Matthews: Palin an Empty 'Vessel' for the Right Like Thomas? --9/17/2008

1. Matthews: Palin an Empty 'Vessel' for the Right Like Thomas?
You'd think Chris Matthews would learn his lesson. During the Democratic convention he insulted Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell as "showcase appointments," only to apologize for it later. Then, on Tuesday's Hardball, recalling how with Clarence Thomas "they wanted to pick an African-American for the Supreme Court so they picked the kind they wanted, which was in this case a guy who was very conservative," Matthews asserted now "they" have chosen Sarah Palin, an empty "vessel" with no "independent thinking" of her own who "they can fill up with all this neo-conservative thinking."

2. ABC: McCain Would Help 'Wealthiest,' Obama to Cut Taxes for '95%'
ABC reporter David Wright on Tuesday night, forced to summarize the tax plans of John McCain and Barack Obama in 30 seconds, described them through a distorted liberal prism. Though McCain wishes to continue all the income tax rates from the Bush tax cuts, with no hike or decrease for any income level, Wright asserted: "He'd make permanent the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans." No, for all Americans. Obama, Wright proceeded to report, "would raise taxes on the wealthy, people who make more than $250,000 a year, but cut them for most households." The text on screen, however, stated an impossibility: "Cut taxes on most households (95%)." That 95 percent is impossible since one-third of those who file with the IRS are "non-payers," people who end up paying no tax or get money back which exceeds their payments. Obama plans to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and create other credits. For those for whom the credits surpass their tax obligation, those are not tax cuts, but spending hikes or federal giveaways akin to welfare.

3. To McCain, CNN's Chetry Forwards Canard Obama Cuts Taxes for 90%
CNN pressed Senators John McCain and Joe Biden about their campaigns' respective tax plans on Tuesday's American Morning during back-to-back interviews. Co-host Kiran Chetry questioned McCain from the left, citing the supposedly "non-partisan" Tax Policy Center that is actually run by two liberal organizations, the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, while her colleague John Roberts asked Biden about the "income redistribution" that is part of the Obama/Biden campaign's tax proposal. Chetry counted a McCain point by claiming "most of our independent economists say that Barack Obama is actually cutting taxes for about 90 percent of Americans," which is not possible since one-third pay no income tax.

4. Smith Tells McCain Regulation Might've 'Helped Avert Crisis'
On Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith interviewed John McCain about the recent collapse of Wall Street investment banks: "I want to make sure I have this straight now. Yesterday, on the campaign trail, you reiterated that you believe the fundamentals of the economy are strong. At the same time, we understand your campaign is issuing an ad that says the economy is in crisis. Which is it?" After McCain explained that he was referring to American workers, and that there is a crisis, Smith asked: "And the answer for which is what? Because throughout your campaign, you have said you are anti-regulation. Would not oversight have helped avert this crisis?"

5. NBC Presses McCain's Consistency, Questions Biden from Right
In the midst of declaring the present economic troubles as comparable to the Great Depression, NBC's Today interviewed both John McCain and Joe Biden on Tuesday morning. Matt Lauer pressed against McCain's recent line that the economic fundamentals are strong: "But fundamentally speaking, isn't there something wrong with the fundamentals, right now, that's causing these nightmares that we're seeing?" Meredith Vieira asked Biden a tax question from the right: "You and Senator Obama are calling for tax increases on the wealthy and there are many economists who say that, that would hurt the economy even more." Biden objected as if the world never met a free-market economist: "I don't know any economist who is saying that." Vieira also asked why the Democrats aren't much further ahead with this gloomy economic outlook.

6. ABC Train Trip Day One: Liberal Guests Planned; Cuomo Hits Obama
On day one of Good Morning America's five day train trip across America, host Diane Sawyer announced a slate of guests filled almost entirely of liberals. At the top of Monday's program, Sawyer touted a schedule that included Barack Obama on the 15th, Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, John and Cindy McCain together on Wednesday, Joe Biden on Thursday and Michelle Obama on Friday. For those keeping track, that's four liberal guests and one conservative duo. (Notice that Barack and Michelle Obama each get their own day, while the McCains appear jointly.)

7. CNN's Jack Cafferty Bashes Palin: 'Shades of President Bush'
CNN commentator Jack Cafferty blasted Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Tuesday's The Situation Room over her refusal to cooperate with the Alaska state legislature's investigation into the firing of Walt Monegan, the former Alaska public safety commissioner: "Palin is refusing to cooperate with the investigation -- shades of President Bush, right? Embarrassing investigation? Just refuse to cooperate and claim it's all someone else's fault." He later contended this move by the Alaska Governor "goes a long way toward explaining why Sarah Palin is reluctant to do interviews or hold news conferences."

8. CNN Features Student Who Mouths Stephanopoulos' Race Point
CNN anchor Rich Sanchez, as part of his continuing interviews of first-time young voters, featured a Georgia Tech student on Monday's American Morning who made a liberal statement on race that was nearly identical to one made by George Stephanopoulos over a year ago. Ben Porter, who was identified on-screen as an Obama supporter, stated that "the people that can't accept a black man in the White House aren't the people who will vote for a liberal anyway in general. This is an almost-identical statement to one made by Stephanopoulos on May 13, 2007: "I guess I think that anyone who's not going to vote for Barack Obama because he is black isn't going to vote for a Democrat anyway."

9. Samuel L. Jackson Hopes U.S. Joins 'World Community' with Obama
Actor Samuel L. Jackson came on Tuesday's edition of Live with Regis and Kelly to promote his latest movie, Lakeview Terrace, but couldn't resist getting in a plug for Barack Obama. The Pulp Fiction star told Regis Philbin that when he was at the Deauville Film Festival in France, nobody really wanted to talk showbiz, instead the festival goers asked him about the upcoming election: "They're all hoping that we come into the world community by electing, you know, Barack they say. So we hope so." The show went to an ad break before he could say any more.

Matthews: Palin an Empty 'Vessel' for
the Right Like Thomas?

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

Matthews made the following charge during a discussion about Sarah Palin's readiness, on the September 16 Hardball on MSNBC:
"Let me ask you Paul [Begala], because I know your politics. But is this a, like a Clarence Thomas where they wanted to pick an African-American for the Supreme Court so they picked the kind they wanted, which was in this case, a guy who was very conservative who hued to the, sort of the, the line of the conservative court. They have a person [Sarah Palin] here, who's apparently, to some extent, in terms of foreign policy, tabula rasa. Someone they can fill up with all this neo-conservative thinking, including vocabulary, apparently based upon her performance with Charlie, Charlie Gibson. Is that what they wanted, just sort of a vessel to sell and carry their product, rather than someone with independent thinking on foreign policy?"

To read about Matthews insulting Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, see the August 29 CyberAlert: www.mrc.org

And for his apology: www.mrc.org

ABC: McCain Would Help 'Wealthiest,'
Obama to Cut Taxes for '95%'

ABC reporter David Wright on Tuesday night, forced to summarize the tax plans of John McCain and Barack Obama in 30 seconds, described them through a distorted liberal prism. Though McCain wishes to continue all the income tax rates from the Bush tax cuts, with no hike or decrease for any income level, Wright asserted: "He'd make permanent the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans." No, for all Americans.

Obama, Wright proceeded to report, "would raise taxes on the wealthy, people who make more than $250,000 a year, but cut them for most households." The text on screen, however, stated an impossibility: "Cut taxes on most households (95%)." That 95 percent is impossible since one-third of those who file with the IRS are "non-payers," people who end up paying no tax or get money back which exceeds their payments. Obama plans to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and create other credits. For those for whom the credits surpass their tax obligation, those are not tax cuts, but spending hikes or federal giveaways akin to welfare.

A June report from the Tax Foundation listed 32.58 percent of IRS income tax returns for 2005 as "non-paying." See: www.taxfoundation.org

In addition, Obama's plan calls for raising the 33 and 36 percent tax brackets. In 2008, those with an income as low as $100,150, not $250,000, paid at the 33 percent rate. See this Tax Foundation report from January. Tax Foundation report: www.taxfoundation.org

[This item, by the MRC's Brent Baker, was posted Tuesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

Wright's September 16 story on how the two candidates approach the economy was the premiere of a new World News series: "What's the Difference"? Where Wright summarized their tax plans:

"Perhaps the sharpest difference between the two is on the taxes people pay. McCain believes cutting taxes across the board would promote economic growth. He'd make permanent the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, cut corporate taxes and double the personal exception for dependents.
"Obama would raise taxes on the wealthy, people who make more than $250,000 a year, but cut them for most households. He's give middle class families a thousand-dollar tax credit and cut tax taxes completely for seniors on fixed incomes."

This is not the first time ABC has exaggerated how many would benefit from Obama's tax plan. The September 15 CyberAlert item, "Gibson Advanced to Palin What Hume Calls an Obama 'Dishonesty,'" recounted:

Speaking of "dishonesty" in McCain's TV ads, on Fox News Sunday Brit Hume pointed out Barack "Obama goes around claiming he's going to cut the taxes of 95 percent of the public, which is literally impossible" since "40 percent of American taxpayers don't pay any income tax," but that hasn't stopped ABC (directly) and CBS (implicitly) in recent days from advancing that Obama claim as fact. Charles Gibson, in his third interview session with Sarah Palin excerpted on Friday's 20/20 and Nightline, stated that Obama will extend the "Bush tax cuts on everything but people who own or earn more than $250,000 a year -- cuts taxes on over 91 percent of the country."

For the full previous CyberAlert article: www.mediaresearch.org

CNN forwarded the same faulty exaggeration Tuesday morning as Kiran Chetry insisted to John McCain: "Most of our independent economists say that Barack Obama is actually cutting taxes for about 90 percent of Americans." (See CyberAlert item #3 below)

Excerpts from a Tax Foundation summary of the McCain and Obama tax plans:

McCain:

- Continue the lower rates enacted in the 2001-03 tax cuts.

- Increase the dependent exemption each year until it reaches $7,000 in 2016 (the 2016 level would be twice the level in 2009)

- Phase out the AMT.

- Maintain the 15% rate on capital gains and dividends.

Obama:

- Maintain the current 10, 15, 25, and 28 percent rates from the 2001-03 tax cuts, but allow the top two rates to expire (the 33 percent rate would rise to 36 percent; the 35 percent would rise to 39.6 percent). Eliminate all income taxation of seniors making less than $50,000 per year.

- Create a new "Making Work Pay" refundable income tax credit of up to $500 per person or $1,000 per family. It would offset the payroll tax on the first $8,100 of earnings.

- Create a 10 percent mortgage credit worth up to $800.

- Give full-time workers making minimum wage an Earned Income Tax Credit benefit up to $555. If the workers are "responsibly supporting their children on child support," give those workers a benefit of $1,110.

- Extend AMT patch.

- Raise capital gains and dividends rates to somewhere between 20% and 28%, keeping them equal.

PDF of the Tax Foundation's summary: taxfoundation.org

To McCain, CNN's Chetry Forwards Canard
Obama Cuts Taxes for 90%

CNN pressed Senators John McCain and Joe Biden about their campaigns' respective tax plans on Tuesday's American Morning during back-to-back interviews. Co-host Kiran Chetry questioned McCain from the left, citing the supposedly "non-partisan" Tax Policy Center that is actually run by two liberal organizations, the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, while her colleague John Roberts asked Biden about the "income redistribution" that is part of the Obama/Biden campaign's tax proposal. Chetry counted a McCain point by claiming "most of our independent economists say that Barack Obama is actually cutting taxes for about 90 percent of Americans," which is not possible since one-third pay no income tax.

[This item, by Matthew Balan, was posted Tuesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

For more on how the mainstream media loves citing the "non-partisan" Tax Policy Center, see the July 15, 2008 Worst of the Week item by MRC's Rich Noyes, "Obama's Liberal Buddies = 'Non-Partisan' Experts?" at: www.mrc.org

Chetry interviewed McCain first, and asked the Arizona Senator to explain what he meant by saying that "the fundamentals of the economy are strong" and about regulation of businesses. She then brought up the issue of taxes: "I want to ask you about this, though, when it comes to tax policy -- the non-partisan Tax Policy Center calculated the middle class would actually save significantly more under Barack Obama's tax plan than yours. How will your tax cuts, as it breaks down on income level, benefit the working class and the middle class?"

McCain didn't submit to the premise of the question, and answered that Obama actually wants to raise taxes and that he "has plans for increasing government spending dramatically." The CNN co-host then followed-up by citing that "most of our independent economists say that Barack Obama is actually cutting taxes for about 90 percent of Americans. Do you agree with that?"

Obama plans to cut the taxes for about 90 percent of Americans? That figure sounds remarkably similar to the 95 percent figure Fox News Channel host Brit Hume shot down on Sunday's Fox News Sunday program: "Obama goes around claiming he's going to cut the taxes of 95 percent of the public, which is literally impossible" since "40 percent of American taxpayers don't pay any income tax."

For more on Hume shooting down Obama's tax claim, see the September 15 CyberAlert item, "Gibson Advanced to Palin What Hume Calls an Obama 'Dishonesty'" at: www.mrc.org

And for more on the same topic, check #2 above.

During his interview of Biden, Roberts, after asking the Delaware Senator what he would to in response to the current financial trouble, asked about his campaign's proposed tax hikes on those who make more than $250,000. Biden first denied that this was the case, but when Roberts brought up the figure again, and Biden corrected himself.

The CNN co-host then pressed Biden on the timing of such a raise: "With the economy the way it is right now, is this anytime to be raising taxes on anyone?" Biden answered, "We are transferring the tax cut. We're raising the tax on them by letting this tax expire and flipping that tax and giving it to the people who need it." Roberts shot back, "Right, and some people would say that's income redistribution." The Senator replied: "Well, I don't care what you call it -- the middle class is dying. John talks about the strength of the American worker. The American worker's been left out in the cold."

Smith Tells McCain Regulation Might've
'Helped Avert Crisis'

On Tuesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith interviewed John McCain about the recent collapse of Wall Street investment banks: "I want to make sure I have this straight now. Yesterday, on the campaign trail, you reiterated that you believe the fundamentals of the economy are strong. At the same time, we understand your campaign is issuing an ad that says the economy is in crisis. Which is it?" After McCain explained that he was referring to American workers, and that there is a crisis, Smith asked: "And the answer for which is what? Because throughout your campaign, you have said you are anti-regulation. Would not oversight have helped avert this crisis?"

Later, Smith asked: "Let me ask you this. Earlier this year on the campaign trail, you said -- or you admitted that you didn't know a lot about the economy. Why should voters trust you in these perilous times with the economy of the United States?" McCain responded: "You know, that's one of the interesting things about having long conversations. The point is, I was chairman of the Commerce Committee. Every part of America's economy, I oversighted. I have a long record, certainly far more extensive of being involved in our economy than Senator Obama does. I understand the economy. I know the issues-" At that point Smith interrupted: "Well, if that's the case, wouldn't you bear more responsibility for some of the crisis we're in then?"

[This item, by the MRC's Kyle Drennen, was posted Tuesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

Apparently Smith was skeptical of McCain having been the Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee for four years, from 1997 - 2001. As far as responsibility for the financial crisis, McCain had pointed out earlier in the interview: "Actually, a little -- two years ago, I warned that the oversight of Fannie and Freddie was, was terrible, that we were facing a crisis because of it, or certainly serious problems...But the influence that Fannie and Freddie had in the inside the beltway, old boy network, which led to this kind of corruption is unacceptable and I warned about it a couple of years ago." In fact, it was Democrats who blocked Bush administration proposals to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2003. 2003 New York Times article that detailed efforts by Democrats to block reforms: query.nytimes.com

Following Smith's interview with McCain, co-host Maggie Rodriguez interviewed Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden: "Senator McCain just named some of the same culprits that you and Senator Obama blamed for this crisis yesterday, Wall Street greed and excess. And he called for a restructuring of oversight and regulation. You seem to be on the same page." Biden replied: "Well, it seems like John's had an epiphany. 9:00 yesterday morning John thought the economy was going great guns and the Bush Administration is doing well, and today he thinks it's in crisis."

Rodriguez clarified McCain's statements: "But he said that the American worker is what's strong. That's what he meant and that's what he believes will dig us out. Do you disagree?" Biden then declared: "The American worker is not strong." He quickly added: "The American worker is strong, they've been betrayed. They've been betrayed by a tax policy that absolutely screws them, that, in fact, gives the money to the very wealthiest among us." Rodriguez later challenged Biden: " I think that this morning, Senator, people don't want to look back, they want to look ahead to the next four years...Will you take this opportunity to say specifically and clearly what you and Senator Obama will do to fix this? Give me two or three solutions, I know you've been working on them."

Rodriguez even questioned Barack Obama's experience in being able to handle an economic crisis: "Let me ask you, finally, Senator Biden, what do you say to voters who wonder if, given the severity of this crisis right now, whether it's the right time to put their faith in a president that has no executive experience and just a handful of years in the Senate?" Biden again lashed out: "I'd say take a look at who they put there -- who, in fact, has had their hand on the wheel the last eight years. Take a look at that. You want four more years of George W. Bush and the laissez faire policies of John McCain...Who got us in this hole? Whose policies? This has been a Republican philosophy of letting Wall Street do what they want and the middle class be dammed...If I sounds like I'm angry, I am fighting mad for the middle class people who have been the scapegoat of this economy because of the policies of the McCains and the Bushes."

NBC Presses McCain's Consistency, Questions
Biden from Right

In the midst of declaring the present economic troubles as comparable to the Great Depression, NBC's Today interviewed both John McCain and Joe Biden on Tuesday morning. Matt Lauer pressed against McCain's recent line that the economic fundamentals are strong: "But fundamentally speaking, isn't there something wrong with the fundamentals, right now, that's causing these nightmares that we're seeing?" Meredith Vieira asked Biden a tax question from the right: "You and Senator Obama are calling for tax increases on the wealthy and there are many economists who say that, that would hurt the economy even more." Biden objected as if the world never met a free-market economist: "I don't know any economist who is saying that." Vieira also asked why the Democrats aren't much further ahead with this gloomy economic outlook.

[MRC's Tim Graham summarized the coverage as monitored by analyst Geoff Dickens. This was first posted on the MRC's blog, Newsbusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

After the show's introductory sequence, Lauer declared himself the paperboy for a moment, relaying the New York newspaper headlines including: "The Daily News likes shorter and snappier. They simply say: 'Shock Market.' They're calling this the biggest shakeup in financial markets since The Great Depression."

A few minutes later, NBC turned to reporter Andrea Mitchell for a summary of the current political state of play, and she included a freebie clip of the latest Obama ad mocking McCain for saying the fundamentals are strong. She stressed: "Traditionally, voters turn to Democrats on pocketbook issues, but so far not this year." That's a weird sentence just two years after twelve years of Republican majorities in the House and (for most of that time) Senate. It's also weird if you remember the Carter administration.

Matt Lauer interviewed John McCain, and like the other networks, questioned how McCain could say the economic fundamentals are strong, and also say the economy's in crisis. McCain said the fundamentals were the American worker, to which Lauer replied: It sounds like a populist tone you're taking on here. "Workers are great," obviously you want them to vote for you. "It's all the problem of the fat cats." But fundamentally speaking isn't there something wrong with the fundamentals, right now, that's causing these nightmares that we're seeing?

McCain blamed the problem squarely on Washington, for an outmoded regulatory system from the 1930s. Lauer also asked another question about McCain's policy consistency:
"You've always been for less regulation. In fact you told the Wall Street Journal, back in March, quote, 'I'm always for less regulation but I'm aware of the view that there is a need for government oversight. But I am fundamentally a de-regulator.' Recently though, when we start to hear you say things like, 'we gotta crack down on the fat cats and the greed on Wall Street,' it makes some people think you're now changing your views, you want more regulation. Set the record straight for me."

That's a reasonable question, politely phrased. McCain then sounded less than libertarian, referring to himself as a Teddy Roosevelt Republican: "Teddy Roosevelt believed that we needed a government that can function, an economy can function without government interference, but he also said, 'Unfettered capitalism can breed corruption.' We're seeing Teddy Roosevelt's words come true. If Lauer were asking questions from the right, he would ask how the current situation, with failing government-sponsored enterprises like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are "unfettered capitalism," but Lauer didn't drag out Democratic talking points and suggest this was all the fault of Bush or Republicans. NBC also didn't use Republican talking points about reforms being blocked by Democratic overseers like Chris Dodd and Barney Frank.

Vieira interviewed Biden. She asked several neutral questions about whether he favored an AIG bailout, then asked this:

VIEIRA: Meanwhile, Senator, you and Senator Obama are calling for tax increases on the wealthy and there are many economists who say that, that would hurt the economy even more. So what specifically-
BIDEN: I don't know any economist who is saying that.
VIEIRA: There are, been economists say-
BIDEN: No.
VIEIRA: What, specifically would your tax plan do to boost the economy?
BIDEN: Our tax plan would, would take that tax cut of another $130 billion that John wants to give to people making over $250,000 next year, not let it go forward and give it to the middle class. The very people who desperately need it to stay in their homes, to buy food, to take care of the gas that they're, to fill up their tank. To be able to go out and buy a toaster, to employ people. We would also invest $70 billion in infrastructure. New bridges, roads, airports, ports, which have serious impact on employment. Hire another million people making $50,000 a year. Give some help to the middle class here. The middle-, you haven't heard the phrase middle class part the lips of our opponents. You haven't heard the President even use the word, middle class.
VIEIRA: You know Senator-
BIDEN: And tell me how the wealthy are gonna get us out of this with an additional tax cut?

Like Diane Sawyer on ABC, Vieira pulled out the Frustrated Democrat line of questioning, asking why the Obama-Biden ticket isn't much further ahead. Biden said it was those "scurrilous ads" from the McCain camp:

VIEIRA: Senator we've had eight years of Republicans in the White House, now we have an economic crisis. You would think that the Democrats would be, people would be rushing over to the Democrats. But if you look at the Gallup poll before the conventions, Obama campaign had a 16 point lead over the McCain campaign on economic issues, that has just dropped to three points in the past week Why do you think that is?
BIDEN: That will be back up to 16 points now that people are starting to focus again. It's because they had a great convention. It's because they misled people and said we're gonna raise taxes on middle-class people, which every econometric model, everyone acknowledges is not true. It's because of the scurrilous ads they've been running against Barack Obama that are just simply not true.

ABC Train Trip Day One: Liberal Guests
Planned; Cuomo Hits Obama

On day one of Good Morning America's five day train trip across America, host Diane Sawyer announced a slate of guests filled almost entirely of liberals. At the top of Monday's program, Sawyer touted a schedule that included Barack Obama on the 15th, Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, John and Cindy McCain together on Wednesday, Joe Biden on Thursday and Michelle Obama on Friday. For those keeping track, that's four liberal guests and one conservative duo. (Notice that Barack and Michelle Obama each get their own day, while the McCains appear jointly.)

The journey on the rails, which GMA has dubbed the "Whistle-Stop Tour '08," began in several towns in Massachusetts. Three segments revolved around Sawyer and fellow co-hosts Chris Cuomo and Robin Roberts talking with either residents or patrons of various restaurants. And while many of the Americans highlighted expressed concerns that no one would disagree, the ABC program also included a number of liberal perspectives and only one that could be called vaguely conservative. (Massachusetts resident Richard Bonito mentioned security and the need for a strong defense.) Resident Frank Algerio called for a "cap" on high gas prices. One Nicky Vaughn hoped the next president would pull troops from Iraq. No anchor or host pointed out the extremely left-wing make-up of the state either.

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

While there has certainly been a share of bad economic news lately, GMA's Sawyer talked to an older man who remembered FDR. She hyperbolically asserted that he had lived through "another time of economic crisis." On the positive side, co-host Cuomo should be credited for actually conducting a somewhat tough interview with Democrat Barack Obama.

For that interview, Cuomo first hit the Illinois Senator for not meeting John McCain in a series of town hall meetings: "Why don't you pick up the phone to him and say, what are you doing next week? How about Tuesday?" He then forcefully critiqued the candidate on a new ad which seems to portray McCain as elderly and out of touch:, "Now, we see these new ads coming out calling McCain an old man. Saying he can't use a computer."

Not getting a clear answer, Cuomo followed up twice. First he pointed out: "But the ad is a negative ad. You paint him as an old man. You say he can't use a computer. He's never sent an e-mail. What does that all mean?" Then, the journalist then queried: "So, no apologies for that ad?" A follow-up interview included questions about whether or not Hillary Clinton would have been a stronger vice presidential candidate for Obama.

Overall, GMA should be commended for using the first day of its road trip to challenge Barack Obama. But, its announced line-up of guests for the week is decidedly liberal. Barack and Michelle Obama on different days? Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden? Couldn't the producers find more GOP representation than just one appearance by John and Cindy McCain? If primary challenger Clinton will be appearing, why not have on Republican Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney?

A transcript of the September 15 Barack Obama interview, which aired at 7:13am:

7:01am tease

DIANE SAWYER: This morning, we bring you Barack Obama. This week, John and Cindy McCain, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and more [Graphic reads: Barack Obama, Monday. Hillary Clinton, Tuesday. John and Cindy McCain, Wednesday. Joe Biden, Thursday. Michelle Obama, Friday.] As we begin our Whistle Stop Tour, 2008.

7:14
ROBIN ROBERTS: And you had a chance over the weekend to talk with Barack Obama.
CHRIS CUOMO: One of the men that they want to hear answer them. And there's no question that voters are saying they're focused on the issues now. They're past the personalities of a Barack Obama. Or, now, with Sarah Palin. So we got to sit down with Barack Obama to find out where his head is politically and what he thinks will get him to the finish line.
ABC GRAPHIC: Barack Obama One on One: Criticizes McCain's Economic Policy
SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: I think we are in a very serious time right now. We've got Wall Street having all sorts of problems. The housing market has yet to recover. And if you want change, if you think that having record foreclosures and increasing job loss and an education policy that's adrift, then we're going to have to change policies.
CUOMO: You've watched this Palin phenomenon. What's your make on the situation?
OBAMA: My sense is, she's a skilled politician. I think that she wouldn't have gotten to where she was if she wasn't. And what has yet to be determined, and I don't think the interviews, as much as Charlie tried to really pin this down, is her position on issues. My sense is that she agrees with John McCain. And she agrees largely with George Bush in terms of our economic policies, our tax policy, health care policies. If you agree with what's happened on a policy basis over the last eight years, it's pretty hard for you to represent yourself as an agent of change. It's not a matter of just trying to put a new face on these underlying economic theories that really say we're going to give more to the most and hope that it trickles down.
CUOMO: People in the party getting a little nervous. Polls are tightening. A big shift with women.
OBAMA: One of the things about running over 19 months is that you realize this thing just goes in cycles. There are times when you're a genius. There are times when you're an idiot. So, we always anticipated that we'd get a boost from our convention. They'd get a boost from theirs. And that this was going to remain close until pretty close to the end, where people finally get a chance to see McCain and myself debate and have a chance to take a look and say who's the person who can actually bring about the changes that are going to make a difference in our lives.
CUOMO: Early after the race, McCain was after you to get the series of town hall meetings going on. They didn't happen. Now you're saying the issues are all that matter here. Why don't you pick up the phone to him and say, what are you doing next week? How about Tuesday? How about Wednesday? How about Thursday? Let's get out there as much as possible, you and me and talk about what matters most?
OBAMA: This whole thing about town halls I think is a little bit of a gimmick. We've got three debates coming up.
CUOMO: Why not 23? Why not 33?
OBAMA: Listen, I've gone through 22.
CUOMO: But now, this is it.
OBAMA: Nobody's debated more than I have. But, let's face it, the reason we're not talking about the issues doesn't have to do with of the fact that we didn't have town halls. The reason that we're not talking about the issues is because John McCain has shown a lack of interest in talking about the issues, that's how their campaign has been run. If the American people start focusing on who's going to actually help me, the single mom, get health care for myself and my kids, who's actually going to increase my take-home pay so that I can manage higher gas prices, that's not only a debate that is good political strategy for me, that's what the American people need.
CUOMO: But for all his desire to talk issues, Obama's latest ad seems to get very personal.
OBAMA AD: He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer. Can't send an e-mail.
CUOMO: Now, we see these new ads coming out calling McCain an old man. Saying he can't use a computer.
OBAMA: Oh, wait. Now, Hold on, I didn't say that. What I said was- I mean, let's be fair, Chris. What I said was that John McCain is out of touch. When his health care adviser was recently quoted saying that we don't really have an insured problem because people can go to the emergency room, that has nothing to do with age. That indicates somebody who is not spending time thinking about people are going through day to day. And folks are struggling. .
CUOMO: But the ad is a negative ad. You paint him as an old man. You say he can't use a computer. He's never sent an e-mail. What does that all mean?
OBAMA: What it means is that we have got a 21st century economy and John McCain does not have a vision for how to move that forward. He hasn't talked about it in this campaign. You would be hard pressed to explain to me what John McCain's economic vision is about how he's going to get this economy back on track. That, I believe, is somebody who is out of touch with what should be the central question for that election.
CUOMO: So, no apologies for that ad?
OBAMA: No, if we're going to ask questions about who is promulgating negative ads that are completely unrelated to the issues at hand, I think I win that contest pretty handily. John McCain has not focused on the issues that matter to the American people.
CUOMO: We'll have more Obama in the next half hour. Both campaigns have weighed in on Lehman. Obama saying he doesn't blame John McCain, he blames his economic philosophy. John McCain says he's happy they didn't use tax dollars to bail out Lehman, he's worried about the deposits of regular Americans.

CNN's Jack Cafferty Bashes Palin: 'Shades
of President Bush'

CNN commentator Jack Cafferty blasted Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Tuesday's The Situation Room over her refusal to cooperate with the Alaska state legislature's investigation into the firing of Walt Monegan, the former Alaska public safety commissioner: "Palin is refusing to cooperate with the investigation -- shades of President Bush, right? Embarrassing investigation? Just refuse to cooperate and claim it's all someone else's fault." He later contended this move by the Alaska Governor "goes a long way toward explaining why Sarah Palin is reluctant to do interviews or hold news conferences."

[This item, by The MRC's Matthew Balan, was posted Tuesday evening on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

Cafferty then gave some details over this refusal: "Palin says the probe has been hijacked by the Obama campaign for political gain. But Monegan was fired and this investigation began long before Palin was ever named to the Republican ticket, clear back in July. The Obama campaign denies the accusation. McCain's people say that Palin will not cooperate with the investigation because it is 'tainted.' They insist Monegan was fired because of insubordination."

The McCain/Palin campaign might have a point about the investigation being "tainted," since the Democratic state senator heading the so-called Troopergate investigation, Hollis French, officially endorsed Obama in July, the same month as the beginning of the investigation. He is also pictured on the Obama campaign website in front of Obama '08 signs and behind a podium with the Obama logo on it. When Alaska State Representative John Coghill, a Republican, petitioned the Legislative Council of the Alaska legislature which appointed French to remove the Democrat from the probe, his request was turned down.

For more on French's endorsement of Obama and the picture of him from the Obama campaign website, see "Troopergate: Meet the Investigators" off the "Health Care BS" blog: www.healthcarebs.com

For more on Coghill's request that was turned down, see the September 8, 2008 unsigned Associated Press article, "Alaska senator to retain oversight of Palin probe," at: ap.google.com

On Monday, Palin's lawyer, Thomas Van Flein, released a 19-page brief, as reported by the Anchorage Daily News. In this brief, Van Flein revealed that Monegan had participated in a press conference with the same Senator French, in which the two pushed an alternative budget plan to the governor's proposed state budget. This is one of several cases in which Monegan display insubordination on budget manners, according to Van Flein, and what Cafferty was probably referring to in his monologue.

For more on Van Flein's brief, see the September 15, 2008 from the Anchorage Daily News by Wesley Loy, "Palin accuses Monegan of insubordination," at: www.adn.com

After giving his "Sarah Palin is reluctant to do interviews or hold news conferences" statement, Cafferty asked his Question of the Hour: "What does it mean that Governor Sarah Palin is refusing to cooperate with the investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner?" At the end of the hour, he read some of the responses to the question, and all but one of the slammed Palin in this manner, except the last, which cynically quipped that the governor "is better prepared to be vice president than any of us thought," since she has apparently been "taught the values of 'executive privilege,' and is apparently a quick learner."

The full transcript of Cafferty's monologue, which began 8 minutes into the 4 pm Eastern of Tuesday's The Situation Room, and the viewer's responses to his question, which came just before the top of the 5 pm Eastern hour:

JACK CAFFERTY: Governor Sarah Palin is being investigated by lawmakers in her home state of Alaska. At issue -- Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan and whether he was fired because he refused to pink-slip a state trooper who divorced Palin's sister. But Palin is refusing to cooperate with the investigation -- shades of President Bush, right? Embarrassing investigation? Just refuse to cooperate and claim it's all someone else's fault.
Palin says the probe has been hijacked by the Obama campaign for political gain. But Monegan was fired and this investigation began long before Palin was ever named to the Republican ticket, clear back in July. The Obama campaign denies the accusation. McCain's people say that Palin will not cooperate with the investigation because it is 'tainted.' They insist Monegan was fired because of insubordination. Palin has not been subpoenaed, but last Friday, Alaska lawmakers voted to subpoena her husband, several aides, and a lot of telephone records. This kind of stuff goes a long way toward explaining why Sarah Palin is reluctant to do interviews or hold news conferences.
Here's the question: What does it mean that Gov. Sarah Palin is refusing to cooperate with the investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner?

JACK CAFFERTY: Marie in Minnesota writes, 'The woman is ridiculous. She won't answer questions from the media. She won't answer questions from the voters, and she won't answer questions related to this investigation. It's obvious she is not prepared to be vice president. At some point, the American public deserves to have their questions answered.'
Eileen says, 'What else can it mean? Her handlers know she has something to hide, so let's blame the Democrats. So what if the facts are that the Republicans are the majority who opened this investigation. It began, I think, back in July.'
Bruce in [St. Paul,] Minnesota: 'For the same reason Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and anyone remotely connected to them will not honor congressional subpoenas. The same reason Nixon wouldn't cooperate with the Watergate investigators. The same reason Bush wouldn't produce his Air National Guard records. Laws are for suckers like us.'
Sasha writes, 'Palin failing to cooperate with the investigation, along with the McCain campaign not letting her do any more interviews or press conferences on her own, says there are question marks about her and this situation. Where did the Straight-Talk Express go?'
Pablo in [Charles Town,] West Virginia: 'It means they need more time to put lipstick on the pig or bulldog or whatever animal they're trying to disguise before the American people can see it for what it really is. My guess is it's a weasel.'
And Debra writes, 'It means she's better prepared to be vice president than any of us thought. Following in the footsteps of our current V.P., she has been taught the value of 'executive privilege,' and is apparently a quick learner.'

CNN Features Student Who Mouths Stephanopoulos'
Race Point

CNN anchor Rich Sanchez, as part of his continuing interviews of first-time young voters, featured a Georgia Tech student on Monday's American Morning who made a liberal statement on race that was nearly identical to one made by George Stephanopoulos over a year ago. Ben Porter, who was identified on-screen as an Obama supporter, stated that "the people that can't accept a black man in the White House aren't the people who will vote for a liberal anyway in general. This is an almost-identical statement to one made by Stephanopoulos on May 13, 2007: "I guess I think that anyone who's not going to vote for Barack Obama because he is black isn't going to vote for a Democrat anyway."

[This item, by the MRC's Matthew Balan, was posted Monday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]

For more on Stephanopoulos' statement on Obama, see the May 14, 2007 CyberAlert item, "Stephanopoulos: Only Republicans Against Obama Because He's Black," at: www.mrc.org

The panel of Georgia Tech students interviewed by Sanchez all had positive views of Obama, even the one identified McCain supporter and those who were merely identified as "first-time voters" or independents. Pat Swelgin, the lone student identified as a McCain supporter, had a glowing statement about Democratic candidate's oratory: "Barack Obama is such an eloquent speaker and very powerful, and if you see him live, you'll almost like, you want to be his best friend." On the other hand, Porter wondered about how little has been mentioned of Obama's time as a community organizer: "You know, we've heard since he became a major national candidate that he was a community organizer in Chicago.... I haven't seen any tangible piece of what that created. You know, what did he organize?...What did he do for a long time?"

Later, Sanchez first hinted at the issue of race in the campaign: "Barack Obama doesn't look like the guy that central casting would send over if you asked them for someone to play a presidential role -- right? Everybody agree?" After a few quick responses in agreement, Swelgin became more overt about the race factor: "And still, you get a lot of older people in the South that will throw out the 'N' word all the time." Sanchez then cut to Porter's "black man in the White House" statement.

There were actually two Obama supporters on the panel of students, but the other, Amechi Okoh, was only identified as a "first-time voter." She followed Porter's liberal talking point by playing up the excitement factor over the Democrat: "Barack Obama has earned a lot of the young people's vote. We don't really feel that way as far as McCain....I'm excited because of Barack Obama..." While Porter was identified by an on-screen graphic as an Obama supporter, it only appeared on-screen for four seconds, and he was identified only seven seconds later as merely a "first-time voter." The same thing happened when McCain supporter Swelgin was first identified on-screen.

Earlier in April 2008, in one of his earlier "League of First-Time Voters" segments, Sanchez asked a series of leading questions to a group of Muslim students. The same month, NewsBusters blogger Warner Todd Huston recounted how Sanchez took a confrontational stance towards conservative Penn State students he interviewed for his series.

For more on Sanchez's segment with Muslim college students, see the April 29 CyberAlert item, "CNN's Sanchez Asks Leading Questions of Young Muslims Voters," at: www.mrc.org

The full transcript of Rick Sanchez's panel discussion with Georgia Tech students, which aired 19 minutes into the 6 am Eastern hour of Monday's American Morning program:

KIRAN CHETRY: First-time voters could have a major impact on the presidential race. CNN's Rick Sanchez has been following this group in his ongoing series, and this morning he talks to Georgia Tech students who are paying close attention to each of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses.
RICK SANCHEZ: How does Barack Obama get Americans to know him well enough to trust him, as much as they like him?
BEN PORTER, OBAMA SUPPORTER: You know, we've heard since he became a major national candidate that he was a community organizer in Chicago. But I haven't seen any of those people. I haven't seen any tangible piece of what that created. You know, what did he organize? What were the effects of that? What did he do for a long time?
SANCHEZ: That's a great point. Yes. That's a great point. I mean, it's out there and we hear it out, but it's still abstract.
PORTER: We know John McCain's background. He's been all these years in the Senate. He was in the Navy. He was a POW for all these years. We have those stories. But we hear Barack Obama was a community organizer, but we don't see any effect of that.
SANCHEZ: How about John McCain? How does John McCain break out of what he has?
PAT SWELGIN, MCCAIN SUPPORTER: I think he needs to just get -- be better at public speaking. Barack Obama is such an eloquent speaker and very powerful, and if you see him live, you'll almost like, you want to be his best friend.
SANCHEZ: But you don't think he makes as good an impression as Barack Obama?
SWELGIN: Yeah.
SANCHEZ: Independents over here -- do you agree with that? Is that a problem for John McCain?
KRISTIE CHAMPLIN, FIRST-TIME VOTER: Definitely
ISIDORA ILUONAKHAMHE, UNDECIDED FIRST-TIME VOTER: Yeah.
SANCHEZ: Barack Obama doesn't look like the guy that central casting would send over if you asked them for someone to play a presidential role -- right? Everybody agree?
PORTER: His portrait is going to look really weird in the National Portrait Gallery.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
ILUONAKHAMHE: White guy, white guy, white guy, hmm?
SWELGIN: And still, you get a lot of older people in the South that will throw out the 'N' word all the time --
SANCHEZ: Yeah.
SWELGIN: ...Or feel that. The young voters I think don't necessarily care.
PORTER: The people that can't accept a black man in the White House aren't the people who will vote for a liberal anyway in general.
AMECHI OKOH, FIRST-TIME VOTER: Barack Obama has earned a lot of the young people's vote. We don't really feel that way as far as McCain.
SANCHEZ: You're excited because of Barack Obama?
OKOH: I'm excited because of Barack Obama, yes.
ILUONAKHAMHE: I have a poster on my bedroom wall and I have the candidates, and I add things like Michelle Obama's speech and I go on, and at the end of it, the day before, I'm going to decide who I get to vote for.
SANCHEZ: Kristie?
CHAMPLIN: I think this is a really exciting time, especially for first-time voters, because we've only grown up with Bushes and Clintons. So, you know, Obama represents a huge change. McCain represents an authoritative difference, and I think it's going to be really interesting to see how it turns out.

Samuel L. Jackson Hopes U.S. Joins 'World
Community' with Obama

Actor Samuel L. Jackson came on Tuesday's edition of Live with Regis and Kelly to promote his latest movie, Lakeview Terrace, but couldn't resist getting in a plug for Barack Obama. The Pulp Fiction star told Regis Philbin that when he was at the Deauville Film Festival in France, nobody really wanted to talk showbiz, instead the festival goers asked him about the upcoming election: "They're all hoping that we come into the world community by electing, you know, Barack they say. So we hope so." The show went to an ad break before he could say any more.

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

The following exchange occurred on the September 16 edition of Live with Regis and Kelly:

REGIS PHILBIN: And it seems there's another Samuel L. Jackson movie coming out every, you know, every six months. You just got back from the Deauville Film Festival.
SAMUEL L. JACKSON: Hopefully every two-and-a-half months.
PHILBIN: Two-and-a-half months is right. How was the Deauville Film Fest?
JACKSON: Deauville was great. It's actually the Deauville American Film Festival. They actually screen a lot of films that are in the theaters, but the actual competition is for independent films. And they were there and they were, you know, doing a lot of stuff. And everybody's, more than anything, they don't want to talk to you about your films. They want to talk to us about the election and they're hoping that we-
PHILBIN: Oh yeah, sure. Yeah, yeah.
JACKSON: Yeah.
KELLY RIPA: Of course, right.
JACKSON: And they're all hoping that we come into the world community by electing, you know, Barack they say. So we hope so.
PHILBIN: Yeah, well let's take a break, come back. We'll talk about the new movie, Lakeview Terrace. What a juicy role! I love this guy!

IMDB's rundown of Jackson's film career: www.imdb.com

-- Brent Baker