Bob Schieffer biased? - Democratic Underground

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Wed Oct-13-04 03:05 PM
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Bob Schieffer biased?

Below taken from today's Daily Howler. www.dailyhowler.com
The Daily Howler is a must read each day.

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The moderator of tonight’s debate is a long-time, close friend of one of the candidates. But guess what? Press and pundits aren’t telling you that. But somewhere, some pundit will watch the session, and he’ll run and proclaim it: Liberal bias!! If George Will provided the liberal bias last week, why can’t Bush’s friend do so too?

FAVORABLE TREATMENT: Let’s remember what Schieffer told Kurtz about his close personal friendship with Bush:

KURTZ (1/13/03): During the ’90s, Schieffer also struck up a friendship with George W. Bush when his brother Tom—now the U.S. ambassador to Australia—became partners with the future president in the Texas Rangers. Bob and W. went to ball games together, played golf, attended spring training. “He’s a great guy—that doesn’t mean I agree with him,” says Schieffer, adding that the situation became “a little awkward” when Bush ran for the White House but that he’s never gotten favorable treatment.
That last claim is baldly inaccurate, and screams for a bit of correction. During Campaign 2000, Schieffer did, on several occasions, make notably odd remarks about Bush and Gore. We wouldn’t suggest that this was deliberate. But the record is hard to ignore.
Is Bob Schieffer driven by liberal bias? In July 2000, he and his Face the Nation co-host, Gloria Borger, appeared together on the cable show, Russert. Their discussion of Bush’s visit to Bob Jones University was one of the oddest of the campaign. Sorry—no one could seriously think that these remarks were made in good faith—unless the pair were gripped by a pro-Bush bias so deep that it somehow surpassed all understanding.

Meanwhile, Schieffer’s hostility toward Gore became plain in a remarkable radio session last year. Yes, the Texas-lovin’ buddy-of-Bush had offered odd remarks about Candidate Gore as early as June 1999 (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 7/23/99). But in December 2003, his remarks about Gore on a DC radio program went about as far afield as any we have ever heard a network anchor make. His statements were nasty and absurdly gratuitous—and they were blatantly, baldly inaccurate (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 12/13/03). Let’s say it again—we can’t think of another time when a broadcaster of Schieffer’s stature made so absurd, inaccurate and nasty a statement. Go ahead and reread those remarks. See if you are able to spot the Texan’s rank liberal bias.

We assume that Schieffer will do a good job tonight. But Schieffer is a long-time friend of Bush—and yes, he has played dumb for Bush in the past. Press and pundits all know not to tell you about the gentleman’s close ties to Bush. But don’t worry! Somewhere, some scribes will watch Schieffer tonight and he’ll recite holy words—Liberal bias!

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