Crickets: Networks Avoid Democratic Gaffes and Scandals in 2014 Midterms

In 2012, gaffes and scandals by Republican candidates, such as Todd Akin [1], prompted a wave of coverage by the three networks. Yet, ill-conceived comments by Democrats in the 2014 midterms have created no such attention. Incumbent Colorado Senator Mark Udall made this cringe-inducing comment during last week's debate in Colorado. Speaking of two beheaded Americans, he insisted [2], "Steve Sotloff and James Foley would tell us, don't be impulsive. Horrible and barbarous as those executions were, don't be impulsive." 

ABC, CBS and NBC didn't bother to report on this gaffe. Only Fox News anchor Bret Baier covered the story. On Tuesday, he explained, "Yesterday, Udall released a statement saying, quote, 'I should not have invoked the names of James Foley and Steven Sotloff. It was inappropriate and I sincerely apologize.'"  [MP3 audio here [3].]

In the same debate, Udall proclaimed [4], "ISIL does not present an imminent threat to this nation." Where were the networks? In addition to ignoring these blunders, ABC has only mentioned Udall's name once in all of 2014. 

NBC referenced him four times in eight months. But mostly with positive, rallying comments such as this one from Nia-Malika Henderson on Sunday's Meet the Press: "But look at Colorado here, Democrats have got to feel a little better that Mark Udall in purple-to-blue Colorado is hanging on." 

Again, this was the day after his comments on Islamic terrorists. 

Another struggling Democratic Senator [5], Louisiana's Mary Landrieu, is under fire for taxpayer-funded-flights. The Advocate [6] reported on August 16: 

Washington — Moving to defuse a simmering controversy over her use of taxpayer-financed charter flights for campaigning — a violation of federal law — U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., said today she has ordered a review of all her air travel in her 18 years in the Senate to make sure no other trips were paid for improperly.

Running for re-election this fall in a deep-red state, Landrieu is a principal target of Republicans’ efforts to pick up six seats and add control of the Senate to their reign over the U.S. House. Her Republican challengers — U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, of Baton Rouge, and ex-Air Force Col. Rob Maness — have sought to capitalize on “chartergate,” criticizing her payment for two campaign-related flights from restricted funds allocated by the federal government for the operation of her Senate office.

...

A Landrieu spokesman said the review will look at all payments from her office account for commercial and charter flights dating to when she took office in January 1997, to make sure the trips were for official Senate business — a legal use of the money. The results of the review will be released publicly by the time the Senate returns on Sept. 8 from its August recess, the spokesman said.

That date has come and gone without a report from the campaign. The networks have failed to notice. Politico [7] reported on August 19: 

On Aug. 23, 2012, Butler Aviation charged $6,787 for an in-state flight for Landrieu that included multiple stops. The flight was from New Orleans to Vidalia to Shreveport to Alexandria and back to New Orleans, according to official disbursement records Landrieu filed with the secretary of the Senate.

On Oct. 18, 2012, Butler Aviation charged $3,437 for a Landrieu flight from New Orleans to Opelousas to Patterson and back to New Orleans.                                    

Despite missing her self-imposed deadline for an explanation, there's been no outrage from ABC, CBS and NBC.

In 2012, after just three days of coverage, the same networks amassed 96 minutes of outrage [1] on Todd Akin. Apparently, Democratic gaffes and scandals just aren't as interesting. 

A transcript of the September 9 Special Report segment is below: 

BRET BAIER: Colorado Democratic senator mark Udall is apologizing for comments he made concerning the ISIS beheadings of two American journalists. Here's Udall during a debate against his 
Republican opponent, Cory Gardner, Saturday night. 

MARK UDALL: Well, we stand together. We're going to get our man. I can tell you, 'Steve Sotloff and James Foley would tell us, don’t be impulsive. Horrible and barbarous as those executions were, don’t be impulsive, come up with a plan that will knock ISIL back." 

BAIER: Yesterday, Udall released a statement saying, quote, 'I should not have invoked the names of James Foley and Steven Sotloff. It was inappropriate and I sincerely apologize."