ABC's Shipman: 'Clinton Brand Has a Strong Economic Reputation' --12/13/2007

1. ABC's Shipman: 'Clinton Brand Has a Strong Economic Reputation'
Contending "it may be that no amount of hall decking can convince Americans to be jolly about the economy this holiday season," on Wednesday's Good Morning America ABC's Claire Shipman allowed that GOP candidate Mike Huckabee's "populist message" could resonate, but she asserted that "among the Democrats, John Edwards has the message that's most consistently appealing to people suffering from economic woes" and insisted "the Clinton brand has a strong economic reputation."

2. GMA Celebrates 'Oprah's Obama Moment: Why She Picked Obama'
ABC host Diane Sawyer used an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey and actor Denzel Washington -- touted on-screen as "Oprah's Obama Moment: Why She Picked Barack Obama" -- to gossip about liberal politics, to ask whether the talk show host would support Hillary Clinton as a backup to Senator Barack Obama and also to prompt Washington on the subject of which Democrat he's supporting. In the interview on Wednesday's Good Morning America, Sawyer demanded to know: "Have you heard from the Clintons? Have you talked to the Clintons?" And: "What would you say to Hillary?" After Winfrey simply reiterated her support for Obama, Sawyer pressed on and asked if the talk show host had decided "if Senator Clinton is nominated whether you'll show up for her or not?"

3. Matthews: Hillary a Comedic Target Since 'She's So Pure & Good?'
On Wednesday night's Hardball, Chris Matthews speculated that the writer's strike is benefitting Hillary Clinton, since she is often the target of late night comics like Jay Leno and David Letterman. However, he reasoned that the New York Senator is the butt of so many jokes because "she's so pure and good."

4. Strom Thurmond 'Hanged a Few People,' Chris Matthews Claims
There's no question Strom Thurmond had a racist past, some of which he later disavowed, but when Chris Matthews claimed, on the 7pm EST edition of Monday's Hardball, that the late South Carolina Senator "hanged a few people," just what was the MSNBC host implying? Matthews seemed to be claiming that the former Democratic turned Republican Senator was personally involved in lynchings.

5. Business & Media Inst: 'Media's Top 10 Economic Myths of 2007'
From the MRC's Business & Media Institute, the "Media's Top 10 Economic Myths of 2007."

6. Christmas Gift Idea: Bozell's New Book on the Media and Hillary
MRC President Brent Bozell's new book on the news media and Hillary Clinton: The Perfect Holiday Gift for Your Favorite Conservative. This Christmas, give your favorite conservative, Mom, Dad, friend or colleague, something you know they will love. Give them Whitewash: What the Media Won't Tell You about Hillary Clinton but Conservatives Will, by the Media Research Center's own L. Brent Bozell and Tim Graham.

ABC's Shipman: 'Clinton Brand Has a Strong
Economic Reputation'

Contending "it may be that no amount of hall decking can convince Americans to be jolly about the economy this holiday season," on Wednesday's Good Morning America ABC's Claire Shipman allowed that GOP candidate Mike Huckabee's "populist message" could resonate, but she asserted that "among the Democrats, John Edwards has the message that's most consistently appealing to people suffering from economic woes" and insisted "the Clinton brand has a strong economic reputation."

[This item is adapted from a Wednesday afternoon posting by Scott Whitlock on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

Over on NBC's Today show, co-host Meredith Vieira continued the negativism. She asked CNBC reporter Erin Burnett: "But is the conventional wisdom that we are heading towards a recession?"

Shipman's fawning over Democrats shouldn't surprise viewers. This is, after all, the same reporter who sized up the Clinton vs. Obama race as a battle between "hot factor" and "fluid poetry." For more, see the January 19 CyberAlert: www.mrc.org

A transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:15am on December 12:

ROBIN ROBERTS: Diane, Oprah not the only factor influencing, potentially influencing this campaign. According to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll, the economy is playing a major role now, too. For the first time, Americans are saying the most important issue in the race is not the war in Iraq, but the economy. Senior national correspondent Claire Shipman has the details for us. Good morning, Claire.

CLAIRE SHIPMAN: Good morning, Robin. This is an issue that's been building for sometime and now voters appear ready to take it to the primaries. It may be that no amount of hall decking can convince Americans to be jolly about the economy this holiday season. Homes under siege-
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: More calls for mortgage reform and a freeze on foreclosures-
SHIPMAN: Predictions of recession-
CHARLES GIBSON: The Federal Reserve today tried to spur the country's economy-
SHIPMAN: Pain at the pump-
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: We got high gas prices.
SHIPMAN: Indeed, a new ABC News poll shows for the first time in the 2008 campaign, the economy beats Iraq as the number one issue voters care about. And only 28 percent say the economy is in good shape, the lowest number in four years.
WENDY BOUNDS, GMA contributor: We're heading to this final stretch of the holidays. I think it's inevitable that unless you have a loved one who is fighting overseas, that inevitably, your attention is going to turn to your pocketbook.
SHIPMAN: The drum beat of bad news is producing national jitters.
JOHN DOUGLASS: It's just, again, a lack of confidence. What's around the corner? We don't know.
SHIPMAN: But for many who are literally facing foreclosures or heating oil prices up another nine percent, it's more than uncertainty.
BOUNDS: I think people really are feeling a pinch. People thinking, wait, my mortgage is going to go up $300 or $400, I've got to think about what I'm spending.
LISA HARPER: We are spending less. By this time last year, I would have had tons of gifts under the tree.
SHIPMAN: Some just couldn't even find the words.
DOUG RICE: Can I say that on TV? [Laughs] Pretty bad.
SHIPMAN: And candidates, especially the Democrats and the surging Mike Huckabee, are grabbing the economic turf.
MIKE HUCKABEE: Many of them are having to work two jobs.
HILLARY CLINTON: Increasingly, I see that the economy will be front and center.
JOHN EDWARDS: There are structural problems in our economy.
BARACK OBAMA: Some economists are now predicting a possible recession.

ROBERTS: So, Claire, which of the candidates likely to benefit from this new focus on the economy?
SHIPMAN: That's what everyone wants to know. Traditionally, of course, problems in the economy would help the Democrats. Now, Mike Huckabee, with his populist message, could be an exception to that. Among the Democrats, John Edwards has the message that's most consistently appealing to people suffering from economic woes. But at the same time, the Clinton brand has a strong economic reputation. Robin?

GMA Celebrates 'Oprah's Obama Moment:
Why She Picked Obama'

ABC host Diane Sawyer used an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey and actor Denzel Washington -- touted on-screen as "Oprah's Obama Moment: Why She Picked Barack Obama" -- to gossip about liberal politics, to ask whether the talk show host would support Hillary Clinton as a backup to Senator Barack Obama and also to prompt Washington on the subject of which Democrat he's supporting.

In the interview on Wednesday's Good Morning America, Sawyer demanded to know: "Have you heard from the Clintons? Have you talked to the Clintons?" And: "What would you say to Hillary?" After Winfrey simply reiterated her support for Obama, Sawyer pressed on and asked if the talk show host had decided "if Senator Clinton is nominated whether you'll show up for her or not?"

Sawyer also quizzed Washington, who was appearing with Winfrey to promote a film that he directed/starred in and that she produced, to declare his political allegiance. The GMA host prompted: "Would Denzel ever pull an Oprah and go out campaigning?" Continuing the theme of Democratic loyalty, Sawyer insisted: "So you're going to say whether you're for [Obama] or not?"

[This item, by Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

Although Sawyer did press the question of what connection race has to do with the talk show host's endorsement, the ABC journalist generally served up softball queries. After wondering about serving in government, Sawyer suggested: "Secretary of Education in the Obama administration?" Sawyer also mentioned a moment in one of Winfrey's speeches for Obama, where the entertainer asserted that, in the past, she had voted for as many Democrats as Republicans. The GMA co-host asked the obvious: "Everyone says which Republicans?" However, when Oprah didn't respond, Sawyer didn't force an answer.

It should be noted that on Monday, Good Morning America reporter David Wright gushed over Winfrey and even repeated talking points. Winfrey, Wright reported, is "urging her fans to vote the dream, not just to settle for the inevitable." For more, see the December 11 CyberAlert: www.mrc.org

A partial transcript of the segments, which began at 7:10am and continued into the 7:30 hour, on December 12:

7:10, DIANE SAWYER: And now we talk to Oprah about the Oprah factor in the race to '08. I was able to catch up with her yesterday in California to ask some of the questions from her weekend on the trail with Barack Obama. Did she get the political bug herself? Is race a factor in her support of him? And does she care that the polls show she did, indeed, give him a surge. As you'll see, she's sitting with Denzel Washington. In the next half hour, they'll talk about a movie they made together. But we start with her marathon political trip. As she said, a trip out of her pew.
OPRAH WINFREY: At the end of the day, I'm really glad I did it. At the end of the day, I'm really happy I had that experience. But it's the most exhausting process. I don't know how you do that every day, you know, five, six times a day. I only did two cities a day. I don't know how you do that and remain sane.
ABC GRAPHIC: Oprah's Obama Moment: Why She Picked Barack Obama
SAWYER: You going to do more?
WINFREY: I don't know. I don't know. I mean, you know, one of the things I ask myself all the time is how can I be used in service? And I think that this, this past weekend was a really good use of my service.
SAWYER: Ads or anything?
WINFREY: No, no, no, no, no, no ads. No ads. 'Cause that's not the best use of my time and my service.
SAWYER: But you had written the speech, which was unusual for you.
WINFREY: I've written a speech because I didn't trust myself just to stand up there and talk and this is too important of an issue I thought for me to be up there rambling around. The night before I was, 3:00 A.M., I was still working on my speech. Yes, I was. And then I heard somebody say that his staff helped me write the speech, which insulted me, since I was, like, doing my homework late at night working on it myself. I didn't appreciate that. You know, I started out in Iowa in Des Moines, and I was really a nervous wreck. I was nervous. By the time I got to the next state, South Carolina, I was like, this is pretty good. Everybody-
SAWYER: Did you get the bug?
WINFREY: I did not get the bug. I didn't get the bug. I can't wait to go home. So at the end of the day, I'm really glad to be able to go back to my house and sit in my pew.
SAWYER: One question somebody asked, tell me what role you both being in the same race plays in your relationship, your feeling about him, your feeling about him at this moment.
WINFREY: Well, I'm a little -- I get a little -- I can't -- well maybe the word is offended. To think that I would just be in support somebody because of the color of their skin would mean we hadn't moved very far from Dr. King's speech in 1963 saying that we want people to be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. And as I said in my, my opening speech in Iowa, I, over the years, have voted for as many Republicans as I have Democrats.
WINFREY [Clip from speech]: Over the years, I have voted for as many Republicans as I have Democrats.
SAWYER: Everyone says which Republicans?
WINFREY: Wait a minute. Yes, they want to know that. And then, which didn't go over very well in that crowd.
DENZEL WASHINGTON [laughs]: I bet.
WINFREY: Then I realized, oh, I'm with all Democrats, okay. But no, it's not because of the color of his skin, it's because of what he represents. And I do think that he represents a sense of hope. He is a black man and I'm very happy about that. But that is not the reason why I would be supporting him is because he's the black man because he's not the first black man who's ever run for president.
SAWYER: That's true.
WINFREY: Yeah.
WINFREY [Clip from speech]: He is the one. He is the one. Barack Obama!
SAWYER: Are you going to be studying the polls to see if they've moved?
WINFREY: No, no, no, no, no, no.
SAWYER: Okay.
WINFREY: This is the thing. I feel this -- I did this because this is what I was supposed to do at this time. That's why it was so exciting for me to be out there, 'cause I'd never experienced that kind of energy. Everybody is there because they are concerned about the country.
WASHINGTON: What are they saying? I'm sorry, I'm-
WINFREY: No, no.
WASHINGTON: What are they saying? What, what, what does -- what are they most afraid or concerned about?
WINFREY: I think what their there concerned about is people don't want to have to continue to work so hard and still be poor. They don't want to have to work so hard and still have to struggle so much. And that -- that is a basic concern of everybody. You're spending more and more and more money and feeling like you're further behind. And that's sort of the deepest sentiment.
WINFREY [Clip from speech]: So many of our schools don't serve the genius of our children.
SAWYER: Secretary of Education in the Obama administration?
WINFREY: I don't think there's a position in government that really anybody could offer to me, anybody could offer to me that would be more interesting or compelling than what I'm doing already. I kind of like my job.
WASHINGTON: I'll do your show while you're gone. I'll keep it going for four years.
WINFREY: No, I like my job and I'm not interested in being a part of government at all.

7:34, SAWYER: Which brings us back, would Denzel ever pull an Oprah and go out campaigning? If somebody said, come do that for me, would you do it?
WASHINGTON: I wouldn't do it because they said it, I'd do it because I want to, if I wanted to. But no one's asked me. [Laughs]
WINFREY: They'll be calling.
SAWYER: I was going to say-
WASHINGTON: They'll be calling now. We'll see. As I said earlier in the week, you know, Oprah can get people in the room, Obama has to keep them in the room.
WINFREY: Right.
SAWYER: So you're going to say whether you're for him or not?
WASHINGTON: Am I going to say that today? I'm going to say with my vote, yes. Yeah. Because I think, also, people should -- and I like Barack Obama. I do. In fact, I don't like anybody else more than I like him. And we're a year away. So I'm going to see what's going to happen.
WINFREY: I'll speak to him in the back room. I'll have a conversation with him, okay? I'll work with him, okay?
[Discussion of film]...

7:37am, SAWYER: And, again, the real Wiley debate team, out of more than 75 debates, lost only one. And the movie opens a week from Friday. Tomorrow, we'll have more footage of the real debate team and the real story. But, as we said, yesterday, in the interview, at a fancy hotel in Beverly Hills, I asked Obama's supporter, Oprah, what she would say if she ran into, say, Hillary Clinton. Have you heard from the Clintons? Have you talked to the Clintons?
WINFREY: No, I haven't heard from the Clintons.
SAWYER: What would you say to Hillary?
WINFREY: But I hear she's here.
SAWYER: Yes, she's here.
WINFREY: I hear, she's, like, here. Here. Here. Here. Like where we are. Like next door some place.
SAWYER: Right.
WINFREY: I was hoping to run into her at the gym this morning. I'd say hi, how's things going?
SAWYER: Anything in particular though-
WINFREY: No, no, no, no. Because I've always said this: That my being in support of Barack Obama is not me being against Hillary Clinton or anybody else. It's just that for this moment in time this is what I know I am supposed to be doing. I feel compelled to do this. So my vote for is not a vote against anybody. It's just a vote for.
SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: We have the chance to come together-
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON: Let's solve problems together.
SAWYER: And if you made up your mind if Senator Clinton is nominated whether you'll show up for her or not? Go out on the trail?
WINFREY: Well, obviously, I'm in this race because I'm believing that the person I'm speaking up for is going to take it all the way. And if that doesn't happen, I might have to readjust my thinking.

Matthews: Hillary a Comedic Target Since
'She's So Pure & Good?'

On Wednesday night's Hardball, Chris Matthews speculated that the writer's strike is benefitting Hillary Clinton, since she is often the target of late night comics like Jay Leno and David Letterman. However, he reasoned that the New York Senator is the butt of so many jokes because "she's so pure and good."

[This item, by Geoffrey Dickens, was posted Wednesday evening on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

On the December 12 edition of Hardball, during a discussion with the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz and the Kansas City Star's Aaron Barnhart about the political impact of comics like Leno, Letterman and Jon Stewart being on strike, Matthews wondered why there were so many jokes at Hillary's expense as he asked: "Is she a natural target because she's so pure and good?"

Strom Thurmond 'Hanged a Few People,'
Chris Matthews Claims

There's no question Strom Thurmond had a racist past, some of which he later disavowed, but when Chris Matthews claimed, on the 7pm EST edition of Monday's Hardball, that the late South Carolina Senator "hanged a few people," just what was the MSNBC host implying? Matthews seemed to be claiming that the former Democratic turned Republican Senator was personally involved in lynchings.

[This item, by Geoffrey Dickens, was posted Wednesday afternoon, on the MRC's blog, Newsbusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

The following exchange occurred during a discussion on the December 10 Hardball with Newsweek's Howard Fineman about Oprah Winfrey stumping for Barack Obama in South Carolina:

HOWARD FINEMAN: I was in South Carolina, I saw that rally down there in the football stadium and it was electric. It was-
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Did you have a helicopter at your disposal this weekend? You were everywhere.
FINEMAN: No, no I was just there. That's the only place I was.
MATTHEWS: Alright.
FINEMAN: And I though it was historic. This is the city, this was the city in which Strom Thurmond rose as a Dixiecrat-
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
FINEMAN: -in the old days. The center of segregation.
MATTHEWS: He hanged a few people down there too, didn't he?
FINEMAN: Okay, the center of segregation.
MATTHEWS: Yeah.
FINEMAN: Here you had 25, 30,000 people in football stadium. I'd say about 80 percent of them African-Americans wanting to know is he the real deal. You know, should we commit to him.

Business & Media Inst: 'Media's Top 10
Economic Myths of 2007'

From the MRC's Business & Media Institute, the "Media's Top 10 Economic Myths of 2007." The Executive Summary of the list released on Wednesday:

10. Airlines are solely to blame for the unfriendly skies.

Media myth: Blame the airlines for all those flight delays; never mind the obsolete government-run agency creating the gridlock.

9. Consumer spending is the be-all, end-all of the economy.

Media myth: Without excessive consumer spending -- especially at Christmastime -- the U.S. economy will collapse.

8. The stock market is trouble, whether it goes up or down.

Media myth: One day the stock market can't sustain growth; the next, we're just one drop away from another crash.

7. Anyone who 'denies' global warming shouldn't be taken seriously.

Media myth: Global warming could cause a 'century of fires,' just as it has created allergies and ended winter fashion. If we don't do something now (i.e. spend hundreds of billions of dollars), it's only going to get worse.

6. You'd better not eat/drink that!

Media myth: Forget the right to eat as you please; the nanny-state knows better.

5. Most Americans are losing their homes.

Media myth: Americans everywhere are losing their homes to foreclosure, and the housing bust is going to ruin the economy.

4. "Going Green" is good for America and business.

Media myth: Businesses are much better off if they go green, and that's what people really want anyway.

3. Lenders are responsible for everyone's debts.

Media myth: Drowning in red ink isn't your fault; blame the guy who loaned you the money.

2. Free health care would be great!

Media myth: To save our children and the 47 million uninsured Americans, and to keep up with the rest of the world, we must have government-run health care.

1. The U.S. Economy is in recession.

Media myth: The U.S. economy is nearly in, or is in, a recession.

For a more detailed rundown of each item, with examples and video, check: www.businessandmedia.org

Christmas Gift Idea: Bozell's New Book
on the Media and Hillary

MRC President Brent Bozell's new book on the news media and Hillary Clinton: The Perfect Holiday Gift for Your Favorite Conservative.

This Christmas, give your favorite conservative, Mom, Dad, friend or colleague, something you know they will love. Give them Whitewash: What the Media Won't Tell You about Hillary Clinton but Conservatives Will, by the Media Research Center's own L. Brent Bozell and Tim Graham.

Whitewash Gets Glowing Reviews!

# R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr., founder and editor in chief of the American Spectator calls Whitewash "one of the most important books I have read about the Clintons' relationship with the press, and I myself have contributed a number of books to this field."

# Phil Brennan of Newsmax writes: "With this invaluable expose, Brent Bozell has broken through the soft curtain the media has kept between Hillary Clinton and the American people."

# Amazon.com Readers Give Whitewash Four Stars!

"If only millions would read this Book!" R. D. Capetto

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"A great fast read...." J. Schlatter

So don't wait: Order the perfect gift for your favorite conservative today! Proceeds go to the Media Research Center.

To order from Amazon: www.amazon.com

Whitewash is now the #1 seller, ahead of Chris Matthews, in Amazon's "Media & Politics" category: www.amazon.com

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-- Brent Baker