Media Matters calls out Hardball over Allen's appearance
By: Corey
Published On: 6/21/2006 6:58:05 AM
"Hardball for Dean, softball for Allen: MSNBC's O'Donnell echoed Republican attacks, misleading statements" reads the title of the media watchdog group Media Matters' latest alert. The group is calling out MSNBC and guest host Norah O'Donnell for their very different treatment of Democratic leader Howard Dean and soon to be ex-Senator George Allen.
Summary: During separate one-on-one interviews with Howard Dean and Sen. George Allen, MSNBC's Kelly O'Donnell gave starkly different treatments to each -- asking Dean to respond to Republican attacks on Democrats for most of his interview, while favoring Allen with only two questions that asked him to address criticism of Republicans.
Also see Dan's diary for more deatils.
Comments
My Message to Hardball (Tony Mastalski - 6/21/2006 8:57:49 AM)
In reviewing this episode what I'm left with is a wholly bias interview with Nora favoring and even fawning over republican conservative demagogues.
If Nora had her way with George Allen I think she'd have his babies. Wonderful stuff George Allen and gestation periods in IOWA.
In case you haven't notice .... Nora .... Chris... Not only is "dumb as a fence post" Allen being challenged as a "do nothing" compliant sitting Senator....
He will be exposed for what he is .... a shallow careerist politician. The contrast will be stark.... Jim Webb who is accomplished and authentic will expose Allen the impostor in the run up of this election.... regardless of the spin machine you operate.
No not on your show .... as Nora is to busy positioning her self with the fantasy presidential wannabe.
Media does matter .... I for one with stick with the Jim Lehrer Newshour.
Tony Mastalski
Fredericksburg, VA
Im not too concerned about this (AlecBGreen - 6/21/2006 9:30:50 AM)
and you shouldnt be either. Of course the media is biased. Of course the Dems get rough treatment (except for Joementum). So what? We should be able to stand up for ourselves and say all the louder what we believe in. Call the media whores out on it and throw it right back in their face.
IMHO
-Alec
No surprise (Dan - 6/21/2006 10:00:14 AM)
Funny, I thought the same thing when I saw it. However, I didn't get to watch the Dean interview. However, I think every time the press talks to Dean, they like to beat up on him. Personally, I can't blame them sometimes. Heck, even Jon Stewart started going after him a little bit once.
Still, Norah O'Donnell and George Allen should have gotten a room together. She was WAY TOO EASY on him. She looked like a giddy school girl. However, it seems like Chris Matthews is usually pretty easy on Allen. He was just hard on Dick Wadhams.
As for O'Donnell, she is not normally "right-wing", and rarely, if ever, defends the White House. At least as far as I have seen. However, I still think she it pretty cute!
Just saying.
Look to O'Donnell's Husband for Her Rationale (Matt H - 6/21/2006 10:10:13 AM)
O'Donnell is married to a Fox News Commentator, who was previously an operative in the Republican party (I actually may have the sequence reversed). I've NEVER seen her ask impartial questions and she tends to get smug while interviewing Dem.s.
However, all of the corporate media always has a great incentive to support the current administration since war, makes good business sense for GE/NBC, et. al. Why wreck a good profit center?
You have O'Donnell confused with someone else (va.walter - 6/21/2006 11:04:49 AM)
O'Donnell's husband is not in the media. He is a restaurant guy in D.C. Here's a link to her bio on MSNBC.com.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3688941/
Correction (Matt H - 6/21/2006 1:08:07 PM)
You are correct and I was thinking of NBC's Campbell Brown who married Dan Senor, the Fox News Republican strategist who was an advisor to Paul Bremer. You are entirely correct.