’s on. Same goes for other political analysts on all the networks who’ve given money to any of the candidates.
In February, Rove admitted “that he had contributed $2,300” to McCain’s campaign. Though Rove and McCain aides such as Mark McKinnon insist that “there’s no official/formal relationship” between the former Bush adviser and the campaign, others observing Rove believe that he is advising the campaign “through multiple points of contact“:
But one of the savviest Karlologists I know suspects that Rove is providing a steady stream of advice through multiple points of contact with the campaign and the national party.
Rove’s reluctance to admit a relationship with the McCain campaign may have less to do with his desire to be “an open-source consultant” than it does with the fact that he is “up to his eyeballs in” trying to “nurture new independent political groups” to help McCain and the GOP in November. It is illegal for such outside groups to coordinate with campaigns.
Rove will be part of Fox’s Pennsylvania coverage tonight. Will they heed Kurtz’s advice and at least label Rove as a supporter of McCain?
Wash. Post Reporter Sticks Up For McCain’s ‘Maverick’ Brand
Wash. Post Reporter Sticks Up For McCain’s ‘Maverick’ Brand
In the washingtonpost.com’s “Post Politics Hour” web chat last Friday, a questioner noted that President Bush is “fantastically unpopular” and that Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) “policies are, on the major issues, pretty much the same as Bush’s.” The questioner then wondered: “So what the heck is going on that McCain could be even within 20 points of either” Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) or Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in the polls?
Post reporter Jonathan Weisman said the reason is that McCain has been “branded” an “independent maverick.” As evidence justifying such a brand, Weisman cited the senator’s efforts in 1998 to regulate tobacco despite strong misgivings from his GOP colleagues:
In case you want to stop playing Milbank for a while: Who are these people who loathe everything the Republicans have done in the past seven years, and yet would be willing to cast their votes for McCain anyway?
Jonathan Weisman: I am dead serious. McCain has cultivated an image that has branded him as an independent maverick now for more than a decade. He fought the GOP over tobacco in 1998.
Weisman is correct; McCain championed legislation to regulate the tobacco industry in 1998 that his Republican friends didn’t like. McCain even said he would “never” give up his efforts to regulate the industry.
But Weisman’s defense of McCain’s self-ascribed “maverick” label falls short of the facts. The reality is that McCain’s “never” pledge didn’t last very long. Not only has he since voted against a bill that would have raised tobacco taxes by 61 cents in order to pay for an expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, but McCain is now backing away from a tobacco regulation bill that he co-sponsored.
As further evidence that McCain is an “independent maverick,” Weisman said he has “clashed” with Bush “repeatedly” -– but offered no details –- and claimed that McCain “wants to end government-sanctioned torture.” But McCain has actually voted to enable “government-sanctioned torture,” a position that is in lock-step with President Bush.
Weisman concluded that “Americans see McCain the way they want to” and it is “going to be hard to break” McCain’s “maverick” brand. But maybe Americans see McCain as a “straight-talking maverick” because, despite all evidence to the contrary, that’s how the media constantly portray him.
Fox’s Shep Smith describes Carl Cameron as speaking ‘in full pornstar voice.’
Fox’s Shep Smith describes Carl Cameron as speaking ‘in full pornstar voice.’
During a segment on Fox News’ Studio B with Shepard Smith today, Fox’s chief political correspondent, Carl Cameron spoke in hushed tones while reporting from an event by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in Thomasville, AL. Reacting to Cameron’s muted speech, Smith quipped, “Carl Cameron in full pornstar voice today as he is in a crowd.” Cameron just smiled after hearing Smith’s description. Watch it:
As Brave New Films have demonstrated, despite Fox’s espousal of family values, the network often gratuitously features risque material.
There will be blood: Tony Snow joins CNN.
CNN has announced that beginning today, former White House press secretary Tony Snow will be joining the network as a “conservative commentator.” CNN president Jon Klein explains the decision:
In the White House, Tony brought a remarkably human touch to the discussion of public policy, which he will continue to do as part of the Best Political Team on Television. He will contribute a unique breadth of political and journalistic expertise to what is already the most provocative and wide-ranging political analysis on the air.
In October, Fox News host Bill O’Reilly warned Snow against joining CNN: “I mean, that’s the devil over there. … You can’t go into the pagan throne over there.” He added that if CNN put Snow on the 8 pm slot as a competitor to him, “it’s going to get bloody.” Watch it:
Rove Watch Clock: It’s Been 75 Days Since Fox Has Failed To Identify Rove As A McCain Adviser
Rove Watch Clock: It’s Been 75 Days Since Fox Has Failed To Identify Rove As A McCain Adviser
Today on Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace brought on Karl Rove to analyze the 2008 election. Peddling Rove as an source of independent analysis, Wallace introduced him as “the architect of two presidential victories and now a Fox News analyst.” Wallace failed to mention that those victories (for President Bush) were Republican victories, or that Rove has spent his entire life working exclusively for Republicans.
Unsurprisingly, Rove showed two electoral maps predicting heavy general election advantages for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) against both Barack Obama (D-IL) and Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). He used these maps to claim that “the last five weeks have been good for Sen. John McCain”:
This race is far more competitive at this point than I suspect either the Democrats are comfortable with or that John McCain would have expected. He should be way behind at this point…and yet McCain is hanging in there in both of the polls.
Watch it:
At no point did host Chris Wallace point out that Rove is hardly an independent adviser — or that he is working as an adviser to the McCain campaign. Despite daily appearances on the network, Fox continues to refuse to reveal Rove’s extensive role in the McCain campaign.
It has been 75 days since Rove’s first appearance as a “Fox News analyst.” How much longer until Fox properly identifies him as a McCain adviser? Then again, Fox has no interest in revealing Rove’s bias, since it is the reason the network hired him in the first place.
Pentagon uses military analysts as ‘puppets’ to push talking points.
Pentagon uses military analysts as ‘puppets’ to push talking points.
A new New York Times article reveals that the Pentagon has wooed military analysts with private briefings and access to classified information “in a campaign to generate favorable news coverage of the administration’s wartime performance.” Most of these analysts have ties to contractors who are “vested in the very war policies they are asked to assess on air,” and many admit that they suppressed doubts about the administration’s misinformation out of fear of jeopardizing their access or contracts:
The documents released by the Pentagon do not show any quid pro quo between commentary and contracts. But some analysts said they had used the special access as a marketing and networking opportunity or as a window into future business possibilities.
Over time, the Pentagon recruited more than 75 retired officers, although some participated only briefly or sporadically. The largest contingent was affiliated with Fox News, followed by NBC and CNN, the other networks with 24-hour cable outlets. But analysts from CBS and ABC were included, too. Some recruits, though not on any network payroll, were influential in other ways — either because they were sought out by radio hosts, or because they often published op-ed articles or were quoted in magazines, Web sites and newspapers. At least nine of them have written op-ed articles for The Times.
These analysts were also instructed to not “quote their briefers directly or otherwise describe their contacts with the Pentagon.”
Kristol ‘Looks Down’ On Majority Of Americans: Calls Them ‘Feckless’ And Unserious
Kristol ‘Looks Down’ On Majority Of Americans: Calls Them ‘Feckless’ And Unserious
In his New York Times column earlier this week, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol decried Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) now-infamous “bitter” comments as being “disdainful of small-town America.” “What has Barack Obama accomplished that entitles him to look down on his fellow Americans?” questioned Kristol.
But on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show yesterday, Kristol himself appeared quite “disdainful” of the majority of Americans who are weary of the war in Iraq, implying that many of them are neither “decent” nor “serious,” but rather “feckless”:
KRISTOL: Every time there’s a little flare up, even if the flare up turns out to be for the better, which is what happened in Basra over the last few weeks, and none the less they go, “oh my God, can’t we get out of this.” So there’s a real weariness. Even amongst some decent people of just you know, it seems kind of there’s no end, there’s no clear, there’s no clarity. … And are we going to be such a feckless country, frankly, that we’re going to waste the sacrifices that have been made, snatch defeat and retreat out of the jaws of success and victory. … I’m moderately hopeful that the country gets beyond the kind of weariness and annoyance about the war and gets serious about the world we live in.
Listen here:
A poll released today by ABC News and the Washington Post, found that “views on the Iraq war have…turned more negative, with six in 10 now rejecting the notion that the United States needs to win there to effectively battle terrorism.” Apparently to Kristol, these 60% of Americans are “feckless,” which is defined as either “ineffective; incompetent; futile” or “having no sense of responsibility; indifferent; lazy.”
Additionally, the poll — which was conducted “after congressional testimony about the war” by Gen. David Petraeus and Amb. Ryan Crocker — found that the majority of Americans, including an increasing share of Republicans, “say the United States should withdraw its military forces to avoid further casualties”:
Moreover, while Bush remains committed to keeping more than 100,000 U.S. troops in Iraq through the rest of his presidency, 56 percent of Americans say the United States should withdraw its military forces to avoid further casualties. This has been the majority view since January 2007.
On several measures, the poll finds Republicans inching away from support for the war. Among them, a sense that progress in Iraq has stalled has increased 13 points from early March, and the percentages who prefer withdrawing troops over risking more casualties (30 percent) and who think that the battle against terrorism can be a success without victory in Iraq (39 percent) are each at new highs.
Perhaps the question should be asked: What has Bill Kristol “accomplished that entitles him to look down on his fellow Americans?”
Hannity Brags Of Influence Over Stephanopoulos: ‘I Suggested The Question’
Hannity Brags Of Influence Over Stephanopoulos: ‘I Suggested The Question’
Last night on Hannity & Colmes, Sean Hannity boasted of his success in influencing ABC News Chief Washington correspondent George Stephanopoulos to ask Barack Obama a question about the Weather Underground in a recent debate.
After being lobbied by Hannity, Stephanopoulos asked Obama about his connections to William Ayers, a former member of the radical anti-Vietnam organization Weather Underground. “Now of course, the liberal blogs are losing their minds in part because I suggested the question to George Stephanopoulos Tuesday afternoon on my radio show,” Hannity proudly declared last night.
In an exchange with one of show’s guests — Democratic strategist Michael Brown – Hannity bragged of having written the talking points on the Ayers issue:
BROWN: Republicans clearly like this. Your friends clearly like this. You’re all reading from the same talking points sheet.
HANNITY: We actually wrote these points, Michael. Nice cheap shot.
BROWN: So you’re bragging that you wrote the points.
Watch it:
The Los Angeles Times reports, “Stephanopoulos dismissed the idea that he was doing Hannity’s bidding. ‘The questions we asked were tough and fair and appropriate and relevant and what you would expect to be asked in a presidential debate at this point,’ he said. ‘The questions we asked…are being debated around the political world every day.’” Certainly in Hannity’s world.
Lieberman attended correspondents dinner as guest of Fox News.
Lieberman attended correspondents dinner as guest of Fox News.
At last night’s annual Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner in Washington, DC, President Bush made light of Vice President Cheney’s callous “So?” response when asked about American public opinion of the war, comparing it to whether Cheney would care if the audience found him funny. As part of the festivities, networks brought invited celebrities, politicians and public officials as guests. Among the “slew of ‘potential’ GOP veep candidates” hosted by Fox News: Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT).
Fox’s Luntz retaliates against Cheney critic by pretending to give out his social security number
Fox’s Luntz retaliates against Cheney critic by pretending to give out his social security number
Last night, Fox’s Sean Hannity cut away from a focus group discussing the Democratic presidential debate to show Vice President Dick Cheney’s speech to the Radio and Television Correspondents dinner. After, when Luntz asked the group — rather harshly — if they agreed that Cheney had a good sense of humor, one man called Cheney “a clown.” Luntz demanded to know who said it, and then pretended to give out the man’s social security number, as if in retaliation for criticizing the vice president. Watch it:
It’s surprising that Hannity would cut away from discussion of the Democratic debate, considering he played such a central role in developing the questions.
AUDIO: Hannity Feeds Stephanopoulos Debate Question On Weather Underground
AUDIO: Hannity Feeds Stephanopoulos Debate Question On Weather Underground
Last night’s ABC News Democratic presidential candidates debate was co-moderated by George Stephanopoulos and Charlie Gibson, but the unseen influence of Fox News’ Sean Hannity was also on stage.
Hannity, who for months has been aggressively pushing a story about Barack Obama’s connections to a former member of a radical anti-Vietnam 1970s organization called the Weather Underground, interviewed Stephanopoulos on his radio show on Tuesday, where he pressed the ABC host to ask Obama about this:
HANNITY: There are two questions that I don’t think anybody has asked Barack Obama, and I don’t know if this is going to be on your list tomorrow. One is – the only time he’s ever been asked about his association with Bill Ayers, the unrepentant terrorist from the Weather Underground who on 9/11 of all days in the New York Times was saying “I don’t regret setting bombs. I don’t think we did enough.” When asked about it by the Politico, David Axelrod said that they have a friendly relationship, and that they had done a number of speeches together and that they sat on a board together. Is that a question you might ask?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, I’m taking notes right now.
HANNITY: September 11, 2001 of all days, there was an article in the New York Times. And there are a number of quotes about Bill Ayers. The Politico had in there the comments from David Axelrod.
Listen here:
In the debate last night, Stephanopoulos asked a question that mirrored almost word-for-word what Hannity pressed him to ask:
STEPHANOPOULOS: A gentleman named William Ayers, he was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol and other buildings. He’s never apologized for that. And in fact, on 9/11 he was quoted in The New York Times saying, “I don’t regret setting bombs; I feel we didn’t do enough.”
An early organizing meeting for your state senate campaign was held at his house, and your campaign has said you are friendly. Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won’t be a problem?
Watch it:
The Washington Post’s Tom Shales writes today, “ABC News, which hosted the debate from Philadelphia and whose usually dependable anchors, Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos, turned in shoddy, despicable performances.” The debate moderators were heckled after the debate, prompting Gibson to react. “Oh…” he declared, hands raised in defense. “The crowd is turning on me, the crowd is turning on me.”
Not everyone was upset about the debate. The New York Times’ David Brooks writes, “I understand the complaints, but I thought the questions were excellent.” So does Hannity.
Proud Father Steve Doocy On Son’s ‘Hitting The Sauce’ Question: ‘It Was A Good One’
Proud Father Steve Doocy On Son’s ‘Hitting The Sauce’ Question: ‘It Was A Good One’
Last night on the campus of Villanova University, Fox anchor Steve Doocy’s son – Peter Doocy – asked John McCain why Hillary Clinton is “hitting the sauce.” “Whatever makes Sen. Clinton happy,” responded a bemused McCain, who himself has hit the sauce with Clinton in the past.
On this morning’s Fox & Friends, Steve Doocy asked his son what the reaction has been to his “stumper for John McCain.” “It’s all been good,” Peter said, explaining that his question was an example of “what college kids want to know about.”
Asked by co-host Brian Kilmeade whether MSNBC host Chris Matthews might have recognized his last name, Peter Doocy responded, “I think that he might have. He looked a little grumpy. But I don’t think it really mattered because nobody was there for Chris Matthews. Everybody was there for John McCain, and he did a great job. I think that was a good moment for him.” Watch it:
Doocy proudly heralded his son’s “good” question which “stumped” McCain. Dad wasn’t the only one lauding his son. The entire Fox & Friends crew was full of praise. “It was a great question,” co-host Gretchen Carlson said. “Great job, Peter,” said Kilmeade.
In the summer of 2004, Peter Doocy worked “as an intern with the ‘FOX & Friends’ staff.” Perhaps that’s where he acquired his journalistic skills.
Fox News anchor’s son asks why Hillary is ‘hitting the sauce.’
Fox News anchor’s son asks why Hillary is ‘hitting the sauce.’
During MSNBC’s Hardball today on the campus of Villanova University, a questioner asked John McCain why Hillary Clinton recently took a shot of whiskey. Asking a slanted question worthy of Fox News, the student said, “Do you think she’s finally resorted to hitting the sauce just because of some unfavorable polling?” Watch it:
Politico’s Jonathan Martin reports that the questioner was Peter Doocy, the son of Fox & Friends anchor Steve Doocy. Martin writes, “Peter Doocy…is a junior here and a spitting image of his father.” Spitting image in more ways than one it seems.
Conservative bias at the Newseum?
Jonathan Schwarz at MoJo Blog looks at a new educational video at the Newseum in Washington, DC. The video — part of an exhibit funded by $10 million from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. — alleges liberal bias in the media by interviewing Accuracy in Media’s Cliff Kincaid, NBC News anchor Brian Williams, journalist Clarence Page, Fox anchor Brit Hume, and Fox contributor Juan Williams. Schwarz writes:
At seven minutes long, the video is like cable news in general: unbelievably superficial. It shows snippets from Bill Clinton’s angry response to questions on 9/11 from Fox’s Chris Wallace in 2006, and George H.W. Bush’s angry response to questions on the Iran-Contra scandal from CBS’ Dan Rather in 1988. Then it describes a 2006 Gallup poll in which 44% of Americans called the media “too liberal,” while 19% found it “too conservative.” Hume tells us that those who think journalists are liberals are “by and large correct,” while Brian Williams explains that until recently “conservative America” had nowhere to go for its news.
So the message, while shallow, is clear: the media is liberal, and any critique that it may have a corporate or conservative bias is so ridiculous it doesn’t even need to be voiced.
Roger Ailes to be inducted into broadcasting hall of fame.
Roger Ailes to be inducted into broadcasting hall of fame.
Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes will be inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame on Oct. 21. TV Newser reports, “In the last 18 years, approximately a dozen personalities and organizations have been inducted each year to the Hall of Fame.” A full list of the Hall of Fame’s past honorees is here.
New York Magazine Asks ‘Is John McCain Bob Dole?’
New York Magazine Asks ‘Is John McCain Bob Dole?’
“If McCain is no longer the bracing iconoclast he was in 2000, who the hell is he?” asks John Heilemann in New York Magazine today. The answer, according to at least one GOP operative, is that McCain has “morphed into Bob Dole.”
According to “an operative who worked for Dole,” one commonality beyond biography and temperament that McCain and Dole share is that like Dole in ‘96, McCain currently refuses to talk about the pressing issues facing the country:
Republicans cite deeper, more worrying commonalities between McCain and Dole. “You’d fly around with Dole in 1996 and try to talk message, and all he wanted to know was who was going to be up onstage with him at the next event,” recalls an operative who worked for Dole in his pre-Viagra days. “Same deal now with McCain. He has no message outside of Iraq. What’s John McCain’s health plan? What’s his tax plan? What’s his high-tech plan? No one in a million years can tell you.”
Beyond examining the similarities between McCain and Dole, Heilemann also reveals several interesting tidbits about the contours of McCain’s campaign and his lack of knowledge about the economy:
McCain’s lack of “intellectual interest” in the economy:
Even the most loyal Republicans express concern about McCain’s economics gap. “He’s never been particularly fluent in or showed much intellectual interest toward economic matters,” says Pete Wehner, who ran the Office of Strategic Initiatives in Bush’s White House. “Can he speak fluently or compellingly about them? We’ll soon see. But it would require him to lift his game.”
McCain’s cozy relationship with lobbyists:
Even some Republican stalwarts are appalled at McCain’s coziness with the influence-peddling industry. “Can you imagine a bunch of people working for Halliburton trying to elect Cheney?” says a prominent GOP consultant. “How can that be legal? Even if it is legal, it’s never happened before. And it says a lot about what McCain has become. In 2000, he was the candidate of reform, of anger, of screw the system. Now he’s the candidate of lobbyists, endorsements, and special deals with Beltway banks.”
Karl Rove’s role in McCain’s campaign:
There are even rumors that Rove, the Architect himself, is funneling ideas through the pipeline. “There’s no official/formal relationship with Rove,” McKinnon e-mailed coyly. “Karl is on Fox a lot. We watch a lot of Fox. Karl has become an open-source consultant.” But one of the savviest Karlologists I know suspects that Rove is providing a steady stream of advice through multiple points of contact with the campaign and the national party.
Rupert Murdoch joins Associated Press board.
Today, the Associated Press announced at its annual meeting that Rupert Murdoch, chairman and chief executive officer of News Corp., is joining its board of directors. Three other media moguls are also joining the board, including Sam Zell, who recently “took control of Tribune Co. after leading a buyout that resulted in the publicly traded company becoming private.”
McCain Attacks The Press, Who Then Offer Him His ‘Favorite Treats’ Of Coffee And Donuts
McCain Attacks The Press, Who Then Offer Him His ‘Favorite Treats’ Of Coffee And Donuts
Today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) spoke to the annual meeting of the Associated Press. During his opening remarks, McCain repeatedly criticized the press, going so far as to say he sympathized with the White House’s swift-boating of The New York Times for publishing a 2006 story about the Bush administration’s spying program. Some highlights from McCain:
On reporters’ questions: “I confess also that on occasion, perhaps many occasions, I have felt reporters’ questions, their redundancy and sometimes adversarial quality, were intended more at producing candidate fatigue and, consequently, mistakes than the enlightenment of your readers.”
On overzealous scoops: “To be very candid, but with no wish to offend you, I must confess there have been times when I worry that the press’ interest in getting a scoop occasionally conflicts with other important priorities, even the first concern of every American — the security of our nation.”
On The New York Times: “I think the New York Times’ decision to disclose surveillance programs to monitor the conversations of people who wish to do us harm came too close to crossing that line. And I understand completely why the government charged with defending our security would want to discourage that from happening and hold the people who disclosed that damaging information accountable for their action.”
Even these criticisms couldn’t dampen the media’s enthusiasm for McCain. Immediately after his speech, the moderator brought out McCain’s “favorite treat” — Dunkin Donuts with sprinkles and “a little coffee with a little cream and a little sugar.” The moderator then laughingly added, “I think we’re set for the hard questions.” Watch highlights from McCain’s speech, followed by the presentation of donuts:
Even though McCain continues to bash the press, he recognizes that he needs to make goodwill gestures to stay on their good side. In May, he hosted a “thank you” cookout for them at his vacation home in Arizona.
In September, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews fittingly observed, “The press loves McCain. We’re his base.”
Fox hired Megyn Kelly because she understands ‘left bias.’
Fox hired Megyn Kelly because she understands ‘left bias.’
Megyn Kelly is the co-anchor of Fox’s daytime news program “America’s Newsroom.” In a profile in today’s Washington Post, Howard Kurtz explains why Brit Hume – Fox’s Washington managing editor – why he hired Kelly:
“Here is this woman who was strikingly attractive but has tremendous air presence and a very strong voice,” Hume says. “We were knocked out. It was screamingly obvious that this was someone with tremendous potential.”
What’s more, says Hume, “she seemed to get what we’ve talked about with ‘fair and balanced news’ … She came in believing there was a left bias in the news. That’s not common.” He quickly created an opening for her.
Daily Show ‘documentary’ rips Fox News.
On The Daily Show last night, correspondent John Oliver debuted a “documentary” on Fox News that was a “stunning smackdown” of the right-wing network’s irrational evolution from it’s beginnings during the Clinton White House through its coverage during President Bush’s tenure. Noting the flip-flopping stances Fox has taken over the years, Oliver dismantles Fox’s claim to being “fair and balanced.” Watch a snippet:
You can see the full Daily Show smackdown of Fox News here and here.
Boston newsman protests Bill O’Reilly’s Emmy Award.
Boston newsman protests Bill O’Reilly’s Emmy Award.
Barry Nolan, a local Boston news reporter, is mounting a campaign to protest the fact that Bill O’Reilly will be awarded an Emmy Award by the Boston/New England Chapter next month. Nolan insists that O’Reilly is “a mental case” who shouldn’t be held up as an example of journalistic integrity:
“I am appalled, just appalled,” Nolan told the Track. “He inflates and constantly mangles the truth…and his frequent target is the ‘left-leaning’ media - the ones who do report the news fairly. And those are the same people who will be sitting in the room honoring him.” […]
“I hope people will express their displeasure to the board of governors and they’ll rescind their decision,” he said. “It’s morally unacceptable.”
Nolan plans to attend the May 10 ceremony, and he’s invited Keith Olbermann as his date.
Randi Rhodes to reportedly move to Clear Channel.
Randi Rhodes to reportedly move to Clear Channel.
After a recent disagreement over her comments about Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), host Randi Rhodes resigned from Air America. According to an e-mail received by Hot Air, Rhodes is about to sign a deal to broadcast on Clear Channel:
She’s going to be signing a deal with Nova M Radio in the next few hours for about the same money Air America was paying her. She will broadcast Monday afternoon on all Clear Channel affiliates and several other stations. The folks at Air America don’t miss her one bit… She has moved from New York City to West Palm Beach, FL…
They’ve been planning since she was suspended but the deal is solid now…
FishbowlLA is reporting that Rhodes may join Green960 AM in San Francisco.
Media Ignore Bipartisan Criticism Of Iraq Policies, Claim ‘A Parade Of Democrats’ ‘Pounced’ On Petraeus
Media Ignore Bipartisan Criticism Of Iraq Policies, Claim ‘A Parade Of Democrats’ ‘Pounced’ On Petraeus
A number of media outlets characterized yesterday’s Senate hearings on the situation in Iraq and the future of U.S. policy there as a confrontation between Democrats and Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.
The headline to the Los Angeles Times’s article on the hearings read “Petraeus, Democrats square off,” despite the fact that the actual report noted that “Republcans questioned Petraeus’ strategy with equal vigor.” But others all but ignored Republican criticism of President Bush’s Iraq policy and statements from Petraeus and Crocker altogether:
– New York Times: “Both General Petraeus and Mr. Crocker faced sharp questioning from Democrats who sounded increasingly exasperated.”
– Chicago Tribune: “Democrats peppered Petraeus and Crocker with tough questions about the Iraqi government’s performance and its continued heavy reliance on its American benefactors.”
– Associated Press: “Petraeus was told by a parade of Democrats that, after five years of war, it was past time to turn over much more of the war burden to the Iraqis.”
– CNN’s Campbell Brown: Petraeus’s recommendation to “leave about 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq for an undetermined period of time” after July “didn’t sit well with Democrats.”
– NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski: “Democrats quickly pounced” on Petraeus’s recommendation to pause troop withdrawals after July.
However, statements from a number of Republican senators during yesterday’s hearings undermine these characterizations. For example:
– Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH): “The American people have had it up to here” with the war. The U.S. should tell its allies in the Middle East: “Hey guys, we’re on our way out.”
– Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE): “What are we doing? I don’t see Secretary Rice doing any Kissinger-esque flying around. Where is the diplomatic surge?”
– Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN): “Simply appealing for more time to make progress is insufficient.”
– Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN): “I’m looking for an articulation as to how we get to the end” […] “We’re at a point in the conflict where an articulation of the endgame needs to be made.”
– Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME):”We’re continuing to pay for the training and equipping of Iraqi forces. I’m told that we’re even continuing to pay for fuel within Iraq. Isn’t it time for the Iraqis to start bearing more of those expenses?”
– Sen. John Warner (R-VA): “Is all this sacrifice bringing about a more secure America?”
At some point, the media will realize the American public, Democrats, AND Republicans have all turned sour on the war in Iraq.
California-based Hugh Hewitt caught claiming he lives in ‘middle America.’
California-based Hugh Hewitt caught claiming he lives in ‘middle America.’
On his radio show last night, right-winger Hugh Hewitt accused Time’s Joe Klein of giving “the Manhattan-Beltway media elite view of what are the big issues,” adding that to “a lot of folks out here in middle America, big issues come in different sizes.” When Klein asked Hewitt if he’d been “spending an awful lot of time out in middle America,” Hewitt replied “you’ve got to live here. You’ve got to be from Ohio, Joe, to understand middle America like me.” Klein responded by pointing out that Hewitt actually lives in California. Listen here:
According to Wikipedia, Hewitt was born in Ohio, but since then he’s hardly lived the “middle America” life he claimed on the radio. In fact, Hewitt graduated from Harvard and spent many years working in both Los Angeles and Washington, DC.
Fox worships the ‘Kristol Ball.’
This afternoon, Fox News’ Shepard Smith paid tribute to Fox News contributor and New York Times columnist Bill Kristol. Smith claims Kristol has a “Kristol Ball” for predicting that former Massachusetts governor would drop out at the Conservative Political Action Conference and that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) would win the Ohio and Texas primaries. Smith even gave Kristol his very own Fox News caricature:
Of course, left unmentioned is that the “Kristol Ball” is hazier when it comes to Iraq:
– “We’re not in a civil war. This is just not true.” [7/15/07]
– The U.S. can afford to “stretch our Army and Marines” for “another year or so” in Iraq. [8/24/07]
– Vouched for a “a ticket of Fred Thompson and David Petraeus” in 2008. [9/13/07]
Dr. Laura gets weekly segment on Fox News.
On Fox News’s Hannity and Colmes last night, host Sean Hannity announced that on his other Fox News show, Hannity’s America, controversial talk radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger will be getting a weekly segment to offer advice and answer questions from viewers. Watch it:
Recently, Dr. Laura made headlines when she blamed former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s wife, Silda, for her husband’s involvement with prostitutes. Previously, Dr. Laura has disparaged “lonely” military wives, saying that they were “bitching” and “whining”.
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