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
I agree. This is a pretty poor example of bias.
McDermott: "
I believe that sometimes they give out misinformation. Lyndon Johnson did it in the Vietnam War.
I suppose it would have been asking too much for Boy Wonder to point out that LBJ was a lying RAT of the highest order. Maybe he's just so accustomed to RAT lies that it comes as no surprise to him either, hence not noteworthy. Ironic that McDermott would choose a former Dim president in a lame effort to discredit "W"; maybe he wasn't thinking clearly ; )
In any case, the fact that Boy Wonder gave these two card carrying commies ANY time to spew their treasonous bilge is reprehensible. From Bent Willie apologist to abc anchor? Boy Wonder never even had to break stride.
FGS
ABC shames the concept of "free press". How many stories do democrats feed network news anchors to keep them on the liberal farm? I'm sure these people don't take cash for bribes, but good stories, hot leads, the right folks to talk to -- are these not bribes of a kind? ABCCBSNBC are unworthy of the sacrifice Americans have paid for a free press.
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.