'Today' Has No Time for Negative Obama, Edwards Stories, But Plenty for Bush's '1776'

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

As the screencap shows, the cast of "Today" was really yukking it up this morning at George Bush's expense, recycling his "1776" gaffe on the occasion of the Queen's visit and updating the story with the Queen's retort. Between a show-opening tease and the later laugh-a-thon, the show devoted no less than 1 min, 43 seconds of its opening 21-minute 7:00 AM half-hour to the matter.

But, at least during that crucial first half-hour, "Today" somehow couldn't find a second to report on either of two stories with negative implications for Dem presidential candidates Obama and Edwards.

View video here.

Speaking in Virginia yesterday, Obama claimed that "ten thousand people died" in the Kansas tornado. He was only off by a factor of 1,000. Since we all know that Obama is brilliant, a Harvard law grad, why bother to pass along a story which doesn't fit the template?As for Edwards, in an interview yesterday with the Associated Press, he claimed that "he worked for a hedge fund between presidential campaigns to learn about financial markets and their relationship to poverty." Not that there's anything wrong with working for the financial industry, but still, shades of the politician caught taking bribes who claims he was conducting his own undercover investigation of corruption. By the way, at least for the time being, anti-poverty warrior Edwards has refused to disclose how much the hedge fund, Fortress Investment Group, paid him.

Again, nary a word in the first half-hour, discouraging or otherwise, from "Today" about Edwards extracurricular activities.

But President Bush and "1776"? Send in the clowns! Vieira sardonically reminded us of President Bush's "little verbal slip," and replayed the clip. "Today" then rolled footage of the Queen's retort, made at yesterday's reception at the British embassy, when she began a toast by asking the president whether she should start by saying "when I was here in 1776." Meredith, David Gregory and Al Roker then riffed off the episode, with Meredith suggesting that "they should go on the road -- to the Catskills!" Hehe.

ASIDE: No mention of Edwards' hedge fund work during the first half-hour of Good Morning America, but GMA did play a clip of Obama's 10,000-dead in Kansas mistake.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

“Today” buries negative Obama, Edwards stories, yucks it up over Bush’s 1776 ping to Today show list.

[cripplecreek]

10,000 dead out of 12 is only a minor misoverestimation.

[Sig Sauer P220]

How about Obama saying 10,000 people were killed in the Kansas tornado, instead of 10?

[seanmerc]

Yeah. I noticed the screencap includes David “Whiny Overpaid Crybaby Prima Donna Liberal Meathead” Gregory. Interesting payback to the President for inviting him and his wife to the state dinner for the Queen.

[ConservativeStatement]

One of the local news stations showed the foul up and the dimwitted newsbabe ended the story by saying “assembly” instead of “embassy” and then she corrected herself. The media are the true buffoons.

[albie]

“Speaking in Virginia yesterday, Obama claimed that “ten thousand people died” in the Kansas tornado. He was only off by a factor of 1,000”.

...not knowing how many people died to begin with, was it 9,000? Or was it 10? Or was it 9?

[PGalt]

Another great report and analysis. Thanks very much, Mark. BTTT!

[GoldenPup]

Nobody of any substance or intellegence watches these morning a$$holes, anyway...so who cares?

[colonel mosby]

Yet, somewhere in the bowels of the NBC executive offices, they’re scratching their heads and wondering why their “news” shows continue to suffer ever-diminishing ratings.

[God luvs America]

that clip makes our President look great...

[seanmerc]

I think David Gregory has a lot to do with that.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

It was about 10. A "factor of 1000" doesn't mean he was off by 1000, but by 1000 times the correct figure.

[Mr. K]

heeeeeyuk yuk yuk... no wonder Today is the top-rated mornign show!

... oh wait, it isn’t.

[Badeye]

Ummm, you were expecting what, exactly from this leftwing program?

Balance?

ROTFL!

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The fact is that more than 10 million Americans watch the morning shows every day and get a significant part of their news and views from them. As my tagline suggests, I think it’s worthwhile keeping track of their antics.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I’m into my fifth year of tracking the liberal bias of the Today show. I began doing vanity posts here, and a couple years ago was invited to join NewsBusters when it started up as MRC’s blog. While I have no illusions about Today’s objectivity, I believe it’s worthwhile to continue documenting its bias.

[Badeye]

“I’m into my fifth year of tracking the liberal bias of the Today show. I began doing vanity posts here, and a couple years ago was invited to join NewsBusters when it started up as MRC’s blog. While I have no illusions about Today’s objectivity, I believe it’s worthwhile to continue documenting its bias.”

I noble effort, to be sure. One worth doing.

[Fawn]

THey are so desparate.
I thought Bush's gaffe was very funny. See....the Dem's don't realize that the date 1776 is significant. They are so stupid they think he pulled that date out of the air....that's why it's such a big deal to them.

[The Pack Knight]

As for Edwards, in an interview yesterday with the Associated Press, he claimed that "he worked for a hedge fund between presidential campaigns to learn about financial markets and their relationship to poverty."

BWAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!

I can't... I can't believe I missed that one...

BWAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!

Oh, that's too good..