NBC Excoriates McCain-Palin Fouls, Sees None from Obama-Biden --10/9/2008

1. NBC Excoriates McCain-Palin Fouls, Sees None from Obama-Biden
NBC anchor Brian Williams reported Wednesday night "there were no devastating or towering moments in the Obama/McCain debate in Nashville last night," but he insisted, though neither ABC nor CBS mentioned them in their next day stories, "two moments from last night loomed large today." Both, no surprise, were supposed insults from John McCain, but before getting to those, reporter Andrea Mitchell focused on the "rowdy" McCain and Palin crowds and elevated the importance of a local Lehigh County, Pennsylvania GOP official who dared use Obama's full name: "At one point, someone shouted 'off with his head' about Obama. And the Republican County Chairman, William Platt, asked, 'Imagine if you woke up on November 5th and Barack Obama -- Barack Hussein Obama -- was our new President?' The campaign later said: 'We do not condone this inappropriate rhetoric.' But that kind of rhetoric is becoming commonplace, especially at Sarah Palin's rallies. Today Joe Biden challenged her."

2. All Three Morning Shows Skip Bogus Obama 'Net Spending Cut' Claim
All three morning shows on Wednesday skipped a startling claim by Senator Barack Obama during the previous night's presidential debate. During a discussion on spending, he bizarrely asserted: "Actually I'm cutting more than I'm spending so that it will be a net spending cut." However, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, that statement doesn't even close to being true. Their numbers show an increase in spending of $425 billion over four years of an Obama administration and only a decrease of $144 billion. And this is factoring in Obama's tax increases as a way of "saving" money. And yet, ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's Early Show and NBC's Today all failed to report on the discrepancy or the math oddity of including more taxes as a cut. GMA reporter John Berman even filed a "fact check" segment on the debate, but ignored the Obama claim,

3. Networks Interview Biden, Bash 'Ugly' Palin for Not Showing Up
On Wednesday, all three network morning shows interviewed Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden and offered no Republican counterpoint, punishing the McCain campaign for Sarah Palin declining to make similar appearances. Meanwhile, all three shows asked Biden about his reaction to Palin's criticism of Obama. On Today, Ann Curry wondered: "But let's talk about the new style of the campaign because Sarah Palin is now saying that the gloves are off. She's linked Obama to domestic terrorism. She's, she's been bringing up Reverend Wright's name. She, she was hearing at one of these events, Obama introduces 'Barack Hussein Obama.' Is there a tone, where is this, all this going? Explain what's happening here Joe...Is this an ugly stop? Can you characterize how you view this stop?" Finally, on the Early Show, Smith asked: "Let me ask you about Sarah Palin on the other side of the -- on the other side of the aisle. She's been going to these rallies, tens of thousands of people showing up. Talking about a friend of your running mate's as a domestic terrorist. Does your campaign have an answer for that?"

4. ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson, 15 Years of Shilling for Universal Care
ABC's liberal medical editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning America to boost Barack Obama's universal health care plan and critique the more market oriented proposals of John McCain. Co-host Robin Roberts began the segment by seriously asserting: "We're not endorsing one plan over the other. We're just showing the differences between the two." But after she mentioned Obama's assertion during Tuesday's presidential debate that health care is a right, Johnson marveled, "But, I'm struck by the language of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without good health, and that usually means without good health care, it's hard to have those other rights." Johnson, despite being a doctor, adopts the standard liberal positions of most journalists and has a 15 year-plus history of advocating universal health care, including once asking if Republicans who opposed the policy were "immoral."

NBC Excoriates McCain-Palin Fouls, Sees
None from Obama-Biden

NBC anchor Brian Williams reported Wednesday night "there were no devastating or towering moments in the Obama/McCain debate in Nashville last night," but he insisted, though neither ABC nor CBS mentioned them in their next day stories, "two moments from last night loomed large today." Both, no surprise, were supposed insults from John McCain, but before getting to those, reporter Andrea Mitchell focused on the "rowdy" McCain and Palin crowds and elevated the importance of a local Lehigh County, Pennsylvania GOP official who dared use Obama's full name:
"At one point, someone shouted 'off with his head' about Obama. And the Republican County Chairman, William Platt, asked, 'Imagine if you woke up on November 5th and Barack Obama -- Barack Hussein Obama -- was our new President?' The campaign later said: 'We do not condone this inappropriate rhetoric.' But that kind of rhetoric is becoming commonplace, especially at Sarah Palin's rallies. Today Joe Biden challenged her."

After a clip of Biden castigating Palin, Mitchell relayed how "Democrats are also buzzing about McCain's debate performance last night, saying he seemed dismissive and disrespectful when he referred to Obama as 'that one,'" a reference she asserted has "spawned howls and a cottage industry of headlines on liberal blogs and even T-shirts on Web sites." Again, for expert condemnation of McCain she went to the Democratic VP candidate: "Biden with Ann Curry on Today explained..." Mitchell then moved to the second McCain foul: "Critics also jumped on McCain for seeming to patronize one questioner in the debate, Oliver Clark, who asked what it will take to help people having a difficult time in the economic crisis."

While NBC was only concerned about McCain, in a "Reality Check" on Wednesday's CBS Evening News, Wyatt Andrews de-constructed McCain's $300 billion home mortgage idea, but also hit a Barack Obama claim: "Obama made his own stunning claim on spending -- that all of his promises on energy, health care and education, are paid for with his budget cuts. The facts is, Obama's promises will increase the deficit...."

[This item, by the MRC's Brent Baker, was posted Wednesday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [1] ]

The story on the Wednesday, October 8 NBC Nightly News, as provided by the MRC's Brad Wilmouth, who corrected the closed-captioning against the video:

BRIAN WILLIAMS: Now, a related topic: presidential politics. And about last night, looks like 63 million of us watched on television -- more than the first presidential debate, but fewer viewers than that Biden/Palin VP debate. There were no devastating or towering moments in the Obama/McCain debate in Nashville last night. All we heard beforehand was that McCain was most comfortable in the so-called town hall format, though many viewers saw something less than that. As it turned out, two moments from last night loomed large today as the campaigns went back on the road with just 27 days to go now until the election. Our report tonight from NBC's Andrea Mitchell.

ANDREA MITCHELL: In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, today, the Republican candidate's wife, Cindy McCain, accused Barack Obama of not supporting the troops in Iraq, including her son.
CINDY MCCAIN: The day that Senator Obama decided to cast a vote to not fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body.
MITCHELL: In fact, Obama voted against money for the troops once in May 2007, he said, "because the bill didn't include a timetable for withdrawal." But John McCain also voted against a troop funding bill two months earlier for the opposite reason -- because that bill called for a troop withdrawal. The day after their second debate, John McCain also kept up his attack on Obama.
JOHN MCCAIN: What ever happened to the tax relief he promised them when he was a candidate for the Senate?
CROWD MEMBERS: Liar!
MITCHELL: Again today, the McCain crowd was rowdy.
CROWD CHANTING: No-bama! No-bama!
MITCHELL: At one point, someone shouted "off with his head" about Obama. And the Republican County Chairman, William Platt, asked, "Imagine if you woke up on November 5th and Barack Obama -- Barack Hussein Obama -- was our new President?" The campaign later said: "We do not condone this inappropriate rhetoric." But that kind of rhetoric is becoming commonplace, especially at Sarah Palin's rallies. Today Joe Biden challenged her.
JOE BIDEN: To have a vice presidential candidate raise the most outrageous inferences, the ones that John McCain's campaign is condoning, is simply wrong.
MITCHELL: Democrats are also buzzing about McCain's debate performance last night, saying he seemed dismissive and disrespectful when he referred to Obama as "that one."
JOHN MCCAIN: You know who voted for it? You might never know: that one.
MITCHELL: That line spawned howls and a cottage industry of headlines on liberal blogs and even T-shirts on Web sites. Biden with Ann Curry on Today explained it this way:
JOE BIDEN: When John knows that he's on the attack and he's not feeling good about it, John never looks you straight in the eye. John doesn't go and refer to you by your first name.
MITCHELL: Critics also jumped on McCain for seeming to patronize one questioner in the debate, Oliver Clark, who asked what it will take to help people having a difficult time in the economic crisis.
MCCAIN: Really, the match that lit this fire was Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I'll bet you, you may never even have heard of them before this crisis.
MITCHELL: Today Obama was in Indianapolis, the first Democrat to campaign in the heart of that red state in October since LBJ.
BARACK OBAMA: I can take four more weeks of John McCain's attacks, but the American people can't take four more years of John McCain's Bush policies.
MITCHELL: As Republicans try to figure out how to slow Obama's momentum. Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, Washington.

A momentum the media are fueling.

All Three Morning Shows Skip Bogus Obama
'Net Spending Cut' Claim

All three morning shows on Wednesday skipped a startling claim by Senator Barack Obama during the previous night's presidential debate. During a discussion on spending, he bizarrely asserted: "Actually I'm cutting more than I'm spending so that it will be a net spending cut." However, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, that statement doesn't even close to being true: www.usbudgetwatch.org [2]

Their numbers show an increase in spending of $425 billion over four years of an Obama administration and only a decrease of $144 billion. And this is factoring in Obama's tax increases as a way of "saving" money. And yet, ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's Early Show and NBC's Today all failed to report on the discrepancy or the math oddity of including more taxes as a cut. GMA reporter John Berman even filed a "fact check" segment on the debate, but ignored the Obama claim, which was picked up the AP: news.yahoo.com [3]

[This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [4] ]

Instead, Berman focused on other issues and critiqued the town hall format, rival network NBC and debate host Tom Brokaw: "And finally, with more questions coming from the moderator than the audience, it's safe to say the biggest factual error in the debate last night, was calling it a town meeting to begin with."

A transcript of ABC's fact check, which aired at 8:03am on October 8:

CHRIS CUOMO: The economy did play a big part in last night's presidential debate as well. The candidates made many charges against each other, on everything from taxes to health care. The question is, did they get it right? Here's John Berman within the fact-check.
JOHN BERMAN: The boldest, most strangely-worded charge was that one on energy.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: There was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate, loaded down with goodies. Billions for the oil companies. And it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one.
BERMAN [Big red "True" is stamped across screen.]: That's true. Obama did vote for the Bush plan. Obama aides say it was because it was the largest investment of renewable energy in our history. McCain didn't get it so quite right on Pakistan.
MCCAIN: Senator Obama likes to talk loudly. He says he likes to announce he's going to attack Pakistan.
BERMAN [Big red "False" is stamped across screen.]: That's false. Obama is not mustering troops. What he said is that if, if there are high-value terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan won't act, he would. Then, there was tax policy.
MCCAIN: His tax increases will increase taxes on 50 percent of small business revenue.
SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: Only a few percent of small businesses make more than $250,000 a year. So, the vast majority of small businesses would get a tax cut under my plan.
BERMAN [Big red "True" is twice stamped across screen.]: Remarkably, that's true and true. McCain is right. According to IRS data ,about 57 percent of small business income is earned by businesses making more than $250,000. Obama would raise taxes on them. However, that income is made by a tiny present of businesses. About 95 percent of them make less than $250,000 and would actually get a tax cut. So, Obama is right, too. It should be noted that the energy plan Obama voted for, most analysts agree resulted in a net tax increase on oil companies, not a decrease, as McCain said. And finally, with more questions coming from the moderator than the audience, it's safe to say the biggest factual error in the debate last night, was calling it a town meeting to begin with. Chris?

Networks Interview Biden, Bash 'Ugly'
Palin for Not Showing Up

On Wednesday, all three network morning shows interviewed Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden and offered no Republican counterpoint, punishing the McCain campaign for Sarah Palin declining to make similar appearances. On ABC's Good Morning America, co-host Diane Sawyer concluded her interview with Biden by declaring: "And we want you to know that we have asked Governor Palin to come on Good Morning America. And, of course, debate Senator Biden again here. And repeatedly, she has declined. Although, Senator Biden has said that he's willing to debate her again, if she wants." On NBC's Today, co-host Ann Curry made a similar declaration: "And we should also note that we invited Governor Sarah Palin to join us this morning, but she declined. The Governor has an open invitation to appear on Today, but so far she has not accepted our offers." On CBS's Early Show co-host Harry Smith explained: "We also invited Governor Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate, but the McCain campaign declined."

[This item, by the MRC's Kyle Drennen, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [5] ]

Meanwhile, all three shows asked Biden about his reaction to Palin's criticism of Obama. On Good Morning America, Sawyer asked: "Governor Palin has become the point person for the McCain attacks in her speeches. Do you think -- she said she's taking off the gloves, putting on the heels. Is it fair game? Or gone too far?" On Today, Curry wondered: "But let's talk about the new style of the campaign because Sarah Palin is now saying that the gloves are off. She's linked Obama to domestic terrorism. She's, she's been bringing up Reverend Wright's name. She, she was hearing at one of these events, Obama introduces 'Barack Hussein Obama.' Is there a tone, where is this, all this going? Explain what's happening here Joe...Is this an ugly stop? Can you characterize how you view this stop?" Finally, on the Early Show, Smith asked: "Let me ask you about Sarah Palin on the other side of the -- on the other side of the aisle. She's been going to these rallies, tens of thousands of people showing up. Talking about a friend of your running mate's as a domestic terrorist. Does your campaign have an answer for that?"

All three network morning shows have routinely attacked Palin since she was named as McCain's running mate in late August: www.mrc.org [6]

Here are the relevant excerpts of the three October 8 interviews:

# ABC's Good Morning America:

SAWYER: One question about style and debate last night, and there was one moment that's gotten a lot of attention. Some people say -- asking was It respectful or not? Other people saying, right on. It was Senator McCain. He was talking about Senator Obama.
SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: There was an energy bill on the floor of the Senate, loaded down with goodies. Billions for the oil companies. And it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. You know who voted for it? Might never know. That one. You know who voted against it? Me.
SAWYER: "That one." What do you think?
BIDEN: John, I think when John knows he's sort of in attack mode, it's always kind of difficult to look the other person in the eye and say, it's you, John. It's you, Barack. It's you, Harry. I think it's -- I think it reflects his more -- he's ill at ease with the attack he has under way.
SAWYER: Governor Palin has become the point person for the McCain attacks in her speeches. Do you think, she said she's taking off the gloves, putting on the heels. Is it fair game? Or gone too far?
BIDEN: I think it goes way too far. Look, this really is a case where, when you don't have anything to talk about, attack. And it gets really over the edge. I mean, some of the stuff she's saying about Barack Obama and the stuff that people are yelling from the crowd, if she hears it, she should at least be saying, whoa, whoa, whoa, that's overboard. I mean, this is volatile stuff. And it's -- I just -- I thought we were kind of beyond this place that it seems to be going.

# NBC's Today:

CURRY: Okay, well I'm gonna turn and, and ask you about something else. Your campaign made much of the fact that last night, John McCain referred to Obama as, "that one." Was this, in your view, dismissive, Joe?
BIDEN: No, it was, for me, I know John well. I may be wrong, I think it was, when John knows that he's on the attack and, and he's not feeling good about it, John never looks you straight in the eye. John doesn't go and refer to you by your first name. I think it's part of this whole thing, if you noticed, John didn't make a whole lot of eye contact last night because I think John, when he's on the attack mode, and making the other guy a bad guy, it's just not his style. So I think it was unfortunate but I don't think it was, I don't read anything into it other than just like last debate he didn't look at Barack. I mean when John is attacking he doesn't walk up to you and say, "Ann Curry let me tell you something." He says, "You know that Curry person over there." He does it that way. I think that's all it was.
CURRY: So you're saying it's just his style. But let's talk about the new style of the campaign because Sarah Palin is now saying that the gloves are off. She's linked Obama to domestic terrorism. She's, she's been bringing up Reverend Wright's name. She, she was hearing at one of these events, Obama introduces "Barack Hussein Obama." Is there a tone, where is this, all this going? Explain what's happening here Joe.
BIDEN: They're losing. She's been told to go out and pull out all the stops. I think it borders on being-
CURRY: Is this an ugly stop? Can you characterize how you view this stop?
BIDEN: Well I think it is ugly. I mean to have somebody stand up there and, you know, for example I heard people, I watch the news, and I heard that a couple of people hollering from the audience, you know, semi-vile things, you know about terrorists, things like that. And idea that a, that a leading American politician who might be Vice President of the United States would not just stop mid-sentence and turn and condemn that, you know? I just, it's just, this is slippery slope. This is a place we shouldn't be going.

# CBS's Early Show:

SMITH: Let me ask you about Sarah Palin on the other side of the -- on the other side of the aisle. She's been going to these rallies, tens of thousands of people showing up. Talking about a friend of your running mate's as a domestic terrorist. Does your campaign have an answer for that?
BIDEN: Yeah. It's just malarkey. Flat malarkey. Barack Obama was 8 years old when this guy was engaged in activities he was engaged in. He is no part of our campaign. He would be no part of anything having to do with the White House. The guy Barack Obama's going to turn and ask opinion of is me. Not that guy. You know, the idea here that somehow these guys are once again injecting fear and loathing into this campaign, it's -- it's -- I think it's mildly dangerous. I mean, here you have out there these kinds of, you know, incitements out there, a guy introducing Barack using his middle name as if it's some epitaph or something. This is over the top.

ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson, 15 Years of Shilling
for Universal Care

ABC's liberal medical editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning America to boost Barack Obama's universal health care plan and critique the more market oriented proposals of John McCain. Co-host Robin Roberts began the segment by seriously asserting: "We're not endorsing one plan over the other. We're just showing the differences between the two."

But after she mentioned Obama's assertion during Tuesday's presidential debate that health care is a right, Johnson marveled, "But, I'm struck by the language of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without good health, and that usually means without good health care, it's hard to have those other rights." Johnson, despite being a doctor, adopts the standard liberal positions of most journalists and has a 15 year-plus history of advocating universal health care, including once asking if Republicans who opposed the policy were "immoral."

[This item, by the MRC's Scott Whitlock, was posted Wednesday afternoon on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org [7] ]

Regarding Senator McCain's idea to give people the opportunity to buy individual plans, even if they don't have an employer, Johnson criticized: "That's a difficult thing to do because there are so many different plans marketed." Accentuating the negative, he added: "So, you've got to do a lot of work on your own and read the fine print. It's a very difficult job for an individual."

Johnson found no such criticisms for Senator Obama's proposal. After describing the various insurance plans the Democrat would offer, he approvingly observed, "But these plans will have been vetted by the government, just like they do for federal employees...But you know they've been vetted for basic care and coverage and that the cost is fair."

On October 19, 2007, Johnson interviewed then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over her health care proposals and rhapsodized: "She certainly knows health care better, I think, than any other candidate....I'm very impressed with her knowledge base." Speaking of GOP members, he offered this loaded question: "Do you think the Republicans who are against it are immoral?" See an October 23, 2007 CyberAlert posting for more: www.mrc.org [8]

On April 26, 2007, the medical expert touted a universal health care plan proposed by Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and Democratic Representative John Dingell. Introducing Johnson, co-host Roberts enthused, "You're very happy about this. You say it's bold and politically brilliant." See an April 27 CyberAlert posting: www.mrc.org [9]

Going back to the early '90s, Johnson was even more laudatory towards the Clintons and their plans to nationalize health care:

# "So at least from the physicians represented here, you get a 100 percent vote, including mine, for universal coverage." -- ABC reporter Dr. Tim Johnson to Hillary Clinton on Good Morning America, July 19, 1994.

# "I say the Clintons are almost heroes in my mind for finally facing up to the terrible problems we have with our current health care system and bringing it to the attention of the public....Most people, I think, will be better off." -- ABC Medical Editor Dr. Tim Johnson, September 24, 1993 20/20.

See an October 21, 2003 CyberAlert posting for more: www.mediaresearch.org [10]

A transcript of the October 8 segment, which aired at 7:43am:

ROBIN ROBERTS: And now, health care. Big topic in the debate last night, with each candidate trying to convince the American public that he had the better answer. So, what are the real differences in their plans? And how will they affect you? Our medical editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, is here to explain. Tim, it's good to see you this morning.
TIM JOHNSON: Thank you, Robin.
ROBERTS: We're not endorsing one plan over the other. We're just showing the differences between the two. Because it's a personal choice, what works best for an individual. What are the main differences between the two plans?
ABC GRAPHIC: Health Plan Fact Check: Which Candidates' Plan is Best For You?
JOHNSON: Well, in this case, there is a profound difference between them, as it regards employers health insurance. [Coughs.] Excuse me. McCain basically wants to move people out of employers' health insurance, into the individual market. And he's going to do this by taxing your benefits, as though they were additional salary. But then, providing tax credits so you can buy an individual plan. Obama, on the other hand, is trying to encourage even more employers insurance. Right now, about two-thirds of Americans under 65 get insurance from their employer. He wants that to be even more. And so, he has a plan he's going to say to big businesses, if you don't provide insurance for your employees, you're going to have to pay into a plan for the uninsured. In the meantime, for those who can't get that, he's going to have individual plans, but in a very different way than McCain. And we'll get to that in a minute.
ROBERTS: 'Cause, we wanted to talk to folks and we did. To get into the details and major concerns. And here's one.
PAUL STEVENS: Hello. I'm Paul Stevens from Princeton, Indiana. Four years ago, I lost my job. I've been unable to purchase any kind of health insurance, due to diabetes and coronary artery disease. I'm wondering what kind of solution the candidates would offer someone like me?
ROBERTS: Tim?
JOHNSON: Well, here, we're talking about the possibility of buying individual plans, since you don't have an employer. On the McCain side, he's going to give you these tax credits. $2500 for an individual. $5,000, for a family, to go out into that vast individual market and buy a plan on your own. That's a difficult thing to do because there are so many different plans marketed. And McCain wants to open up buying across state lines. Meaning you can go to one state and have different sets of rules and regulations. Another state might not have any. So, you've got to do a lot of work on your own and read the fine print. It's a very difficult job for an individual.
ROBERTS: And Obama's plan?
JOHNSON: Obama's plan has on national exchange. Where he's going to have a list of plans, including a public, Medicare-like plan. But these plans will have been vetted by the government, just like they do for federal employees. It's really the basic, same idea that both senators now have. You get a list of plans. But you know they've been vetted for basic care and coverage and that the cost is fair.
ROBERTS: And the criticism there is that he, Barack Obama hasn't explained how he's going to pay for that plan. But first, let's get to another question. Another major concern out there.
JAN STEVENS: Hi. I'm Jan Stevens from Anaheim, California, former registered nurse. I suffer from eight chronic illnesses and pay $500 monthly for prescription co-pays. I also purchase health care insurance for $639 a month, by myself. How will each candidates' health plan help me?
JOHNSON: Well, in general, the larger the group that you can be a part of, the better the negotiation with drug companies were prices. And so, under Obama's plan, there will be these exchange plans. And they will negotiate with drug companies for the prices. Individual plans have less clout. And so, they're typically, not always, but typically, their prices for drugs are going to be higher. In your case, you've got to read fine print, very, very carefully, in buying an individual plan from either source.
ROBERTS: And, quickly, last night, something that really piqued your interest is when the candidates said, Barack Obama said health care is a right. And John McCain said health care is a responsibility.
JOHNSON: Yeah. You know, you could conduct year-long philosophy classes on each of those words. But, I'm struck by the language of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Without good health, and that usually means without good health care, it's hard to have those other rights.
ROBERTS: And, again, this is helpful for people to know the distinct differences between the plans and to make their decisions.
JOHNSON: And we'll be talking more about it.

-- Brent Baker