CBS’s Rodriguez: Bank Nationalization A ‘Necessary Evil

February 24th, 2009 4:36 PM
On Tuesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez spoke with FDIC Chairwoman Shelia Bair and asked: "I can't think of a better morning to have you here, because all the talk is about the bank and if you look at the cover of The Washington Post, there it is, the n-word, 'nationalization,' which you have said you would be surprised if we get to that point. But isn't it maybe going to be a…

CBS’s Smith ‘Wept Openly’ Over Sean Penn’s Milk Performance

February 23rd, 2009 11:30 AM
On Monday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith played a clip of himself talking to left-wing actor Sean Penn following the Oscars Sunday night: "In a night full of first-time winners, Sean Penn took home his second Oscar as best actor for his emotional performance as slain gay civil rights activist Harvey Milk in Milk. I caught up with him and other big winners at the Governor's Ball." During…

CBS: ‘Hardline’ Netanyahu May ‘Dim Hopes for Peace’ in Israel

February 20th, 2009 4:09 PM
On Friday’s CBS Early Show, correspondent Jeff Glor reported on conservative leader Benjamin Netanyahu being chosen as Israel’s prime minister: "Israel's president chose hardline Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu today to form a new Israeli government. As prime minister, Netanyahu will try to cobble together a coalition of right-wing parties. Such a government might dim hopes for peace with the…

CBS Criticizes GOP Governors for Opposing Stimulus

February 19th, 2009 12:48 PM
On Thursday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith opened the show by declaring: "As President Obama heads on his first foreign trip, some state governors are saying 'thanks, but no thanks' to the stimulus money, even in these desperate times. We'll ask one of them why." Later, co-host Maggie Rodriguez interviewed Republican South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and asked: "Even if it takes a while…

CBS Praises Big Government, Offers No Opposing View

February 18th, 2009 5:49 PM
On Tuesday’s CBS Evening News, correspondent Chip Reid described Barack Obama’s signing of the massive "stimulus" spending bill into law: "After a mere four weeks in office, the President today signed what he called ‘the most sweeping economic recovery plan in American history’...A new law that he described as a new beginning...In Missouri, the reaction was instantaneous. As the bill was signed,…

Network Morning Shows Downplay Burris Perjury Allegations

February 16th, 2009 1:52 PM
Monday morning show coverage of allegations that Illinois Senator Roland Burris may have perjured himself with respect to connections to impeached Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich minimized calls for investigation or Burris’s resignation. On the CBS Early Show, correspondent Thailia Assuras explained: "State Republican lawmakers are calling for Senator Roland Burris to resign and be investigated…

CBS: Global Warming Increasing; ‘Vicious Cyle’ That ‘Must Be Bro

February 16th, 2009 12:13 PM
At the top of the 8AM hour of Monday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith hyped a new report on Global Warming: "A dire new warning about global warming. Why is the world's climate heating up faster than scientists have predicted?" Co-host Maggie Rodriguez later introduced the segment with similar alarmism: "An alarming warning from scientists this morning. Global warming is happening much…

CBS: ‘Obstructionist’ Republicans Oppose ‘Large-Scale Government

February 16th, 2009 10:54 AM
On Monday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez asked Republican Congressman Eric Cantor about President Obama’s proposed housing bill: "Unlike the stimulus, will you urge your fellow Republicans in the House to support this?" When Cantor criticized the proposed bill and the passage of the "stimulus" bill, Rodriguez declared: "But Congressman, it's clear that Americans are begging for help…

Network Morning Shows Mostly Ignore Gregg Withdrawal; Census Grab

February 13th, 2009 4:21 PM
CBS's "Early Show" and ABC's "Good Morning America" on Friday almost entirely ignored the embarrassing departure of yet another of Barack Obama's cabinet nominees, with only NBC's "Today" providing any real information on the event. GMA devoted a scant 15 seconds to the withdrawal of Republican Senator Judd Gregg as the President's second nominee for Commerce Secretary. (Previous choice Bill…

CBS ‘Early Show’ Claims Abraham Lincoln Was Gay

February 12th, 2009 12:19 PM
In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on Thursday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Maggie Rodriguez did a segment highlighting five, "...things you may not know about Honest Abe," including his sexual orientation. The segment featured New York University history professor Jeffrey Sammons, who argued: "One of the very interesting stories about Abraham Lincoln is that he…

CBS: Possible Netanyahu Win Means Rise of ‘Right Wing Fringe’ in I

February 11th, 2009 2:38 PM
On Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, correspondent Richard Roth reported on the outcome of the Israeli election and a possible victory for the conservative parties led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "So, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims victory, too, with fewer votes, but it's believed more support from his traditional allies in right wing parties...there's a clear sign…

CBS: Obama Supporter Julio ‘Shocked’ By President’s ‘Sincerity

February 11th, 2009 11:22 AM
On Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen spoke with Obama supporter Julio Asegueda, who attended the president’s economic town hall in Florida on Tuesday: "President Obama took his economic stimulus message to Fort Myers, Florida yesterday. And in the crowd of 1,500 he heard real stories of economic struggle and hardship, including from 19-year-old college student Julio Asegueda." By…

Early Show: Matrimony is Merely Monetary

February 10th, 2009 1:38 PM
Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and the Early Show decided to talk love: love of money that is. Host Harry Smith and his male guests agonized over losing assets in a marriage, while Julie Chen rightly called them out, saying marriage is much more than a business deal. Matt Titus, a guest on the February 10th broadcast and co-author of the book Why Hasn’t He Proposed, lamented over the…

CBS ‘Early Show’ Fact Checks Obama Press Conference

February 10th, 2009 11:57 AM
On Tuesday’s CBS Early Show, co-host Julie Chen took an unusually critical tone toward President Obama’s first press conference on Monday night: "President Obama takes to prime time to pitch his nearly trillion-dollar rescue plan...But does the president have his facts straight? And what does a trillion dollars really buy you? We'll tell you." In a later report on the press conference…