CBS News Fearful Kerry Comments Will Mobilize the GOP Base

Newsbusters ^ | November 1, 2006 | Michael Rule

[meg88]

CBS Fearful Kerry Comments Will Mobilize GOP Base

Wednesday’s "Early Show" on CBS highlighted Senator John Kerry’s disparaging remarks about the American military in three separate segments, but instead of expressing outrage at Kerry’s comments, CBS seemed more concerned that the Republicans may use them for political gain in the midterm elections.

While CBS omitted mentions that some Democrats have refused to campaign with Kerry and others have asked that he apologize, the network pondered if the outrage expressed by Republicans was an effort to "fire up the base" or simply a "desperate" attempt to change the subject.

Co-host Hannah Storm inquired of White House Press Secretary Tony Snow if President Bush’s demand that Kerry apologize to the troops was genuine or:

"...Is this an effort to get out the conservative, fire up the base and get the vote out in advance of next week's election?"

In the weekly "Capitol Bob" segment, Harry Smith asked Bob Schieffer:

"Did John Kerry give the Republicans a gift or is the White House so desperate to divert attention from the failing policy in Iraq?"

Schieffer conceded this gaffe was a gift from John Kerry, but cautioned:

"Now, how far this goes and where it goes from here, it's hard to say. But at least they've [Republicans] managed to change the conversation for a day."

But who will play a role in determining where this story goes? The media, of course. Will they follow up their reports with news that Democrats have urged Kerry to apologize or have cancelled appearances with him? Apparently not as the only mention of this subject on this morning’s "Early Show" came from Tony Snow in replying to a question from Hannah Storm:

Hannah Storm: "Mr. Snow, some Republican candidates are distancing themselves from the president and his Iraq policy. Some of them are going so far as to call for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. What does the president think of candidates in his own party making such a public break from the White House?"

Tony Snow: "You mean like the two Democrats who have cancelled appearances today with John Kerry? I think both guys understand that in a political season, people can make political decisions. What the president wants is a Republican Congress and he's doing everything he can to make sure that it stays that way."

Now it is reasonable to say Hannah Storm had no reason to bring it up as she was conversing with a member of the Bush administration regarding the administration policies and political outlook. But, why were these developments ignored by Bill Plante, Bob Schieffer, and Harry Smith?

[billybudd]

While CBS omitted mentions that some Democrats

wth does this mean?

[Brilliant]

I personally don't think it will have a significant effect on the race.

However, if the GOP retains control, then Kerry will be the scapegoat.

[frogjerk]

Hannah Storm: "Mr. Snow, some Republican candidates are distancing themselves from the president and his Iraq policy. Some of them are going so far as to call for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. What does the president think of candidates in his own party making such a public break from the White House?"

Tony Snow: "You mean like the two Democrats who have cancelled appearances today with John Kerry? I think both guys understand that in a political season, people can make political decisions. What the president wants is a Republican Congress and he's doing everything he can to make sure that it stays that way."

SLAY THE BEASTS TONY!

[RexBeach]

I'd be willing to be a lot of money that Hannah Storm(whose first name is a palindrome unlike Bolton) has never voted for a Republican.

"A fair question, and one that's been much on my mind."

Apologies to Monty Python.

[My2Cents]

However, if the GOP retains control, then Kerry will be the scapegoat.

And he can go back to being the unaccomplished junior senator from Massachusetts.

[sappy]

and he'll go back to MA in his G5.

[meg88]

Hannah is blaming John Kerry for firing up the GOP base, lol! She should stick to womens sports on NBC...IMO

[My2Cents]

Hannah Storm(whose first name is a palindrome...)

A man a plan a canal...

I wonder if her first job was as a clerk at the Yreka Bakery.

[presidio9]

This will have about as much effect on the race as gay marriage had in 2004. That is to say "none." As usual, American citizens will tell pollsters what they think they want to hear, and then will vote for the candidate who they think is most likely to protect them and their family from being blown up by Muslims. Afterwards, the Democratic party will further weaken itself by making John Kerry a scapegoat, instead of focusing on "why they (the electorate) hate us."

[DogBarkTree]

CBS? Why is the Connecticut Board of Safety getting involved in this?

[ClearCase_guy]

I personally don't think it will have a significant effect on the race.

I won't take a position on that. But I will say that 2 weeks ago, the MSM was very confident and couldn't stop crowing about the Democrat takeover that was coming. Now, the MSM is desperately writing stories with reasons why the takeover may not happen.

I want the GOP to gain seats. I don't care about the root causes.

[colonel mosby]

The Nashville Tennessean defended John Kerry and his remarks on their editorial page this morning. I'd post it, but the Tennessean can't be linked on Free Republic because of a "copyright" case.

The Nashville Tennessean is probably Harold Ford Jr.'s biggest media supporter. So, I'm wondering.

Will Harold Ford Jr. ask the Nashville Tennessean to apologize to the troops ?

[Grampa Dave]

What the US Army recruiting poster under "President" Kerry would look like:

Our brave warriors n Irak respond to Jon Carry"

Kerry is no different re his hatred of a strong America and our warriors than 99.9% of the rats in congress. Every rat running for election should have to face a copy of this banner everytime they show their treasonous faces. Pelosi, Murtha, Clintoon, Boxer, Kennedy, Durbin, Levin, Rangle, Reid and other rats in congress hate our military and a strong America. Just look at their voting records the past two years as President Bush pointed out this week.

Kerry is shown leading his fellow hate America and our military Rats to their final destination in American Politics:

Vote against all traitors this election day. Support our troops and their CIC, President Bush.

[Parley Baer]

When the Republicans hold on to both houses of Congress in the up comming election the MSM now has an excuse as to why their reporting was flat wrong. They will blame it on Kerry. He was the unknown factor in the election. Bwahahahahahahahaha.

[JerseyDvl]

bumpity bump for later

[I still care]

Rush had this on his show yesterday from CNN. Bold is mine.

...During a segment called "What Kerry Meant" -- they actually had a segment on CNN last night called "What Kerry Meant" -- a CNN reporterette slips up, Suzanne Malveaux, and admits that the media hopes this story goes away in a day.

MALVEAUX: We hope and we think that all of this is going to go away tomorrow, but we'll just have to wait and see.

ZAHN: Oh, I don't know whether we can count on that or not.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Kerry doesn't even come close to matching CBS' own accomplishments in this area, most notably the amateurish forged memo which they swallowed hook, line, and sinker and proceeded to tout as real long after everybody else in the country knew otherwise. At least Kerry managed to draw a response from the White House. During Memogate, Bush and the White House spokes-folks just played dumb and barely managed to restrain themselves from bursting out laughing, as the parallel investigations by CBS and the pajama brigade into the memo's authenticity proceeded through a circus of media coverage.

[ClearCase_guy]

I'd post it, but the Tennessean can't be linked on Free Republic because of a "copyright" case.

Tennessean Editorial: 'Truth in Kerry's Remark

[johnny7]

I personally don't think it will have a significant effect on the race.

Awfully hard to gage this...