Media Matters for America - County Fair

Jamison Foser: I get the feeling WND doesn't like gay people

Jamison Foser — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:55:28 EST

Someone get the smelling salts. WorldNetDaily is gonna need them:

Now, I won't pretend to be surprised that WND is outraged at a "'gay musical,'" when they presumably wouldn't think twice about a "'straight' musical."

But I am curious about one thing: why does WND repeatedly put the word gay in quotes? Do they think the musical isn't really gay?

Anyway, WND uses the musical as an excuse to hawk this charming little book:

Why have Americans come to tolerate, embrace and even champion many things that would have horrified their parents' generation? Get David Kupelian's "The Marketing of Evil" at the WND Superstore.

Jamison Foser: Forget what those expert economists say: Jeff Poor knows better

Jamison Foser — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:38:47 EST

Newsbusters' Jeff Poor issues a proclamation:

We've already seen how ineffective the previous $787-billion stimulus Congress and the President forced through earlier this year has been with curbing unemployment, as it has raced into double-digits over the previous months. But will there be an effort to force through another one?

Now, let's set aside the question of whether the first stimulus really has been "ineffective" for a moment.

Poor never once entertains the possibility that if it has been ineffective (or insufficiently effective), it's because it was too small. This despite the fact that many economists at the time said it should be bigger. And despite the fact that conservative economist Martin Feldstein, a former Reagan administration official, says "There should have been more direct federal spending," and former McCain economic advisor Mark Zandi says "there was a considerable amount of hand-wringing that it was too small, and I sympathized with that argument." Zandi also says "the stimulus is doing what it was supposed to do - it is contributing to ending the recession. ... In my view, without the stimulus, G.D.P. would still be negative and unemployment would be firmly over 11 percent. And there are a little over 1.1 million more jobs out there as of October than would have been out there without the stimulus."

No, forget all that: Newsbusters' Jeff Poor says the stimulus has been ineffective, and there shouldn't be any more. He doesn't offer any evidence or expert analysis -- but why would we need any? He's Newsbuster Jeff Poor. Isn't that enough?

Jamison Foser: The Village rallies 'round its Dean

Jamison Foser — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:25:43 EST

You've probably noticed that Washington Post columnist David Broder and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are having a bit of a spat. Again. What you may have missed was the Beltway media rallying around Broder via a Politico article earlier this week:

In an age of ideological divisions, Broder is widely known as a fair arbiter on Capitol Hill, a journalist who's as interested in the process as he is in the policy and politics. He favors pragmatists over fierce ideologues and speaks up for decorum in Washington politics.

David Broder called for Bill Clinton's resignation over lies told about an affair, then refused to call for George W. Bush's resignation over lies told about a war, and refuses to explain the disparity. He writes extensively about the marriages of Democrats, but when asked if he plans to write a similar article about Republicans, replies, "Why would I write such an article? I know of no occasion for that." Broder may be "widely known as a fair arbiter," but it's hard to justify that reputation if you look at his actual track record. Which I have, in great detail.

As for Broder's staunch defense of decorum in Washington politics: that, too, is rather inconsistent. Or perhaps when he dines on quail with his good buddy, the famously indecorous Karl Rove, he does so in order to urge his pal to tone down the partisan attacks? (Or maybe Broder's insistence that reporters should apologize for Rove for -- correctly -- suggesting Rove was part of a campaign to out Valerie Plame was an example of his defense of DC decorum? Criticizing someone for outting a CIA agent is so rude.)

Anyway, take a look at the things Broder is praised for in that Politico article: his sense of "decorum" and his "temperate disposition" and the fact that he "knows everybody."

Well, I couldn't care less about his disposition or who he knows. I've read quite a bit of his work, and much of it isn't any good.

Jamison Foser: Where's the outrage over Mark Halperin's photoshopped picture of Mary Landrieu?

Jamison Foser — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:59:45 EST

Maybe you thought that the recent outrage from the right over Newsweek's use of a photo of Sarah Palin in a running outfit meant conservatives are finally coming to understand that sexism has no place in the news media. And maybe you thought all the attention the mainstream media paid to the controversy was a sign that they, too, are beginning to see the light -- and not simply another example of them asking conservative media critics how high they should jump. Well, if you thought that, you'd be wrong.

Take, for example, Newsbusters. The right-wing media critics were all over the Newsweek/Palin controversy. But they haven't said a word about Mark Halperin doctoring a photo to portray Mary Landrieu as having semen in her hair.

But Newsbusters certainly isn't alone in ignoring Halperin's vicious portrayal of Landrieu. Do a Nexis search for news reports containing the words "Halperin" and "Landrieu" in the past week, and you'll get exactly one result: a blog post by Michael Tomasky. And this comes immediately after the media uproar over the Newsweek Palin cover.

Now, you might think the difference in attention is because Newsweek made the mistake of putting the photo of Palin on its cover, while Halperin's photoshop of Landrieu appeared only on Time's web page. On the other hand, Newsweek used a photo Sarah Palin voluntarily posed for in order to promote herself, whereas Halperin doctored a photo of Mary Landrieu to make it look like she had semen in her hair. So, let's call it even, shall we?

And, no, the disparity can't be explained by the fact that Beltway journalists love Mark Halperin, creator of ABC's insider gossip sheet The Note. Glenn Beck called Mary Landrieu a prostitute, and the media didn't give a damn. And when I say Beck called Mary Landrieu a prostitute, I don't mean that he hinted that Landrieu might do legislative favors in exchange for campaign cash. I mean he literally called her a "prostitute."

Progressive political figures like Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi have been on the receiving end of sexist media treatment for years, and conservative media critics like Newsbusters don't give a damn. Nor does much of the mainstream media. The lesson? Newsweek's treatment of Sarah Palin was, indeed, sexist -- but many of those who criticized it don't really care about sexism in the media. They care that a Republican was the target, and that Republicans were upset.

Terry Krepel: What's with right-wingers calling for a military coup against President Obama?

Terry Krepel — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:22:13 EST

First it was Newsmax columnist John L. Perry. Now it's Rush Limbaugh essentially advocating a military coup by saying that when Obama outlines his Afghanistan policy at the United States Military Academy at West Point next week, "hopefully" they will "detain him" there.

Note: If you are calling for military officials to detain a president, you are calling for a military coup.

Newsmax got rid of Perry's column after we highlighted it and endeavored to distance itself from the column. But Limbaugh is more known for people apologizing to him than for apologizing for his outrageous remarks.

Eric Boehlert: Breitbart, Big Government's sensational claims about SEIU assault case fall flat

Eric Boehlert — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:31:43 EST

Local officials in St. Louis have charged six people in connection with a scuffle that broke out outside an August health care forum. Two of those charged are SEIU members who were hit with misdemeanor ordinance violations in connection with their altercation with Kenneth Gladney. They're accused on beating him up.

Problem for Breitbart and Big Government, as well as the rest of the over-excited right-wing blogosphere, is the low-key charges don't back up any of sensational allegations they've been making for months about the Gladney case. Namely that Gladney was savagely beaten within an inch of his life. (Note the "misdemeanor ordinance violations" that were filed.) That Gladney was the victim of a "hate crime." (No such charges were filed.) And that, most incredibly, the White House "directed" union members to beat up town hall protesters.

What's always been clear about the St. Louis event, since it was partially captured on video, was that a scuffle broke out the night of the town hall forum. Now six people face relatively minor charges and will have a chance to defend themselves. What remains a mystery is why the right-wing catapulted this minor event into the rhetorical stratosphere and concocted all sorts of wild claims about hate crimes, savage beatings, and (best of all) a White House connection. There's still no evidence any of that ever took place.

UPDATED: Not surprisingly, Breitbart's crowing about the Gladney "hate crime" case. And of course, there is no Gladney "hate crime" case. It doesn't exist. Period. It only exists within the fervent imaginations of right-wing bloggers. (Or do those "misdemeanor ordinance violations" somehow qualify as hate crime charges in the state of Missouri?) Then again, those community workers weren't actually "praying" to Obama, and that didn't stop Breitbart from spreading that lie. So there's a definite trend in play here.

Matt Gertz: So who's still advertising on Beck ? November 25 edition...

Matt Gertz — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:59:54 EST

Eighty advertisers have reportedly dropped their ads from Glenn Beck's Fox News program since he called President Obama a "racist" who has a "deep-seated hatred of white people." Here are his November 25 sponsors, in the order they appeared:

Rosland Capital
Freije Treatment Systems (EasyWater Systems)
Humana
News Corp. (Fox News Channel University)
Premier Bathrooms
LifeLock
News Corp. (The Wall Street Journal)
USfidelis
Clarity Media Group (The Weekly Standard)
The Foundation for a Better Life
Jewelry Television
The Foundation for a Better Life
Goldline International, Inc.
Lifestyle Lift
Consumer Debt Advocate
National Review

: Perino: "I obviously meant no terror attack on U.S. post 9/11 during Bush 2nd term"

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:10:24 EST

From Dana Perino's twitter feed:

Previously:

Perino: "We did not have a terrorist attack on our country during President Bush's term"

Brooke Obie: "Say goodbye" to common sense: RedState compares health care reform to attack on Pearl Harbor

Brooke Obie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:02:12 EST

In the latest bit of right-wing lunacy on health care reform, RedState.com writer "hogan" brazenly compares health care reform bills to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941--inanely adding that if health care reform passes, you can "say goodbye to freedom." Indeed, a brutal sneak attack that obliterated or wounded at least 3,500 Americans on an early Sunday morning is certainly comparable to legislation that will decrease the deficit over 10 years, provide coverage for 94% of uninsured Americans, and prohibit insurance companies from dropping the insured due to pre-existing conditions.

Yet, with Fox News' Glenn Beck comparing health care reform to the attacks on 9/11 and former Bush press secretary Dana Perino obliviously declaring: "we did not have a terrorist attack on our country during President Bush's term," one can only wonder if-like the words socialism, Marxism, fascism and freedom-maybe the right-wing media simply doesn't know what the word terrorism means.

Here's the RedState post in all its glorious folly:

Saving Freedom This Thanksgiving

Posted by hogan (Profile)

Wednesday, November 25th at 12:41PM EST

2 Comments

68 years ago, Americans around the nation settled into a peaceful Thanksgiving weekend and celebrated with their loved ones. A week later, the nation was viciously attacked by Japan - an attack that sparked our involvement in perhaps the greatest of all wars.

This Thanksgiving holiday is different from that weekend. While we should likewise celebrate and give thanks for our innumerable blessings, this time, the American people are staring at an attack on our nation and can stop it. This attack is coming from within. The Obama/Reid/Pelosi healthcare bill - in its various forms - is an assault on the American way of life and an affront to all the generations before us who fought to preserve and protect our cherished freedoms.

Why? Because the bill will eliminate your God-given ability to care for your family according to YOUR wishes and YOUR conscience. It will insert Washington D.C., and the incompetent bureaucrats who live there, into your hospital room, your doctor's office, your insurance company, your home and ultimately, into your personal health decisions. As analyzed here, the bill is loaded with active-government terms like "shall," "tax," and "require." And, even a cursory review of the text will show how much power this bill gives Washington to interfere with your healthcare (you know, the town that brought you the TARP bailout, Katrina-relief and over $12 Trillion in debt and counting...). Qualifications, panels, reports, studies, mandatory insurance whether you want it or not, penalties, taxes, fees, mandates on coverage but restrictions on prices... and 2079 pages of non-stop assaults on your right to live free and care for your family as you see fit.

Say hello to lines, waiting rooms, priority lists and more expensive, less effective healthcare. Say goodbye to freedom.

That is, unless you act now. It is your job - indeed, it is your duty - to talk to your friends and family this weekend and in the coming weeks. Call them to action. Other than our fine men and women in uniform fighting around the world, there is nothing more important that you can be doing right now to preserve our children's birthright - heirs to the greatest nation the world has ever known.

Read over the bill. Read summaries. Whatever you need to do. Try the Heritage Foundation's website, http://fixhealthcarepolicy.com/. Then... pause the football games and take a break from the turkey and cranberry sauce. Talk to friends and family this weekend. Explain it to them.

Then... next week, when the Senate come back in session - call your Senator. Email more friends. Email more family. Then... Call your Senator AGAIN. Don't stop. Repeat. Then... call Senators on the fence. And, feel free to start with Senators Ben Nelson (R-NE), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), and Mary Landrieu (D- LA). They represent solidly red states - and need to have their feat [sic] held to the fire. The list of Senate office phone numbers can be found here. Shut their phones down. Flood their offices. Visit their offices.

The American people can win this, but only if you take action to stop it. There is one thing that elected representatives fear - and that is YOU, the American people. Celebrate Thanksgiving this year in the American way - by fighting for freedom and working hard to preserve this, the last best earthly hope for mankind.

Media Matters staff: RedState celebrates Thanksgiving by comparing health care reform to bombing of Pearl Harbor

Media Matters staff — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:23:07 EST

From RedState.com, accessed November 25:

Saving Freedom This Thanksgiving

68 years ago, Americans around the nation settled into a peaceful Thanksgiving weekend and celebrated with their loved ones. A week later, the nation was viciously attacked by Japan - an attack that sparked our involvement in perhaps the greatest of all wars.

This Thanksgiving holiday is different from that weekend. While we should likewise celebrate and give thanks for our innumerable blessings, this time, the American people are staring at an attack on our nation and can stop it. This attack is coming from within. The Obama/Reid/Pelosi healthcare bill - in its various forms - is an assault on the American way of life and an affront to all the generations before us who fought to preserve and protect our cherished freedoms.

Why? Because the bill will eliminate your God-given ability to care for your family according to YOUR wishes and YOUR conscience. It will insert Washington D.C., and the incompetent bureaucrats who live there, into your hospital room, your doctor's office, your insurance company, your home and ultimately, into your personal health decisions. As analyzed here, the bill is loaded with active-government terms like "shall," "tax," and "require." And, even a cursory review of the text will show how much power this bill gives Washington to interfere with your healthcare (you know, the town that brought you the TARP bailout, Katrina-relief and over $12 Trillion in debt and counting...). Qualifications, panels, reports, studies, mandatory insurance whether you want it or not, penalties, taxes, fees, mandates on coverage but restrictions on prices... and 2079 pages of non-stop assaults on your right to live free and care for your family as you see fit.

Say hello to lines, waiting rooms, priority lists and more expensive, less effective healthcare. Say goodbye to freedom

: Zero tolerance? Fox News misidentifies Rep. John Shadegg (R) as "Arizona Senator"

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:22:09 EST

From the November 25 edition of Fox News' Live Desk:

Congressman John Shadegg (R) On Fox, Mark Sanford "(D)" holds press conference

On Fox & Friends, Sen. Max Baucus "(R-MT)" discusses his health care plan

Fox News: "Rep. Joke Sestak (D-PA)"

Eric Boehlert: Because Politico is just a GOP bulletin board, cont'd

Eric Boehlert — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:21:06 EST

In this all-important piece that mocks the White House for using the phrase "unprecedented" too often (I'm not making this up), Politico (inadvertently?) gives readers an inside look at how utterly pointless articles like this come to fruition [emphasis added]:

The White House’s announcement of its unprecedented — “a first by an American president visiting China” — town hall meeting with students in Beijing, for instance, drew a collective eye roll in certain circles back home, namely among former aides to President George W. Bush, who had already been grumbling about Obama’s carefree application of “unprecedented.”

Voila! Former Bushies have been privately mocking the White House for its use of "unprecedented." And then what do you know, Politico turns around the publically mocks the White House for its use of "unprecedented." And who does Politico quote for sources in its story? Former Bushies, like ex-flak Karen Hughes.

That's how Beltway journalism works. Conservatives dream up attacks on Obama and then get journalists to treat the attacks as news, regardless of how absurd.

Making matters worse this time around is the fact that the Politico article contains perhaps single dumbest paragraph published by Politico in a very, very long time:

Either way, for a president whose approach to exaggerated critiques of his administration is to “call ‘em out” and who has made an issue of forcing corporate America to expose the fine print, one wonders whether his use of “unprecedented” would pass his own litmus test.

Eric Boehlert: Surprise! "Little interest" in Palin story last week

Eric Boehlert — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:25:20 EST

You mean there's an enormous disconnect between what Beltway media elites claim is newsworthy and what news consumers are actually interested in? Shocking, we know.

And it's not like we didn't see this one coming, amidst the orgy of Palin coverage last week:

I'll bet five bucks that when the Pew Research numbers come out this week we'll see a massive disconnect in terms of the amount of time journalists dedicated (i.e. wasted) to the Palin story, and the microscopic percentage of news consumers who listed the Palin book launch as the story they paid the most attention to last week. Instead, once again it will be the economy or health care that top the list because (surprise!) that's what matters to people. Beltway parlor games, and especially pointless ones involving Palin, are of no interest to most news consumers.

Well, the Pew numbers are out and exactly 2 percent of Americans pointed to Palin's book release as the story they followed most closely last week. Yet on cable TV last week, the Palin story devoured 14 percent of the entire news hole.

And oh yeah, a majority of Americans agreed they were hearing "too much" about Palin. So I guess instead of more than 1,700 "Palin" mentions on network and cable news last week, a mere 200-300 would have sufficed.

Jamison Foser: Newsbusters blows the lid off scandalous Thanksgiving coverage

Jamison Foser — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:20:35 EST

This one's just strange: Newsbusters' Carolyn Plocher is upset that network morning shows have offered tips on how to avoid excessive Thanksgiving calorie consumption:

In the past week, from Nov. 18-24, five network stories have bashed traditional Thanksgiving food because it's not "healthy." With the nation in a recession and the unemployment rate above 10 percent, the media want Americans to worry about their waistlines too. Each of the networks offered tips on how to avoid the "most gut-busting holiday of the year," as Harry Smith of CBS's "Early Show" put it Nov. 19.

What a bunch of monsters!

Seriously, this is the right-wing media critique: Whining about the Early Show offering advice on how to avoid over-eating at Thanksgiving.

Media Matters staff: Fox Nation promotes rally against trials of 9/11 conspirators

Media Matters staff — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:16:28 EST

From Fox Nation on November 25:

According to its Fox Nation helps WND promote July 4 tea parties

Even after it's over, Fox Nation still promoting Tea Party 2.0

Fox News "hops" aboard Tea Party Express with rampant promotions, live coverage

REPORT: "Fair and Balanced" Fox News agressively promotes "tea party" protests