Real Issues AWOL
Reported by Eleanor - September 20, 2004 -
Fox & Friends (Sept. 20, 7:00 a.m.) had four different discussions about the CBS memo, along with a story about Teresa Heinz Kerry calling the president a "liar;" the polls; the debates; new airport security; and a little campaign news.
Items from the memo discussion:
- The White House didn't deny their authenticity before they were aired - so CBS assumed they must be real.
- CBS will make a statement today and likely say they have grave doubts.
- The memo was anonymously sent in the mail - that's how they got the anthrax.
- The president turned up the pressure a notch - you can't ignore the president.
- Dan Rather has changed the subject - now it's that CBS was duped.
- Eliminated CBS from the game - completely eliminated the National Guard story.
- Could CBS be legally liable?
- The president won't bring a suit - it's an ethical problem for the network.
- Is Dan Rather considered an enemy? No, but hostile to conservatives generally. Spending five years to find something on Bush shows malicious intent.
- Forgery of a military record is meant to deceive the public - it's not monetary.
Teresa Heinz called the president a "liar." She didn't compliment her husband as a campaigner. She said he was "unseductive" as a campaigner. He "leads with his head." She's disgusted that she is "bunkered," and never thought there would be so many lies on health care. (That was interpreted as "calling the president a liar.")
Polls - the president is ahead in seven battleground states. Nationally, Bush is ahead 4-5-6 points.
Airport security - new technology being used will detect explosives residue.
Campaign news - three debates are still on the table. Kerry and Bush are in town. Edwards criticized Hastert for a comment indicating that Al Qaeda would love to see America vote for Kerry. Edwards said Hastert has joined the "fear mongering" crowd.
Comment: The CBS memo story is completely consuming Fox news. The Friends criticized other news outlets for not making it front page news. Malicious intent and deceiving the public are phrases a news organization might apply to themselves when they relentlessly hammer on a story to deflect attention from more pressing issues of national concern. Whatever happened to the war as a major news item or campaign issues that people really care about? No time for that when the CBS memo has replaced the swift boat story as the big story of the day, week and month. How many days are left to inform the American people about what the real issues are?
