Today Show Pushes New Obama Ad Three Times, Skips Libya Scandal

NBC's Today show mentioned the Obama campaign's newest attack ad three times on Monday, but not once did they report on developments in the wake of deadly attacks in Libya. Questions are being raised against the Obama State Department's handling of security prior to the embassy attacks.

The Romney campaign is "coming off one of the roughest couple of weeks all campaign," reported correspondent Peter Alexander, who added that campaign will "be met by a new attack ad" in Ohio. Natalie Morales touched on the Obama ad in her news briefs at the top of the 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. hours.

However, as CNN reported Friday, the journal of late ambassador Chris Stevens, who was killed in the embassy attacks, revealed that he had been concerned over security in the area. The Today show did not report that story.

Also, according to the New York Times, the evacuation of CIA personnel from Libya after the Libyan attacks has dealt a "major blow" to U.S. intelligence in the country, with one American official calling it "catastrophic." NBC made no mention of the report on Monday morning.

And although the Today show reported Obama's attack ad three times, they didn't address Republican criticisms of President Obama not privately meeting with any world leaders during this week's United Nations summit in New York City. Obama, however, will have time to go on ABC's The View for an interview.

The MRC's Brent Bozell stated that the media's "bias by omission" has reached unprecedented levels in the last two years, and ignorance of stories in Libya certainly plays into that media narrative.

Anchor Matt Lauer interviewed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair but asked him questions about Afghanistan, anti-American protests in the Middle East and Africa, and a criticism of the U.S. by Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. He did not ask specifically about Libya.

Lauer did ask Blair about global recognition of a climate "problem." When Blair insisted the problem is "real" and must be addressed with a "sense of urgency," Lauer responded "And I hope we will."

"We've had a crazy week in this – year in this country of extreme weather. Are you seeing around the world the kind of motivation and will that's necessary to A, admit there's a problem, and then address the problem?" Lauer pressed Blair.

-- Matt Hadro is a News Analyst at the Media Research Center