CBS’s Schieffer: Obama Facing Most Challenges Since WWII

December 4th, 2009 3:26 PM
On Friday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith asked Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer about all the problems facing President Obama: “it was Afghanistan, now it’s jobs...healthcare....Do you remember a time when a president had as many irons – critical irons – in the fire, as this one seems to have right now?” Schieffer replied: “Oh, I suppose during the dark days of World War II.”  Schieffer…

ABC and NBC Grill Obama Official On Security Breach, CBS Takes A Pass

December 3rd, 2009 5:14 PM
While ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today questioned Obama White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett on the breach of security at last week’s state dinner, her appearance was conspicuously absent from the CBS Early Show on Thursday. The CBS morning show has made a consistent effort to downplay the administration’s role in party crashing scandal.On Good Morning America, co-host Robin…

CBS Again Downplays Obama Administration Role in WH Security Breach

December 2nd, 2009 4:55 PM
On Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, correspondent Bianca Solorzano reported on the couple who snuck into the White House state dinner, but avoided fully explaining the role a Pentagon official played in the scandal. She claimed emails between Pentagon liaison Michele Jones and Michaele and Tareq Salahi: “actually undermine their claims that they were invited...”Solorzano quoted one email in which…

Networks Briefly Note Dem Mayor's Conviction, Yet Ignored Her Trial

December 2nd, 2009 1:06 PM
Imagine if you will that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin was accused of taking gift cards donated to her office for redistribution to needy constituents and using them instead for a personal spending spree.The media firestorm would swirl uncontrollably, of course, and certainly you couldn't fault the media for reporting on the ensuing criminal trial.Well, this sort of this has happened, only…

CBS's 'Early Show' Places Little Blame on Obama White House for Securi

November 30th, 2009 6:00 PM
Monday’s CBS Early Show featured two stories on the security breach at last week’s White House state dinner, but each made only scant reference to Obama administration officials being partly to blame. Instead, both segments faulted the couple themselves, Michaele and Tareq Salahi, as well as the Secret Service.In the first story, White House correspondent Bill Plante placed blame squarely on the…

60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll Asks If Obama Should Be Added to Mt. Rushm

November 30th, 2009 3:34 PM
The first question in a poll conducted by CBS’s 60 Minutes and Vanity Fair magazine asked Americans to nominate a fifth face for Mt. Rushmore and included Barack Obama among the contenders. While President Kennedy took the lead with 29%, Obama came in fourth with 16%, just behind Franklin Roosevelt at 18% and Ronald Reagan at 20%.On Monday’s CBS Early Show, co-hosts Harry Smith and Maggie…

Bozell Column: Ridiculous Idol Excuses

November 27th, 2009 11:38 PM

CBS Early Show Compares Raunchy Adam Lambert Performance to Elvis

November 25th, 2009 12:46 PM
At the top of Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez teased an appearance by singer Adam Lambert on the show and addressed his raunchy performance at the American Music Awards on Sunday: “And is he the new Elvis? Or did he simply just go too far? American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert is here to set the record straight after his controversial performance at the AMA’s.”As the show…

Networks Take Bite Out of 'Most Gutbusting Holiday

November 25th, 2009 11:34 AM
With Thanksgiving kicking off the holiday season, it's time to gather with family and friends, give thanks, and just enjoy the company and the food ... right? Not according to the three broadcast networks. ABC, CBS, and NBC have been counting down to Thanksgiving by counting calories. In the past week, from Nov. 18-24, five network stories have bashed traditional Thanksgiving food because it's…

CBS Early Show Touts Obama State Dinner As ‘Hottest Ticket in Town

November 24th, 2009 5:30 PM
On Tuesday’s CBS Early Show, correspondent Nancy Cordes reported on the Obamas hosting their first state dinner in the White House and declared: “Everyone wants one, but only a few hundred are lucky enough to get an invitation to the hottest ticket in town...” Cordes concluded her brief report by mentioning: “Pop entertainer and Chicagoan Jennifer Hudson will entertain the guests, giving everyone…

CBS’s Smith Frets Over Left-Wing Opposition to Obama Afghanistan Str

November 24th, 2009 3:20 PM
Speaking with Brookings Institution analyst Michael O’Hanlon on Tuesday about President Obama’s upcoming decision to increase troop levels in Afghanistan, CBS Early Show co-host Harry Smith worried: “...how much is this going to cost him on the Left? Because I’m – I’ve got this sense that there will be people on the Left of President Obama who are not pleased by this.”Despite representing a…

CBS Early Show Highlights Mom Giving Medical Marijuana to Autistic Son

November 23rd, 2009 1:04 PM
Continuing the push for medical marijuana, on Monday’s CBS Early Show co-host Russ Mitchell declared: “As more youngsters are being diagnosed with autism, there is a growing need for alternative treatments. One California mother says medical marijuana has made vast improvements in her autistic son.”Correspondent Hattie Kauffman reported: “Joey is severely autistic, so uninterested in food he was…

CBS’s 'Early Show' Skips Grilling of Geithner, Lawmakers Calling for

November 20th, 2009 12:24 PM
CBS’s Early Show on Friday completely ignored the grilling Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner received on Capitol Hill on Thursday and the calls for his resignation by members of Congress. ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today both covered the contentious exchanges. ABC’s Good Morning America provided the most coverage. Correspondent Bianna Golodryga observed that "a handful of Republicans and…

CBS’s Smith Sees No Left-Wing Agenda in NYC Terror Trials

November 19th, 2009 12:53 PM
On Thursday’s CBS Early Show, after Rudy Giuliani suggested the Obama administration was trying to “satisfy left-wing critics” by trying 9/11 terrorists in civilian court, incredulous co-host Harry Smith saw no such connection: “But Hang on. So it’s – so the idea of them being tried in open court is a left-wing political agenda?”Smith began the interview with the former New York City Mayor by…