Media Bias Outrage of the Week - George Stephanopoulos Shows His True Colors

Citizens Coalition for Responsible Media (CCRM) ^ | 10/07/2002 | Peacerose

[Peacerose]

George Stephanopoulos
Shows His True Colors

10/07/2002
When George Stephanopoulos was made anchor of ABC's This Week, a Sunday morning news program, media bias activists were quick to express contempt for ABC's decision. The idea that Clinton's former spinmeister could morph from liberal propagandist to balanced journalist seemed both laughable and sinister.

Last weekend, Stephanopoulos put on such a vivid display of his true colors as to leave no doubt even to the "give-the-lad-a-chance" protagonists. The September 29 edition of This Week opened with Stephanopoulos' pre-taped interview with Congressmen Bonior (D-MI) and McDermott (D-WA) in Baghdad. After they had ranted about the success of past weapons inspections and Iraqi cooperation and the terrible diseases inflicted on the Iraqi children by cruel and uncaring Americans, the discussion ended like this:

Stephanopoulos: "Finally, Mr. McDermott, before you left for Baghdad, you said 'the President of the United States will lie to the American people in order to get us into this war.' Do you really believe that?"
McDermott: "I believe that sometimes they give out misinformation. Lyndon Johnson did it in the Vietnam War. Both David and I were in that war* and there was no Gulf of Tonkin incident. The President lied to Congress about how many people he was going to put into Vietnam or whether in Laos or whether in Cambodia. It would not surprise me if they came with some information that is not provable and they shifted. First they said it was al-Qaeda, then they said it was weapons of mass destruction. Now they're going back and saying it's al-Qaeda again. When will that stop? Why don't they let the inspectors come so that we can disarm Saddam Hussein. Both David and I want to disarm him. That's gotta be very clear. He's not a very good guy.
Stephanopoulos: "But do you have any evidence the President has lied?"
McDermott: "I think the President would mislead the American people."

That accomplished, Stephanopoulos thanked the anti-American congressmen and turned to his in-studio guest, Senator Don Nickles (R-OK). He began the discussion be asking Nickles about the liberal notion that the U.S. should wait until the UN weapons inspectors have spent a few months in Iraq and then study their report. Nickles went straight to the point:

"I'm really troubled by what I just heard. Congressman McDermott said, well I think the President would mislead the American people and basically he's taking Saddam Hussein's lines, they both sound somewhat like spokespersons for the Iraqi government."

Stephanopoulos response: "That's a pretty harsh charge."

So we are meant to accept that the charge by McDermott that the President of the United States would lie to American citizens is not "harsh" and in fact, not even an unusual thing to say. However, for a Republican senator to question the "over-the-edge" comments of two liberal congressmen is too much to let pass without a scolding.

This is a perfect example of why the media bias community has objected to ABC's choice of George Stephanopoulos as the anchor of This Week. He is far too liberal in his personal beliefs to have any sense of balance between left and right. The only news he should be allowed to touch is the newspaper that arrives on his front step every morning!

Please join me in communicating our disgust to ABC. Below is the contact information.

This Week
ABC News
77 West 66th Street
New York, New York 10023

Phone 212-456-7777
FAX 212-456-4292

E-mail contact page

Read more here:

MRC CyberAlert, 09/30/2002: Stephanopoulos Scolds Critics of Liberals

*FoxNews.com: Vietnam Veterans or Not?

*NewsMax.com: 'Hanoi Jane' McDermott Caught in Lie About Being Vietnam War Vet

NewsMax.com: House Democrats Visit Iraq to Stymie Bush

FoxNews.com: Democrat Lawmakers Defend Iraq Visit

FoxNews.com: Congressmen Visit Baghdad and Send Warning to the President

FoxNews.com: Four Congressmen Take Heat for Iraq Visit -- but Not Among Constituents

[Peacerose]

Citizens Coalition for Responsible Media (CCRM) is the Free Republic Network media bias chapter. You are invited to visit our website at www.fairpress.org.

[William McKinley]

Your Donation Helps Counter These Guys
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD

[Peacerose]

Flag!

[dirtboy]

I saw this. Stephi was actually better than you give him credit for - it's not just the words that matter, but the intonation. For example, "That's a pretty harsh charge" was more of a lead-in for Nickle's next statement to qualify, and was spoken more as a question. Also, what is biased about the two questions you cited?

Stephanopoulos: "Finally, Mr. McDermott, before you left for Baghdad, you said 'the President of the United States will lie to the American people in order to get us into this war.' Do you really believe that?"

Stephanopoulos: "But do you have any evidence the President has lied?"

Those seem pretty straitforward to me, and they definitely put the guys on the spot.

[Peacerose]

Thanks, William! What a fabulous graphic!

[bert]

This weeks Talking point to the CCRM Talk Radio mailing list:

America's talking about..... George Stephanopoulous

"When George Stephanopoulos was made anchor of ABC's This Week, a Sunday morning news program, media bias activists were quick to express contempt for ABC's decision. The idea that Clinton's former spinmeister could morph from liberal propagandist to balanced journalist seemed both laughable and sinister."

"This is a perfect example of why the media bias community has objected to ABC's choice of George Stephanopoulos as the anchor of This Week. He is far too liberal in his personal beliefs to have any sense of balance between left and right. The only news he should be allowed to touch is the newspaper that arrives on his front step every morning!"

Visit Fairpress.org for the complete article.

"America Is Talking About" is a talking point intended to focus for a moment or so the power of talk radio on the bias of the mainstream media about.......George Stephanopoulos

[Wolfstar]

I've already joined this effort by not tuning into This Week ever since they made the announcement that Georgie Poo would be the anchor of the show.

[E.G.C.]

I'll go ahead and bump this. Thanks Peacerose for the bump and the article.

Folks, please remember to support CCRM as they continue their efforts to expose the establishment for what they are. Their website is one of the best and most informative places to visit on the issue of media bias.
Regards.

[Peacerose]

I hope little Georgie's ears are burning!

[Peacerose]

You're right - it is a media event to be missed.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

I don't like Stephanopulos and I don't whatch ABC Sunday but the Steph's interview seems pretty straightforward. I find the comentator who tries to indict him for this particular show quite hysterical.

[RAT Patrol]

I sent my letter.

[Paleo Conservative]

George Will ought to leave ABC and move to FOX.

[TheGrimReaper]

George Will slapped little Georgie around pretty good on the 10/6 program, though. In fact, little Georgie was so stunned, he had to cop-out with "Well, that's all the time we have for this week".

Once a Klinton sycophant - always a Klinton sycophant.

[MeekOneGOP]

Media Bias Outrage of the Week - George
Stephanopoulos Shows His True Colors

Truly Outrageous Media Bias......
Revolves around Bonior and McDermott in Baghdad.

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Hey, this would be serious if ABC were a news orginization. However, it has become clear that they are really a platform for sitcoms, game shows, and leftist propaganda. I don't think we should hold ABC to the same standard we would a real news source.

[2timothy3.16]

Sorry, my dog just did a George Stephanopoulos

[Landru]

"I don't think we should hold ABC to the same standard we would a real news source."

HA!!
Great suggection.
Just one chink here, BSoD.
There really aren't any others to hold a standard to, anymore.
~eh?? ;^)

Kind of like getting all dressed up with no where to go, y'know??
We've all this "standard," & only clowns to choose from amounst. :o)

... -BTTT-

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[weegee]

Stephanopoulos is a Jackass in Clymer clothing...