A daily compilation edited by Brent H. Baker, CyberAlert items are drawn from daily BiasAlert posts and distributed by the Media Research Center's News Analysis Division, the leader since 1987 in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias.
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Friday May 14, 2010 @ 09:07 AM EDT1. As Polls Show Overwhelming Support for Arizona's Law, Nets Focus on 'Uproar' and 'Spreading' Boycotts
The night after two major national polls confirmed overwhelming majorities support Arizona's impending immigration enforcement statute (59 percent per Pew and 64 percent per NBC/WSJ), CBS and ABC promoted the cause of activists in the minority. Both devoted full stories to the "uproar" and "emotional civil war" over the law and moves by a few liberal local government bodies to enact boycotts, only getting late in their stories to those who like the law. The Thursday night stories were pegged to a boycott vote by the Democratic city council of Los Angeles, but CBS's Bill Whitaker and ABC's Barbara Pinto both also played a three-day old clip of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger mocking Arizona and pointed to the cancellation of a trip to Arizona by a suburban Chicago high school's girls basketball team – not to deride adults for using teens to grind a political axe, but to illustrate the supposed depth of opposition to Arizona's law. "The boycott of Arizona is spreading," Katie Couric trumpeted.
2. MSNBC's Ratigan Rants: Military 'Dropping Predator Bombs On Civilians Willy-Nilly'
On Wednesday's Dylan Ratigan Show on MSNBC, host Dylan Ratigan didn't see any point to continuing the war in Afghanistan and slammed military air strikes against terrorist targets as: "kids with joysticks in New Jersey and Las Vegas dropping predator bombs on civilians willy-nilly." Earlier, Ratigan declared: "the Bush doctrine of fight them there and they won't get us here appears to be continuing to break down as we now default to just predator drone-them-to-death wherever they may be on remote control and an apparent, sort of, nonevent in Afghanistan. It's like a charade."
3. George Stephanopoulos Laments Obama's Inability to Help Democrats
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Thursday appeared frustrated that perceived successes by Barack Obama have failed to help his own party. The former Democratic operative turned journalist interviewed James Carville and complained, "You know, you've seen over the last month health care passes. Jobs are being created. The President has an arms control agreement with the Russians." Stephanopoulos added, "Yet, nothing seems to move these [poll] numbers."
4. MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Derides Obama for 'Going Overboard' With 'Pseudo' Kagan Interview
MSNBC reporter Andrea Mitchell on Wednesday actually expressed some journalistic outrage over a White House PR video disguised as an interview, deriding the administration for "crossing a number of lines when it comes to journalism." An irritated Mitchell highlighted a video on the White House website that features Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.
As Polls Show Overwhelming Support for Arizona's Law, Nets Focus on 'Uproar' and 'Spreading' Boycotts
The night after two major national polls confirmed overwhelming majorities support Arizona's impending immigration enforcement statute (59 percent per Pew and 64 percent per NBC/WSJ), CBS and ABC promoted the cause of activists in the minority. Both devoted full stories to the "uproar" and "emotional civil war" over the law and moves by a few liberal local government bodies to enact boycotts, only getting late in their stories to those who like the law.
The Thursday night stories were pegged to a boycott vote by the Democratic city council of Los Angeles, but CBS's Bill Whitaker and ABC's Barbara Pinto both also played a three-day old clip of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger mocking Arizona and pointed to the cancellation of a trip to Arizona by a suburban Chicago high school's girls basketball team – not to deride adults for using teens to grind a political axe, but to illustrate the supposed depth of opposition to Arizona's law.
"The boycott of Arizona is spreading," Katie Couric trumpeted before Whitaker touted: "The city of Los Angeles, the latest to react strongly to Arizona's tough new anti-illegal immigration law." He pushed how "a growing number of states and municipalities are boycotting or considering boycotting Arizona," citing how "Highland Park High School in Chicago's suburbs is pulling its champion girls' basketball team from a tournament in Arizona because of the law."
Cuing up Schwarzenegger, Whitaker insisted: "The state has become the butt of jokes." Schwarzenegger, from Monday, on not traveling to Arizona: "But with my accent, I was worried they were going to deport me back to Austria."
Over on ABC, Barbara Pinto announced "Los Angeles now joins San Francisco and St. Paul, Minnesota, banning travel to the state." Standing in front of the Illinois high school, Pinto relayed:
She did at least then a play a clip of a parent wondering: "What does the immigration law have to do with us going to play sports in Arizona?"A list of boycotts costing Arizona an estimated $90 million so far. This heated debate is even playing out here at this suburban Chicago High School, 1,800 miles away. Administrators cancelled the Highland Park girls basketball team's trip to an Arizona tournament amid concerns about the new law.
ABC anchor Diane Sawyer noted the Pew number at the top of the World News story while CBS's Whitaker only got to it deep in his report. Neither mentioned the higher NBC/Wall Street Journal number.
CBS Evening News, Thursday, May 13:
ABC's World News:KATIE COURIC: The uproar continues over Arizona's new immigration law. The commissioner of Major League Baseball today brushed off calls from Latino groups to move next year's All-Star game out of Phoenix. But Bill Whitaker reports, the boycott of Arizona is spreading.
BILL WHITAKER: For every action in nature there's an opposite reaction, so, too, in politics. The city of Los Angeles, the latest to react strongly to Arizona's tough new anti-illegal immigration law. City council voted yesterday to ban city travel to Arizona, ban future contracts with Arizona businesses, and to check whether $58 million in existing contracts can be broken legally.
JOSE HUIZAR, LA CITY COUNCIL: We have to act swiftly and strongly.
WHITAKER: Councilman Jose Huizar's grandfather helped to build LA City Hall as a Mexican guest worker in the 1920s.
JOSE HUIZAR: We fear what Arizona did will continue to spread to other states.
WHITAKER: A growing number of states and municipalities are boycotting or considering boycotting Arizona, pushing the state to repeal the law. Highland Park high school in Chicago's suburbs is pulling its champion girls' basketball team from a tournament in Arizona because of the law. Arizona's tourism board estimates it's losing $90 million to boycotts already. The state has become the butt of jokes.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, ON MONDAY: But with my accent, I was worried they were going to deport me back to Austria.
WHITAKER: Still, a majority of Americans, 59 percent according to a Pew poll out this week, support the Arizona law requiring everyone to produce proof of citizenship when asked by police. In fact, 16 states are considering legislation similar to Arizona's. State Senator Russell Pearce wrote the controversial law.
RUSSELL PEARCE: Arizona spend $3 billion a year to educate Medicaid and incarcerate illegal aliens. It is a serious problem.
WHITAKER: And a serious challenge to Arizona's image and pocketbook, but so far Arizona stands willing to pay the price for its actions. Bill Whitaker, CBS News, Los Angeles.
— Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.DIANE SAWYER: Here at home, a new poll shows the majority of Americans, 59 percent, support Arizona's tough law requiring police to check the documentation of anyone they suspect might be an illegal immigrant. But all around the country, a kind of emotional civil war continues. Some people deciding to try to hit Arizona in the pocketbook. Today's developments from Barbara Pinto.
BARBARA PINTO: This is an out and out brawl, a nation choosing sides. California's Governor Schwarzenegger for one.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: I was also going to go and give a commencement speech in Arizona, but with my accent I was worried they would deport me back to Austria.
PINTO: Los Angeles now joins San Francisco and St. Paul, Minnesota, banning travel to the state.
WOMAN: Los Angeles is not going to stand for bigotry, for racism and for attacks on immigrants.
PINTO: A list of boycotts costing Arizona an estimated $90 million so far. This heated debate is even playing out here at this suburban Chicago High School, 1,800 miles away. Administrators cancelled the Highland Park girls basketball team's trip to an Arizona tournament amid concerns about the new law.
MICHAEL EVANS, FATHER OF BASKETBALL PLAYER: What does the immigration law have to do with us going to play sports in Arizona?
PINTO: Arizona is home no nearly a half million illegal immigrants. It's new law pits neighbor against neighbor.
ALEJANDRA CHACON, LEGAL IMMIGRANT: This is not about immigration anymore. This is about the color of our skin, the way we talk, the way we learn.
PINTO: Across town-
DONNA NEILLE: One night, we hear pop, pop, pop.
PINTO: -Donna and Jerry Neille watched the flood of illegal immigrants and crime move into their neighborhood.
DONNA NEILLE: The gangs. You know, that's really what is scary about all of this, it's these gangs. They're vicious. They're violent.
PINTO: And then there's the 700 mile border fence, promised by Congress. Today, only 34 miles are up, nine of them in Arizona, which has a border hundreds of miles long. The issue is so inflamed that John McCain, once a champion for immigrant rights, is scrambling to be identified with that fence.
JOHN McCAIN IN TV AD: And complete the danged fence.
PINTO: Today, religious leaders protested outside his door, in this border battle that is nowhere near an end. Barabara Pinto, ABC News, Highland Park, Illinois.
MSNBC's Ratigan Rants: Military 'Dropping Predator Bombs On Civilians Willy-Nilly'
On Wednesday's Dylan Ratigan Show on MSNBC, host Dylan Ratigan didn't see any point to continuing the war in Afghanistan and slammed military air strikes against terrorist targets as: "kids with joysticks in New Jersey and Las Vegas dropping predator bombs on civilians willy-nilly." [Audio available here]
Ratigan began a panel discussion on Afghanistan with Democratic strategist David Goodfriend and Republican strategist Brent Littlefield by wondering: "Is there anybody in this administration on either side that can actually justify the American presence in Afghanistan at this point?" Littlefield attempted to explain: "we had the previous president, took the country in there because of the attacks on 9/11." Ratigan was dismissive: "That was almost ten years ago, right? I mean that was a long time ago."
Ratigan moved on to Goodfriend and referenced NBC correspondent Richard Engel's appearance on the show on Tuesday: "He is making the point that the Bush doctrine of fight them there and they won't get us here appears to be continuing to break down as we now default to just predator drone-them-to-death wherever they may be on remote control and an apparent, sort of, nonevent in Afghanistan. It's like a charade." Of course the reliance on predator drone attacks was significantly increased under the Obama administration.
George Stephanopoulos Laments Obama's Inability to Help Democrats
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Thursday appeared frustrated that perceived successes by Barack Obama have failed to help his own party. The former Democratic operative turned journalist interviewed current Democratic operative James Carville and complained, "You know, you've seen over the last month health care passes. Jobs are being created. The President has an arms control agreement with the Russians."
Stephanopoulos added, "Yet, nothing seems to move these [poll] numbers." Back on March 1, 2010, the morning show host was more hopeful.
He repeated liberal talking points about the effect passing health care would have: "...The Democrats in the White House who are pushing for this strategy, pushing for passage, say that once this does pass, the country will get it. Democrats will be unified. They'll get a huge benefit."
On Thursday, Stephanopoulos again cited the White House and seemed to declare Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court a done deal: "But, you know, the White House has this 48-hour rule, saying that the nominations are won and loss in the first 48 hours. Is this one already over?"
How did the then-host of This Week react to the early days of John Roberts nomination to the Supreme Court. On the July 24, 2005 edition of the program, he touted Democratic options:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Democrats do have a dilemma here,...You can look at [Roberts] and say, 'You know what? He is well qualified, he is well liked. He's got great credentials. Let's give him a pass so say we were reasonable and fight hard on the next one.' The other philosophy is, 'No, you got to brush him back now to send a message to the White House.'"On the same program, Stephanopoulos did allow that the Roberts pick might be headed towards a "coronation." On Thursday, however, there was no talk of "sending a message" to Obama.
The host did at least acknowledged reality. Talking to Carville and Republican Bay Buchanan, he observed, "But, then you dig into it and say when you just talk to the voters most likely to show up at the polls in November, a huge, huge advantage for the Republicans. 56 for the Republicans. Only 36 for Democrats. James Carville, this is the worst warning sign yet for the Democrats."
A transcript of the May 13 segment, which aired at 7:07am EDT, follows:
STEPHANOPOULOS: We're going to turn now to politics. As the President's latest nominee for the Supreme Court, Elena Kagan made her courtesy calls on Capitol Hill yesterday. A new poll out just this morning shows that the Democratic majority in Congress could be in more jeopardy than ever. Here to debate all that this morning, our dueling strategists, James Carville for the Democrats. Bay Buchanan for the Republicans. Welcome to you both. And let me start out with that poll in the Wall Street Journal. It shows that when voters look ahead to the November midterm election, they're split over whether or not they want Democrats or Republicans to control the Congress. 44 to 44. But, then you dig into it and say when you just talk to the voters most likely to show up at the polls in November, a huge, huge advantage for the Republicans. 56 for the Republicans. Only 36 for Democrats. James Carville, this is the worst warning sign yet for the Democrats.— Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
JAMES CARVILLE (ABC News contributor): It's not good. And we've consistently shown that in our Democracy Corp polling. There's some evidence that this gap is starting to tighten slightly. But it's going to have to do more than slightly. In the 2012 election, we would do better. But we have to run this in 2010. And the Democrats need a strategy to re-energize some of their voters. This finding is very consistent and very true with other things that I've seen.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Bay, Karl Rove writes in the Wall Street Journal today that this could be an epic election for the Republicans.
BAY BUCHANAN (Conservative activist): Yeah. I think there is a real problem. I agree with James, no question. But, I'd like to tell you it's all pro-Republican and they want to come our way. But it's really an anti-incumbency, anti-Washington. And that's the Democrats are going to go against what the Democrats have done in the last couple years. And so, Republicans are going to benefit. I'm just hoping that those who do benefit, those Republicans are new, fresh faces and not part of our old establishment. Because America is not interested in bringing back what we gave them for eight years. They want new faces, new energy, new leadership in this country.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And, of course, Bay, to prove your point, the republican incumbent in Utah, lost his primary, Bob Bennett over the weekend, to a tea party activist. James Carville, you talk about the Democratic strategy to limit losses. You know, you've seen over the last month health care passes. Jobs are being created. The President has an arms control agreement with the Russians. Yet, nothing seems to move these numbers.
CARVILLE: Well, I think the White House is acutely aware of that. As are other Democratic strategists. I mean, the hope is that job numbers continue to come in at an impressive rate and it starts to. And that's a possibility and one that Democrats have to hold out hope for. And also, that as election day gets closer, that 39 percent of the Democrats are energized as opposed to 56 percent of the Republicans, that that number begins to close. And if that happens, than you can avoid catastrophic losses. But right now, I don't think in fairness, truthfully, you can say the election were held today, we would be faced with that. Democrats would be faced with some staggering losses.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Losing control?
CARVILLE: Oh, yeah. Absolutely possible. If the election were today. But it's not. And the chances that that number closes are much better than it stays open. And the effect of continued job numbers is going to have some effect on the political atmosphere, at least I hope.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's turn-
BUCHANAN: George, George, I think there's a real problem here for Democrats, because what's motivating the voters is this huge debt that we have. This increasing deficit. The incredible unwillingness for Washington to get control over spending. It's outrageous. And people are unnerved by it, as they pull in their belt in communities and states are pulling in theirs. Washington just keeps spending. As if that's the only solution. You can't solve that in the next six months. And I think that's why the voters are going to come to the ballot and say get rid of these guys and bring in somebody who will get control.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's turn to Elena Kagan, the President's nominee for the supreme court. She was making courtesy calls on yesterday. Here she is with Republican Orrin Hatch. Actually, that's-
[Clip of Kagan in Hatch's office]
ELENA KAGAN: It's great to be here. It's a beautiful office.
ORRIN HATCH: You know, there's some nice stuff here. You're going to get mad. There's a Man of the Year for the National Rifle Association. It's a place of art, really.
KAGAN: It's beautiful.
HATCH: It's a handmade flint lock and it's beautiful, beautiful.
KAGAN: It's gorgeous.
[Clip ends]
STEPHANOPOULOS: She's not going to say anything to hurt her chances. But, you know, the White House has this 48-hour rule, saying that the nominations are won and loss in the first 48 hours. Is this one already over?
CARVILLE: This one? Yeah. Barring something that no one's foreseen, I don't think there's a person in the world who would think there's any chance of derailing this nomination. Actually, they might not be too nice to him. They might boo him at some tea party here and there.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Bay?
BUCHANAN: There's no question, George, she'll be confirmed, in my opinion. But the key is, I don't understand for the life of me, why when the left has control of the Senate, as they do, that obama would not put up one of the best and the brightest. This woman is not one of the finest, you know, liberal judicial minds in the country. She doesn't have any kind of record. She has the blank slate. And she's like a Harriet Miers with a Harvard twist here. You know? I don't understand why they don't get the best and the brightest and fight for one of their Scalias. But, they don't.
STEPHANOPOULOS: I think you'll find- We're out of time. I think you'll find a lot of Democrats debate that point.
MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Derides Obama for 'Going Overboard' With 'Pseudo' Kagan Interview
MSNBC reporter Andrea Mitchell on Wednesday actually expressed some journalistic outrage over a White House PR video disguised as an interview, deriding the administration for "crossing a number of lines when it comes to journalism." An irritated Mitchell highlighted a video on the White House website that features Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. [Audio available here.]
Most other media outlets have ignored this story. Mitchell, however, complained to reporter Kelly O'Donnell: "But, the White House has gone overboard, I think some would suggest, in terms of the control of all of this."
Attacking the "pseudo interview," Mitchell mocked, "Doesn't this seem to you like they are really crossing a number of lines here when it comes to journalism and the proper approach to selling a justice?"
Reporter Kelly O'Donnell explained the video: "It appears like an interview. But, people who are watching it should know that it was produced and done completely by the White House." Emphasizing the point, she repeated, "[Kagan] talks about her work in law school, her love of the law. Things that are certainly glossy and friendly. But it is not an interview."
Mitchell closed by proclaiming, "[The White House video is] certainly a big issue for journalists." But, is it? Who else will cover this?
CBS's Early Show hasn't discussed this latest video, but, on August 3, 2009, touted an earlier Obama PR package. The MRC's Kyle Drennen explained:
At the top of Monday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith touted a White House-produced video: "And your letters to the President...A behind-the-scenes look at how President Obama keeps in touch with everyday Americans." After airing the administration spin, co-host Maggie Rodriguez argued it was "all part of Obama's promise of transparency in the people's White House."A transcript of the February 12 segment, which aired at 1:02pm EDT, follows:
ANDREA MITCHELL: Elena Kagan is making the rounds on Capitol Hill, meeting with key senators. NBC's Capitol Hill correspondent Kelly O'Donnell joining us live. Big meetings today. What's the sense, the mood as she has her first meetings with key members of the Judiciary Committee and others?—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
KELLY O'DONNELL: Well, it's getting to know you day, Andrea. Elena Kagan is stopping at leadership. She's had a couple meetings so far. She'll be at this all day, really, until the early evening hours to meet these senators and to get a sense of what they may be wanting to know from her. And, of course, for senators it's a chance to get a sense of who she is as a person, talk about issues that may come up during this process. A lot of it is really an opportunity to just sort of spend a few minutes together in private meetings, not the big public Q and A that will come at the hearing. So, that's sort of where we are right now. From Republicans you're getting a real sense of wanting everything to slow down a bit. They are using words like "thorough" for the process they want to go through. Meaning it will be tough. It will be as intense as they can make it knowing they do not have the numbers to really derail this confirmation. And barring any big surprise, most people believe she will be able to be confirmed. But, between now and then, there's a lot that has to be done. She has a big questionnaire to fill out, which is everything about her public life and even professional life, personal life in terms of financial statements. So, a lot of that is going on now. Today is just a way to simply begin that process. And for us it's a chance to see her interacting with people who will decide if she becomes the 112th justice. Andrea?
MITCHELL: Well, off course as they go through all of this process, nominees have never submitted themselves to interviews. That's been a routine. They don't submit themselves to interviews before they go through confirmation. But, the White House has gone overboard, I think some would suggest, in terms of the control of all of this. They've posted a, a sort of, pseudo interview on their website. And it appears she is speaking in her own words, being interviewed. And it turns out that the interviewer is not a journalist, it's a White House staff member. Doesn't this seem to you like they are really crossing a number of lines here when it comes to journalism and the proper approach to selling a justice?
O'DONNELL: Well, this White House has always tried to sort of leap over reporters to a large extent and photographers as well, to communicate directly with those people who would be in the public who will click on their website and want to learn more about her. It appears like an interview. But, people who are watching it should know that it was produced and done completely by the White House. And that means it will only deal with things that they believe are favorable and contribute to the narrative of who is Elena Kagan? What's her background? She talks about her childhood. She talks about her work in law school, her love of the law. Things that are certainly glossy and friendly. But it is not an interview. And as you point out, typically justices do not do interviews. It's rare. It does happen, but it's rare. And so these behind the scenes meetings are a chance for real questions and answers. And unlike Sonia Sotomayor, who chatted a bit as she walked around the Senate last year, so far Elena Kagan has just said hello. No chance for reporters to interact. And so, that debate of how far does the White House go in its packaging is really a lively one that deals with lots of issues and certainly now with the Supreme Court nominee.
MITCHELL: It's certainly big issues for journalists.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Fwd: MRC Alert: As Polls Show Overwhelming Support for Arizona's Law, Nets Focus on 'Uproar' and 'Spreading' Boycotts
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