CBS Tags Pro-Life Moderate GOPer 'Conservative,' No Label for Dem
The absurd media double standard in labeling Republicans - even moderate Republicans - as conservative while omitting the liberal label for Democrats was on display again Wednesday as CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes filed a report for the CBS Evening News recounting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation's decision to cease funding for Planned Parenthood.
Cordes blamed "social conservatives" in Congress who have battled Planned Parenthood, and included a soundbite of New Jersey Republican Congressman Chris Smith, who, according to the centrist publication National Journal, was only the 135th most conservative member of the House in 2010.
But when Cordes forwarded the complaints of California Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier, she receved no liberal label in spite of being ranked by National Journal as the 40th most liberal member of the House in 2010.
Similarly, National Journal found Speier to be more liberal than 87 percent of her peers specifically on social issues in the same year, while Smith scored as more conservative than just 65 percent of his fellow Congressmen on social issues.
Cordes also provided pro-choice advocates two soundbites, with only one for the pro-life side. Near the beginning of the piece, the CBS correspondent included a clip of Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richard complaining about the "extreme agenda" of the pro-life movement:
Unfortunately, I think this was a political decision and there are groups that have an extreme agenda who have been bullying the Komen foundation and trying to get them to end their relationship with Planned Parenthood.
Then came a short soundbite of Rep. Smith as Cordes referred to "social conservatives":
NANCY CORDES: Planned Parenthood - which also provides abortion services - is a long-time target for social conservatives like New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith.
REP. CHRIS SMITH (R-NJ): Planned Parenthood really is "Child Abuse Incorporated."
After noting Florida Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns's investigation of Planned Parenthood, Cordes then moved to a soundbite of Rep. Speier without an ideological label:
CORDES: It set off a wave of anger among women who support both organizations. And on Capitol Hill, Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier urged women to call the Komen Foundation and ask them to reconsider.
REP. JACKIE SPEIER (D-CA): -and tell them that you want them to stick to what they know. Let's not make this a race to the political bottom.
Cordes concluded the report by forwarding Planned Parenthood's perspective that the "up side" of the issue is that the group's fundraising has increased. Cordes:
Planned Parenthood says there is one up side to this controversy, Scott, and that is that they've raised more than $400,000 in the past 24 hours.
Below is a complete transcript of the report from the Wednesday, February 1, CBS Evening News:
SCOTT PELLEY: The leading breast cancer charity is at odds with Planned Parenthood. Susan G. Komen for the Cure has cut off funding to Planned Parenthood which amounted to $700,000 last year. Nancy Cordes now on what's behind the rift.
NANCY CORDES: With its race for the cure and pink ribbon campaign, the Susan G. Komen foundation has grown over the past 30 years into a charity juggernaut, raising $1.9 billion in that time for breast cancer research and exams to catch cancer early. The money Komen gave to Planned Parenthood funded 170,000 clinical breast exams over the past five years and 6,400 mammograms. But now Komen is pulling its funding telling Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards it's the result of a change in policy.
CECILE RICHARD, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Unfortunately, I think this was a political decision and there are groups that have an extreme agenda who have been bullying the Komen foundation and trying to get them to end their relationship with Planned Parenthood.
CORDES: Planned Parenthood - which also provides abortion services - is a long-time target for social conservatives like New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith.
REP. CHRIS SMITH (R-NJ): Planned Parenthood really is child abuse incorporated.
CORDES: Florida Republican Cliff Stearns recently launched an investigation into Planned Parenthood's use of taxpayer funds. The Komen Foundation - which declined our request for an on-camera interview - cited that investigation as one of its reasons for pulling the funds, saying the foundation was adopting new and "more stringent eligibility standards to safeguard donor dollars." It set off a wave of anger among women who support both organizations. And on Capitol Hill, Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier urged women to call the Komen Foundation and ask them to reconsider.
REP. JACKIE SPEIER (D-CA): And tell them that you want them to stick to what they know. Let's not make this a race to the political bottom.
CORDES: Planned Parenthood says there is one upside to this controversy, Scott, and that is that they've raised more than $400,000 in the past 24 hours.
-Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center
