Posted on 08/11/2004 1:06:50 PM PDT by cyncooper
That was quite a media slugfest on CNBC Sunday when Fox's Bill O'Reilly faced off with New York Times columnist Paul Krugman on Tim Russert's morning show. But the real elbowing might have been behind the cameras - between Russert and "Hardball" host Chris Matthews.
A tipster tells us that Matthews had asked O'Reilly to come on "Hardball" to do battle with ideological foe Krugman, in part to "show that he could get ratings on MSNBC." According to our snoop, the proposed sale of Slate.com has Matthews worried that MSNBC parent Microsoft might pull funding and shutter "Hardball." That would force Matthews to look for another berth - possibly on Fox. So he was looking to make an impression.
I don't know how seriously the "possibly on Fox" is, but it might do him some good.
PING
Can't argue with you there!
Yeah, like when they hired Geraldo.
Bill O'Idiot was the wrong choice....I would pay per vision to see Krugman face off against the Krugman Truth Squad.
Hardball had a small section on the First Lady's speech on embryonic stem cell research.
They misquoted her. They misled the audience about her statements. They didn't even try to show the speech. They spent a couple of minutes commenting on how insensitive it was for the First Lady to say a couple of things in her speech about how it was wrong for the proponents of embryonic stem cell research to pretend that throwing a lot of public money at it would result in cures any time soon.
Hardball host and two other members of the MSNBC participated in this fraud. They never once made a distinction between adult stem cell research and embryonic stem cell research. They didn't mention that the First Lady's remarks were about "embryonic" stem cell research. They didn't bother explaining how the President is funding embryonic stem cell research, and why he is funding it that way.
I have yet to see an issues oriented journalistic program analyzing the facts behind the issues that are part of this election. The news media seem content to keep the general public in the dark as to the facts and backgrounds.
It occurs to me that the war in Iraq, the war on terror, and the economy might not be the deciding factors in this election. The deciding factor might be the fact that the news media has done a major disservice to the public by preferring sensationalist journalism and partisanship to true journalism. Then again, the only partisanship the journalists of this nation should have is Americana. They should take the side of America in a global world where the journalists have cloaked their anti-Americanism with the broad excuse of "globalism".
And Fox News is not partisan enough to balance out CNN, MSNBC, and CBS. Fox News may not be perfectly balanced, and may lean a little to the right, but they still give much of their time to the left's spin doctoring. Fox News could produce exposés on stem cell research, French President Chirac, Saddam's torture chambers, and they can update their stories from the front to include the more recent good things that our soldiers have done out there besides the fighting.
Thanks for that report.
I'm more or less boycotting Hardball (oh, I take a peek now and then to confirm my observation that Matthews has gone insane for sure) so I missed the appalling spectacle you describe.
I join with others in hoping Fox realizes they do not need the likes of Chris Matthews who should be ashamed of himself.
David Schuster does most of the reporting for "Hardball." I don't know how he hid his liberal ignorance during his time at FOX, but he basks in it now.
I would get such a laugh out of Chrissy having to go hat in hand to FOX. I don't think they'd hire him, though - he's even too dumb for CNN.
anyone get any screenshots of Krugman? He looked terrified of O'Reilly. heh. His eyes...
I remember getting a hint of Shuster's leanings during impeachment and a report I recall he did from Little Rock when Ken Starr was down there for the grand jury in that city. My eyebrows went up, I remember.
I don't have the screenshots but saw them and I know just what you mean.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.