Networks Focus on Democratic Attacks on UN Nominee John Bolton --4/12/2005

1. Networks Focus on Democratic Attacks on UN Nominee John Bolton
The broadcast network evening newscasts on Monday night framed their stories, on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing for John Bolton, President Bush's nominee for Ambassador to the UN, around Democratic attacks on him with much less time for those who defended him. ABC's Linda Douglass stressed how "Democrats called Bolton a belligerent critic of the UN who wants it to fail" and soon added that "Democrats accused him of trying to fire an intelligence analyst who didn't agree with" him. CBS's Bob Schieffer asserted that Bush's nomination of Bolton "surprised a lot of people, including some in the administration, because Bolton is a hardliner who has never been a fan of the UN." Schieffer raised the charge that Bolton "sometimes tried to get intelligence agencies to give him information that backed up his views rather than information that they had evidence for." NBC anchor Brian Williams led with how when Bush picked Bolton, "a lot of Democrats in Washington cried foul." Chip Reid rubbed it in: "John Bolton, derided by Senate Democrats today as the worst possible choice to represent the United States before the United Nations."

2. ABC, CBS and NBC All Falsely Hype "Record" High Gas Prices
Adjusted for inflation, gas at the retail pump will have to hit $2.97 to match a record high, but that didn't deter ABC, CBS and NBC on Monday from falsely describing much lower prices as a "record" high price. "Gasoline hit yet another record high," CBS Evening News anchor Bob Schieffer insisted as he cited a $2.28 price. ABC's Good Morning America painted "Record Breaking Gas Prices" on screen over a story in which David Muir claimed that "the price of a gallon of regular gas is now at an all-time high" and highlighted a woman who supposedly moved in order to avoid driving. Katie Couric declared on NBC's Today: "Gasoline prices have hit an all-time high today averaging $2.32 a gallon." Couric soon suggested that "political analysts say one of the main reasons" for President Bush's falling approval level "is the record high gas prices." Maybe it wouldn't be such a problem if the media weren't making such false statements about "record" high prices.

3. Novak Reports NYTimes Went Fishing for Op-Ed Asking DeLay to Quit
Columnist Robert Novak revealed on Monday that the New York Times editorial page went "fishing" for an op-ed from a prominent Republican to call for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's resignation. A colleague of former Congressman Bob Livingston, who was in line to replace Newt Gingrich, quoted Times editorial page staffer Tobin Harshaw as saying "we are seeking those who would go on the record or state for the good of the party he (DeLay) should step aside." Novak suggested the "remarkable case of that august newspaper fishing for an op-ed piece makes it appear part of a calculated campaign to bring down the single most powerful Republican in Congress." It also would demonstrate how the editorial and news pages work in concert: The editorial page creates news which is then touted on the front page.

Networks Focus on Democratic Attacks
on UN Nominee John Bolton

The broadcast network evening newscasts on Monday night framed their stories, on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing for John Bolton, President Bush's nominee for Ambassador to the UN, around Democratic attacks on him with much less time for those who defended him. ABC's Linda Douglass stressed how "Democrats called Bolton a belligerent critic of the UN who wants it to fail" and soon added that "Democrats accused him of trying to fire an intelligence analyst who didn't agree with" him. CBS's Bob Schieffer asserted that Bush's nomination of Bolton "surprised a lot of people, including some in the administration, because Bolton is a hardliner who has never been a fan of the UN." Schieffer raised the charge that Bolton "sometimes tried to get intelligence agencies to give him information that backed up his views rather than information that they had evidence for." NBC anchor Brian Williams led with how when Bush picked Bolton, "a lot of Democrats in Washington cried foul." Chip Reid rubbed it in: "John Bolton, derided by Senate Democrats today as the worst possible choice to represent the United States before the United Nations."

While all the soundbites from Democrats played on ABC, CBS and NBC were of attacks on Bolton, on FNC's Special Report with Brit Hume, James Rosen noted agreement with Bolton by one Democrat: "Bolton argued he's always sought to strengthen, not abolish the UN."
Bolton, at hearing: "There's not a democracy in the world that can't be made leaner and more efficient."
Rosen: "Ironically, some Democrats wound up endorsing Bolton's comments."
Senator Christopher Dodd, at the hearing: "I frankly kind of agree with a lot of your statements about the United Nations. Candidly, I think you've been on the mark with many of them."

Now, a full rundown of the April 11 stories, as corrected against the closed-captioning by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth:

-- ABC's World News Tonight. Anchor Charles Gibson introduced Douglass: "Another big story in Washington, the Senate began confirmation hearings today for the man President Bush has nominated as the next ambassador to the United Nations. There was some surprise when Mr. Bush chose Undersecretary of State John Bolton for the UN job, mostly because Mr. Bolton had made some very public and very critical comments about the UN. And he made some very public and very critical enemies in Washington. Here's ABC's Linda Douglass."

With "Under Siege" on screen, Douglass began: "John Bolton insisted the Bush administration wants the United Nations to succeed."
Bolton, at the hearing: "For the UN to be effective, it requires American leadership. I say it over and over again. I deeply believe it."
Douglass: "Democrats called Bolton a belligerent critic of the UN who wants it to fail."
Senator John Kerry (D-MA): "Your public statements, your speeches, your interviews about the United Nations have been disdainful of it."
Bolton: "First, Senator, a lot of those statements are not accurate reflections of what I've said."
Douglass: "One Democrat [Barbara Boxer] produced a videotape of a speech Bolton made 11 years ago."
Bolton clip #1, from February 1991, played on a big screen in the hearing room: "That proposition is, there is no such thing as the United Nations."
Bolton clip #2: "-and the Secretariat Building in New York has 38 stories. If you lost ten stories today, it wouldn't make a bit of difference."
Bolton clip #3: "The United States makes the UN work when it wants it to work. And that is exactly the way it should be because the only question, the only question for the United States is what's in our national interest. And if you don't like that, I'm sorry."
Douglass: "Bolton argued that was a combative exchange with a group that promotes single-world government. Some Republicans jumped to his defense, saying Americans want the UN to be held accountable."
Senator George Allen (R-VA): "Can it be made into an organization more relevant to real people in the real world?"
Douglass: "At the State Department, Bolton is in charge of arms control. Democrats accused him of trying to fire an intelligence analyst who didn't agree with his belief that Cuba had a bio-weapons program."
Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT): "If this is true that you tried to remove an analyst because you disagreed with their conclusions about this, that is going to hurt us further. That's my concern."
Bolton: "And if I could just say, I have never done anything in connection with any analyst views."
Douglass concluded: "Bolton vigorously disputed the Democrats' charge that he tried to skew intelligence to fit his political views. Linda Douglass, ABC News, Capitol Hill."

-- CBS Evening News anchor Bob Schieffer narrated the story himself: "The Senate opened hearings today on the nomination of John Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations. President Bush's choice of the State Department official surprised a lot of people, including some in the administration, because Bolton is a hardliner who has never been a fan of the UN. He once said if they removed ten stories from the 38-story UN headquarters, it would make no difference. Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee today took note of that."
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA): "My overall assessment, Mr. Bolton, is that you have nothing but disdain for the United Nations. Now, you can dance around it, you can run away from it, you can put perfume on it, but the bottom line is the bottom line."
Schieffer then turned to Gloria Borger on Capitol Hill: "Bolton said he just meant the United Nations needed more strong leadership from the United States. Gloria Borger watched the hearings today. Gloria, is that going to satisfy Bolton's critics, what he said today?"
Gloria Borger: "I don't think so, Bob. The Democrats were very vocal today, as you've just heard, saying that John Bolton has absolutely no respect for the United Nations, pointing out that he once even said that the UN didn't exist. They were kind wondering up there why would he want this job at all? Now, the Republicans are saying the former critic will be the perfect ambassador, the person to reform the UN."
Schieffer cued up another charge against Bolton: "There were also some charges that while he was a State Department official, that he sometimes tried to get intelligence agencies to give him information that backed up his views rather than information that they had evidence for. Is that going to figure into this?"
Borger: "Oh, yes, in a big way, Bob. This is a very sensitive area. The Democrats are saying that Bolton is so ideologically driven that when he was given the information that he didn't want, he actually tried to have two of these intelligence analysts fired. Bolton says that is not the case. But tomorrow, Bob, we're going to hear from a senior State Department official who says otherwise."
Schieffer: "So do you think he'll be confirmed?"
Borger: "I think it's going to be a squeaker, Bob. I think it will get out of committee, and he'll probably get confirmed."

She didn't sound too pleased.

-- NBC Nightly News. Brian Williams' opening teaser: "Rough ride: The President's choice for UN ambassador faces tough questions about past statements slamming the UN."

Unlike ABC or CBS, NBC led with Bolton. Williams announced:
"Good evening. When President Bush selected career diplomat John Bolton to represent the U.S. at the United Nations, a lot of Democrats in Washington cried foul. Bolton's been known in Washington as a critic of the United Nations, but for that matter, the President has been, too. And it's all proven too much for the Democrats in the Senate, who today made sure Bolton got roughed up during his confirmation hearing, even if they may not have the votes to stop him. We begin tonight on Capitol Hill with NBC's Chip Reid."

Reid began: "John Bolton, derided by Senate Democrats today as the worst possible choice to represent the United States before the United Nations."
John Bolton, from 1994: "There is no such thing as the United Nations."
Reid: "To prove their point, Democrats played portions of a 1994 speech showing what they call Bolton's disdain for the UN."
Bolton, from 1994: "The Secretariat Building in New York has 38 stories. If you lost ten stories today, it wouldn't make a bit of difference."
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA): "It's hard for me to know why you'd want to work at an institution that you said didn't even exist."
Reid: "Bolton, now a top arms control official, was also attacked for allegedly trying to fire two intelligence analysts who attempted to tone down a speech Bolton made in 2002 about an alleged biological weapons lab in Cuba. U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News at the time the lab had nothing to do with biological weapons. Democrats say the Bolton speech fits a pattern of distorting intelligence for political purposes."
Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT): "If this is true, that you tried to remove an analyst because you disagreed with their conclusions about this, that is going to hurt us."
Reid: "Bolton vigorously denied he tried to fire anyone for disagreeing with him."
Bolton, at the hearing: "I didn't seek to have these people fired. I didn't seek to have discipline imposed on them. I said I've lost trust in them."
Reid: "And despite his harsh criticism in the past, he pledged to work in close partnership with the U.N. Most committee Republicans strongly endorsed him."
Senator George Allen (R-VA): "You'll advocate our principles. You're not going to be seduced by empty meaningless courteous pontifications by international bureaucracies. And I like that."
Reid concluded: "Does Bolton have the votes to get confirmed? Well, it all depends on one wavering Republican: Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island. Late today, he said if there are no bombshells at tomorrow's hearing, he now intends to vote yes. Chip Reid, NBC News, the Capitol."

ABC, CBS and NBC All Falsely Hype "Record"
High Gas Prices

Adjusted for inflation, gas at the retail pump will have to hit $2.97 to match a record high, but that didn't deter ABC, CBS and NBC on Monday from falsely describing much lower prices as a "record" high price. "Gasoline hit yet another record high," CBS Evening News anchor Bob Schieffer insisted as he cited a $2.28 price. ABC's Good Morning America painted "Record Breaking Gas Prices" on screen over a story in which David Muir claimed that "the price of a gallon of regular gas is now at an all-time high" and highlighted a woman who supposedly moved in order to avoid driving. Katie Couric declared on NBC's Today: "Gasoline prices have hit an all-time high today averaging $2.32 a gallon." Couric soon suggested that "political analysts say one of the main reasons" for President Bush's falling approval level "is the record high gas prices." Maybe it wouldn't be such a problem if the media weren't making such false statements about "record" high prices.

-- CBS Evening News, April 11. Bob Schieffer: "After falling sharply the past week, world oil prices rose again today, and gasoline hit yet another record high, up six cents in the past week, to a nationwide average $2.28 a gallon. That's about half a dollar more than we were paying a year ago. Cynthia Bowers now reports on America's farmers and how they are feeling the pain."

-- CBS's Early Show, as watched daily by the MRC's Brian Boyd. Harry Smith reported: "Gas prices have reached another record high. The average retail price for all three grades has risen nearly 19 cents a gallon in just three weeks. The most popular, regular unleaded, is averaging $2.29 a gallon."

-- ABC's Good Morning America, as monitored by the MRC's Jessica Barnes. With the words "Pain at the Pump: Record Breaking Gas Prices" on the screen, during the 7am half hour Diane Sawyer announced: "We're going to turn to another jolt of soaring prices at the gas pump. In fact, there is news this morning that the average price of a gallon of gasoline has shot up 19 cents in just the last three weeks and could get even worse next month as the summer driving season gets into full swing. But it's already forcing people to make some serious lifestyle changes, and from a gas station in Westbury, New York, ABC's David Muir tells us about that. David, good morning."

David Muir, with a gas price sign behind him: "Hey there, Diane. You know, the price of a gallon of regular gas is now at an all-time high here in the U.S., $2.29. The price is even higher here in Westbury, New York, $2.33 a gallon, and with these drastic increases over the last couple of weeks, some families are taking drastic measures.
[taped piece begins] "Yes, we are a nation of drivers and for those driven to find a good deal on gas, it's been tough. The squeeze is being felt everywhere. In the Northeast, one gallon of regular gas in New York City will set you back $2.35. In the South, this gas station in Montgomery, Alabama is charging $2.29 for regular. And out west, we spotted stations breaking the $3 mark."
Patty Asher: "What matters to me is what I pay at the pump."
David Muir: "Californian Patty Asher is shopping for a new car, and these are the numbers she's noticing [close-ups of MPG on new cars]."
Asher: "It's huge, because I'm a teacher, I barely make budget. So for me a small car is ideal, and gas mileage is absolutely key to me. It matters more than the price of the car itself."
Muir: "She's not the only one crunching the numbers. Kacie Mixon is beginning her commute to work, but that's her white car and it's staying parked. You see, Kacie and her family actually moved next to the theater where she works with her husband."
Kacie Mixon: "I moved across town so that I could live closer to my work and drive less."
Muir didn't report when she moved: "And she's saving nearly $200 every month. And what about those huge gas guzzlers? Are they on the way out? One dealership in Indiana is seeing a rapid change."
Steve Witko, Whitewater Motors: "The amount of truck business and heavy sport utility business we've done has dropped off, I'd say, more than 75 to 80 percent."
Muir: "Back in California, this sign outside a Vespa scooter dealership is getting plenty of attention ['Up to 70 miles per gallon! Leave your SUV at home!']."
Christopher Mozdzen, Vespa salesman: "I, for instance, commute from Sherman Oaks to Santa Monica every day, and if I bring my truck, I'll spend up to $60 a week on gas; if I ride my scooter, then I'll spend $6."
Muir, back on live: "And, you know, the Energy Department this morning says the price could still go up even higher, at least a couple more cents by next month for the average price of a regular gallon of gas, and that's just as the beginning of the summer driving season gets underway. So we, along with millions of drivers across America, will be keeping track."

-- NBC's Today, April 11, as noted by the MRC's Geoff Dickens.

Katie Couric setting of Today's lead item: "On Close Up this morning, paying at the pump. Gasoline prices have hit an all-time high today averaging $2.32 a gallon. That's a jump of 19 cents in just the last three weeks. CNBC's Ron Insana is here to tell us if there is any relief in sight."

Insana repeated the myth: "We're in a period right now where everyone is ramping up for the summer driving season so naturally gasoline prices tend to come up as heating oil prices tend to come down after winter and so we're seeing record prices across America...."

Couric soon blamed the "record" prices for Bush's troubles: "Meanwhile it's hurting people at the pump and it's apparently hurting the President at the polls. According to the latest AP poll numbers President Bush's job approval rating is at 44 percent with 54 percent of people disapproving of his performance and political analysts say one of the main reasons for this is the record high gas prices in recent months. So what could the administration be doing that it isn't it doing or is it, are their hands tied?"
Insana: "Well as you know Katie the President's been pushing his energy plan for close to three years now and if it were passed it would add a million barrels a day of supply to the market of crude oil. But it would take several years for that to happen. In the shorter run the President could relax some restrictions on reformulated gasoline that would allow refiners to make gas a little bit more easily. Or they could release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve which they've been stocking for the last several years. But in the short run, unless they can cut a big deal with Saudi Arabia or another producer it's hard to bring enough supply on to markets so the price has plunged."
Couric: "Can consumers do anything Ron?"
Insana recalled the good old Carter years, when gas prices were much higher, though he didn't point that out: "They could start carpooling again. I mean we all remember the '70s, those of us who are old enough and you know we carpooled back then, we cut back on our usage. We lowered the temperature of our heating in the house. All that stuff cuts back on energy use."

Two hours later, during the 9am news update, Ann Curry asserted: "Gas prices are hitting new all-time highs. According to the Lundberg Survey the price of the most popular grade, unleaded self-serve regular, has soared to an average of $2.29 a gallon. That's a 19 cent increase in the last three weeks. Prices are expected to stabilize, however, as crude oil prices are beginning to drop."

Novak Reports NYTimes Went Fishing for
Op-Ed Asking DeLay to Quit

Columnist Robert Novak revealed on Monday that the New York Times editorial page went "fishing" for an op-ed from a prominent Republican to call for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's resignation. A colleague of former Congressman Bob Livingston, who was in line to replace Newt Gingrich, quoted Times editorial page staffer Tobin Harshaw as saying "we are seeking those who would go on the record or state for the good of the party he (DeLay) should step aside." Novak suggested the "remarkable case of that august newspaper fishing for an op-ed piece makes it appear part of a calculated campaign to bring down the single most powerful Republican in Congress." It also would demonstrate how the editorial and news pages work in concert: The editorial page creates news which is then touted on the front page.

(Meanwhile, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann provided some labeling bias on the subject. On his Countdown program on Monday night, Olbermann trumpeted: "Minority Leader DeLay criticized both by his fellow arch-conservative, Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, and the much more moderate Republican, Congressman Chris Shays.")

An excerpt from Novak's April 11 column:

On March 24, former Congressman Bob Livingston was sent an e-mail by a New York Times editorial page staffer suggesting he write an op-ed essay. Would Livingston, who in 1998 gave up certain elevation to be House speaker because of a sexual affair, write about how Majority Leader Tom DeLay should now act under fire? In a subsequent conversation, it was made clear the Times wanted the prominent Republican to say DeLay should step aside for the good of the party.

Livingston in effect declined by responding that if he wrote anything for the Times, it would be pro-DeLay. But this remarkable case of that august newspaper fishing for an op-ed piece makes it appear part of a calculated campaign to bring down the single most powerful Republican in Congress. The Democratic establishment and left-wing activists have targeted DeLay as the way to end a decade of Republican control of the House....

Accusations of DeLay going on junkets funded by private sources and putting relatives on non-government payrolls reflect common congressional practice. The assault on DeLay did not begin until he redistricted Texas congressional seats, which changed the 2004 election from a net loss to a net gain for House Republicans. That accomplishment, however, makes it much harder to rip holes in DeLay's House GOP support.

At least 18 news organizations now have assigned reporters to cover DeLay, but the quest by The New York Times for a prominent Republican to suggest his resignation may cross a line. Livingston, a Louisiana congressman who was Appropriations Committee chairman, was set to succeed Newt Gingrich as speaker in November 1998, when he stunned Washington by announcing his resignation from Congress after allegations of a sexual affair.

New York Times editorial page staffer Tobin Harshaw sent the March 24 e-mail to Livingston, now a Washington lobbyist. Chris Terrell, a principal in The Livingston Group, declined to give this column a copy of the message but read it to us. Harshaw, reached in New York, confirmed he had a conversation with Terrell, but added: "We don't comment on assignments, written or unwritten."

According to Terrell, Harshaw's e-mail suggested Livingston might want to write "a short op-ed on DeLay's political future." Terrell said he telephoned Harshaw, saying his boss would "write a favorable piece,'' then asked: "Is that really what you're seeking or is that what you would print?"

It clearly was not. While Harshaw asserted "we would welcome any thoughts" by Livingston, Terrell quoted him as saying "we are seeking those who would go on the record or state for the good of the party he (DeLay) should step aside."

The importance of such a column by so prestigious a Republican as Livingston would break a solid GOP front supporting DeLay....

END of Excerpt

For the Novak column in full, as posted in the Chicago Sun-Times under the headline, "Quest to get a Republican to fight DeLay may have crossed a line," go to: www.suntimes.com

For it in full, as posted by TownHall.com under the headline of "The New York Times joins the anti-DeLay campaign," check: www.townhall.com

For a CNSNews.com story, "NY Times' Bid to Enlist GOP Attacks Called 'Beyond the Pale,'" by Marc Morano, see: www.cnsnews.com

-- Brent Baker