Monthly Archives: January 2011

Kathleen Parker and the Idiotic Debate Over 'Exceptionalism'

Posted on 01/31/2011 by Peter Hart

Washington Post columnist (and CNN host) Kathleen Parker turned in some thoughts (1/30/11) about what she didn't hear Barack Obama's State of the Union address: He didn't say it. That word: "exceptional." Barack Obama described an exceptional nation in his … Continue reading →

Posted in Barack Obama, Washington Post | Tagged | 35 Comments

Julian Assange, Conspiracy Theorist

Posted on 01/31/2011 by Peter Hart

The long 60 Minutes segment on WikiLeaks and Julian Assange from last night (1/30/11) is definitely worth a look. But this set-up from correspondent Steve Kroft was certainly odd: Julian Assange is not your average journalist or publisher, and some … Continue reading →

Posted in CBS, WikiLeaks | Tagged , , , | 36 Comments

The Joe Biden Rules

Posted on 01/28/2011 by Peter Hart

Joe Biden on Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak (PBS NewsHour, 1/27/11): I would not refer to him as a dictator. On WikiLeaks' Julian Assange (NBC's Meet the Press, 12/19/10) DAVID GREGORY: Mitch McConnell says he's a high-tech terrorist, others say this … Continue reading →

Posted in Media Criticism, NBC, WikiLeaks | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

NYT vs. Guardian on Egypt WikiLeaks

Posted on 01/28/2011 by Peter Hart

The New York Times: Cables Show Delicate U.S. Dealings With Egypt's Leaders The Guardian: WikiLeaks Cables Show Close U.S. Relationship With Egyptian President That reminds me of something Times executive editor wrote in a forthcoming piece on WikiLeaks, where he … Continue reading →

Posted in New York Times, WikiLeaks | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Defining a Dictatorship: The U.S. Role in Egypt

Posted on 01/28/2011 by Peter Hart

Yesterday (FAIR Blog, 1/27/11) the Washington Post tried to argue that U.S. policy under the Obama administration has shifted to one of open support for pro-democracy movements in Egypt and Tunisia. There was little, if any, evidence to support this … Continue reading →

Posted in New York Times, PBS | Tagged , , | 31 Comments

Jay Carney, Revolving Doors and the Beltway Bubble

Posted on 01/28/2011 by Peter Hart

Jay Carney was a Time magazine reporter, bureau chief and frequent TV talking head. He is married to ABC reporter Claire Shipman. He left journalism to be Joe Biden's communications director, andwas just namedBarack Obama's next press secretary. It used … Continue reading →

Posted in Barack Obama | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

We're (Anonymously) With You! WaPo Touts U.S. Support for Arab Democracy

Posted on 01/27/2011 by Peter Hart

Now this is a head scratcher."As Arabs Protest, U.S. Speaks Up" is the headline today over a story by Scott Wilson and Joby Warrick in the Washington Post. The storyattempts to arguethat the Obama administration is backing protests in Tunisia, … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Washington Post | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Great Moments in Public TV, SOTU Edition

Posted on 01/26/2011 by Peter Hart

From the post-State of the Union discussion on the Charlie Rose Show (1/25/11): CHARLIE ROSE: With respect to his base, where are they tonight? They listened to him move to the center– JOHN SUNUNU: On the Upper West Side. JOHN … Continue reading →

Posted in Barack Obama, PBS | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

After Obama, CNN's Right-Wing Double Dip

Posted on 01/26/2011 by Peter Hart

It's normal for the opposition party to deliver a rebuttal address to the State of the Union. Last night Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin was given that responsibility. But further-to-the-right Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota delivered the "Tea Party" response … Continue reading →

Posted in Barack Obama, CNN | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Media Meme: Public Cheers Obama's Rightward Turn

Posted on 01/25/2011 by Peter Hart

There's an emerging line in the corporate media that Obama's recent bump in the polls is due to the perception that he's shifting to the "center." There's a long record of media encouraging Democrats to move to the right; after … Continue reading →

Posted in ABC, Barack Obama, L.A. Times, NBC | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Adventures in Absurd Anonymity, Continued

Posted on 01/25/2011 by Peter Hart

Anonymous Israeli officials are weighing in at the New York Times today. Let's remember the Times has some rules regarding the use of anonymous sources: The use of unidentified sources is reserved for situations in which the newspaper could not … Continue reading →

Posted in Iran, Israel/Palestine, New York Times | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Bob Herbert Slams Social Security Dishonesty; Times Reporters, on the Other Hand…

Posted on 01/25/2011 by Peter Hart

Bob Herbert, today in the New York Times (1/25/11): There has always been feverish opposition on the right to Social Security. What is happening now, in a period of deficit hysteria, is that this crucial retirement program is being dishonestly … Continue reading →

Posted in New York Times, Social Security | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

John McCain: TV Talk's Indispensable Man

Posted on 01/24/2011 by Peter Hart

A few laughs on CBS's Face the Nation yesterday (1/23/11): BOB SCHIEFFER: And we begin this morning welcoming back to Face the Nation for the first time in exactly one year Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the person who, by … Continue reading →

Posted in Cable TV, CBS, Media Criticism, Network TV | Tagged , | 7 Comments

GE Goes to the White House: How Does GE Report the News?

Posted on 01/24/2011 by Peter Hart

On Friday it was announced that General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt would be the chair of the White House's Council on Competitiveness and Jobs. Given the fanfare of the announcement (Obama toured a GE plant with Immelt as part of … Continue reading →

Posted in ABC, NBC | Tagged | 14 Comments

NYT Disappears Public Support for Military Spending Cuts

Posted on 01/24/2011 by Peter Hart

Today the New York Times reports on the debate over spending, deficits and the State of the Union (1/24/11): The public itself seems split, or perhaps confused. Americans overwhelmingly say that in general, they prefer cutting government spending to paying … Continue reading →

Posted in New York Times, Polling, Social Security | Tagged , , | 4 Comments