Dem Convention
Media Research Center analysts monitored ABC, CBS, CNN, FNC, MSNBC and NBC coverage of the 2004 Democratic convention around the clock. Here are MRC's twice-daily reports documenting the positive coverage the Democrats received. MRC will track those same networks' coverage of the Republican convention at the end of August.
Friday, July 30 Afternoon Edition
"Turning Toward Enemy Fire"
On Friday morning, ABC continued its praise of John Kerry's Thursday
night convention speech. George Stephanopoulos was the most over the
top: "John Kerry went out there and he went right into the teeth of
Republican issues. I mean, it was the political equivalent of turning
toward enemy fire and charging the hill."
PM Edition: Full details, plus 2 more Convention Watch stories.
Friday, July 30 Morning Edition
Kerry’s "Best Speech Ever"
Rave reviews for John Kerry’s Thursday night convention speech. "The
best speech I've ever seen John Kerry deliver, by a mile," asserted
ABC’s Mark Halperin. An awed Tom Brokaw opined: "He opened his remarks
by saluting this crowd and saying ‘John Kerry, reporting for duty.’ And
on this occasion he fulfilled his duties."
AM Edition: Full details, plus 7 more Convention Watch stories.
Thursday, July 29 Afternoon Edition
The Wonderful Mr. Kerry
On Thursday's Early Show
on CBS, reporter Byron Pitts narrated a profile of John Kerry that
could easily pass for a Democratic campaign commercial. "Tonight's
acceptance of the Democratic nomination is more than merely a day" for
Kerry, Pitts dramatically intoned. "It's his destiny."
PM Edition: Full details, plus 7 more Convention Watch stories.
Thursday, July 29 Morning Edition
Up Next: Kerry Gives Party "Soul"
After John Edwards’ Wednesday night speech, CBS’s Byron Pitts
anticipated that "if John Edwards put the face on the Democratic Party,
youthful and hopeful, it will be Senator John Kerry's job tomorrow
night to give it its soul." Plus, on MSNBC, the Editor of Newsweek compared Edwards to Reagan.
AM Edition: Full details, plus 8 more Convention Watch stories.
Wednesday, July 28 Afternoon Edition
"The First Black President"
This morning, the networks focused their praise on Democratic keynoter
Barack Obama, not Teresa Heinz Kerry. CBS’s Cynthia Bowers called
Obama’s speech "the night’s most electrifying moment," while ABC’s
Charles Gibson gushed that Obama had "brought down the house." NBC's
Tim Russert noted how some were already wondering if Obama could be
"the first black President." Why not? After all, he's already got the
liberal media on his side.
PM Edition: Full details, plus 5 more Convention Watch stories.
Wednesday, July 28 Morning Edition
Lionize "Rock Star" Obama
MSNBC’s crew lionized Barack Obama, though CNN’s Jeff Greenfield ("one
of the really great keynote speeches of the last quarter century") also
praised his performance. "He is the best argument for the American
dream that’s around in politics," oozed Newsweek’s Howard
Fineman before Andrea Mitchell celebrated how "Obama is a rock star!"
Chris Matthews insisted that he’d "just seen the first black
President."
AM Edition: Full details, plus 8 more Convention Watch stories.
Tuesday, July 27 Afternoon Edition
Bill and Hillary Excite the Media
Gushing about the "rock star" quality of Bill and Hillary Clinton,
network reporters declared the first night of the Democratic convention
a success. "People were juiced like I don't think I've seen at a
convention ever before," enthused ABC's Charles Gibson.
PM Edition: Full details, plus 4 more Convention Watch stories.
Tuesday, July 27 Morning Edition
"Very Clever" Clinton Speech Delights NBC
Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert were enthralled by Bill Clinton’s address.
Brokaw enthused on NBC about how Clinton talked "about the Bush tax
cuts and what they cost America," while Russert soon paraphrased how
Clinton said: "I’m the recipient of the tax cut and I also avoided
going to Vietnam." Russert admired how, "by using those own personal
weaknesses, if you will, he only re-enforced the uniqueness of John
Kerry. Very clever speech."
AM Edition: Full details, plus 5 more Convention Watch stories.
Monday, July 26 Afternoon Edition
Teddy, "Grand Marshal" of the Democratic Convention
Liberal Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy and his niece Caroline
Kennedy Schlossberg made the rounds on (almost) all the network morning
shows this morning, with ABC's Good Morning America rewarding
them with a treacly tribute to the Kennedy dynasty. Like the Kennedys,
Hillary Rodham Clinton skipped FNC's Fox & Friends, with ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC reporters all worried that she may not get to run for President herself someday.
PM Edition: Full details, plus 3 more Convention Watch stories.
Monday, July 26 Morning Edition
The "Moderate" Democratic Delegates
Even though a CBS poll of the delegates at this week's Democratic
convention found them to be extremely liberal on issues such as tax
cuts, abortion and big government, reporter John Roberts on Sunday
seized on the fact that just over half claimed to be "moderates" to
insist that "liberals will again take a back seat here in Boston."
Earlier, on Friday's CBS Evening News, reporter Byron Pitts cast President Bush as a phony while touting John Kerry: "No one doubts his bravery or his smarts."
AM Edition: Full details, plus 6 more Convention Watch stories.
