STEVE DOOCY: New York Governor Eliot Spitzer having a rough week. That seems to be an understatement. But would media coverage of his sex scandal be even tougher if he were a Republican?
ALISYN CAMEROTA: Brent Bozell is the president of the Media Research Center and he joins us now from D.C. So you've been monitoring all of the network coverage of this and you say that on two of the networks, ABC and NBC, in their coverage of Eliot Spitzer they haven't even mentioned that he's a Democrat?!
BRENT BOZELL: It's unbelievable. Two days ago on the "Today" show. Fourteen segments. Not once did they mention he was a Democrat.
DOOCY: You're kidding.
BOZELL: ABC and then NBC "Nightly News" two days ago, not once mentioned that he was a Democrat, "Good Morning America," not once mentioned that he was a Democrat. ABC nightly news, not once mentioned that he was a Democrat. CBS, one mention on the nightly news, no mention on the morning news. AP did a three-paragraph breaking story, never mentioned that he was a Democrat, then they came out with a full story, never mentioned he was a Democrat. Last night, NBC, never mentioned he was a Democrat. Last night, ABC never mentioned that he was a Democrat. It is unbelievable.
DOOCY: You know, remember back with the [then-Rep.] Gary Condit scandal, barely mentioned he was a Democrat. Now the same thing with Eliot Spitzer. However with [Sens.] Larry Craig and David Vitter, did they jump on "he's a Republican!"?
BOZELL: Yeah, in less than 8 percent of the stories on Condit that we covered did they mention that he was a Democrat. The mayor of Detroit who was caught in a sex scandal, never mentioned that he was a Democrat. But everyone who knows the word Larry Craig knows he's a Republican. Everyone who knows Mark Foley, the disgraced congressman from Florida, knows he was a Republican, why, because they attached the label to him every single time, as they should.
CAMEROTA: So because you think that party affiliation is relevant?
BOZELL: Well, you know, it's like saying that Eli Manning is a football player but never mentioning that he plays for the Giants when you do a story. It's a part of the story, of course it is.
DOOCY: You know, something else that's interesting. We talked yesterday on this program we talked about the fact that Eliot Spitzer is a superdelegate for Hillary Rodham Clinton. We talked about whether or not they'd be political ramifications for her. And yet in the mainstream media, nada!
BOZELL: Well, there won't be political ramifications if nobody knows that he's a Democrat. Now, I hate to be conspiratorial about it but look, the evidence is the evidence, they're just not saying he's a Democrat. I mean, and you know, at the same time anytime there's a Republican sex scandal, they can't stop talking about the Republican sleaze.
DOOCY: I know. Not fair. Alright, Brent Bozell. His Web site is MRC.org and its all right there. Brent, always a pleasure.
There are a very interseting set of comments following the story, one from a liberal an another from a conservative who literally destroys him:
Jer (liberal)
Give me a break...this has been the most intensively reported three-day story in a very long time--and no one can possibly contend that the coverage has been favorable to Mr. Spitzer.
The print media didn't identify him as a Democrat? Nonsense. The New York Times broke the story, published a slew of articles and consistently identified Spitzer as a Democrat. So did the lead AP stories, as did the Washington Post, the LA Times, and USA Today left no doubt whatsoever about which party he belonged to.
I know it's been mentioned on CNN, MSNBC, and CBS as well as on local network affiliates and the liberal blogs. The notion that this scandal has been buried, or Spitzer's party afiliation deliberately concealed is laughable. [As I type this, CNN is speculating on whether his successor will be more liberal or less liberal than Spitzer has been.]
Here's MrShy (Conservative)
Below are seven selected major online news sites:
CNN
MSNBC
CBS News
ABC News
NY Times
Washington Post
CNBC
Comparison: Spitzers resignation and Craig's resignation (or related articale at that time)
For some, I've pulled the first 3 or 4 paragraphs, and usually a few more for Spitzer just to further demonstrate.
SPITZER:
"Democrat" - 1
"DNC" - 0
CRAIG:
"Republican" - 16
"GOP" - 4
Some R's and GOP's are right in the headline, some in the subhead, some articles have up to 4 instances in the first few paragraphs, and one paragraph injects the word 3 TIMES!
What's more hilarious -- although, really, it makes me that much more ill -- is the one D mention is to annouce Spitzer's successor, which is uplifting news (legally blind black man, etc..)
Jer, it's clear as day, it's beyond corrupt, and it's just out-right sickening.
I won't even go into the many ways that Spitzer is painted in a more glowing light, of a man who made a mistake. Craig is basically thrown to the wolves, and top to bottom there are mentions of the crisis within the GOP, etc..
ELIOT SPITZER SCANDAL:
http://www.cnn.com/2...
'Deeply sorry,' Spitzer to step down by Monday
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday that he will step down from the state's top office, saying he cannot allow his "private failings to disrupt the public's work."
"I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me," he said in a brief news conference announcing his intention to resign, effective Monday. "I will try once again outside of politics to serve the common good."
He added, "Our greatest glory consists not in never falling but in rising every time we fall."
The announcement came as the New York governor faces allegations -- but no charges -- that he is tied to an international prostitution ring ensnared in a federal probe.
- - - - -
http://www.msnbc.msn...
Spitzer resigns after stunning fall from power
N.Y. governor was repeat prostitution customer, may have spent $80,000
ALBANY, N.Y. - New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned on Wednesday, completing a stunning fall from power after he was nationally disgraced by links to a high-priced prostitution ring.
"I cannot allow for my private failings to disrupt the people's work," he said with his wife at his side at his Manhattan office. “I’m deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me."
Democratic Lt. Gov. David Peterson will become governor when Spitzer’s resignation is made effective on Monday, March 17. Paterson will be New York's first black governor.
- - - - -
http://www.cbsnews.c...
It's Official: N.Y. Gov Calls It Quits
Eliot Spitzer Apologizes For Sex Scandal And Resigns After Being Linked To Prostitution Ring
CBS/AP) Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in disgrace Wednesday after getting caught in a call-girl scandal that shattered his corruption-fighting, straight-arrow image, saying: "I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work."
Spitzer will be replaced by Lt. Gov. David Paterson, who becomes New York's first black governor, effective Monday. Spitzer's minute-long statement made no mention of whether he had reached a deal with federal prosecutors to avoid charges.
"I go forward with the belief as others have said that as human beings our greatest glory consists not in never falling but in rising every time we fall," Spitzer said at a Manhattan news conference with his wife, Silda, at his side. He left without answering questions.
- - - - -
http://abcnews.go.co...
ABC News: Spitzer Resigns; White Knight Tarnished by Prostitution Scandal
Spitzer Resigns: 'I Cannot Allow My Private Failings to Disrupt the People's Work'
Eliot Spitzer resigned as governor of New York at a press conference in Manhattan today.
"Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct," Spitzer said with his wife Silda by his side again. "I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor."
"I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me...I look at my time as governor with a sense of what might have been," Spitzer said, apologizing for the second time this week. "There is much more to be done, and I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work."
"The remorse I feel will always be with me," he added. "I hope all of New York will join my prayers for my friend, David Paterson, as he embarks on his new mission."
- - - - -
http://www.nytimes.c...
SPITZER RESIGNS
Accepts Responsibility for ‘Failings’
Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson Set to Succeed Him
Gov. Eliot Spitzer, reeling from a prostitution scandal, announced his resignation today, and said that David A. Paterson would take office Monday.
- - - - -
http://www.washingto...
Eliot Spitzer Resigns as N.Y. Governor
Rising star bows to mounting pressure to step down after he was identified as a client of a high-priced prostitution service.
- - - - -
http://www.cnbc.com/...
Spitzer Quits as Governor Over Call-Girl Scandal
Eliot Spitzer resigned as governor of New York, effective Monday, two days after being implicated in a prostitution ring.
"I look at my time as governor, with a sense of what might have been," Spitzer said from his New York Office.
"There's much more to be done and I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work," Spitzer continued. "Over the course of my public life I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself."
Spitzer will be succeeded by Lt. Gov. David Paterson, who will become New York's first black governor and the first in the nation's history who is legally blind. Spitzer said he consulted with Paterson on picking a resignation date that "will allow an orderly transition."
= = = = = =
LARRY CRAIG SCANDAL:
http://www.cnn.com/2...
Craig stripped of party leadership on Senate committees
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Larry Craig has agreed to temporarily step down as the leading Republican on several Senate committees as pressure mounts within his party for him to resign.
On Wednesday, three Republican lawmakers, including Sen. John McCain, called on Craig to resign.
Their statements came a day after Craig made his first public statement about pleading guilty to a disorderly conduct charge relating to allegations the Idaho Republican solicited sex in a Minneapolis airport bathroom.
- - - - -
http://www.msnbc.msn...
Craig resigns over airport bathroom sex sting
Republican U.S. senator from Idaho to leave Senate on Sept. 30 after arrest
BOISE, Idaho - After a week filled with scandalous headlines and ribald late-night TV humor at the expense of one of their own, Republican leaders got what they wanted Saturday: the resignation of Idaho Sen. Larry Craig.
“Senator Craig made the right decision for himself, for his family, his constituents and the United States Senate,” said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.
One of Craig’s harshest critics, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Craig “made a difficult decision, but the right one.”
- - - - -
http://www.cbsnews.c...
Larry Craig Resigns From Senate
Idaho Republican Announces Departure Effective Sept. 30, After Calls From Within Party To Quit Over Arrest
(CBS/AP) In a subdued ending to a week of startling political theater, Sen. Larry Craig announced his resignation Saturday, bowing to pressure from fellow Republicans worried about damage from his arrest and guilty plea in a gay sex sting.
- - - - -
http://abcnews.go.co...
GOP Sen. Craig Resigns Over Sex Sting
Idaho GOP Sen. Larry Craig Resigns in Storm Over Sex Sting in Minneapolis Airport Men's Room
Sen. Larry Craig resigned Saturday over a men's room sex sting, bowing to pressure from fellow Republicans worried about a scandal dimming their election prospects.
- - - - -
http://www.nytimes.c...
Craig Said to Consider Not Resigning
Published: September 5, 2007
WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 — Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho opened the door Tuesday to returning to the Senate, creating another twist in his unfolding political drama and raising the possibility of an ugly showdown with national Republican leaders.
Dan Whiting, a spokesman for Mr. Craig, an Idaho Republican, said Tuesday night that Mr. Craig had not ruled out reversing his plan to step down Sept. 30. After intense pressure from Republican colleagues in the Senate, Mr. Craig announced Saturday that it would be best for “the people of Idaho” if he resigned after the disclosure of his guilty plea last month to disorderly conduct charges stemming from his arrest in June in a Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport bathroom.
“As he stated on Saturday, Senator Craig intends to resign on Sept. 30,” Mr. Whiting said in a statement. “However, he is fighting these charges, and should he be cleared before then, he may, and I emphasize may, not resign.”
- - - - -
http://www.washingto...
Craig Is Expected To Resign Today
GOP Senate Picture Is Clouded Further
Saturday, September 1, 2007; Page A01
Abandoned by his party, Sen. Larry E. Craig of Idaho is expected to announce today that he will resign his seat amid criticism over his arrest and guilty plea in a police sting operation in an airport men's room, according to two national Republican officials.
They said Craig began notifying party leaders of his decision last night, telling them he will step down Sept. 30.
Craig has scheduled a news conference for midday today in Boise. His spokesman, Dan Whiting, would not comment on resignation plans, saying: "He will make an announcement about his plans tomorrow morning."
- - - - -
http://www.cnbc.com/...
Wednesday, 5 Sep 2007
Sen. Larry Craig Creating Pain And Headlines
The Republican headache that is the Larry Craig scandal just turned into a migraine. By signaling that he might reconsider his decision to resign, the humiliated Republican has extended his party's pain--the headlines, the late night TV jokes, the discomfort within the Senate Republican Caucus.
Perhaps no one should be surprised. Two things have happened since Craig offered what GOP leaders had hoped would be a quick, clean conclusion to the scandal. One is heightened commentary criticized the actions of police in such "sting" operations targeting behavior that on its face is essentially benign. The other is a raft of stories about the decision by fellow Republicans to push Craig overboard to protect themselves.
Rarely in the era of slapdowns has one been done so thoroughly.
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