MediaWatch: May 4, 1998
Table of Contents:
Fox on China
Fox on China. It took the Fox News Channel a week and a half to catch up with an April 4 New York Times
front-page story on how Clinton approved of letting a
company, headed by a large DNC donor, export missile
technology to China. But that's sooner than ABC, CBS, CNN, or
NBC, which have yet to mention the development. Jeff Gerth and Raymond
Bonner reported that a federal grand jury is investigating
whether companies "illegally gave China space expertise that
significantly advanced Beijing's ballistic missile program,"
but officials said "the criminal inquiry was dealt a serious
blow two months ago when President Clinton quietly approved
the export to China of similar technology by one of the
companies under investigation." The Chairman of the company
involved, the Loral Corporation, the Times observed, "was the largest personal contributor to the Democratic National Committee last year."
On FNC's April 13 Fox Report,
Carl Cameron explained that after a crash, Loral gave the
secret report on the mishap to China. Cameron concluded: "The
Pentagon says national security was breached and perhaps
seriously. Though Loral denies wrongdoing, investigators say
if the firm donated to the Clinton camp, then got the President's
permission to do business with China and shared secrets, it could
be the worst example yet of just how much the White House was
willing to risk for the big bucks of '96."
Disreputable NOW.
When NOW decided against filing a brief on behalf of Paula
Jones' appeal, in the evening, ABC skipped it and CBS just
relayed NOW's attack on "disreputable right-wingers." Only
NBC saw any hypocrisy.
On the April 22 NBC Nightly News, Tom
Brokaw introduced a piece from Andrea Mitchell: "Supporters
of the Paula Jones sexual harassment case tonight are
accusing America's largest feminist organization of
hypocrisy." Mitchell featured NOW President Patricia Ireland
denouncing "disreputable right-wing organizations," but also
gave rare air time to Anita Blair from the Independent Women's Forum,
who asserted this proves NOW does not represent all women.
On the April 23 Today show, Katie Couric cornered
NOW's Patricia Ireland: "And yet as you know the implicit
message that perhaps some might feel you are sending is if
you accuse a conservative Republican of sexual harassment NOW
will be right there with you backing you all the way. But if
you accuse a Democrat perhaps with more liberal
sensibilities the National Organization for Women will turn
the other cheek."
