Nets Concerned Over Congress' Role In Run-Up To Iraq, Now Barely Notice Obama's End-Run

Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Wednesday March 23, 2011 @ 09:43 AM EDT

1. Nets Concerned Over Congress' Role In Run-Up to Iraq, Now Barely Notice Obama's End-Run

The Obama regime attacked Libya after a vote of the UN Security Council, but without any congressional authorization, and apparently not even very much consultation with congressional leaders. A review of the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts from Friday night through Monday night found virtually no network interest in Obama's bypassing of Congress, an attitude in stark contrast to their approach to the Bush administration during the run-up to the Iraq war in late 2002. Then, the role of Congress was a matter of deep concern, with ABC's Peter Jennings leading off his August 29, 2002 newscast by wondering, "Could the President, would the President go ahead without congressional approval?"

2. Lack of Congressional Approval for Libyan Strike Doesn't Bother CBS, NBC

Of the three morning shows, only ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday highlighted anger and dismay on Capitol Hill that Barack Obama did not seek congressional approval for air strikes against Libya. Reporter Jake Tapper pointed out the "real disappointment" felt by "all the Republicans I spoke to and the liberal Democrats." An ABC graphic asserted, "Obama faces critics on Libya." Yet, although NBC's Today found time for the latest on Charlie Sheen's escapades, the program couldn't manage a full report on Barack Obama's decision bomb Libya. CBS's Early Show also failed to cover this aspect of the story.

3. Today Show Hero Worships Rising Democratic 'Star' Cory Booker

NBC's Jamie Gangel gave Cory Booker the full liberal media rock star treatment in her Tuesday Today show profile of the Democratic Newark, New Jersey mayor as she cheered that he's "a celebrity with friends like Bon Jovi" and gushed he has "more than a million followers on Twitter." Calling Booker "a young ambitious politician often compared to Barack Obama," Gangel proclaimed: "He truly is a force...and despite what he says, watch out. In a few years, his friends say they believe they will see him on the national stage." This prompted Today co-anchor Ann Curry to respond to her NBC colleague: "Well he is very impressive" admitting that she's also a fan, "By the way I'm a Twitter follower."

4. Newsweek Writer Claims Income Inequality to Blame for Americans Failing Citizenship Test

Appearing on Tuesday's CBS Early Show, Newsweek senior writer Andrew Romano touted a survey in the magazine's latest issue showing that 38% of Americans failed the U.S. citizenship test and claimed to know the cause: "One of the big ones is income inequality in the United States. We're one of the most in-equal societies in the developed world." Romano argued to co-host Erica Hill: "When people don't have a lot of money, there's a difficulty getting a good education, there's a lack of opportunity and a lack of knowledge."