Free Republic

by Mark Finkelstein August 21, 2006 - 08:17 This week is shaping up as the MSM's kick-off of its Hillary for President campaign. Using Time Magazine's 10th cover of Hillary as a springboard, this morning's Today show convened a liberal coffee klatsch on Clinton's political future. Dem pollster Peter Hart summed up the segment's zeitgest nicely: "I think Americans are ready for a female president. I think they are definitely ready for Hillary Clinton." Not a discouraging word was to be heard, as 'Today' found it unnecessary to invite to the party anyone who might have a negative view of...

by Mark Finkelstein August 2, 2006 - 08:17 The uniformed Cuban military officer pictured here barks commands at a smallish crowd in Havana that responds with pro-Fidel chants. Imagine you're an objective journalist. How would you report it? "The Castro regime orchestrates a public show of support," perhaps? Not Andrea Mitchell. Appearing on this morning's Today show, here's how she characterized what you have to imagine was a less-than-spontaneous event: "In Havana, Cubans turn out to show support for their long-time leader." No surprise. I did ask you to imagine how an 'objective' journalist would report it. Andrea managed to...

by Mark Finkelstein July 11, 2006 Here at NewsBusters, we keep close tabs on the MSM. That's why I can say with considerable certainty that this morning, the Today show ran its . . . nth segment on 'soaring gas prices.' The template is time-honored: reporter standing in front of gas pumps with scary-high price placard in background. Cut to clips of regular folks filling up, expressing varying degrees of outrage. Bring in an 'oil industry expert' for some words of wisdom. Back to reporter at pump, warily wondering just how much higher prices can go. Conclude with hosts back...

  Deserve’s Got Nothin’ To Do With ItNovember 17, 2005 Being one of a dozen or so people who made the mistake of watching MSNBC last Friday, I now know two things: (1) Why MSNBC is approaching a zero viewership (it’s rating are actually a bit better than the Hearing Loss Network News) and (2) You deserve what you get when you ask for it.   It really is possible to be an academically well educated airhead and MSNBC’s Lisa Daniels is living proof.  Academic credentials are no substitute for the preponderance of intellectual independence necessary for the strength of common sense...