Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Friday April 23, 2010 @ 09:39 AM EDT1. ABC's Sam Donaldson Hypes: Al Gore for the Supreme Court
On Thursday's Good Morning America, ABC journalist Sam Donaldson touted a liberal hero for the Supreme Court, one that even made George Stephanopoulos chuckle: Al Gore. After arguing that Barack Obama should choose a politician, Donaldson enthused, "Let's go further...I give you Al Gore." The veteran reporter, who was participating in GMA's Morning Mix panel, argued his case for the former Democratic presidential nominee: "He's 62. But, he's still a few years kicking [sic]. I think he's confirmable, although there would be a fight to some extent. I think he might make a very good justice."
2. Chevy Chase Reveals Matt Lauer Doing Charity Work for Liberal Green Groups
Comic legend and liberal activist Chevy Chase was invited on Thursday's Today show to promote his NBC comedy "Community" and advocate for environmentalism on this Earth Day, as he told viewers he'll be emceing a charity auction to benefit liberal greenie groups like the NRDC. In the process of noting some of the items to be auctioned off at the Christie's event, including a golf outing with Bill Clinton, Chase revealed none other than Today co-anchor Matt Lauer offered his own donation - a guided tour of the Today set.
3. George Stephanopoulos Hits Geithner From the Left on Financial Regulation: Break Up Big Banks?
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Thursday challenged Timothy Geithner from the left, advocating that the administration really needs to "do something" tough with the financial reform bill. He complained, "I mean, you have got a situation now where the six biggest banks in the country have assets equal to more than 60 percent of GDP. Why shouldn't those big banks be broken up?"
4. CNBC Reporter to Obama: Is Wall Street As 'Harmful' To Us as Big Tobacco?
CNBC's John Harwood, in an interview aired on Thursday's Today show, pressed Barack Obama about the need to regulate Wall Street as he questioned the President if Americans needed to view them in the same way they view Big Tobacco as "companies whose core activities are harmful to the country?" Obama declined to make the comparison to the tobacco companies, but went on to insist Wall Street needed new rules to protect against "excess."
5. Biden and Bo with TV's Endearing and Cuddly Moments at the Obama White House
Never missing a chance to highlight events that make Team Obama seem to be loveable characters, ABC and NBC on Thursday night showcased endearing and cuddly moments with Joe Biden and First Dog Bo. You can decide which one is endearing and which one is cuddly. ABC's Diane Sawyer took time to marvel at how "we heard on The View today that it was the President who told" Joe Biden "we heard" Biden calling "the health care reform a big you know what deal" when "of course he didn't know that his microphone was so sensitive," and NBC's Brian Williams showed video of Bo barking at First Lady Michelle Obama.
6. CBS 'Early Show' Guilts Viewers to Give Up Bottled Water for Earth Day
In the 8:30AM ET half hour of Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez introduced an Earth Day segment by proclaiming: "Americans throw away more than 30 billion plastic bottles every year....We have a film maker, Stephanie Soechtig, here with us, she has a documentary out called 'Tapped,' which looks the impact that all those bottles have had on the environment."
ABC's Sam Donaldson Hypes: Al Gore for the Supreme Court
On Thursday's Good Morning America, ABC journalist Sam Donaldson touted a liberal hero for the Supreme Court, one that even made George Stephanopoulos chuckle: Al Gore. After arguing that Barack Obama should choose a politician, Donaldson enthused, "Let's go further...I give you Al Gore." [Audio available here.]
The veteran reporter, who was participating in GMA's Morning Mix panel, argued his case for the former Democratic presidential nominee: "He's 62. But, he's still a few years kicking [sic]. I think he's confirmable, although there would be a fight to some extent. I think he might make a very good justice."
Stephanopoulos, a former Democratic operative, incredulously responded, "There would be a massive fight!" He then broke out laughing. Donaldson, perhaps realizing the unlikely nature of this liberal fantasy, conceded, "I said to some extent." He, too, started laughing.
GMA's Morning Mix segment has quickly turned into a panel of journalists touting left-wing conventional wisdom. Thursday's edition, in addition to Stephanopoulos and Donaldson, also included former Democratic operative Donna Brazile and liberal sportswriter Christine Brennan.
Arguing for the President to not go soft with his Supreme Court pick, she lobbied, "You know, from a sports perspective here: You win, to the victor goes the spoils. And the President has absolutely every right, as any other president, it seems to me, to pick whoever he wants. Litmus test or no litmus test."
The March 12 Morning Mix featured a chorus of liberal voices to sympathize with Democrats Patrick Kennedy and Eric Massa.
A transcript of the April 22 segment, which aired at 8:18am EDT, follows:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's do a little politics right now. The President heading up to Wall Street right now. In the meantime, Sam, he's right in the middle of deliberations again on another supreme court pick. Replacing Justice Stevens. Who are you thinking about?—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
SAM DONALDSON: Well, my pick would be Janet Napolitano. She's made a star of herself in the cabinet. A puff piece in the Washington Post this morning.
STEPHANOPOULOS: The Secretary of Homeland Security.
DONALDSON: That's right. Exactly. She faced the voters in Arizona. They liked her. And I like the idea that not just federal judges. I have nothing against judges should be on the court. And I'll give you another name. Let's go further. The Constitution does not say you have to be a lawyer to be on the Supreme Court.
STEPHANOPOULOS: That's right.
DONALDSON: I give you Al Gore.
STEPHANOPOULOS: [Seemingly shocked] Al Gore?
DONALDSON: All right. He's 62. But, he's still a few years kicking [sic]. I think he's confirmable, although there would be a fight to some extent. I think he might make a very good justice.
STEPHANOPOULOS [Incredulous]: There would be a massive fight! [Laughs]
DONALDSON: I said to some extent. [Laughs]
STEPHANOPOULOS: [to Brazile]: You was his campaign manager, you think he wants it?
DONNA BRAZILE: He would be qualified. But with a Nobel Prize and Oscar, I think Al Gore's going to continue to fight for climate change. Look, I like a lot of the names on the short list and the short-short list. There's a lot of qualified people. And some great women. And so, I'm one of these people that would like to encourage the President to put another court on the court. And, yes, a female version of Justice Alito.
DONALDSON: What about Janet Napolitano?
BRAZILE: I like that name. I like Elena Kagan. I like all of them. Judge Sears. Give me any of 'em.
DONALDSON: In other words, if it's a woman, it's okay with you.
BRAZILE: Absolutely.
CHRISTINE BRENNAN: With 50/50 in the nation, and not they're not there on the court, that makes a lot of sense.
DONALDSON: You actually have more than 50 percent of the population.
BRENNAN: 51, as a matter of fact.
BRAZILE [Motioning to the panel] This is 50/50.
BRENNAN: And I'm intrigued, when we hear that people say, no litmus test on this or that. You know, from a sports perspective here: You win, to the victor goes the spoils. And the President has absolutely every right, as any other president, it seems to me, to pick whoever he wants. Litmus test or no litmus test.
DONALDSON: But, he hasn't come clean on that. He actually said, there's no litmus test.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You know there is.
DONALDSON: On the other hand, when it comes to females using their body, we know where he stands.
BRAZILE: He respects individuals rights. And also women's rights. And I also think the President has high regards for the Supreme Court. He's a constitutional lawyer. He did a fantastic job with Judge Sotomayor.
Chevy Chase Reveals Matt Lauer Doing Charity Work for Liberal Green Groups
Comic legend and liberal activist Chevy Chase was invited on Thursday's Today show to promote his NBC comedy "Community" and advocate for environmentalism on this Earth Day, as he told viewers he'll be emceing a charity auction to benefit liberal greenie groups like the NRDC. In the process of noting some of the items to be auctioned off at the Christie's event, including a golf outing with Bill Clinton, Chase revealed none other than Today co-anchor Matt Lauer offered his own donation - a guided tour of the Today set.
The following exchange was aired on the April 22 Today show:
MEREDITH VIEIRA: You're not just an icon, you are an emcee tonight at a very important auction.—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.
CHEVY CHASE: Yeah tonight I'm emceing this Christie's Auction. It's a green auction. It's to save the Earth. And let me just mention that it's also gonna be sponsored by Oceana, NRDC, the conservation-, in other words there are, Central Park Conservancy.
AL ROKER: All the profits go to those organizations.
CHASE: There are a number of organizations, four that will be benefitted.
MATT LAUER: That's right.
CHASE: And I can just quickly give you, from CharityBuzz.com a list of some of the, like golf with President Clinton will be auctioned off. A tour of the Today show with Matt Lauer.
LAUER: That's a huge item! Huge!
CHASE: Is he still on that? Yeah. Oh and then Jane Pauley. Oh no!
ROKER: Nice.
CHASE: When was that? 80 years ago. Anyway.
ROKER: Ow!
CHASE: Anyway but it's, there are some great things. Gonna be doing that and of course I always celebrate Earth Day quietly at home with a bonfire and some liquor.
ROKER: Very good.
LAUER: We were actually talking about 40th anniversary of Earth Day. And you were on the first Earth Day where?
CHASE: As I remember her name was-
ROKER: No!
LAUER: Don't do that!
ROKER: Comedy icon ladies and gentlemen!
CHASE: I don't know! I had no idea where I was but I know I was for it.
ROKER: Yes!
CHASE: You betcha!
George Stephanopoulos Hits Geithner From the Left on Financial Regulation: Break Up Big Banks?
Good Morning America's George Stephanopoulos on Thursday challenged Timothy Geithner from the left, advocating that the administration really needs to "do something" tough with the financial reform bill. He complained, "I mean, you have got a situation now where the six biggest banks in the country have assets equal to more than 60 percent of GDP. Why shouldn't those big banks be broken up?"
Following up, Stephanopoulos complained to the Treasury Secretary: "But, why isn't it a good idea to do something about the size of these banks? Are they still too big to fail?" The former Democratic operative turned journalist managed to go the entire interview without mentioning Republican concerns about the legislation.
Yet, he worried, "I mean, Goldman Sachs, 27 percent profits. You can't find a business that you make profits at that level." On April 21, Apple announced profits of 49 percent for the first quarter. (Perhaps hyperbole isn't Stephanopoulos' strength.)
The ABC journalist did question Geithner about future bailouts and whether the American public could be guaranteed there wouldn't be more. But, he mostly stuck to highlighting liberal worries, such as a new plan to allow trading firms to create a box office futures market.
Before asking if this should be "banned," Stephanopoulos chided, "But even as Washington limits these risky investments, Wall Street is trying to create new ones. The latest, letting people bet on box office results. A futures market in movies. Do you think that's a good idea?"
A transcript of the April 22 segment, which aired at 7:08am EDT, follows:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: I had the chance to talk to about all of this when I spoke with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner yesterday afternoon. We sat down just before he met with top General Motors executives to get back their government bailout money. So, Geithner was in a pretty good mood. He was also optimistic about getting Democrats and Republicans to agree on a financial reform package, which he believes will end bailouts paid for all of us. That's where we began.—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
TIM GEITHNER (Treasury Secretary): I think we will. Yeah. I'm spending a lot of time up there, both sides of the aisle, a lot of time with Republicans, too. People I talk to, want to be for a strong bill. You can't be against reform, George, given what happened. But what matters is, are they going to be for strong reforms? And based on what I've heard and what they tell me, they're for strong reforms.
STEPHANOPOULOS: There's a lot of people who are questioning whether what you're pushing for is strong enough. I mean, you have got a situation now where the six biggest banks in the country have assets equal to more than 60 percent of GDP. Why shouldn't those big banks be broken up?
GEITHNER: This is a very strong package of reforms. It's going to set limits we never had in place on risk-taking across the system. Limits on how large firms can be and how risky they can be. You know, we've been doing this for 14 months. There's enormous resistance, still, across the U.S. financial community, and by large institutions around the world to what we're trying to work through.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Yet, they're fighting it at a time when the banks are just making staggering profits. I mean, Goldman Sachs, 27 percent profits. You can't find a business that you make profits at that level. And it's a sure sign, isn't it, that there's not enough competition?
GEITHNER: No, I don't believe that. Bit. I think most of what you're seeing now in the American economy. The economy is really getting stronger. I mean, the economy is growing again. Private investment is expanding. People are starting to spend more. Exports are growing. That's a good sign. That's a healthy sign. But, again we're still living with the financial system that brought us this crisis. And, so, we have a huge obligation, I believe, huge responsibility, now, to make sure we putting in place tough reforms now.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, why isn't it a good idea to do something about the size of these banks? Are they still too big to fail?
GEITHNER: We agree. Are view is- Absolutely. You're limiting how big they can get and how risky they can get. But in the future, if they mess up and take themselves to the edge of the cliff again, then we want to make sure we can put them out of existence. Dismember them. Break them up, safely without the taxpayer having to bail them out again. That's a very important- That's a critical part of this bill.
STEPHANOPOULOS So, you're confident, if these reforms are put in place and 18 months down the road, we face another situation like Lehman Brothers. Whether it's now Citigroup or JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, whichever bank, you take your pick, Goldman Sachs, you're confident that the government will not step in and save them?
GEITHNER: Absolutely. Absolutely. That's important for people to understand. You can't run a system in which private investors or their executives can take risk on the expectation the government is going to protect them. That's a recipe for disaster.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But, that's what happened, isn't it?
GEITHNER: That's what happened before. And we're not going to let it happen again.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's talk a little bit about Goldman Sachs. The SEC is taking action against Goldman Sachs. Did anyone in the Obama administration, in Treasury, in the White House, in the government, get any heads-up? Nothing?
GEITHNER: Absolutely not. And, again, that could never happen, should never happen. It's a fully independent agency and they give no warnings and no heads-up. And there should be no involvement ever by any person in the executive branch, ever, in those kind of investigations. And I'm confident our system protects against that risk.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And I know you can't talk about the investigation, per se. But how about the underlying issue? These firms are setting up what are synthetic CDOs. Collateralized Debt Obligation. These are just bets. Why should firms who are getting backing for the federal government be allowed to do this at all? We end up paying, don't we?
GEITHNER: Let me do it slightly differently, because, again, I want to be careful. Because there's an important tradition of not commenting of enforcement or their merits. What you need to have a system in which this stuff happens, not in the dark. Where some people can make some money. But it comes at enormous risk to the system as a whole. We bring derivatives out of the dark. Those types of activities happen in broad daylight with full disclosure. And with the cops able to police the stuff more effectively.
STEPHANOPOULOS: I understand that for private firms. When you have got these banks who are getting subsidies from the federal government, why should they be allowed to do this?
GEITHNER: You're exactly right. It is an obligation of government, in some ways this was the failure of the system we had. You know, we had in place for seven years after the Great Depression. But the markets just outgrew it. The obligation of government is to prevent firms from taking risks that could imperil the economy. And to prevent people from taking advantage of their customers.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But even as Washington limits these risky investments, Wall Street is trying to create new ones. The latest, letting people bet on box office results. A futures market in movies. Do you think that's a good idea?
GEITHNER: You know, here's what I think about this, George. The financial sector will be creative and will innovate. It will come up with products in a meet some real need people have. And also come up with products that are designed to help people bet on some basic outcome. That's going to happen. It's a necessary part of running a good financial system. But, those things come with risks. And our job, our obligation, is to make sure that we're reducing those risks. We can contain the damage when those financial innovations go awry. And, again, you need the government better equipped to do a better job earlier, preemptively, to limit the risks that come with the obligation.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So, they shouldn't be banned?
GEITHNER: You can't stop innovation. You can't run a system where you have a bunch of bureaucrats in Washington, trying to figure out what's risky and what's not. Because, the risk is they'll miss it. They'll be too late. Or they'll overdo it. So, the best thing we can do for the country, is to make sure the system just has better protections in place when innovations go a little too far.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Mr. Secretary, thanks very much.
GEITHNER: Nice to see you, George.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Not all senators got the memo from the Treasury Secretary. A key Senate committee did, in fact, vote to ban that movies future market yesterday.
CNBC Reporter to Obama: Is Wall Street As 'Harmful' To Us as Big Tobacco?
CNBC's John Harwood, in an interview aired on Thursday's Today show, pressed Barack Obama about the need to regulate Wall Street as he questioned the President if Americans needed to view them in the same way they view Big Tobacco as "companies whose core activities are harmful to the country?" Obama declined to make the comparison to the tobacco companies, but went on to insist Wall Street needed new rules to protect against "excess."
JOHN HARWOOD: Should average Americans think about big Wall Street institutions the way that some have come to think about tobacco companies, that is, companies whose core activities are harmful to the country?Harwood did manage to ask Obama about contributions he received from Goldman Sachs and the fact that his former White House counsel is representing them as he pried: "In the 2008 campaign you got a lot of money, about $1 million, from employees of Goldman Sachs. Your former White House counsel Greg Craig is apparently going to represent Goldman Sachs. In light of this case, do either of those things embarrass you?"
BARACK OBAMA: No. We have to have a thriving financial sector. But, we also have to have basic rules of the road in place to make sure that investors, consumers, shareholders, the economy as a whole, are protected against excess. We have gotten into one of those places where we need to update those rules of the road, and if we do so, not only is that good for the economy, not only does it protect consumers and investors, it's also good for the financial sector.
However at the end of the segment Today co-anchor Meredith Vieira claimed Republicans were "warming up" to a financial reform bill and did the White House have "a sense" of "victory over this?" To which Harwood responded "Average Americans dislike Wall Street...so this is a case where public opinion's on the President's side. He was hitting Republicans over the head with that and they're finally coming to the table..." And just before signing off Harwood ominously warned higher middle class taxes could be on the way.
MEREDITH VIEIRA: You know Republicans are warming up to this reform bill where they were adamantly opposed to it before some revisions were introduced. Was there a sense at the White House of, of victory over this?The following is the full Harwood segment as it was aired on the April 22 Today show:
HARWOOD: I think so. Look this is an issue, unlike health care, where public opinion was divided. Average Americans dislike Wall Street, in many cases as much as they dislike Washington. So this is a case where public opinion's on the President's side. He was hitting Republicans over the head with that and they're finally coming to the table and looks like they're gonna make a deal pretty soon.
VIEIRA: And on a very different note, during your interview the President did not rule out the possibility of raising taxes on the middle class, something he has always opposed in the past. Was he sending up a trial balloon?
HARWOOD: Watch this story, Meredith. This is likely to be the biggest - next big debate in American politics in 2011 because as the economy recovers, many on the President's team believe we need a serious assault on the deficit, and the amount of revenue that's needed can't all be gotten from the rich.
MEREDITH VIEIRA: Moving on to the economy and President Obama's push for a new financial reform package, the President travels to New York today to sell his plan in the shadow of Wall Street. But before leaving Washington he sat down with CNBC's John Harwood who also rights for The New York Times. John, good morning.—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.
JOHN HARWOOD: Good morning, Meredith. You know the President made the case financial regulation reform would be good not just for average Americans but for those Wall Street institutions. But he also made emphatically clear that the White House had nothing to do with the case involving one of those most famous institutions, Goldman Sachs, that was filed last week by the SEC.
[On screen headline: "Taking On Wall Street, President Obama One-On-One"]
BARACK OBAMA: The SEC is an entirely independent agency that we have no day-to-day control over and they never discussed with us anything with respect to the charge that will be brought. So this notion that somehow there would be any attempt to interfere in an independent agency is completely false.
HARWOOD: In the 2008 campaign you got a lot of money, about $1 million, from employees of Goldman Sachs. Your former White House counsel Greg Craig is apparently going to represent Goldman Sachs. In light of this case, do either of those things embarrass you?
OBAMA: No. Anybody who gave me money during the course of my campaign knew that I was on record pushing very strongly that we needed to reform how Wall Street did business. As far as my former White House counsel, Greg Craig, he's one of the top lawyers in the country. He has a range of clients. But we have toughest ethic rules that any President's ever had. And the one thing that he knows is that he cannot talk to the White House, cannot lobby the White House. Once he left the White House, he cannot in any way use his former position to have any influence on us.
HARWOOD: Should average Americans think about big Wall Street institutions the way that some have come to think about tobacco companies, that is, companies whose core activities are harmful to the country?
OBAMA: No. We have to have a thriving financial sector. But, we also have to have basic rules of the road in place to make sure that investors, consumers, shareholders, the economy as a whole, are protected against excess. We have gotten into one of those places where we need to update those rules of the road, and if we do so, not only is that good for the economy, not only does it protect consumers and investors, it's also good for the financial sector.
HARWOOD: Some of the institutions and their lobbyists don't seem to think it would be so good for them.
OBAMA: Well, that's not surprising. They've made out very well. I, and I think the vast majority of Americans, think it is unacceptable to have a situation in which tails, you win, and, and heads, I lose.
HARWOOD: Now we expect to hear from Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein at a Senate committee next week. But as for the Cooper Union speech today the President is expected to talk about average Americans and the consequences for them if the Congress doesn't pass financial reform, Meredith.
VIEIRA: You know Republicans are warming up to this reform bill where they were adamantly opposed to it before some revisions were introduced. Was there a sense at the White House of, of victory over this?
HARWOOD: I think so. Look this is an issue, unlike health care, where public opinion was divided. Average Americans dislike Wall Street, in many cases as much as they dislike Washington. So this is a case where public opinion's on the President's side. He was hitting Republicans over the head with that and they're finally coming to the table and looks like they're gonna make a deal pretty soon.
VIEIRA: And on a very different note, during your interview the President did not rule out the possibility of raising taxes on the middle class, something he has always opposed in the past. Was he sending up a trial balloon?
HARWOOD: Watch this story, Meredith. This is likely to be the biggest - next big debate in American politics in 2011 because as the economy recovers, many on the President's team believe we need a serious assault on the deficit, and the amount of revenue that's needed can't all be gotten from the rich.
VIEIRA: Alright, John Harwood, thank you so much.
HARWOOD: You bet.
VIEIRA: Good interview.
Biden and Bo with TV's Endearing and Cuddly Moments at the Obama White House
Never missing a chance to highlight events that make Team Obama seem to be loveable characters, ABC and NBC on Thursday night showcased endearing and cuddly moments with Joe Biden and First Dog Bo. You can decide which one is endearing and which one is cuddly.
ABC's Diane Sawyer took time to marvel at how "we heard on The View today that it was the President who told" Joe Biden "we heard" Biden calling "the health care reform a big you know what deal" when "of course he didn't know that his microphone was so sensitive," and NBC's Brian Williams showed video of Bo barking at First Lady Michelle Obama:
If you're a dog owner, then you know there are times when they want your attention and they do not like that you're talking to other people or doing something else. It only means that you are not loving them at that given moment. Well, that's pretty much what happened today with the Obama's dog Bo while the First Lady was talking about her life and her job with some visiting students.(Later, Williams featured a full story on Google's "earth-friendly lawn care" solution -- goats -- as Anne Thompson gushed "this is one time speed doesn't matter at Google as it opts for an animal footprint instead of a carbon one.")
Back to Bo, NBC Nightly News viewers saw video of Michelle Obama, with Bo, in front of a group of kids:
The notion of being First Lady of the United States, you know, there have never been anybody in my race who had been here. [To a barking Bo] I know. I know. All right. You're going to have to go. You ready to go? Are you ready to go?Williams added: "The kids all got to pet Bo. They were there, by the way, as part of take our daughters and sons to work day. We also learned today that daughter Malia's issue is saving the world's tigers and the First Lady, put it gently, that they talk about that issue as a family these days at least once a week."
From the April 22 World News on ABC:
Earlier: "Enchanted Matthews Holds Up His Own 'Health Reform Is a BFD' T-Shirt"DIANE SAWYER: Remember when Vice President Biden called the health care reform a big you know what deal? Of course he didn't know that his microphone was so sensitive. We heard on The View today that it was the President who told him, we heard it.
JOE BIDEN, ON THE VIEW: And we gotten off in the limo to go over to another event. And he was laughing like the devil. I said, "what's so funny? I don't see anything funny about this." And he said, well, he said, "Katie, my secretary, told me when you said that to me, everybody could hear it." I was, "oh, God all mighty."
— Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
CBS 'Early Show' Guilts Viewers to Give Up Bottled Water for Earth Day
In the 8:30AM ET half hour of Thursday's CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez introduced an Earth Day segment by proclaiming: "Americans throw away more than 30 billion plastic bottles every year....We have a film maker, Stephanie Soechtig, here with us, she has a documentary out called 'Tapped,' which looks the impact that all those bottles have had on the environment."
Rodriguez invited Soechtig to explain her mission: "What has your message been?" Soechtig responded: "we've been trying to educate people that bottled water's one of the greatest marketing scams of all time. 40% of bottled water is really just filtered tap water. And every day we throw away 30 million single serve bottles of water." A headline on-screen read: "Early's Earth Day; Filmmaker Says 'Get Off the Bottle!'"
Soechtig warned of the "tremendous impact" of bottled water on the environment: "there's a soup of plastic in the north Pacific that's twice the size of Texas, that's just littered with plastic. So this type of plastic getting out in the environment is hurting our sea life, it's hurting us....plastic is a byproduct of oil. So from the production of the plastic all the way through the disposal, it just has a tremendous carbon footprint."
Rodriguez then described Soechtig's solution to the problem: "if you encounter Stephanie along her travels, she will likely give you one of these. It's a 'Clean Canteen.' And you're advocating putting tap water in these instead of drinking bottled water." With that, Rodriguez held up a reusable water container made of, you guessed it, plastic.
Wanting to point out her commitment to saving the planet, Rodriguez bragged: "I only drink tap water." Fill-in news reader Betty Nguyen chimed in: "I do, too." Rodriguez also observed: "By the way, it saves me a ton of money, to boot, not only saving the environment."
In concluding the segment, Rodriguez declared: "Stephanie, thank you....Thank you for helping us commemorate Earth Day. Important message." She then handed a 'Clean Canteen' to fellow co-host Harry Smith, who replied: "Thank you very much. I want one of those."
In a similar demand for people not to use a particular product, on Wednesday, the Early Show touted a report asking the government to "take salt off the table."
Here is a full transcript of the segment:
8:30AM—Kyle Drennen is a news analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here.
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Welcome back to the Early Show on this Earth Day. Americans throw away more than 30 billion plastic bottles every year.
HARRY SMITH: Wait a minute, did you say billion? Billion with a 'B'?
RODRIGUEZ: 30 Billion with a 'B.'
SMITH: Okay.
RODRIGUEZ: We have a film maker, Stephanie Soechtig, here with us, she has a documentary out called 'Tapped,' which looks the impact that all those bottles have had on the environment. And for the past month, she has been collecting bottles in this truck so that everybody can see [Pointing to truck with transparent containers of plastic water bottles]. Good morning, Stephanie.
STEPAHNIE SOECHTIG: Good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Early's Earth Day; Filmmaker Says 'Get Off the Bottle!']
RODRIGUEZ: You've been traveling the country collecting these bottles. Why and what has your message been?
SOECHTIG: Well, we've been trying to educate people that bottled water's one of the greatest marketing scams of all time. 40% of bottled water is really just filtered tap water. And every day we throw away 30 million single serve bottles of water. [Pointing to the truck] So this represents about four seconds worth of what we throw away every single day.
BETTY NGUYEN: 4 seconds?
HARRY SMITH: 4 seconds?
SOECHTIG: 4 seconds every day, into landfills and the ocean.
RODRIGUEZ: And what impact has this had on the environment?
SOECHTIG: Well, it's had a tremendous impact. I mean, there's a soup of plastic in the north Pacific that's twice the size of Texas, that's just littered with plastic. So this type of plastic getting out in the environment is hurting our sea life, it's hurting us, it's ending up back in our food chain. Every step along the way seems to be bad. It's also oil – plastic is a byproduct of oil. So from the production of the plastic all the way through the disposal, it just has a tremendous carbon footprint.
RODRIGUEZ: So if you encounter Stephanie along her travels, she will likely give you one of these. It's a 'Clean Canteen' [holds up plastic reusable container]. And you're advocating putting tap water in these instead of drinking bottled water. I only drink tap water.
NGUYEN: I do, too.
RODRIGUEZ: By the way, it saves me a ton of money, to boot, not only saving the environment.
NGUYEN: Exactly. And this would save you money, too, because you don't have to go to the stores and keep buying that bottled water. You just have to think a little and pack it.
SOECHTIG: Right.
RODRIGUEZ: Exactly. Which is easy. Stephanie, thank you.
SOECHTIG: Thanks so much.
RODRIGUEZ: Thank you for helping us commemorate Earth Day. Important message. Your 'Clean Canteen,' sir.
HARRY SMITH: Thank you very much. I want one of those.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Fwd: MRC Alert: ABC's Sam Donaldson Hypes: Al Gore for the Supreme Court
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