Today: Berger-mania!
Reported by Nancy - July 20, 2004 -
Fox is desperately trying to make a major story out of the investigation of Sandy Berger for taking classified documents from the National Archives.
The story was hyped with teasers & headlines at 10:59, 11:19, 11:29, 11:43, 11:56am & 12:03pm (all times EDT). In addition, at 11:02am EDT, Kelly Wright did a brief report on the subject, including clips of statements from Senators Joe Lieberman & Trent Lott -- both of whom, incidentally, suggested that everyone should wait & see what the investigation reveals. At 11:12am EDT, in yet another teaser, Uma Pemmaraju said "We're waiting to for word from him about what he did with classified documents he kept from the 9/11 Commission" -- an unproven allegation that is still being investigated. David Asman subsequently, at 12:04pm EDT, devoted yet another segment to the same issue, trying desperately to spin this as affecting John Kerry.
Other than a throw-away remark by Pemmaraju early on, that Kerry & Edwards are "taking it easy" in preparation for the upcoming DNC, Asman's attempt to link Kerry with Berger's alleged taking of classified documents was the only mention of any Dem politician during 1 hour, 40 mins. Yet FNL somehow found time for Wendell Goler to report (11:33am EDT) that Bush is travelling today, heading ultimately for another Crawford vacation [Comment: he said this with an absolutely straight face, too]. And they repeatedly (11:17, 11:19, 11:34, 12:16) ran a clip of Bush walking to a plane with his daughters -- even interrupting a Pemmaraju interview with a Florida sheriff for the "breaking news" that Bush had boarded the plane. Then, at 12:14pm EDT, under the guise of discussing the impact that daughters will have on both campaigns, Asman devoted a 6-minute segment to talking about the Bush twins' article in Vogue & what Kerry's daughter wore at Cannes.
In that same 1 hour, 40 mins, other "stories" covered included the obligatory brief Peterson trial update by Stan Goldman plus a 7-minute interview by Pemmaraju of Gloria Allred (Amber Frey's attorney), Stacey Finz (reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle) & Arthur Barens (defense attorney) about the same thing; ACCUSER'S DOUBTS in the Kobe Bryant case; & -- lest viewers forget to be afraid -- SMALL TOWN THREAT, fireworks that exploded in a New York City subway (hyped as a "blast"), checks of passengers on railroads, a missing teen in NJ, a missing woman in UT, seaport security, & the obligatory obscure car chase.
Curiously, not mentioned once was the fact that today is the 35th anniversary of the moon landing.
