Media Matters

Transition

Fox News' Napolitano advanced Communist smear against MN Sec. of State Ritchie
Fox News' Andrew Napolitano baselessly claimed that Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is a "former member of the Communist Party." Discussing the members appointed to the Minnesota State Canvassing Board, which oversees the recount in the Minnesota Senate race, Napolitano stated: "The fifth member of the committee by statute, is the secretary of state, who is a Democrat and a former communist -- former member of the Communist Party." Napolitano provided no evidence to support his claim that Ritchie is "a former communist" or a "former member of the Communist Party." Read More

O'Reilly falsely claimed Coleman "was certified the winner" in MN Senate race

Media Matters: The media's Minnesota debacle

Vanity Fair's Hitchens somehow missed ample evidence that Clinton is respected by military leaders
On MSNBC, discussing the possible appointment of Sen. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Christopher Hitchens said of Clinton: "It's only true that she's respected in the Pentagon if people go around saying so. I've never heard that before." In fact, media outlets have previously reported that Clinton "has gained a lot of respect among military leadership" and has "built relationships" with military leaders such as Gen. David H. Petraeus and Adm. William J. Fallon. Clinton also received the endorsement of numerous retired generals and admirals during her 2008 presidential campaign. Read More

MSNBC's Gregory's claim that "everybody is talking about" Hitchens' anti-Clinton comments is false -- unless "everybody" is MSNBC

Media

Covering new presidents: the media's double standard
By Eric Boehlert
The desire among journalists to be tough on Democrats in 2009 for fear of being tagged liberal or "in the tank" could certainly come into play when Barack Obama is inaugurated. Because just as the press was derided by Republicans for going too easy on the Democratic baby boomer candidate in 1992, reporters and pundits have been under constant attack in 2008 for going too soft on the Democratic baby boomer candidate. So, in order to "prove" their independence, will journalists unleash an assault on the new Democratic White House the way they did against Clinton? Read More

Media continue to uncritically report McCain campaign attacks on their coverage, but case studies still show disparate coverage in McCain's favor

Radio

Women, minorities, autistic children: Conservative radio's vitriol not reserved for Obama
As Media Matters for America documented, the nationwide network of conservative radio hosts -- personalities without the national prominence of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh -- engaged in an all-out effort to foment hate and suspicion of Barack Obama by participating actively in an echo chamber of smears and falsehoods about the primary candidate and then Democratic nominee. But these same radio hosts were by no means discerning in their vitriol and did not save their ire solely for Obama. Immigrants, female politicians (and women in general), the LGBT community, the poor and homeless, minorities, progressives, unions, college students, and even autistic children were targets of these radio personalities' invective. Read more

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