WHO'S GOT THE LOOK? WHAT THE MEDIA ARE SAYING ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

While I was out today trying to learn about how to raise money for the Blue America Speakers Bureau, the Public Values Forum, we were lucky enough to find a real writer to cover for me at DWT, Justin Cole. Let's hope he comes back a lot.
-Howie

First and foremost, hello! My name is Justin Cole, and I'm the online outreach coordinator for Media Matters For America. We are a nonprofit organization that works to identify and correct conservative misinformation in the media. A big thank you to DWT for the guest blogger invite!

As the media have been discussing the 2008 presidential candidates, we all know that the discussion isn't limited to policy and issues of substance. The media have spent a lot of time discussing, debating, and pontificating on the '08 presidential candidates in terms of their "style"-- or whether they have the right look to be president.

In that vein, I've put together a collection of items from Media Matters on the media's treatment of the candidates' "style"-- both announced and potential candidates-- that shows how GOP candidates are treated differently than Democratic candidates.

Notice that Republican candidates are generally referred to in anything from respectful ("looks presidential") to reverential ("heroic") tones-- that sometimes become outright fawning ("has shoulders you could land a 737 on"). Meanwhile, Democratic candidates are routinely described in mocking personal terms diminishing their seriousness as presidential candidates.

When was the last time you heard a pundit refer to Barack Obama as "looking presidential"? Someone liking the "cut" of Hillary Clinton's "jib?" On the other hand, how many pundits mock Rudy Giuliani's hair, or Mitt Romney's voice? These items from Media Matters illustrate the double standard with which the media cover the Democratic and Republican candidates.

You can read up on all the latest conservative misinformation in the 2008 presidential race here

RUDY GIULIANI:

NY Times recycled gender "cliché" in puff piece on Giuliani, the "commanding daddy"
Summary: In a profile of Rudy Giuliani, The New York Times called him "a commanding daddy of a candidate" and described him as "the father" when compared with other presidential candidates, bolstering the characterization of the Democratic and Republican parties as the "Mommy" and "Daddy" parties, respectively, when the paper itself has presented evidence to counter this view and has described it as a "cliché."  

Matthews: "Who would win a street fight... Rudy Giuliani or President Ahmadinejad?"

On the May 2 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews asked Mike DuHaime, campaign manager for Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani: "Who would win a street fight ... Rudy Giuliani or [Iranian] President [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, who would win that fight?" Matthews said that the fight would take place "over in Queens somewhere ... a dark night, it's about 2 in the morning. Two guys are out behind the building, right?" DuHaime responded, "I am putting my money on Rudy on that one." Matthews added, "If [Giuliani] wins that notion, he is the next president."

On Hardball, Chuck Todd repeatedly claimed Giuliani "owns 9-11"

While discussing the recent Fox News-sponsored Republican presidential debate on the May 16 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, NBC News political director Chuck Todd repeatedly asserted-- three times during the course of his appearance-- that Republican presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani "owns 9-11."

On MSNBC, Harwood said Giuliani has "claim to combat" experience from 9-11

On the May 16 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, CNBC chief Washington correspondent and Wall Street Journal national political editor John Harwood, comparing Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R), claimed, "Rudy Giuliani also has a bit of a claim to combat in a different way, because he was on the ground in 9-11."

David Gregory, Byron York repeated myth of Giuliani as 9-11 hero, omitting criticism

On the May 11 edition of NBC's Today, NBC News chief White House correspondent David Gregory said of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Republican presidential candidate: "To many, 9-11 made Giuliani a hero." Later in the same segment, Gregory aired a clip of National Review White House correspondent Byron York asserting that Giuliani might "convince" conservative voters who oppose his abortion positions "to still vote for him because he's so strong on issues of national security." Neither Gregory nor those quoted in his report took note of the serious questions surrounding Giuliani's record on the issues of terrorism and national security, which Media Matters has repeatedly documented.

After repeatedly touting Giuliani as 9-11 hero, Matthews wonders why people think of him that way

Summary: On Hardball, Chris Matthews asked, "So, why do people think [Rudy Giuliani] did serve well and perform well, as the leader of New York, during that crisis [9-11]? Why do people think that?" In fact, Matthews himself has repeatedly reinforced the notion of Giuliani's purported heroism on 9-11, calling him a "hero," "gutsy," and "tough."

Matthews claimed that Southerners "know Rudy [Giuliani] was a hero"

On the March 1 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews again touted former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) as a "hero," saying that Southerners "can't spell his name necessarily, but they know Rudy was a hero." Matthews also praised Giuliani as "the one tough cop who was standing on the beat when we got hit last time and stood up and took it." Later in the program, Matthews again noted that Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) "middle name is Hussein." As Media Matters has noted, Matthews was apparently the first to publicly mention Obama's middle name as politically significant, doing so on the November 7, 2006, edition of Hardball.

Kurtz suggested Giuliani is "undeniabl[y]" "one of the heroes of 9/11"

In his February 6 online column, Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz stated that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) was "one of the heroes of 9/11," adding that his "accomplishments are undeniable." In fact, as Media Matters for America has documented (here and here), in the book, Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11 (HarperCollins, August 2006), Village Voice senior editor Wayne Barrett and CBSNews.com senior producer Dan Collins argued that Giuliani was responsible for terrorism-related failures before, during, and after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Matthews gushed over Giuliani's "street cred" on fighting terrorism

On the February 5 edition of MSNBC Live, in a discussion of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's (R) plans to file a "statement of candidacy" for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, Hardball host Chris Matthews declared that Giuliani "has street cred" on the issue of "protect[ing] this country against the bad guys," citing "the image [Giuliani] conveys," and later praised Giuliani's 2004 Republican National Convention speech as "the great speech that everybody remembered."

CNN and MSNBC on "America's Mayor"

During the 2 p.m. ET hour of the February 5 edition of MSNBC News Live, host Chris Jansing reported the news that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is "expected to file a statement of candidacy" for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination and stated: "Of course, [Giuliani] became known as 'America's Mayor' after 9-11." Similarly, during the 3 p.m. ET hour of the show, New York Daily News senior correspondent David Saltonstall told host Contessa Brewer that Giuliani is a "rock star" outside the Northeast because "he's still 'America's Mayor.' You know, he's the hero of 9-11."

USAToday hailed Giuliani as "hero of 9/11"

Summary: A USAToday article referred to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as a "hero of 9/11." But, while mentioning a leaked memo in which Giuliani's campaign staff set out potential areas of vulnerability, the USAToday article did not note the memo's reference to a particular scandal relating to terrorism preparedness.

GMA touted Giuliani as "America's mayor," misleadingly claimed he is "beating Clinton in polls

Narrating the introduction to the January 11 edition of ABC's Good Morning America, co-host Diane Sawyer announced that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) would be appearing on the show and described him as "America's mayor." Sawyer went on to claim that he is "already beating" Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) in polling on the presumptive 2008 presidential candidates. In fact, the results of recent polls asking voters to choose between Giuliani and Clinton vary.

JOHN McCAIN:

Matthews lauded McCain's "maverick reputation," "jib"; admired Romney's chin

On the February 13 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, during a discussion of the Michigan Republican presidential primary, host Chris Matthews said that "there are a lot of people there... who like the cut of [Sen.] John McCain's [AZ] jib, his independence, his maverick reputation."

Newsweek's Thomas on "dispirited" McCain: "[I]t may be because he is not, at heart, a politician. He is a warrior"

In the cover story for the May 14 edition of Newsweek, assistant managing editor Evan Thomas wrote about Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) "dramatic profile in courage," noting that McCain "is not the front runner in fund-raising or in national polls. And he has seemed strangely dispirited along the way, more petulant than determined in last week's first Republican debate." According to Thomas: "That may be because he senses that his unflagging support for a highly unpopular war in Iraq could end his political career, but it may be because he is not, at heart, a politician. He is a warrior."

On MSNBC, Lester Holt touted McCain's "maverick reputation"

On the May 3 edition of MSNBC Live, host Lester Holt referred to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as "[a] senator with a maverick reputation." Media Matters for America has noted numerous instances in which media figures have uncritically called McCain a "maverick" or cited McCain's "maverick reputation" without noting the numerous instances in which McCain has fallen in line with the Bush administration or the Republican Party establishment on issues large and small, as Media Matters has documented.

Kondracke on whether "political hero" McCain's war stance will "help" his campaign: "Boy, I hope so"

On the April 14 edition of Fox News' The Beltway Boys, co-host and Roll Call executive editor Morton M. Kondracke proclaimed that "John McCain was a war hero, and he's my idea of a political hero," explaining that McCain said in his April 11 speech to the Virginia Military Institute "that he'd rather lose a campaign than lose a war." Kondracke added: "And he said, 'If you think that the enemy wouldn't kill American kids, you're crazy.' And, you know -- and that is the lesson that Americans ought to take. They are going to come after us wherever we are, and they'll kill our kids as well." When asked by co-host and Weekly Standard executive editor Fred Barnes, "Is this going to help the McCain campaign?" Kondracke responded: "Boy, I hope so."

NBC's Todd described McCain's support for the war as the "maverick thing to do"

On the March 28 edition of NBC's Today, NBC News political director Chuck Todd asserted: "It would be easy for" Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) "to criticize the war. The maverick thing to do is to actually take the unpopular stand." But, while McCain has supported President Bush's decision to increase U.S. troop levels in Iraq, he has also recently touted himself as "the greatest critic of the conduct of the war and one of the earliest," as Media Matters noted. Similarly, in a March 21 article, the Concord Monitor (New Hampshire) reported that McCain said, "I was the greatest critic of the way the war was being conducted." Moreover, McCain joined 45 of the 48 other Senate Republicans in voting to strike a provision in the Senate emergency military funding bill that Bush opposes, which says that Bush "shall commence the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, with the goal of redeploying, by March 31, 2008." Bush called a similar provision in the House version of the bill an "an artificial timetable for withdrawal" and said he was "not going" to "accept" it. After the Senate vote, Bush announced that he was "disappointed."

CNN and Hotline on McCain: Is the "maverick" back?

During a discussion about Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) positions on global warming and Iraq on the February 22 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, on-screen graphics repeatedly asked: "McCain: A Maverick Again?" suggesting both that McCain may currently be a "maverick" and that the media had stopped calling him a "maverick" at some point. Similarly, National Journal's The Hotline asked, "The Maverick's Back?" and asserted that "McCain's dustup with [Vice President Dick] Cheney and his beating up of [President] Bush on global warming show he's the same McCain" -- presumably a "maverick." However, CNN and other media outlets have never stopped calling McCain a "maverick."

CNN asserted McCain has "image as an independent thinker," aired Roe comments without context

On the February 20 edition of The Situation Room, CNN correspondent Brianna Keilar uncritically aired Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) statement that Roe v Wade "should be overturned," without noting that McCain has taken a variety of positions on Roe since 1999. Moments later, CNN political editor Mark Preston asserted without evidence that McCain currently has an "image as an independent thinker not beholden to any political party."

MITT ROMNEY:

Politico's Simon now on to a different part of Romney's anatomy: "shoulders you could land a 737 on"

In his June 6 column, Politico's chief political columnist Roger Simon declared former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney the winner of the June 5 Republican presidential debate and attributed Romney's victory, in part, to the fact that he is "[s]trong, clear, gives good soundbite, and has shoulders you could land a 737 on." 

O'Reilly on Romney: "He's got the jaw going on, the little gray thing in there. And I think that means a lot in America"

On the May 30 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, host Bill O'Lielly said: "[Y]ou can't get more presidential-looking than [former Massachusetts Gov.] Mitt Romney [R]." O'Reilly continued: "[I]f you were to make up a guy, this would be the guy, you know, that looks presidential. He's got the jaw going on, the little gray thing in there." O'Reilly concluded that Romney's "presidential" looks bode well for his electoral prospects, saying, "I think that means a lot in America." 

Russert cited "business and CEO experience" in claiming Romney "looks presidential"

On the May 30 edition of NBC's Today, co-host Matt Lauer said of former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA): "And while showing some strength at the polls... many say he even looks presidential." Minutes later, NBC News Washington bureau chief Tim Russert told Lauer: "Matt, I think your interview and your analysis is exactly on target. Mitt Romney is seen as someone who looks presidential with the business and CEO experience." As Media Matters has documented, numerous other media figures have praised Romney's appearance or said he looks like a president, including Republican pollster Frank Luntz, Newsweek senior writer and political correspondent Jonathan Darman and assiatant managing editor Evan Thomas, MSNBC host Chris Matthews, Politico chief political columnist Roger Simon, and former Time magazine White House correspondent (now chief political correspondent for The Politico) Mike Allen.

Luntz: The Romneys capture that "first family look"

On the February 27 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Republican pollster Frank Luntz said of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) family: "If you've ever seen his wife and kids, this is a model American family. They're all attractive. ... [T]hey all got the look of the first family look, and the more that he brings that in, the more successful he's going to be." 

Newsweek joins Romney swooners: Darman and Thomas call him "buff and handsome"

A February 26 Newsweek article by Jonathan Darman and Evan Thomas described former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) as "buff and handsome in late middle age."

Politico's Simon: Romney "up close... is almost overpowering. He radiates vigor"
[question from Howie: Does anyone know if Roger Simon is a homosexual? Is he in the closet or upfront about his sexual proclivities?]
In a February 13 column for The Politico, chief political columnist Roger Simon claimed former Republican Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney "looks so much like a president would look if television picked our presidents (and it does) that sometimes you have to ask yourself if you are watching the real deal or a careful construction," as noted by blogger Atrios (Media Matters senior fellow Duncan Black).

Appearing on Beck, Time's Allen called McCain "authentic," said Romney "looks like a president"

Allen also said that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) "looks like a president" and would be "the obvious front-runner" if he were not a Mormon. Additionally, Allen baselessly claimed that "if evangelical leaders can put the Mormonism aside, it is just possible that Mitt Romney will take off like Glenn Beck's ratings."

FRED THOMPSON:

Wash. Post, CNN reported on Thompson's pickup truck without noting it was a leased campaign prop

An article in the Style section of the May 31 edition of the Washington Post described possible Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson as "the pickup-driving former senator and Law & Order star," referring to the long-running television series in which Thompson stars and the red pickup truck he drove during his 1994 and 1996 Senate races. 

Media ignore facts undermining "Reaganesque" Fred Thompson's image as anti-Washington populist

On the June 3 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.'s Fox News Sunday, Fortune magazine Washington bureau chief Nina Easton said of former Sen. Fred Thompson's (R-TN) possible 2008 presidential bid: "He's going to be posing himself very much as an anti-Washington populist, very much like when he drove his red pickup around the state in 1994 in his Senate race. He's good at that sensibility. There's going to be a lot of talk about his Reaganesque appeal." Easton's suggestion that Thompson will display an "anti-Washington" sensibility and "Reaganesque appeal" echoes characterizations of him advanced by Republicans and conservatives and adopted by several other news outlets and media figures. But contrary to those who portray Thompson as an outsider, he spent 18 years as a lobbyist, and reports indicate that he was not above partisan politics during his eight years as a U.S. senator. Moreover, several observers characterized Thompson's first speech in the run-up to an expected presidential bid as disappointing.

BARACK OBAMA:

On MSNBC, Mowbray joined Limbaugh, Carlson in taking seriously Obama's remark about his ears

Summary: Conservative columnist Joel Mowbray said that Sen. Barack Obama made a "rookie mistake" by allegedly rebuking Maureen Dowd for writing that Obama's "ears stick out." In fact, as the Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet noted, Obama was joking: Obama "chided [Dowd] in a kidding way."

Beck: Obama is "colorless... he might as well be white"

On the February 12 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Glenn Beck featured Philadelphia-based conservative radio host Dom Giordano, who claimed that "the mainstream media has dubbed [Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)] to be African-American" and said, "If you start to, you know, delve around the edges, say, 'Wait a minute, isn't he mixed race? Weren't we told that last year?' Or whatever, biracial. Not allowed to say that anymore." Beck responded by saying "he's very white in many ways," adding, "Gee, can I even say that? Can I even say that without somebody else starting a campaign saying, 'What does he mean, "He's very white?" ' He is. He's very white."

Limbaugh on Obama: "Halfrican American"

On the January 24 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, host Rush Limbaugh referred to Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and actress Halle Berry as "Halfrican American[s]," stating that "Barack Obama has picked up another endorsement: Halfrican American actress Halle Berry." Limbaugh then said: " 'As a Halfrican American, I am honored to have Ms. Berry's support, as well as the support of other Halfrican Americans,' Obama said." Limbaugh then conceded that Obama "didn't say it."

NBC's Mitchell cherry-picked quote in support of claim that Obama is "long on charisma but short on substance"

On the April 26 edition of NBC's Today, during a segment highlighting Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) recent "surge" in the polls, chief foreign correspondent Andrea Mitchell said: "Experts say so far Obama has been long on charisma but short on substance." Mitchell then showed clips from two recent appearances by Obama, including an April 23 speech to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in which he declared, "I still believe that America is the last, best hope on Earth." Following the clips of Obama's statements, a clip of NBC News political director Chuck Todd aired in which Todd asserted: "The public's going to be expecting him to start filling in the blanks, start being for specifics. So far, he's been for an idea of a candidate, but he hasn't been for specific things." However, Mitchell selectively quoted from that April 23 speech to make the claim that Obama's words were "vague" when, in fact, his remarks included many specifics regarding his proposals.

Apparently defending Imus, Dietl hammered at Obama's middle name

On the April 12 edition of Fox News' The Big Story with John Gibson, Richard "Bo" Dietl, a private investigator and former New York City Police Department detective, repeatedly referred to Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) middle name while discussing controversial comments by Don Imus on the April 4 edition of Imus in the Morning. Referring to Obama's call for for Imus to be fired, Dietl, who was a regular guest on Imus' program, stated: "Obama Hussein. Barack Obama-- what's that guy's name? The three names? The full name?" Fox News business correspondent Rebecca Gomez answered, "Oh, I'm not even sure," and Dietl said: "Hussein. Hussein's his middle name."

Latching onto L.A. Times op-ed, Limbaugh sings "Barack, The Magic Negro"

On the March 19 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, host Rush Limbaugh highlighted a March 19 Los Angeles Times op-ed that described Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) as "running for an equally important unelected office, in the province of the popular imagination-- the 'Magic Negro'"-- a term used by critics of pop culture to describe certain benevolent African-American characters. Limbaugh stated: "The term 'Magic Negro' has been thrown into the political presidential race in the mix for 2008. And the term 'Magic Negro,' as applied to Barack Obama has been done by an L.A. Times columnist, David Ehrenstein." Limbaugh later asserted: "I'm going to keep referring to him as that because I want to make a bet that by the end of this week I will own that term," adding, "If I refer to Obama the rest of the day as the 'Magic Negro,' there will be a number of people in the drive-by media and on left-wing blogs who will credit me for coming up with it and ignore the L.A. Times did it, simply because they can't be critical of the L.A. Times, but they can, obviously, be critical of talk radio." Limbaugh continued to refer to Obama as the "Magic Negro" throughout the broadcast -- 27 times, to be exact -- and at one point sang "Barack, the Magic Negro" to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon." Limbaugh defended his use of the song, stating, "Well, that's what we always do here. We do parodies and satires on the idiocy and phoniness of the left."

American Conservative reportedly to publish far-right columnist's baseless, racially charged claims about "wigger" Obama

In a March 11 entry to his weblog, columnist and film critic Steve Sailer-- who has written that African-Americans "tend to possess poorer native judgment than members of better-educated groups"-- posted excerpts of an article about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) that Sailer claimed will be published in full in the March 26 edition of The American Conservative, a magazine co-founded by MSNBC political analyst Patrick J. Buchanan in 2002. Sailer has launched race-based attacks on Obama in the past and has drawn criticism for racist claims about African-Americans in general. The excerpts of Sailer's piece for The American Conservative are rife with baseless allegations, name-calling, and racial stereotypes.

Imus producer referred to Obama's "Jew-hating name"

On the February 2 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, the show's executive producer, Bernard McGuirk, claimed that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) has "a Jew-hating name." The remark followed a flurry of other negative comments from host Don Imus, McGuirk, and co-host Charles McCord about the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, calling Obama a "creep," "a wind-watching wimp," and "a flip-flopping weasel."

HILLARY CLINTON:

Carlson on Sen. Clinton: "Could you actually live in this country for eight years having to listen to her voice?"
[Howie again: If we could be sure bow-tie boy would leave the country for 8 years it would be worth voting for Hillary]

On the May 24 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, commenting on Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) decision to have the public choose the theme song for her presidential campaign, host Tucker Carlson said: "But this does nothing to make me like her. And it raises the question: Could you actually live in this country for eight years having to listen to her voice?" When former New York Gov. George Pataki (R) responded that "of course" he could live in the United States with Clinton as president, Carlson responded: "You're a man of steel." As Media Matters documented, media figures have repeatedly attacked Clinton for the tone and volume of her voice, including MSNBC hosts Chris Matthews and Joe Scarborough, and Time's Ana Marie Cox.

Ignoring her extensive record of bright colors and big smiles, Fox's Cameron said Clinton wearing both to solve "likability problem"

On the May 9 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume, chief political correspondent Carl Cameron claimed that during a May 9 campaign stop in Annapolis, Maryland, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) adopted an uncharacteristic wardrobe and sunny expression in order to benefit politically. He said: "Wearing bright colors, smiling constantly, as if to deal with what polls say is a likability problem, she has surged 10 points since the Democratic debate in three new polls: USA Today/Gallup, CNN, and Rasmussen." In fact, Clinton has worn bright-colored clothing and smiled in numerous prior appearances.

MSNBC's O'Donnell suggested Sen. Clinton is "stiff" rather than "stately"

On the April 26 edition of MSNBC Live, when Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons said that Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) has a "very sort of stately demeanor," anchor Norah O'Donnell interrupted: "Did you say 'stately' or did you say 'stiff?' " Simmons replied: "You said 'stiff,' I said 'stately.' " Republican strategist Phil Musser agreed, saying: "I'd say 'stiff.'"

Limbaugh gave baseless interpretation of Clinton speech to claim she was "demeaning" blacks

On the April 23 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh claimed that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) made a "demeaning reference to the fact that [African-Americans are] janitors, or custodial workers, or cleaning people" during her April 20 speech at the National Action Network annual convention by saying the following: "The abuses that have gone on in the last six years-- I don't think we know the half of it yet. You know, when I walk into the Oval Office in January 2009, I'm afraid I'm going to lift up the rug and I'm going to see so much stuff under there! You know, what is it about us always having to clean up after people?"

CNN's, ABC's Glenn Beck: "Hillary's voice makes angels cry. ...Brace yourself, men of America"

On the March 29 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck, host and Good Morning America commentator Glenn Beck-- who has referred to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) as a "stereotypical bitch"-- declared that Clinton's voice "makes angels cry." Before airing another Clinton clip, he warned: "Brace yourself, men of America." He also asked "voice specialist" Nancy Daniels and former Patridge Family cast member Danny Bonaduce to provide "independent professional verification" of the qualities of Clinton's voice.

On Imus Matthews again claimed men "are afraid" to criticize Sen. Clinton

On the March 28 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, MSNBC's Hardball host Chris Matthews asserted, "You only hear criticism of [Sen.] Hillary [Rodham Clinton (D-NY)] from smart, college-educated women. They're the ones that always have a problem with her." Matthews also stated that men "are afraid to talk like that." As Media Matters noted after Matthews made a similar claim on the March 26 edition of Hardball, Matthews has disproved this notion himself by making numerous statements about Clinton that could be construed as sexist.

Matthews continued distortion of Clinton's Iraq plans, claimed she looked at Gore with "dead people's eyes"

On the March 26 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews repeated his baseless assertion that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton [D-NY] "supports the maintenance of permanent bases [in Iraq], adding, "[S]he said permanent bases, never end it." This came just a day after Matthews, on the NBC-syndicated Chris Matthews Show, accused Clinton of "playing ... straddle" with her Iraq stance, asking New York Times reporter Patrick Healy: "[I]s she ready to say 'I'm against the war,' or is she still playing this straddle of 'I want to keep a permanent base in Iraq'?" On the March 25 edition of The Chris Matthews Show, Matthews and his panel went on to recycle old falsehoods regarding Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore, with Gloria Borger reviving the falsehood that Gore claimed to have invented the Internet, while Matthews again compared Clinton to the Charles Dickens villain Madame Defarge and said that Clinton welcomed Gore with "dead people's eyes" at his March 21 appearance before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Time.com's Cox latest to attack Sen. Clinton on her voice

While live-blogging a health care forum featuring Democratic presidential candidates on March 24, Time.com Washington editor Ana Marie Cox wrote in a post on Time.com's political weblog, Swampland, that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) was "eerily LOUD" and summarized Clinton's position as: "YOU CAN TELL I CARE ABOUT HEALTH CARE BECAUSE I AM SHOUTING ALL THE TIME."

Hiatt: Bill Clinton and Obama each having "the time of his life" at Selma march, while Sen. Clinton "appear[ed] grimly determined to walk on"

In his March 26 column, Washington Post editorial page editor Fred Hiatt wrote that in a photograph of a March 4 commemorative civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) "appear[ed] grimly determined to walk on," while former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) were "each grinning and apparently having the time of his life." Hiatt, who conceded that the photo may have been "an unlucky shot," had earlier asked, "Is it coincidence that the two touted as the front-runners at the start [of the presidential race], Hillary Clinton and John McCain, seem to be having the least fun?"

Tucker on Sen. Clinton: "[T]here's just something about her that feels castrating, overbearing, and scary"

On the March 20 edition of MSNBC's Tucker, host Tucker Carlson noted that a 1984-inspired attack ad posted on YouTube.com characterizes Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) "as an Orwellian Big Sister" and proceeded to endorse this depiction of Clinton, saying, "But there's just something about her that feels castrating, overbearing, and scary." Carlson maintained: "I mean, you've gotta admit, when you watch that, it does get right to heart of people's instinctive problems with Hillary, which don't have to do with policy." Carlson further noted that the ad "seems to be the work of one person with a computer who doesn't like Hillary or, in any case, perceives the truth about her."

Beck smeared ABC colleague Rosie, claimed "I never said that Hillary Clinton was a bitch"

On the March 16 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, in reference to comments documented by Media Matters for America in which he called Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) "the stereotypical bitch," Glenn Beck said: "Hillary Clinton sounds like the biggest nag on the planet... I never said that Hillary Clinton-- excuse the language-- I never said that Hillary Clinton was a bitch. I said she sounded like one." He went on to say, "It has nothing to do with her policies, it has nothing to do with her personality, it has nothing to do with what she's actually saying."

Imus' McGuirk on "young colored fellah" Obama "pretty much deckin' the old bag from New York"

On the March 16 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, executive producer Bernard McGuirk, performing as his character "Cardinal Egan," said that "the whole nation is talking about" reports of a "young colored fellah pretty much deckin' the old bag from New York and takin' away some of her money." McGuirk continued: "I'm speaking, of course, about [Sens.] Barack Obama [D-IL] and Hillary Clinton [D-NY]."

CNN's, ABC's Beck on Clinton: "[S]he's the stereotypical bitch"

On the March 15 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Glenn Beck said: "Hillary Clinton cannot be elected president because... there's something about her vocal range." He went on to say, "There's something about her voice that just drives me-- it's not what she says, it's how she says it," adding, "She is like the stereotypical-- excuse the expression, but this is the way to-- she's the stereotypical bitch, you know what I mean?" Beck also asked: "[A]fter four years, don't you think every man in America will go insane?" and pleaded, "I'm sorry for being such a pig. But please, America. Please. I don't think I could do it for four years. I mean, sure the country is going to go to hell in a handbasket, but could we make this about me for a second? I just don't think I could take it from her." He also said that "there is a range in women's voices that experts say is just the chalk, I mean, the fingernails on the blackboard."

Kathleen Parker: Clinton "effectively mocked her audience" (that gave her standing ovation)

Summary: In her latest column, Kathleen Parker wrote that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton "effectively mocked her audience" during her March 4 speech in Selma, Alabama, and showed "disrespect for the people gathered" when "she hijacked" Rev. James Cleveland's hymn "I don't feel noways tired." In fact, as footage from the speech shows, the crowd cheered Clinton as she recited the hymn and gave her a standing ovation when she concluded her speech.

On Imus, McGuirk said that "bitch" Clinton will "have cornrows and gold teeth"

On the March 6 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, executive producer Bernard McGuirk said that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) was "trying to sound black in front of a black audience" when she gave a speech on March 4 in Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" civil rights march. McGuirk added that Clinton "will have cornrows and gold teeth before this fight with [Sen. Barack] Obama [D-IL] is over." Earlier in the program, in reference to Clinton's speech, McGuirk had said, "Bitch is gonna be wearing cornrows." McGuirk also said that Clinton will be "giving Crips signs during speeches." The Crips are a Los Angeles-based street gang.

Fox's Hill on Clinton's "Southern drawl": "[I]f she was attending, say, a GLAAD convention, would she speak with a lisp?"

On the March 6 edition of Fox News Live, while discussing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) March 4 speech and her participation in a commemorative civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, host E.D. Hill accused Clinton of affecting a "Southern drawl" during her speech and asked pollster Scott Rasmussen: "[W]ould it happen elsewhere, if she was attending, say, a GLAAD [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] convention, would she speak with a lisp?" Hill continued: "If she were attending a Hispanic convention, would she speak with a Spanish accent? Or if she were attending an African-American convention, would she start throwing out phrases-- you know 'Homies, here I am'?"

U.S. News: Clinton has "longtime image among critics as a harridan and a polarizer"

In a March 4 U.S. News & World Report article titled "Crafting the New Hillary," chief White House correspondent Kenneth T. Walsh wrote that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) presentation at a recent energy policy conference in in Washington, D.C., "was devoid of hard edges, contrary to her longtime image among critics as a harridan and a polarizer." After stating that Clinton's "critics" view her as a polarizing figure, Walsh went on to assert as fact that she was polarizing, writing, "perhaps it's no wonder that Hillary is just as polarizing as President Bush, maybe more so."

Like Drudge, Tapper reported on Clinton's "curious Southern drawl," failed to mention her 17 years in Arkansas

On the March 5 edition of ABC's Good Morning America, senior political correspondent Jake Tapper stated that in a March 4 speech to commemorate those who took part in the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" Civil Rights march, "Senator Hillary Clinton [D-NY], who was raised in Illinois, adopted a curious southern drawl during her speech to the Alabama crowd." Tapper made his report after an item linking to audio excerpts from Clinton's speech was posted on the website of Internet gossip Matt Drudge.

Matthews on Clinton: "How many times is she going to be confused by men?"

On the February 15 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews, during a discussion with National Review Washington editor Kate O'Beirne and Democratic strategist Steve McMahon about whether Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) will say her vote for the 2002 resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq was a mistake, asked: "How come she still pretends that she didn't know [President Bush] was going to war? It's like she didn't know anything about Bill [Clinton] and his behavior. How many times is she going to be confused by men?"

O'Reilly: "Hillary just looks like a zombie" during SOTU

On the January 30 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, during the weekly "Body Language" segment with Fox News body language expert Tonya Reiman, host Bill O'Reilly stated that "[Sen.] Hillary [Rodham Clinton (D-NY)] just look[ed] like a zombie" during part of President Bush's State of the Union address. Reiman then analyzed Clinton's body language during a January 28 speech in Davenport, Iowa, in which Clinton responded to a question by asking: "What, in my background, equips me to deal with evil and bad men?" While watching video of Clinton making the joke, Reiman said: "Watch how she sways back and forth. It's almost childlike, the way she moves back and forth." Reiman then claimed that Clinton was in a "little-girl posture." O'Reilly responded: "Right. 'I'm bad, I'm bad.'"

Andrew Sullivan on Sen. Clinton's "cootie vibes": "I just can't stand her"

On the January 28 edition of the NBC-syndicated Chris Matthews Show, discussing the potential 2008 presidential candidacies of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), Time blogger [a notorious gay Republican woman-hater] Andrew Sullivan said "when I see [Clinton] ... all the cootie vibes sort of resurrect themselves." Sullivan added that he considered Clinton a "very sensible senator," stated that it was "hard to disagree with her on the war," and admitted that he "actually [found] her positions appealing in many ways." Nevertheless, he concluded: "I just can't stand her. I'm sorry about that."

Hardball analyst: Clinton "too cold" and "too elitist"

On the January 25 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, during a report on the importance of Western states in U.S. elections, NBC News correspondent George Lewis aired a quote by Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a senior scholar at the University of Southern California, asserting that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) is "too New York, too elitist, too cold, if you will, to really talk the language of the Intermountain West."

JOHN EDWARDS:

Hannity suggested Edwards' "primping" is evidence that he does not "understand the nature of the battle in the war that's being waged against us"

On the May 24 broadcast of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, co-host Sean Hannity asserted that Democratic presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (NC)-- whom he referred to as the "$400 haircut man"-- is "not really viewed as somebody that is up to the task of understanding the nature in the battle in the war that's being waged against us." As evidence, Hannity pointed to a video of Edwards fixing his hair prior to a televised interview and the fact that Edwards recently spent $400 on a haircut. Hannity then asked executive director of Young Voter PAC Jane Fleming: "You don't see inherent weaknesses here in this campaign?" 

Media heaped praise on Huckabee's "sexual dig" at Edwards

Summary: Media figures and outlets heaped praise on Mike Huckabee's comment, during the May 15 Republican presidential debate, that "[w]e've had a Congress that's spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop," a reference to reports that former Sen. John Edwards spent $800 of campaign money (which Edwards said was reimbursed) on two haircuts. ABC News' The Note, as well as The Politico's Mike Allen called the line an "instant classic," while The Politico's Jonathan Martin predicted that it "will dominate the news coverage in the days ahead."

Media pounced on Edwards' haircuts, but ignore Giuliani's Iowa farm snub

As Media Matters documented, the media recently devoted extensive coverage to a report-- first "broken" by Politico senior political writer Ben Smith on April 16-- that Democratic presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards' (NC) campaign spent $800 on two haircuts. The story was covered by major print, broadcast, and cable outlets, and often featured characterizations of
Edwards as "pretty" and the "Breck girl" -- echoing Republican and conservative attacks on Edwards dating back to 2004. These same media outlets, however, have shown almost no interest in recent reports that the presidential campaign of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) scheduled-- and then abruptly canceled -- a campaign rally at the home of two Iowa farmers because they were not wealthy enough to be affected by the estate tax.   

AP reported that "pretty" Edwards patronized spa "that caters mostly to women"

According to an April 17 Associated Press article, "Looking pretty is costing John Edwards' presidential campaign a lot of pennies." Citing campaign finance reports, the article reported that the Democratic presidential candidate's campaign committee "picked up the tab for two haircuts at $400 each by celebrity stylist Joseph Torrenueva," and that "Edwards also availed himself of $250 in services from a trendy salon and spa in Dubuque, Iowa, and $225 in services from the Pink Sapphire in Manchester, New Hampshire, which is described on its Web site as 'a unique boutique for the mind, body and face' that caters mostly to women."

Citing NY Sun, Limbaugh wondered who would design Edwards' "inaugural gown"

On the March 8 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh referred to a March 8 New York Sun article "Could [former Sen.] John Edwards [D-NC] Become the First Woman President?" to repeatedly mock Edwards as "the Breck Girl," who is "on tap now, according to one of the nation's largest abortion rights supporters, to become the first woman president in the United States." As Media Matters for America has previously noted, the phrase "first woman president" was that of Sun reporter Josh Gerstein and not from any of the story's sources. Gerstein himself, in a post on the Sun's politics weblog, characterized the "first woman president" phrase as "just a colorful way of summarizing" the "over-the-top rhetoric" of Kate Michelman, former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America and a senior advisor to the Edward's campaign.

NY Sun headline: "Could Edwards Become First Woman President?"

A Match 8 article in the NY Sun, headlined "Could Edwards Become First Woman President?" reported that former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) was endorsed by Kate Michelman, described in the article as "a veteran of the abortion-rights movement." The article noted that "Toni Morrison famously dubbed President Clinton America's 'first black president,'" and added that "the comments of a prominent feminist"-- Michelman-- "are provoking debate about who may lay a similar claim to the title of America's first woman president." 

Coulter reference to Edwards as "faggot" gives rise to questions for media

In a March 2 speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), right-wing pundit Ann Coulter said she "can't really talk about" Democratic presidential candidate and former Sen. John Edwards (NC) because "you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot.' " The CPAC audience applauded her comment. Coulter's comments, which aired on CSPAN, were also documented by the weblog Think Progress. It was not the first time Coulter has smeared a prominent Democrat with a homophobic epithet, and it is not the first time that Coulter has ridiculed Edwards. Will the media call on Republican presidential hopefuls attending the CPAC conference to denounce her smear?

BILL RICHARDSON:

NY Post headline on Richardson's presidential plans: "N.M. Gov Throws Sombrero Into Ring."

A January 22 Associated Press article reporting on New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's (D) decision to
form an exploratory committee to run for president in 2008 appeared in the New York Post under the headline: "N.M Governor Throws Sombrero Into Ring." By contrast, the AP ran the following: "N.M. Governor enters the White House race."

DENNIS KUCINICH:

Beck speculated that Kucinich's wife must be under influence of "date rape drug"

On the June 4 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Glenn Beck said of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and his wife, Elizabeth Harper Kucinich: "How did that happen? ... You think it's dope?" Beck went on to speculate whether she was under the influence of "some sort of ... date rape drug." Beck described the drug he had in mind as "not powerful enough to actually knock you out, but it's powerful enough to, like, make you think that you're not standing next to Dennis Kucinich and making out with him." Beck continued: "I was thinking cyanide. That would be the only thing that would really dull the senses enough. Even then, your dead body would be like, 'Dennis Kucinich has his tongue in my mouth.' " Additionally, Beck compared Kucinich to Gollum, a character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Beck said: "You take his shirt off and put him in a loincloth, and he's Gollum."

- Justin Cole


The takeaway from Justin's reporting? Easy... the mainstream media refers to Republicans as "presidential," "handsome," "heroic," "folksy," "independent," all words with positive connotations meant to instill in weak minds positive associations with GOP candidates who are never connected to corruption, flip-flopping, senility, dishonesty, authoritarianism or any of the traits for which they are best known. Meanwhile the corporate media describes Democrats in crudely insulting ways designed to make them seem unfit for serious consideration. Clinton is "a hag", "a bitch" and "an old bag" and Edwards is a fag and Obama a "colored fellah."