Media Research Center Awareds

MRC Alert: Mitchell Hails Success of 'Obama Doctrine,' Palin's Wallace-Like Appeal 'Does Frighten Me'
Monday, December 28, 2009 12:13 PM

A daily compilation edited by Brent H. Baker, CyberAlert items are drawn from daily BiasAlert posts and distributed by the Media Research Center's News Analysis Division, the leader since 1987 in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias.

Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996

1. Mitchell Hails Success of 'Obama Doctrine,' Palin's Wallace-Like Appeal 'Does Frighten Me'

As the lone journalist on Sunday's Meet the Press roundtable, NBC's Andrea Mitchell insisted the "Obama Doctrine" has "borne fruit," but "it is not perceived yet" -- though the President has already "united the world behind the United States." Citing all those who "camped out" for the Sarah Palin book signings, Mitchell denigrated her appeal as evidence of how "they are so hungry for a symbol for anyone who can give them answers" it shows "there's an anger out there" she hasn't seen since George Wallace in 1968. And that, she maintained, "is the angry populism which is not fact-based, it's just furious at everybody." Ruing "the tea party has higher numbers in our last NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll than either of the other traditional parties," Mitchell declared that "does frighten me."

2. ABC's Sawyer Touts Robert Byrd's Dedication to 'Health Care Champion' Kennedy
On Thursday's World News, ABC anchor Diane Sawyer took the time to devote an entire story to 92-year-old Democratic Senator Robert Byrd’s vote for the Democratic health care bill, which the West Virginian dedicated to former Senator Ted Kennedy, whom the ABC anchor described as "health care champion Ted Kennedy." Sawyer informed viewers of Byrd’s long congressional career and 98 percent attendance record, and then quoted his declaration that "I do what duty tells me to do" as he arrived to vote for the bill. After recounting his emotional reaction and declaration of love for Senator Kennedy when he learned of Kennedy’s illness, Sawyer concluded: "Old comrades, old friends – one gone, one carrying on."

3. Winning Quotes in the MRC's Best of NQ Annual Awards for the Year's Worst Reporting
The winning quotes in the MRC's "Best Notable Quotables of 2009: The Twenty-Second Annual Awards for the Year's Worst Reporting." As announced in a CyberAlert Special last Monday, the awards issue was posted, with videos, on Monday, December 21, but following tradition, today, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday - the last weekdays of the year - MRC.org's BiasAlert and corresponding CyberAlert e-mail newsletter will run the winning quotes followed on succeeding days by the runners-up.

4. Fox Newswatch Highlights Couric and Klein in MRC's Awards for Worst Reporting
Saturday's Fox Newswatch on FNC highlighted two "winners" in the MRC's "Best Notable Quotables of 2009: The 22nd Annual Awards for the Year's Worst Reporting." Viewers were treated to Katie Couric pining to Barack Obama: "You're so confident, Mr. President, and so focused. Is your confidence ever shaken? Do you ever wake up and say, damn, this is hard?" FNC host Jon Scott announced "her performance there garnered the Media Research Center's 'Let Us Fluff Your Pillow Award for Obsequious Obama Interviews.'" Scott also pointed out how Time magazine's Joe Klein won the "Master of His Domain Award for Obama Puffery" for his cover story on Barack Obama’s first 100 days.

5. MSNBC: GOP 'Grinches' Stealing Christmas, Being 'Mean' Over ObamaCare
Early in the 1PM ET hour on MSNBC on Tuesday, anchor Norah O’Donnell pressed New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg on Republican efforts to slow down passage of ObamaCare: “You guys are going to probably be there late on Christmas Eve....And a lot of people say it’s the Republicans’ fault, that you could easily go ahead and move forward with this legislation. Are you the Grinch that stole Christmas?”

Media Hero Award

“I’m honored to be joined today by the Godfather of Green, the King of Conservation: Former Vice President Al Gore.” — Katie Couric opening her November 2 “@KatieCouric” CBSNews.com webcast. [69 points]

Quote of the Year

“Mary Jo wasn’t a right-wing talking point or a negative campaign slogan....We don’t know how much Kennedy was affected by her death, or what she’d have thought about arguably being a catalyst for the most successful Senate career in history....[One wonders what] Mary Jo Kopechne would have had to say about Ted’s death, and what she’d have thought of the life and career that are being (rightfully) heralded. Who knows — maybe she’d feel it was worth it.” — Discover magazine deputy web editor Melissa Lafsky, who formerly worked on the New York Times’s Freakonomics blog, writing at the Huffington Post, August 27.

Readers may sign up for CyberAlerts at the Media Research Center web site.