September 29th 2008
Media Bias #77
CBS Edited Palin To Increase ‘Hawkishness’
We have already reported how ABC edited Charlie Gibson’s interview with Sarah Palin to make her look less informed, and that they presented some of her answers out of context. It is with a complete lack of surprise that we now report that CBS did the same thing with the Couric/Palin interviews.
The blog The Iris has the details with extensive sections of deleted transcript. In quick summary, editors at CBS cut:
4 instances when Palin used the word “allies”
3 instances when Palin used the word “democracies”
3 instances when Palin used the word “friends”
3 instances when Palin used the word “nations”
They had committed to make her look hawkish, so they cut out references to diplomacy, caution and discussions - and yet they call themselves objective reporters. Oh, yeah? Here’s one cut passage:
(2:58) Couric: What, specifically, in your view, could be done to convince the new government in Pakistan to take a harder, tougher line against terrorists in that country?
Palin: At a time when new leadership comes in, that is the opportunity to forge better, tighter, more productive relationships and that’s what we’ll take advantage of with new leadership in the US and in Pakistan. And I’m sure that President Zardari, too, will agree with us as we commit to the support that Pakistan needs, that other nations in the region need, in order to win this war on terrorism. (3:32)
I understand editing for length; segment lengths are pretty inflexible in the ancient land of the MSM. That is what CBS will plea if and when this complaint ever gets the media’s attention (big if). But they’ll just be painting a false, pretty face on their dispicableness, just as they painted an false, ugly face on Palin’s moderateness.
Hat-tip Urgent Agenda via Jim
Media Bias 2008 covers pro-Obama media bias in the presidential campaign. Items are listed from most recent to oldest; the numbering reflects this and is not a ranking. Send Media Bias 2008 examples via “comments”‘ below, or to email2laer [@] yahoo [dot] com.
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Posted in Media Bias 2008 | 9 Comments » | 
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October 5th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Comments
September 29th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I think you may want to hide this particular entry.
The actual fact, is that CBS didn’t air several very embarrassing comments, by Gov Palin.
If you make a big deal about this, they could play those segments, which will do a lot more harm to Gov Palin.
I think the continual media-bashing, at this point, only gives the media more fuel to scrutinize Sen McCain.
As much as you like to attack the media, they’ve been relatively easy on McCain… they still express the McCain narrative (the hero, maverick, etc), which over the past few years, he’s not been.
Better to just leave it alone.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:26 am
…you could tell from how choppy it was…the fact is they still can’t destroy her record or suddenly give obama qualifications that his record show he simply does not have…
…the media coverage after the debate was almost as low as the coverage of palin…obama can’t remember the soldies name has to look down to read…the poor man’s parents don’t want obama using their son’s name…AND the press gives a PASS to this very cheap move on obama’s part…
…mccain mentions that obama has applied for pork at a rate of a million a day…no coverage on that…
…that obama heads a committee that he has never so much as called to a meeting….which falls in line with obama going places and accomplishing very little…what prof doesn’t publish…unheard except in the case of obama…PRESS gives him another pass
…mccain objectively mopped the floor with obama…his depth of knowledge was amazing…the press doesn’t comment on that
…I cannot believe how people who support him do not reason and actually defend him by claiming there is no press bias…there is no point talking to people that lack objectivity in such a total way…these are the same people that said we went to Afgan and Iraq for the oil…well where is the oil and where are they to admit they were wrong…same people who said Kerry was the only one qualified to be president because he had seen action in war and Bush had not…well then why would they support obama…it is one contradiction after they other and like obama they avoid any in depth discussions
…they can attack palin till the cows come home her record still speaks for itself and is far far superior to obama’s and you’ll notice biden the experienced one on the ticket has already gone into retreat to prepare for the debate…well if he is so experienced and palin is such a newcomer why does he need to prepare…mccain barely prepared and was brilliant…shouldn’t biden be able to do the same thing
September 29th, 2008 at 11:28 am
How is it that you think you have availability that was not there forthis blogger? Unless you can back up what you say here, you are no different than the entire Obama campaign. The media I agree has not said a great deal about McCain, but that is because they are far too busy pumping up a man they cannot be bothered to investigate. Funny how not one of them ahs ever bothered to ask Obama what exactly his job as a community organizer entailed. By the way, katie Coric has been a total failure as a newscaster, she never pulled in the numbers that could help failing CBS news in attempting to compete with cable news. She came across as being rather witchy in the few seconds of the interview that I have seen. God love her, she is trying so hard to compete in a man’s world that she has forgotten the first rule of a successful interviewer: setting your subject at ease. Oh well, she’ll be gone before much longer and then I might even see if CBS has learned the lessons of having millions of people do as I do nightly, change the channel and watch real journalism at work.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
If you think it was Katie’s fault the Palin can’t do a interview…. you are a real die hard republican. The republicans tried to throw in a monkey wrench in the election. This monkey wrench has back fired, everytime Palin speaks. Every woman should feel insulted that jOHN MCLAME picked her as his choice. I’m sure she is a nice person, but VP of the United States of America she is not. I have don’t more interviews for my Job for Humana Resource than she has done for VP.
September 29th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Niece - I’d like to see how well you’d do in an interview with a media you know is hostile and out to get you. You’d probably say something as ridiculous as, “I have don’t [sic] more interviews for my Job [sic] for Humana Resources than she has done for VP.” I’m sure Humana Resources is very, very proud of you.
September 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
There is a real easy fix to all of this mess. If you want to avoid letting the media twisting your words, hold more than three interviews. If you want to be given a little slack when you say some very nonsensical things, say something logical, and let the press record it. If you think the press is gaining up on you, don’t let your handlers treat you as if you are not up to the task and need to be protected.
I have heard Palin speak only a few times. The first was a brilliant speech given at a convention. The other three were the most nonsensical and frightening interviews I have ever seen. One of these was by Hannity who basically had set up the format to mirror a paid informercial! If she does deserve our respect she better start showing us why. If her words were twisted, she better come out and start speaking with clarity. Until that time, noone can possibly suggest that Palin’s problems are not her own. She is the cause of her undoing. Even her poll numbers in Alaska are reflecting it. Her charm and appeal are built out of a deck of cards. It should not be surprising that the whole narrative is coming down so quickly.
September 29th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Thanks Laer. Excellent points.
September 29th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I agree with your first paragraph; Brian - it’s good advise and McCain would do well to take it. But “the most nonsensicle and frightening interviews I have ever seen?” Please. Take a breath. And have some sympathy. How well would you be faring if you knew that every interview you go to (except Hannity) will be like being thrown into a tank of sharks? Wouldn’t you be a little nervous? It’s hardly a real-life experience - it’s a phony reality designed for one thing and one thing only: to make Sarah Palin look bad.