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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Fwd: MRC Alert: CBS Frets Illegal Aliens 'No Longer Feel Welcome' -- and the Problem Is?



 

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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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Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Tuesday May 04, 2010 @ 09:48 AM EDT

1. CBS Frets Illegal Aliens 'No Longer Feel Welcome' -- and the Problem Is?
Most support Arizona's impending immigration enforcement law and a solid 78 percent think the federal government should do more to keep illegal immigrants from getting into the U.S. where, Katie Couric noted in citing the new poll numbers, "hundreds of thousands of them now live in Arizona." So, how did CBS take these hardly surprising findings? Couric fretted "many" of those illegals "no longer feel welcome." Instead of seeing that as good news which will lessen the problem, CBS empathized with the plight of a reproductively profligate law-breaker. "On a dusty block in Phoenix, 15 years of the Quintana family's possessions are for sale," reporter Kelly Cobiella despaired over video of teddy bears before translating for the mother, Manuela, who managed to churn out ten kids who are now U.S. citizens, but hasn't bothered to learn English.

2. CBS's '60 Minutes' Highlights Illegal Immigrant 'Carnage' in All-American Canal
In wake of Arizona's new immigration law, CBS 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley fretted over illegal immigrants entering the United States by swimming across California's All-American Canal: "a national moat on our southern border, and hundreds of people have perished in its waters. It is a carnage that has gone mostly unnoticed because many of the victims are buried without their names." It did not take long to for Pelley place blame for drownings, not on those crossing the border illegally, but on those operating the canal: "The water is 225 feet across, 20 feet deep, with almost no rescue lines or climb-out ladders, safety devices that you would find in some other canals....management is controlled by a regional authority called the Imperial Irrigation District....They've taken votes, commissioned studies, but done almost nothing."

3. Time Editor Thrills Over Obama Performance, Compares it to the Beatles
The hosts and guests of a special Sunday edition of Morning Joe fawned over Barack Obama's May 1 performance at the White House Correspondence Dinner. Time managing editor Richard Stengel appeared and knocked host Jay Leno by comparison: "I think that's one of the things that undermined Jay's routine is that it's like coming after the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show."

4. Obama Draws Rave Reviews from Today Show's Cast
Barack Obama's performance at the Washington Correspondent's Dinner drew rave reviews from the Today show cast on Monday, as everyone agreed with Al Roker's assessment that the President was "on fire." While Today co-anchor was impressed by Obama's "fantastic timing" NBC's Norah O'Donnell, in her story filed for Today, praised Obama, even at the expense of fellow NBC employee Jay Leno: "After the President's comedic tour de force Tonight Show host Jay Leno had a hard act to follow."

5. CBS Features NY Mayor Bloomberg Speculating Bomber Was Mad About ObamaCare
With Katie Couric drawing him out, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed the Times Square car bombing was likely "homegrown" as he proceeded, in an interview excerpt run on Monday's CBS Evening News, to speculate it could have been placed by "somebody with a political agenda who doesn't like the health care bill or something. It could be anything."






 

CBS Frets Illegal Aliens 'No Longer Feel Welcome' -- and the Problem Is?

 

Most support Arizona's impending immigration enforcement law and a solid 78 percent think the federal government should do more to keep illegal immigrants from getting into the U.S. where, Katie Couric noted in citing the new poll numbers, "hundreds of thousands of them now live in Arizona." So, how did CBS take these hardly surprising findings? Couric fretted "many" of those illegals "no longer feel welcome."

Instead of seeing that as good news which will lessen the problem, CBS empathized with the plight of a reproductively profligate law-breaker. "On a dusty block in Phoenix, 15 years of the Quintana family's possessions are for sale," reporter Kelly Cobiella despaired over video of teddy bears before translating for the mother, Manuela, who managed to churn out ten kids who are now U.S. citizens, but hasn't bothered to learn English. Cobiella explained how she decided to leave Arizona (for Colorado) because of the new law which has yet to go into effect.
 
Cobiella cited how over the past two years about 100,000 illegals have left Arizona and after sharing the complaint of a landlord who has lost tenants, Cobiella raised the sympathy quotient, relating how the 12-year-old daughter's "best friend left to California with her family on Saturday," asking the crying tween: "Did you get to see her yesterday before she left?"

Cobiella cued up mom to deny she's a criminal: '"No,' she says, 'a criminal is someone who kills. I just want to work." Over video of the kids piling into a SUV, Cobiella concluded: "The family packed up before dawn today and headed north to Colorado. Manuela says she's lost hope in this state. She thinks she'll find it again in another."

Under-reporting support for the new Arizona law:

Setting up Cobiella's piece, Couric noted that a new CBS News/New York Times survey determined "slightly more than half said the law is quote, 'about right.'" CBS put "51%" on screen, without pointing out only 36 percent answered "goes too far" and 9 percent said it "doesn't go far enough" – putting the pro v con disparity at a wide 60 to 36 percent.

Earlier:

- "Saturday night: "Nets Celebrate May Day Pro-Illegal Immigrant Protests, Barely Mention Shot Deputy"

- Friday night: "NBC Promotes May Day Anti-Arizona Protests While CBS Finally Notices Crime that Fueled New Law"

- Thursday night: "CBS Trumpets Opposition to 'Notorious' Arizona Law from One Cop and Linda Ronstadt, Already Finds 'Chilling Effect'"

- Wednesday night: "Couric Touts San Francisco as Proof of 'Backlash Against Arizona's New Immigration Law'"

- Tuesday night: "ABC and NBC Champion 'Growing National Backlash' Against 'Laughing Stock' Arizona"

- Monday night, April 26: "CBS Again Focuses on Victims in Arizona: 'Many Feel the Sting of Racism in New Law'"

- Friday night, April 23: "CBS Frames Arizona's Anti-Illegal Alien Law Through Eyes of Opponents: 'Veto Racism'"

From the Monday, May 3 CBS Evening News:

KATIE COURIC: We asked about Arizona's new immigration law which empowers the police to demand anyone show proof he or she is in this country legally. Slightly more than half said the law is quote, "about right" [51%]. Nearly two out of three Americans see illegal immigration as a "very serious" problem [65%]. More than three quarters say the U.S. should do more to keep illegal immigrants from crossing the border [78%]. Hundreds of thousands of them now live in Arizona. But as Kelly Cobiella reports, many no longer feel welcome.

KELLY COBIELLA: On a dusty block in Phoenix, 15 years of the Quintana family's possessions are for sale.

COBIELLA TO MANUELA QUINTANA: When did you decide to leave?

COBIELLA, TRANSLATING FROM SPANISH: "When the governor signed the immigration law," Manuela Quintana says, "I knew we had to move."

COBIELLA: For years their family thrived with jobs in restaurants and construction. Their ten [!] children were born here and are U.S. citizens. But she and her husband are undocumented and currently unemployed.

COBIELLA TO MANUELA QUINTANA: What is your biggest fear?

COBIELLA, TRANSLATING: "I'm afraid I will be put in jail," she says. "and my children will be taken away from me."

COBIELLA: Just the thought of moving scares 12-year-old daughter Graciela.

GRACIELA COBIELLA: I think it's gonna be my worst day.

COBIELLA, AT EMPTY PARK: Two years ago this park was filled with families like the Quintanas every weekend. Arizona was home to more than half a million illegal immigrants. Since then at least 100,000 have left.

KYLE KESTER: On this block alone we have 20 vacancies at least.

COBIELLA: Kyle Kester is the Quintana's landlord. He's lost seven tenants in the past week.

KYLE KESTER: This is hurting not just illegals. I was born and raised in the United States and it's hurting me now.

COBIELLA: Graciela's best friend left to California with her family on Saturday.

COBIELLA TO CRYING GRACIELA WITH HEAD IN ARM: Did you get to see her yesterday before she left, Graciela? No?

COBIELLA: Manuela knows she broke the law when she came here 15 years ago.

COBIELLA TO MANUELA QUINTANA: Do you see yourself as a criminal?

COBIELLA, TRANSLATING: "No," she says, "a criminal is someone who kills. I just want to work."

COBIELLA: The family packed up before dawn today and headed north to Colorado. Manuela says she's lost hope in this state. She thinks she'll find it again in another. Kelly Cobiella, CBS News, Phoenix.

CBSNews.com version of this story.

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





CBS's '60 Minutes' Highlights Illegal Immigrant 'Carnage' in All-American Canal

 

In wake of Arizona's new immigration law, CBS 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley fretted over illegal immigrants entering the United States by swimming across California's All-American Canal: "a national moat on our southern border, and hundreds of people have perished in its waters. It is a carnage that has gone mostly unnoticed because many of the victims are buried without their names." [Audio available here]

Pelley began the story by proclaiming: "In the California desert, in a field of mud, is a graveyard that is hard to imagine in America. Bricks mark the final resting place of hundreds of human beings, identities unknown. They died traveling to America in search of a life better than their home countries could offer." Moments later, Pelley explained: "While the canal is a death trap, it is also a lifeline for the nation....Two thirds of our winter fruits and vegetables are grown with this water. But half of the people who pick those crops are illegal immigrants. To get the jobs created by the canal, they cross the canal, usually at night on makeshift rafts or using plastic jugs for flotation."

It did not take long to for Pelley place blame for drownings, not on those crossing the border illegally, but on those operating the canal: "The water is 225 feet across, 20 feet deep, with almost no rescue lines or climb-out ladders, safety devices that you would find in some other canals....management is controlled by a regional authority called the Imperial Irrigation District....They've taken votes, commissioned studies, but done almost nothing."





Time Editor Thrills Over Obama Performance, Compares it to the Beatles

 

The hosts and guests of a special Sunday edition of Morning Joe fawned over Barack Obama's May 1 performance at the White House Correspondence Dinner. Time managing editor Richard Stengel appeared and knocked host Jay Leno by comparison: "I think that's one of the things that undermined Jay's routine is that it's like coming after the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show."

Stengel highlighted an off-putting moment from the 2009 dinner when the President joked to the assembled journalists: "Most of you covered me; all of you voted for me." He described this as a "sour note" and admitted, "And there was kind of an awkward laughter because no one wants to reckon with that. I mean, we're in an adversarial relationship, but a respectful relationship."

Scarborough also hyped Obama's performance, praising, "The President so easily outperformed Jay Leno, it wasn't even close. It was like Secretariat against my 17-year-old dog..."





Obama Draws Rave Reviews from Today Show's Cast

 

Barack Obama's performance at the Washington Correspondent's Dinner drew rave reviews from the Today show cast on Monday, as everyone agreed with Al Roker's assessment that the President was "on fire." While Today co-anchor was impressed by Obama's "fantastic timing" NBC's Norah O'Donnell, in her story filed for Today, praised Obama, even at the expense of fellow NBC employee Jay Leno: "After the President's comedic tour de force Tonight Show host Jay Leno had a hard act to follow."

In the 10:00am hour Kathie Lee Gifford called Obama "brilliant" and Hoda Kotb, also taking a shot at her NBC colleague noted: "Keep in mind Jay Leno was on the stage, as was Obama, and the funniest person in the room was definitely the President."

The following is the full O'Donnell story followed by the Today show cast's reaction as they were aired on the May 3 Today show:

MATT LAUER: President Obama showing off his lighter side over the weekend at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Here's NBC's Norah O'Donnell.

NORAH O'DONNELL: It's where Washington meets Hollywood, where the Capital's best known politicians and reporters walk the red carpet with celebrities and pop stars. It's the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, a black tie gala so eagerly anticipated inside the Beltway, it's known as the Oscars on the Potomac. The real star of Saturday's dinner, the President of the United States, who wasted no time showing off his comedic chops, lampooning his Vice President.

BARACK OBAMA: And so I wasn't sure that I should actually come tonight. Biden talked me into it. He said, "Mr. President, this is no ordinary dinner. This is a big [bleep] meal!"

O'DONNELL: Mocking Wall Street.

OBAMA: By the way, all of the jokes here tonight are brought to you by our friends at Goldman Sachs. So you don't have to worry. They make money whether you laugh or not.

O'DONNELL: Tweaking his Republican opponents.

OBAMA: I hear that I'm still pretty big on Twitter, Facebook or, as Sarah Palin calls it, the socialized media.

O'DONNELL: Even taking a jab at the night's keynote speaker.

OBAMA: The only person's whose ratings fell more than mine last year is here tonight. Great to see you, Jay.

O'DONNELL: After the President's comedic tour de force "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno had a hard act to follow.

JAY LENO: You know the President has the most diverse staff in history, they represent every ward of Chicago. And I think that is fantastic, Mr. President. Fantastic. I can see the White House press corps, very excited tonight. This is about as close to a White House press conference they've had in a year. So this is it. So enjoy it while it lasts. Yeah.

O'DONNELL: A night to remember as Washington gets back to work today. For Today, Norah O'Donnell, NBC News, Washington.

MATT LAUER: We were there.

AL ROKER: He was on fire.

MEREDITH VIEIRA: Yeah.

LAUER: Small room.

ROKER: Yeah only 3,000 people. Wow.

ANN CURRY: 3,000.

VIEIRA: I know, exactly.

CURRY: That's why you lost your voice this morning, all the shouting.

LAUER: Just trying to talk over all the din in the room. Yeah.

VIEIRA: But if this White House gig doesn't work out he could go on the road, as a comedian, easily.

ROKER: Man!

CURRY: Timing was fantastic.

VIEIRA: Timing is everything.

ROKER: I bet there are a bunch of Republicans who wish he would.

VIEIRA: Exactly.

LAUER: Yeah exactly right.

...

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD: President Obama was brilliant!

HODA KOTB: He was-

GIFFORD: He was the funniest I've ever seen him.

HODA KOTB: There, just keep in mind Jay Leno was on the stage, as was Obama, and the funniest person in the room was definitely the President. Definitely!

GIFFORD: Yeah it was not the best night for old Jay. He's, he's still riding high at his old show now, but last night or Saturday night was not his night.

KOTB: But let's listen I think we have a little bit of Obama. Let's listen to President Obama.

(Begin clip)

BARACK OBAMA: I wasn't sure that I should actually come tonight. Biden talked me into it. He leaned over and he said, "Mr. President, this is no ordinary dinner. This is a big [bleep] meal!...The only person whose ratings fell more than mine last year is here tonight. Great to see you, Jay.

(End clip)

KOTB: It was a fun night.

GIFFORD: It wasn't, it wasn't real mean-spirited at all.

KOTB: No it was, it was light.

GIFFORD: It was really fun, it was really fun. And, and then do we have any sound of Jay? That's it.

KOTB: I think that's, I think that's all we have. No we just...that's all.

GIFFORD: Yeah, yeah. We don't want, yeah you don't want to see that.

KOTB: No. Yeah, you don't. But you know what's interesting. While...

(audible groans and laughter in studio)


—Geoffrey Dickens is the Senior News Analyst at the Media Research Center. You can follow him on Twitter here





CBS Features NY Mayor Bloomberg Speculating Bomber Was Mad About ObamaCare

 

With Katie Couric drawing him out, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg agreed the Times Square car bombing was likely "homegrown" as he proceeded, in an interview excerpt run on Monday's CBS Evening News, to speculate it could have been placed by "somebody with a political agenda who doesn't like the health care bill or something. It could be anything."

Could be "anything," but the first thing Bloomberg thinks of are those who don't like ObamaCare, presumably conservatives or Tea Party activists.  

Audio: MP3 clip

From part of Couric's interview with the mayor aired on the Monday, May 3 CBS Evening News:

KATIE COURIC: Law enforcement officials don't know who left the Nissan Pathfinder behind, but, at this point, the mayor believes the suspect acted alone.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG: If I had to guess -- 25 cents -- this would be exactly that, somebody-

COURIC TO BLOOMBERG: A home-grown?

BLOOMBERG: Home-grown, maybe a mentally deranged person or somebody with a political agenda that doesn't like the health care bill or something. It could be anything.

CBSNews.com version of Couric's interview.

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





 


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