Banking

CBS’ Sherlock Holmes: Bankers ‘Crooks,’ Profits ‘Obscene’

julia.seymour — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:17:42 +0000

Network’s ‘Elementary’ platform for anti-capitalistic rhetoric.

Joseph Rossell

Bankers and capitalism are to blame for worldwide economic turmoil. That’s the controversial perspective preached by a reinvented Sherlock Holmes character on CBS’s “Elementary,” played by British actor Jonny Lee Miller.

Miller returns in the third season premiere of “Elementary” Oct. 30, as the world’s most famous detective. But his portrayal is far from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Holmes. The Holmes of “Elementary” made no secret of his political leanings in previous seasons.

Liberal Politics Ignored, Yellen’s Gender the Focus of Network Coverage

julia.seymour — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 19:32:45 +0000

ABC, CBS, NBC gush over ‘historical’ nature of confirmation, exclude her left-wing views.

Sean Long

Janet Yellen was confirmed as Federal Reserve Chairman on Jan. 6, but in spite of becoming one of the most powerful bankers in the world, the broadcasts networks continued to ignore her left-wing views.

Instead of discussing Yellen’s support for fiscal stimulus and regulatory efforts, ABC, CBS, and NBC focused exclusively on her gender in recent news reports.

— Sean Long is Staff Writer at the Media Research Center. Follow Sean Long on Twitter.

Networks Tout Fed Nominee Yellen’s ‘Brilliance’

julia.seymour — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 19:09:06 +0000

ABC, CBS and NBC sing praises of liberal likely to be next Federal Reserve chairman, only CBS mentions critics.

Sean Long

President Obama nominated Janet Yellen, Fed vice chair, to head the Federal Reserve on Oct. 9. If confirmed, she will take on Ben Bernanke’s role as chairman and be the first woman in that role. Networks lauded her nomination that evening, after having paid little attention to her liberal policies in recent months.

Broadcast network evening and morning shows were giddy at the nomination of Yellen. Her economic experience, intelligence and “working class roots” were all praised the night of her nomination and the following morning.

— Sean Long is Staff Writer at the Media Research Center. Follow Sean Long on Twitter.

Movies Celebrate Occupy Wall Street as Anarchists and Thieves Target Businesses

julia.seymour — Fri, 31 May 2013 19:51:36 +0000

From one man’s ‘Assault on Wall Street,’ to eco-anarchists, to illusionists robbing banks, anti-business ideals live on ... screen.

Julia A. Seymour

Occupy Wall Street and the class warfare diatribes of the 99 percent are making fewer national headlines, but their ideas are crowding movie theaters this month. Three May 2013 releases all call to mind the Zuccotti Park crowd’s grievances against capitalism, two in very violent and extreme ways.

Media Leave Liberal Soros’s Politics Aside in News of Manchester United Buy

julia.seymour — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:56:46 +0000

Left-wing billionaire George Soros acquires minority share of popular English soccer team, but his politics goes unmentioned.

Julia A. Seymour

George Soros’s $25 billion Fund Management Group bought 7.9 percent of Manchester United’s Class A shares. The English soccer club went public in August, according to many news reports Aug. 21.

The Flight of the Money - Where Has It Gone?

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:02:24 +0000

Dan Kennedy

Two months ago, the “new” General Motors made possible by government bailouts, theft of shareholders’ equity for forced re-distribution to unions, and managerial change at government’s gunpoint, was held up as shining example of success – it was even repaying its debt to Uncle Sam early.

But the week of the Independence Day, GM announced its urgent need to borrow five billion dollars, to use in re-paying debt (ie. paying its VISA bill with a new MasterCard) and as cash reserves to counter anticipated slumping sales.

'Today' Sees 'Help' in White House Remedy for Foreclosures

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:37:17 +0000

Anthony Kang

The Obama administration is trying out a second big-government remedy for people facing foreclosure, but NBC’s “Today” failed to mention criticism of the initial program or provide any free-market solutions.

The White House has now tapped $14 billion in TARP funds to expand the administration’s existing mortgage assistance program.

Companies Donate $83 Million to Haiti, Get Less Than Three Minutes of Coverage

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:49:25 +0000

Julia A. Seymour

Americans are generous people, and they prove it every time a disaster strikes like last week’s earthquake in Haiti. They have donated more than $275 million to relief efforts in the Caribbean nation in the week since the quake.

What's Missing from Edmund Andrews' Mortgage Tale

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:38:00 +0000

The economics reporter writes vividly about his descent into mortgage hell, blaming bankers and mortgage brokers as well as himself. But a journalist for the Atlantic finds that Andrews' story "has been tidied up a little."

Clay Waters

Times economics reporter Edmund Andrews is the author of "Busted: Life Inside the Great Mortgage Meltdown," an upcoming book on his personal experience with the mortgage crisis. The book is due out next month, but the May10 New York Times Sunday Magazine ran a 5,000-word excerpt under the heading "My Personal Credit Crisis." But is Andrews telling the whole story?

Amazing Omissions in Times Interview of Barney Frank

admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:03:00 +0000

A Times writer manages to talk to Barney Frank about Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and an SNL skit without bringing up a single challenging question.

Clay Waters

The Times' special Deal Book section on Thursday featured a Q&A with Rep. Barney Frank by Times contributing writer Cyrus Sanati, "Rep. Barney Frank's To-Do List for Changing Wall Street."

Levin Declares 'No Constitutional Authority' for Expanded Obama Administration Takeover Powers

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:26:34 +0000

Jeff Poor

Has the federal government exceeded, or is it on the verge of exceeding its constitutional authority with the recent series of events connected to rescuing an ailing banking system?

'Nightly News' Perplexed by TARP-Recipients Lending to Foreign Countries

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:58:20 +0000

Jeff Poor

Global banks lending money to other countries including “the playground of the Middle East” angered Congressmen, but Lisa Myers investigation didn’t point out that those critics of how the banks lent money voted for TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) in the first place.

Santelli: Get the Government Out of the Banking System

admin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:37:59 +0000

Jeff Poor

As rumors of nationalization swirl about Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) and Citigroup (NYSE:C), the market indices have fallen.

'Evening News' Highlights Community Bank Success

admin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:17:37 +0000

Jeff Poor

Capitalism works when parties make responsible business decisions. Just look at the First National Bank of Orwell in Orwell, Vt.

Flake's Banking Crisis Bailout Alternative: Capital-Gains Tax Holiday

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:11:04 +0000

Jeff Poor

Now that Congress has a proposal before them to bail out beleaguered investment banks in the wake of the subprime mortgage fallout, there is one way to pump liquidity into the markets almost no one is talking about – cutting the financial obligations of these troubled firms by cutting taxes.