ABC Preemptively Hits GOP For 'Steep Price' Of Budget Cuts To Avoid Government Shutdown

Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996
Wednesday April 06, 2011 @ 09:25 AM EDT

1. ABC Preemptively Hits GOP for 'Steep Price' of Budget Cuts to Avoid a Government Shutdown

Although a government shutdown hasn't occurred yet, ABC's Good Morning America has already begun showcasing the possible dire impacts of such a budget impasse. Reporter Jake Tapper highlighted White House worries about "figuring out what this will mean in terms of parks that are closed, museums that are closed, veterans that are not able to get assistance for their benefits..." Correspondent Jon Karl, in the same segment, warned that although a possible deal could fund the government for another week, "...It would also come at a steep price. Republicans are demanding $12 billion in spending cuts just for that one week of funding."

2. NBCCCP: Doesn't "Economic Recovery" Throw a Monkey Wrench Into GOP Argument Against Obama Spending?

On Tuesday's NBC Today, co-host Meredith Vieira grilled Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on GOP criticism of the massive spending of the Obama administration: "...sixth consecutive month of job growth, unemployment numbers lowest in two years, it certainly appears that there is a recovery. So doesn't that throw a real monkey wrench into your argument?" Vieira later declared: "...some Republican economists have said that in criticizing these numbers, the Republicans run the risk of looking like they're cheering for an economic reversal."

3. MSNBCCCP's Andrea Mitchell Plays Race Card on Budget and Libya

Covering the budget debate on Capitol Hill and the conflict in Libya, Andrea Mitchell spun two serious policy issues as examples of race-baiting. On the April 5 edition of Andrea Mitchell Reports, the MSNBC anchor lamented that Representative Paul Ryan’s (R-WI1) proposed 2012 budget would ravage black and Hispanic communities. “Representative Paul Ryan’s 2012 budget, released today, includes reforms, what they call reforms, and also big cuts in housing assistance, job training, and food stamps,” warned Mitchell. “All of which would have a very big impact on particularly poor and minority communities, some say.”

4. ABC Allows a Scant 65 Seconds of Coverage for Obama's Reversal on 9/11 Terror Trials

Over two programs totaling two and half hours of air time, ABC allowed only sixty-five seconds of coverage for Barack Obama's decision to break a campaign promise and try 9/11 terror suspects at Guantanamo and not in a civilian court. In contrast, all the other network evening shows on Monday and morning shows on Tuesday provided full reports. On Tuesday's Good Morning America on ABC, Juju Chang mildly explained in a news read, "Well, we begin with a legal turnaround for the Obama administration." On Monday's World News, Diane Sawyer delicately described it as a "switch in positions." Reporter Jake Tapper noted the President has "blinked" in the face of criticism and pointed out this was a breaking of a campaign promise. (This brief mention came during a larger story about the 2012 campaign.)