Fwd: MRC Alert: George Stephanopoulos Fawns Over Obama's Handling of McChrystal Controversy: A 'Political Masterstroke'

 

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.

 

Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Friday June 25, 2010 @ 08:58 AM EDT

1. George Stephanopoulos Fawns Over Obama's Handling of McChrystal Controversy: A 'Political Masterstroke'
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Thursday hyped Barack Obama's handling of the decision to fire General Stanley McChrystal and replace him with David Petraeus, lauding the action as a "political masterstroke." His comments built on extensive media praise on Wednesday, including many reporters who called the move "brilliant." Stephanopoulos seemed particularly pleased. The former Democratic aide turned journalist extolled, "...That pick really seems to have been the political masterstroke that got President Obama out of the tight box he was in. It's being welcomed both by Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill."

2. NBC: Obama's 'Commander-in-Chief' Moment with McChrystal a Hidden Blessing
On Wednesday's Today show, NBC's Chuck Todd touted President Obama's "swiftness" in dealing with the controversy surrounding General Stanley McChrystal comments in Rolling Stone magazine as a "commander-in-chief moment," and hinted that it was a blessing in disguise, given the executive's tanking approval ratings. Todd led the 7 am Eastern hour with his report on the President appointing General David Petraeus to replace General McChrystal, who was relieved of command following the Rolling Stone interview. The NBC White House correspondent remarked that with the Petraeus appointment, "the President signaled to his team, no more firestorms like this one will be tolerated." After playing a clip of Mr. Obama stating that he "won't tolerate division," he continued that "the President's aides don't expect there will be much division in the Senate, either, where some are predicting Petraeus will have the fastest confirmation in history, and the praise is bipartisan."

3. No Palin Setback Too Small for Couric Who Skips How Palin 'Acted in Good Faith'
Demonstrating that no setback for Sarah Palin which can be portrayed as a rebuke is too insignificant or relevant for Katie Couric, she made time on Thursday's CBS Evening News to inform her viewers about a disputable technical violation of arcane law: "One little word will cost Sarah Palin a small fortune. Today, state investigators in Alaska said a legal defense fund she set up while she was Governor was illegal. They said the use of the word 'official' on the fund's Web site implied it was endorsed by the office of the Governor. Palin's lawyer says she will return the fund's nearly $400,000." Unmentioned by Couric? How Timothy Petumenos, the investigator/counsel for the Alaska Personnel Board which issued the ruling, absolved Palin of blame.

4. NY Times Celebrates D.C.'s 'Venerated Politics and Prose Bookstore,' Ignores Snubs of Conservatives
A New York Times reporter provides a roll call of D.C. liberal pundits in love with the Politics & Prose bookstore, but never notes the store's deep-blue-hue and previous snubbing of conservative authors. As Politico has reported: "The idea that Politics and Prose has a liberal bias has caused the store some consternation, but it's rooted in reality."

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George Stephanopoulos Fawns Over Obama's Handling of McChrystal Controversy: A 'Political Masterstroke'

 

Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Thursday hyped Barack Obama's handling of the decision to fire General Stanley McChrystal and replace him with David Petraeus, lauding the action as a "political masterstroke."

His comments built on extensive media praise on Wednesday, including many reporters who called the move "brilliant." Stephanopoulos seemed particularly pleased.

The former Democratic aide turned journalist extolled, "...That pick really seems to have been the political masterstroke that got President Obama out of the tight box he was in. It's being welcomed both by Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill."

Reporter Martha Raddatz agreed with Stephanopoulos, enthusing, "Sending Petraeus to Afghanistan is, by all accounts, a great save, for exactly the reasons the President described."

A transcript of the June 24 segment, which aired at 7:04am, follows:

ROBIN ROBERTS: But, it, as you know, is a new day, under new leadership for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. After a high-stakes meeting with General Stanley McChrystal, President Obama announced his resignation, the general's resignation. And named his replacement, the architect of the surge in Iraq, General David Petraeus.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And, Robin, that pick really seems to have been the political masterstroke that got President Obama out of the tight box he was in. It's being welcomed both by Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill. Petraeus is expected to be confirmed quickly by the Senate and to be on the ground in Afghanistan next week. The big question, now, can General Petraeus fix a war effort that has been proceeding in fits and starts? President Obama said he was changing personnel, not policy. But, many wondering if a change in strategy is needed. We have Senator John McCain standing by live to talk about that. But, we're going to begin with Martha Raddatz and the high drama in the high change of command. And, Martha, it was pretty stunning. 30 minutes with the President and a 30-year career is over.

MARTHA RADDATZ: That's exactly right, George. General McChrystal and his top aide will not be returning to Afghanistan and say good-bye. Their personal effects are being packed up right now for shipping back to the U.S. As an official in Kabul told me this morning, it feels like a death in the family. It all happened so fast. And in retrospect, was so obvious. Cameras trained on a White House entrance, caught Stanley McChrystal leaving his tense and final meeting with President Obama. And a short time later, David Petraeus arrived. He had come for a scheduled national security council meeting about Afghanistan. But we now know that just 45 minutes after McChrystal was ousted, the President called Petraeus to the oval office and asked him to take McChrystal's job.

BARACK OBAMA: He has worked closely with our forces in Afghanistan. He has worked closely with Congress. He has my full confidence.

RADDATZ: Sending Petraeus to Afghanistan is, by all accounts, a great save, for exactly the reasons the President described. Petraeus is jokingly referred to by some in the military as a water walker, who seems to turn even the worst situations around. He received enormous credit for that in Iraq, where he served three, different tours, the last overseeing the surge. Ironically, he took over central command in 2008 because the man who was then holding the job, Admiral William Fallon, was ousted, after an Esquire magazine profile put him at odds with the Bush administration. The central command job, headquartered in Tampa, put Petraeus in charge of a swath of global hot spots, from Yemen, to Iran, to Pakistan.

A senior administration official joked that sending Petraeus from Tampa to Kabul, was not exactly on the Better Homes tour. But clearly, the President is hoping that the magic touch Petraeus has had in the past, will help him in one of the toughest wars ever. And this may well be the hardest challenge Petraeus has faced. We also don't know how long he will be in Afghanistan. He has already spent nearly half of the last ten years in a war zone. George?

— Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.

NBC: Obama's 'Commander-in-Chief' Moment with McChrystal a Hidden Blessing

 

On Wednesday's Today show, NBC's Chuck Todd touted President Obama's "swiftness" in dealing with the controversy surrounding General Stanley McChrystal comments in Rolling Stone magazine as a "commander-in-chief moment," and hinted that it was a blessing in disguise, given the executive's tanking approval ratings.

Todd led the 7 am Eastern hour with his report on the President appointing General David Petraeus to replace General McChrystal, who was relieved of command following the Rolling Stone interview. The NBC White House correspondent remarked that with the Petraeus appointment, "the President signaled to his team, no more firestorms like this one will be tolerated." After playing a clip of Mr. Obama stating that he "won't tolerate division," he continued that "the President's aides don't expect there will be much division in the Senate, either, where some are predicting Petraeus will have the fastest confirmation in history, and the praise is bipartisan."

Later in the report, Todd used his "commander-in-chief moment" term as he emphasized the apparent good timing of the controversy and detailed the public's decreasing confidence in the President, according to NBC's own poll:

TODD: Still, the swiftness of the President's action is a commander-in-chief moment, at a time when the public is having doubts about his ability. According to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, just 45 percent approve of the job he's doing as president. Forty-four percent believe he's firm and decisive in his decision making. That's down from 63 percent 18 months ago. And just under half the country, 49 percent, believe he has strong leadership qualities. That's down a whopping 21 points from the month he took office. And as the list of domestic problems, like unemployment and the oil spill, pile up on the President's desk, some say it was vitally important the President buy time on Afghanistan.

An on-screen graphic further described that President Obama's disapproval rating was at 48%, though the correspondent didn't specifically mention this statistic.

Almost a day earlier, Todd lauded the chief executive just as the Petraeus appointment was being made: "Politically, in this town, it's going to be seen as a brilliant choice by the President."

The full transcript of Chuck Todd's report from Thursday's Today show:

MEREDITH VIEIRA: Let us begin with the change in command in Afghanistan. Chuck Todd is NBC's chief White House correspondent. Good morning, Chuck.

CHUCK TODD: Good morning, Meredith. Well, after a rare swift set of personnel moves by this White House, the President is now back focused on trying to make his complicated Afghanistan strategy work, rather than fixated on who's going to implement it.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: This is a change in personnel, but it is not a change in policy.

TODD (voice-over): With General Petraeus by his side, and General McChrystal headed out a side door, the President signaled to his team, no more firestorms like this one will be tolerated.

OBAMA: I've just told my national security team that now is the time for all of us to come together. I welcome debate among my team, but I won't tolerate division.

TODD: The President's aides don't expect there will be much division in the Senate, either, where some are predicting Petraeus will have the fastest confirmation in history, and the praise is bipartisan.

SENATOR CARL LEVIN: I admire him and others that respond to that kind of a call from the President. I don't think he even had a chance to talk to his wife.

SENATOR LINDSAY GRAHAM: Dave Petraeus is our best hope. If things don't change, nobody can pull it out in Afghanistan.

TODD: But the hearings are expected to re-ignite the very divisive debate among the two parties about the question of a timetable for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, scheduled to begin next July.

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: Whether that is, quote- etched in stone, as the President's spokesperson, Mr. Gibbs, stated, or whether it will be conditions-based.

TODD: Still, the swiftness of the President's action is a commander-in-chief moment, at a time when the public is having doubts about his ability.

According to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, just 45% approve of the job he's doing as president. Forty-four percent believe he's firm and decisive in his decision making. That's down from 63% 18 months ago. And just under half the country, 49%, believe he has strong leadership qualities. That's down a whopping 21 points from the month he took office. And as the list of domestic problems, like unemployment and the oil spill, pile up on the President's desk, some say it was vitally important the President buy time on Afghanistan.

RETIRED GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFREY: It does give the President cover and a strategy, and it does buy him time. He's putting a leader out there that will not be questioned.

TODD (live) Today, the focus stays on foreign affairs, as the President meets with the president of another country who's familiar with a quagmire-like situation in Afghanistan. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits the White House today. The two will hold a joint press conference, and Afghanistan is likely to come up, Matt.

MATT LAUER: All right. Chuck Todd at the White House this morning. Chuck, thank you very much.

—Matthew Balan is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here.

No Palin Setback Too Small for Couric Who Skips How Palin 'Acted in Good Faith'

 

Demonstrating that no setback for Sarah Palin which can be portrayed as a rebuke is too insignificant or relevant for Katie Couric, she made time on Thursday's CBS Evening News to inform her viewers about a disputable technical violation of arcane law:

One little word will cost Sarah Palin a small fortune. Today, state investigators in Alaska said a legal defense fund she set up while she was Governor was illegal. They said the use of the word "official" on the fund's Web site implied it was endorsed by the office of the Governor. Palin's lawyer says she will return the fund's nearly $400,000.

Unmentioned by Couric? How Timothy Petumenos, the investigator/counsel for the Alaska Personnel Board which issued the ruling, absolved Palin of blame. "Petumenos found the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee acted in good faith and relied on the advice of lawyers when setting up the fund," the Anchorage Daily News reported in an afternoon posting.

PDF of the board's report, which noted: "Governor Palin complied fully with AS 39.52.210(a) by declining to take any proceeds from the Trust once the Complaint was filed pending resolution of this matter."

— Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.

NY Times Celebrates D.C.'s 'Venerated Politics and Prose Bookstore,' Ignores Snubs of Conservatives

 

News that "the venerated Politics and Prose bookstore" in Washington, D.C. was up for sale inspired a story by Yeganeh June Torbati Wednesday that resembled a scroll of the D.C. social register, so stuffed it was with names of liberal personalities and pundits: "Bookstore in Capital Seeks Its Next Chapter." But the only clues Torbati gave of the bookstore's dark-blue hue had to be inferred from the names on the bookstore's fan list.

First came shock -- the venerated Politics and Prose bookstore here was up for sale. Then, almost immediately, the fantasies started -- what would it be like to be the new owner, an influential tastemaker at the intersection of the nation's political and literary worlds?

In the weeks since the owners said the independent bookstore was on the market, a variety of potential buyers, including literary agents, authors and investors, have stepped forward to express interest.

The roll call of the bookstore's D.C. cult made clear that its fans share a left-wing urban sensibility (indeed, the store made news in 2007 for the disrespectful way it treats conservatives authors and books). Torbati apparently didn't notice.

Esther Newberg, a New York literary agent whose clients include the writers Thomas L. Friedman, Seymour Hersh, Maureen Dowd and Caroline Kennedy, said what makes Politics and Prose so attractive to authors is that Ms. Cohen and Ms. Meade manage to get large audiences for even relatively unknown writers.

....

Prospective buyers need not apply if they are only seeking to make a sure profit or would just relish the chance to hobnob with the likes of Christopher Hitchens and Hendrik Hertzberg, both fans of the store. All viable candidates will be subject to a "good long talk," [co-owner Barbara] Meade said, "about what they plan to do with the store."

If those "plans" include inviting right-of-center authors to read, those perspective owners might not make it far. Reporter Ryan Grimm of Politico noted the book store's "liberal bias" in a February 2007 article.

The idea that Politics and Prose has a liberal bias has caused the store some consternation, but it's rooted in reality. The bookstore draws a graying, turtleneck crowd in a neighborhood known for its liberal politics in a city that gave George W. Bush fewer than 22,000 votes in 2004. Would you expect the shelves to be buckling under the weight of Sean Hannity and Co.'s latest books?

The bookstore's most well-known snub went to Matt Drudge, a conservative and the creator of The Drudge Report. Cohen reportedly called him "a rumormonger and a troublemaker" in 2000 when the store rejected his request for a reading.

Two years later, neo-conservative Joshua Muravchik made some trouble by telling The Washington Post that the bookstore had refused him a reading in deference to members of a Trotskyite sect of the International Socialist Organization who shopped at the store. They apparently took umbrage at what they felt was a negative gloss on communism in his book "Heaven on Earth: The Rise and Fall of Socialism."

Clay Waters is editor of Times Watch. You can follow him on Twitter.