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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 06 May 2004 07:55:37 -0700
From: Media Research Center <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: MRC Alert: Networks Stress How Bush Didn't Apologize for Prisoner
    Treatment

              ***Media Research Center CyberAlert***
     10:55am EDT, Thursday May 6, 2004 (Vol. Nine; No. 76)
 The 1,713th CyberAlert. Tracking Liberal Media Bias Since 1996

> Networks Stress How Bush Didn't Apologize for Prisoner Treatment
> CNN's Aaron Brown Scolds Bush for Not Taking Responsibility
> Morning Shows Hold Rumsfeld Culpable, Seek Apology & Resignation
> Media Like Story Since It "Validates Notion" the Military is Bad
> Brokaw & Russert Stress Bad News for Bush, Not His Lead in Poll

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1) All the networks on Wednesday night stressed how, in his
interviews with two Arab-language TV networks, President Bush did
not apologize for the treatment of some Iraqi prisoners. "But
while the President denounced the abuse of Iraqi prisoners," ABC's
Terry Moran noted, "he pointedly did not apologize for it." CBS's
Bill Plante emphasized how "President Bush deplored the abuses,
but stopped short of an outright apology." On CNN's NewsNight,
John King pointed out how "the President did not use the words
'I'm sorry' or apologize in any way." Three times in under two
minutes NBC Nightly News viewers heard about the lack of an
apology. CBS's Plante claimed the situation "threatens to spin out
of control" as he ran an expert soundbite about how the war in
Iraq is now lost, but NBC's David Gregory directed viewers to an
expert who saw Arab hypocrisy since Arabs "have been silent about
torture throughout Arab prisons."

2) CNN's Aaron Brown opened his newscast Wednesday night with a
lecture about how "rank has its responsibilities" and, unlike
Presidents Truman, Kennedy or Reagan, President Bush has failed to
accept responsibility for the treatment of the Iraqi prisoners, so
"this administration may yet find the right chord on this, but to
our ear it hasn't yet."

3) Rumsfeld in their sights. Wednesday's morning shows were in
full scandal mode as NBC's Katie Couric opened Today by demanding:
"What did administration officials know and when did they know
it?" Matt Lauer told Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that he
had questioned "the relevance of the Geneva Convention in certain
circumstances, with al Qaeda and the Taliban," so "have you laid
the foundation for the atmosphere in which these abuses may have
occurred?" Lauer wanted to know if Rumsfeld would "issue a formal
apology to the Iraqi people for these abuses?" Couric prompted
Senator Joe Biden to explain why Rumsfeld may have to resign. Over
on ABC's Good Morning America, Diane Sawyer pointed out to
Rumsfeld how he "did not apologize" the day before to Iraqi
prisoners who were shamed. She then demanded: "This morning, do
you apologize?" Charles Gibson proposed to Senator John McCain:
"Is there a possibility of the Secretary of Defense needing to
resign?"

4) So what, in addition to having pictures, is fueling the media's
obsession with the Iraqi prisoner treatment story? Eric Dezenhall,
an expert on public relations in a crisis, suggested on FNC's
Special Report with Brit Hume that the media "like the story of
the arrogant America." He elaborated: "I think you have an elite
community that doesn't like this war and the notion of the
military perpetrating something like this validates the notion
that all things military are bad, all things assertive are bad and
that all things Bush are bad. So you have a nice little package
here."

5) Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert bury the lead? An article posted
Wednesday on the MSNBC.com Web site began: "Only a third of
American voters believe the nation is in sound shape, but they are
largely not blaming President Bush, according to a new NBC
News/Wall Street Journal poll released Wednesday, which showed
Bush running slightly ahead of his Democratic opponent for
President, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts." But Brokaw and
Russert, on Wednesday's NBC Nightly News, didn't mention, until
the very end of a two-minute rundown, how the poll found Bush
ahead as Brokaw led by insisting the survey "contains some
unsettling news for President Bush and just a sliver of good news
for him."


    > 1) All the networks on Wednesday night stressed how, in his
interviews with two Arab-language TV networks, President Bush did
not apologize for the treatment of some Iraqi prisoners. "But
while the President denounced the abuse of Iraqi prisoners," ABC's
Terry Moran noted, "he pointedly did not apologize for it." CBS's
Bill Plante emphasized how "President Bush deplored the abuses,
but stopped short of an outright apology."

    In "The Whip" at the top of CNN's NewsNight, John King
summarized how "in those interviews the President promised the
United States would get to the bottom of this and hold those
responsible for the abuses accountable, but the President did not
use the words 'I'm sorry' or apologize in any way in those public
interviews."

    Three times in under two minutes NBC Nightly News viewers
heard about the lack of an apology. Brokaw teased his broadcast:
"President Bush on Arab language television calls the behavior of
some U.S. troops at an Iraqi prison 'appalling,' but he stops
short of an apology." Introducing the lead story, Brokaw explained
how "President Bush today went on Arab language television to
promise a full investigation and accounting for those who were
responsible, but he did not apologize." And reporter David Gregory
soon asserted: "In two interviews which were hastily arranged by
the White House to contain outrage toward the U.S. in the Arab
world, Mr. Bush did not apologize for the abuse against prisoners
at Abu Ghraib prison."

    (Thursday newspaper headlines also emphasized the lack of an
apology. Front page of the Washington Post: "On Arab TV, President
Says U.S. Is 'Appalled.'" The subhead: "Bush Stops Short of
Apology in Interviews.")

    Gregory did, however, point out Arab world hypocrisy in
condemning the U.S.: "In Baghdad tonight, some remain unconvinced.
This man said of the prison abuse, 'We thought it was over now
that Saddam is gone, but now we are seeing just the same thing.'
Some Arab commentators said such criticism goes much too far."
    Mamoun Fandy, Asharq al-Awsat columnist: "There is an amazing
hypocrisy when torture by the Americans is immediately criticized
while in fact we have been silent about torture throughout Arab
prisons."

    In contrast, CBS's Plante highlighted how "around the world,
newspapers and magazines have seized the torture to pour scorn on
American promises of democracy for Iraq. Many Arab commentators
believe the President's statement does nothing to change
that....James Zogby says in Iraq this could be a fatal blow" and
let Zogby, President of the Arab-American Institute, declare: "We
have to find a way out. This is no longer a war that America can
end. It's only a war that America can leave." Plante failed to
point out that Zogby opposed the war from the start. Plante
contended that the pictures have created a situation which
"threatens to spin out of control."

    Fuller recitations of the Wednesday night, May 5, stories on
ABC, CBS and NBC, which all led with at least three straight
stories on fallout from the photos:

    -- ABC's World News Tonight. From the White House, Terry Moran
asserted: "With some Iraqis and others now saying that the U.S.
occupation is no different from Saddam Hussein's regime, Mr. Bush
felt he needed to draw a sharp distinction."
    Bush in Al Aribiya interview: "A dictator wouldn't be
answering questions about this. A dictator wouldn't be saying that
the system would be investigated and the world will see the
results of the investigation."
    Moran: "But while the President denounced the abuse of Iraqi
prisoners, he pointedly did not apologize for it. Instead, he left
that to others."
    Scott McClellan at Wednesday's briefing: "The President is
deeply sorry for what occurred and the pain that it has caused."
    Reporter: "Why didn't he say so himself?"
    McClellan: "I'm saying it for him right now, Peter."

    Moments later, however, Bill Redeker in Baghdad, in a story on
reaction to Bush in Iraq and the Middle East, undermined the
premise that an apology has some great value: "Some of those we
talked to said the President's promise to punish was the right
thing to say. In the Middle East, they pointed out, a mere apology
would not have been enough."


    -- CBS Evening News. Bill Plante: "President Bush deplored the
abuses, but stopped short of an outright apology."
    Bush on Al Arabiya: "I want to tell the people of the Middle
East that the practices that took place in that prison are
abhorrent and they don't represent America."

    After noting how Bush promised a full investigation and how
the White House is aware of the impact of the images, Plante
warned: "Around the world, newspapers and magazines have seized
the torture to pour scorn on American promises of democracy for
Iraq. Many Arab commentators believe the President's statement
does nothing to change that."
    Abdel Bari Atwan, Editor of Al-Quds newspaper: "It's too late
and too little, to be honest. I don't think it will make any
difference. People were shocked, were appalled by these images."
    Plante: "Surveys in the Arab world already show deep
skepticism of American policy, from Israel to Afghanistan. James
Zogby says in Iraq this could be a fatal blow."
    James Zogby, President of the Arab-American Institute: "We
have to find a way out. This is no longer a war that America can
end. It's only a war that America can leave."
    Plante: "And it is a war that is becoming more expensive by
the day. In the middle of its public relations crisis, the White
House quietly announced that it will ask Congress for an
additional $25 billion before the election. The Army has had the
incriminating pictures for months, but the President said today
that he saw them for the first time just days ago on TV. And aides
said that made Mr. Bush furious. But the White House can't say
exactly when the President was first told of the investigation and
that at least distances him as the situation threatens to spin out
of control."


    -- NBC Nightly News. Tom Brokaw teased: "President Bush on
Arab language television calls the behavior of some U.S. troops at
an Iraqi prison 'appalling,' but he stops short of an apology."

    Brokaw led the broadcast: "Good evening. The stunning and
sickening pictures of Iraqi prisoners abused by American military
forces are so damaging to the U.S., President Bush today went on
Arab language television to promise a full investigation and
accounting for those who were responsible, but he did not
apologize. And tonight, it is hard to know whether his
unprecedented appearance can cool the angry reaction in the Arab
world. We'll begin now with NBC's David Gregory at the White
House."

    Gregory began: "On Arab language television tonight, the
President promised swift justice for those behind the abuse of
Iraqi prisoners."
    George W. Bush in Arab interview: "I want to tell the people
of the Middle East that the practices that took place in that
prison are abhorrent, and they don't represent America."
    Gregory: "In two interviews which were hastily arranged by the
White House to contain outrage toward the U.S. in the Arab world,
Mr. Bush did not apologize for the abuse against prisoners at Abu
Grade prison. He did, however, acknowledge that these images seen
around the world are quote, 'terrible for America's image.'..."



    > 2) CNN's Aaron Brown opened his newscast Wednesday night
with a lecture about how "rank has its responsibilities" and,
unlike Presidents Truman, Kennedy or Reagan, President Bush has
failed to accept responsibility for the treatment of the Iraqi
prisoners, so "this administration may yet find the right chord on
this, but to our ear it hasn't yet."

    Earlier, on Inside Politics, Judy Woodruff pursued the same
theme, but without specifically condemning President Bush as she
found that while when Presidents "have appeared to express regret
or take responsibility, the political results have been mixed."

    Brown opened the May 5 NewsNight with this "Page Two"
commentary: Good evening again everyone. Rank has its privileges
and rank has its responsibilities. I remember that from boot camp
where I had neither but was taught it just the same.
    "Where the Iraqi prisoner case is concerned it seems so far
that that old military adage does yet apply. History tells us the
country actually thinks better of Presidents when they accept
responsibility for things that have gone wrong even if they were
not directly to blame.
    "Ronald Reagan took responsibility for the Beirut barracks
bombing. If there is to be blame, the President then said, it
properly rests here in this office with this President and I
accept responsibility for the bad as well as the good. That was
Ronald Reagan. After the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in
1961, President Kennedy said, 'I am the responsible officer of the
government.' He took the blame. His standing rose. Harry Truman
was far more plainspoken, 'the buck stops here.' It's how we
remember him.
    "This administration may yet find the right chord on this, but
to our ear it hasn't yet."

    Six hours earlier, on Inside Politics, the MRC's Ken Shepherd
caught this historical review from Judy Woodruff: "Well, in the
midst of a foreign policy crisis or some other scandal, Presidents
often try to avoid outright apologies. When they have appeared to
express regret or take responsibility, the political results have
been mixed."
    Then-President John F. Kennedy: "I will tell you now that it
was a very sober two days."
    Woodruff: "1961, President John F. Kennedy accepts blame for
the Bay of Pigs debacle, the unsuccessful attempt to overthrow
Cuban leader Fidel Castro. His poll numbers shoot up 11 points.
1980, President Carter takes full responsibility for the failed
rescue mission of U.S. hostages in Iran. His presidency already
crippled by the hostage crisis Carter loses his reelection bid
later that year. 1987, President Reagan's second term is tarnished
by the trading of arms for hostages scandal known as Iran-Contra."
    Then-President Ronald Reagan: "The fact of the matter is that
there's nothing I can say that will make the situation right. I
was stubborn in my pursuit of a policy that went astray."
    Woodruff: "Reagan makes amends in an Oval Office speech, an
implied apology that goes a long way toward preserving his legacy.
1998, a very different kind of controversy."
    Then-President Bill Clinton: "Indeed, I did have a
relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact,
it was wrong."
    Woodruff: "President Clinton issues the first in a series of
mea culpas for the Monica Lewinsky affair. His credibility in
tatters, Clinton goes on to be impeached but avoids removal from
office. The politics of apologies."

    Of course, in every case but Clinton's, the Presidents were
talking about the actions of others they had limited control over,
whereas Clinton did it all himself.



    > 3) Rumsfeld in their sights. Wednesday's morning shows were
in full scandal mode as NBC's Katie Couric opened Today by
demanding: "What did administration officials know and when did
they know it?" Matt Lauer told Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld that he had questioned "the relevance of the Geneva
Convention in certain circumstances, with al Qaeda and the
Taliban," so "have you laid the foundation for the atmosphere in
which these abuses may have occurred?" Lauer wanted to know if
Rumsfeld would "issue a formal apology to the Iraqi people for
these abuses?" Couric prompted Senator Joe Biden to explain why
Rumsfeld may have to resign.

    Over on ABC's Good Morning America, Diane Sawyer pointed out
to Rumsfeld how he "did not apologize" the day before to Iraqi
prisoners who were shamed. She then demanded: "This morning, do
you apologize?" Charles Gibson proposed to Senator John McCain:
"In the end, is there a possibility of the Secretary of Defense
needing to resign?"

    The MRC's Geoff Dickens and Ken Shepherd took down highlights
from the May 5 Today and GMA:

    -- NBC's Today. Couric opened the program: "Good morning,
damage control. President Bush goes on Arab TV today to express
his anger over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Meanwhile some
members of Congress are expressing their anger. What did
administration officials know and when did they know it? We'll ask
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in a live interview today,
Wednesday, May 5th, 2004."

    Up first, Joe Biden from Capitol Hill. Couric quizzed him
about the administration failing to inform Congress and then cued
him up: "You have said that, actually you said that yesterday as
well in terms of accountability. If adequate answers are not
provided you say that top officials should resign. Are you
referring to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld?"
    Biden: "I sure am. If it goes all the way to Rumsfeld then he
should resign..."

    Next, Matt Lauer had a session with Rumsfeld from the
Pentagon. Lauer began with when Rumsfeld learned of the abuses,
how long it took for the report to be noticed and how the General
in charge of the prison said she had no control over the area
where the abuses occurred.

    Lauer then zeroed in on Rumsfeld's supposed culpability: "Let
me read you something from the Washington Post in their editorial
this morning. It says quote, 'A pattern of arrogant disregard for
the protections of the Geneva Conventions or any other legal
procedure has been set from the top by Mr. Rumsfeld and senior
U.S. commanders.' What's you response to that?"
    Rumsfeld: "It's not accurate....From outset" we decided
"people detained" would be "treated as if Geneva Convention did
apply."
    Lauer countered: "However, when, when you said though in
February of 2002 and I'm quoting, 'The set of facts that exist
today with the al Qaeda and the Taliban were not necessarily the
set of facts that were considered when the Geneva Convention was
fashioned.' Again in February 2002. By questioning the relevance
of the Geneva Convention in certain circumstances, with al Qaeda
and the Taliban, have you laid the foundation for the atmosphere
in which these abuses may have occurred?"
    Rumsfeld: "Certainly not, because in close proximity to what
you quoted I think you'll find the statement I just made," about
people "treated as though Geneva Convention would apply."
    Lauer: "You, when the President went to war in Iraq he did, he
took the moral high ground. He said, 'look Saddam Hussein is
abusing and torturing the Iraqi people, we can provide a country
where the Iraqis don't have to live in fear.' You've, you've
talked about the war of ideas. How do these photos, how do these
incidents impact that war of ideas?"
    Rumsfeld: "Harmful."
    Lauer: "Just one word?"
    Rumsfeld: "I've responded. I don't know what else one can
say..."
    Lauer pushed for an apology: "Real quickly, Mr. Secretary, if
you will, would you support a congressional hearing into this,
would you testify before that, that hearing and, and would you
issue a formal apology to the Iraqi people for these abuses?"
    Rumsfeld: "Anyone who sees the photographs does I fact
apologize to the people who were abused. That is wrong, it
shouldn't have happened, it's un-American, it's unacceptable and
we all know that. And that apology is there to any individual who
was abused..."



    -- ABC's Good Morning America. Diane Sawyer first asked
Rumsfeld, at the Pentagon, for an apology:
    "I want to start with some of the new photos we have received
this morning. And I want to let our viewers at home know that
we're being very careful in the way that we use them. They are
additional scenes from what happened inside that prison.  And as
we see them go by, I want to point out that some of the Iraqis
that we've been seeing in the pictures have also begun speaking
out and saying they were so excited when the Americans came in,
and now some of them are living with permanent shame. Yesterday,
you did not apologize to them. This morning, do you apologize?"
    Rumsfeld: "Any American who sees the photographs that we've
seen has to feel apologetic to the Iraqi people who were abused
and recognize that that is something unacceptable and certainly
un-American."

    Sawyer, over photo of Rumsfeld with General Karpinski in front
of cells in the Abu Ghraib prison: "I want to get to the question,
if I can now, of responsibility and accountability, there is a
photo we have of you, this very prison, it was last fall, in
September, I believe, of last fall and you're standing there,
indeed with the woman, the general, who was in charge. First
question to you:  did you see anything, did you notice anything,
did you say, 'how could I not know who was in charge, and what the
conditions were at the prison'?"
    Rumsfeld: I didn't go near prisoners when I visited.

    Sawyer soon asked about Rumsfeld resigning: "With 30
investigations underway and as we said earlier, at least two of
the deaths being questioned as homicides, as you know, a number of
people have come out, Senators on the Hill and said, there is
responsibility that has to be taken for this. And this is what
Senator Joseph Biden, Democratic Senator Joseph Biden, said:
'Accountability is essential. If the answers are unsatisfactory,
resignations should be sought.' And he specifically cites you as
one of those who has to be questioned about responsibility. Can
you imagine any circumstance, any consequences of the
investigation that would cause you to resign for this?"
    Rumsfeld provided a non-answer about ongoing investigations
and how there was no excuse for the behavior.

    GMA next went to Senator McCain, standing with the Capitol
dome behind him. Charles Gibson's first question: "Senator McCain,
let me start where Diane actually was finishing there with
Secretary Rumsfeld. He said yesterday those responsible have to be
held accountable. In the end, are senior commanders, those
responsible, should they be held accountable, and in the end is
there a possibility of the Secretary of Defense needing to
resign?"
    McCain: Can't reach hat conclusion yet, but need full
investigation, Congress needs to be informed, disturbed not yet
informed.

    Gibson moved on to congressional anger about not being
informed earlier, before he wondered: "Senator, what does this say
about us, though? You've just said there's a lot of good military
people, and indeed there are, but the question that keeps coming
back to me is, what does this say about us as a society when this
thing, this kind of actions, these kinds of actions are going on
with our military people treating prisoners this way?"

    Gibson proposed: "But does it do more than harm our
reputations because it inflames opinions in the Middle East and
among Islamic society, and in effect, does it not put our soldiers
at greater risk who are over there?"
    McCain: "It certainly can over time and I hope that the
millions of acts of generosity and kindness and sacrifice that
have been made by Americans...will be remembered by the Iraqi
people...."



    > 4) So what, in addition to having pictures, is fueling the
media's obsession with the Irqai prisoner treatment story? Eric
Dezenhall, an expert on public relations in a crisis, suggested on
FNC's Special Report with Brit Hume that the media "like the story
of the arrogant America." He elaborated: "I think you have an
elite community that doesn't like this war and the notion of the
military perpetrating something like this validates the notion
that all things military are bad, all things assertive are bad and
that all things Bush are bad. So you have a nice little package
here."

    During an appearance on Hume's May 5 show on Wednesday,
Dezenhall suggested: "I think that those who are hostile to Bush,
and conventional media, like the story of the arrogant America --
the proof that 'see, I told you they were arrogant after all.' And
what this incident with the photographs of the Iraqis does is it
validates the notion that, 'you see, these guys are heavy-handed
imperialists.' So it's the story everyone wants to do, just like
nobody wants in a murder mystery for it to turn out that the cute
little girl did it. You want to have somebody evil do it. This
validates that narrative. That's why it's so tough to get out of."
    Hume: "Because people in this country think the U.S.
government is evil?"
    Dezenhall: "I don't think people in this country as a whole
think that. I think you have an elite community that doesn't like
this war and the notion of the military perpetrating something
like this validates the notion that all things military are bad,
all things assertive are bad and that all things Bush are bad. So
you have a nice little package here."

    For a picture of Dezenhall on the Web site of his firm,
Dezenhall Resources: http://www.dezenhall.com/eric.htm



    > 5) Tom Brokaw and Tim Russert bury the lead? An article
posted Wednesday on the MSNBC.com Web site began: "Only a third of
American voters believe the nation is in sound shape, but they are
largely not blaming President Bush, according to a new NBC
News/Wall Street Journal poll released Wednesday, which showed
Bush running slightly ahead of his Democratic opponent for
President, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts." But Brokaw and
Russert, on Wednesday's NBC Nightly News, didn't mention, until
the very end of a two-minute rundown, how the poll found Bush
ahead as Brokaw led by insisting the survey "contains some
unsettling news for President Bush and just a sliver of good news
for him."

    The bad news is most think the nation is going in the wrong
direction and more don't think Bush deserves reelection than do.

    The "sliver" of good news for Bush: The poll found 46 percent
for Bush, 42 percent favoring Kerry and 5 percent planning to vote
for Ralph Nader.

    Brokaw set up the rundown of the poll's findings, on the May 5
NBC Nightly News: "The new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll is
out tonight, and it contains some unsettling news for President
Bush and just a sliver of good news for him. We're going to talk
about that now with NBC's Tim Russert, who's moderator of Meet the
Press and our Washington Bureau Chief. Tim, right direction, wrong
direction. That's always a key poll in an election year. What are
the pollsters finding?"

    Russert explained, with matching on-screen graphics of poll
results displayed throughout his q and a with Brokaw, as
transcribed by MRC analyst Brad Wilmouth: "Prime indicator for an
incumbent President, only 33 percent of Americans think the
country's going in the right direction, 50 percent, Tom, think the
wrong direction. Look back in March. It was 43, 49. That's a
pretty strong decline."
    Brokaw: "And what about Iraq? How is that cutting in the
country?"
    Russert: "It's the same. Is the war worth it? Now, 42 percent
say worth it, 47 percent say not worth it. Back in March, it was
the other way -- 50 to 44. And, Tom, 52 percent of independent
voters say it is not worth it."
    Brokaw: "What are they saying about President Bush come the
fall? We're still some distance from the election, but they're
beginning to think about it obviously."
    Russert: "Does he deserve reelection? And here the numbers: 45
percent say yes, 49 percent say no. Democrats: 84 percent say no,
84 percent of Republicans say yes. Independents: 51 percent of
independent voters now say he does not deserve reelection. That's
a red flag."
    Brokaw: "And what about for John Kerry, then? Is that good
news for him or not?"
    Russert: "Well, it should be, but look at John Kerry's
numbers, Tom. Positive, negative. Positive: 38 percent. Negative:
38 percent. Where was it in March? -- 43 to 30, that's a pretty
significant decline in John Kerry's perception with voters across
the country."
    Brokaw: "Now, the Republicans have been beating up on him for
the last month or so. What's beginning to take effect for John
Kerry?"
    Russert: "We asked, 'What is the one thing you like least
about John Kerry?' And you will not be surprised by this result:
49 percent say, 'He straddles both sides of the issues.' The exact
point of the Bush-Cheney advertising campaign. And, Tom, 44
percent of Democrats, Democrats say John Kerry straddles the
issues. He's got to address that issue."
    Brokaw: "We're still some distance from the election, as I
said just a few moments ago, but we always want to talk about the
horse race, what they're thinking right now about what could
happen in November."
    Russert: "You would think with the news about right direction,
wrong direction of the country, about Iraq, that, what kind of
race would we have? George Bush is still ahead: 46, 42 for John
Kerry, 5 percent for Ralph Nader. Amongst independents, it's 39,
Bush, 36, Kerry, 9 percent of independent voters are voting for
Ralph Nader. He is the 'peace candidate' in the field. As things
go worse in Iraq, will he get more votes, and will he take them
from John Kerry? This thing is still a tossup, but it is clearly
indicated that both these candidates have to reach out to these
swing independent voters, and they have to do it in the next five
months."

    Unlike ABC News and CBS News, NBC News does not post its poll
results, just a generalized article about them. For MSNBC.com's
May 5 story by Alex Johnson on this poll, "NBC poll: Pessimism not
sticking to President; Half of voters unhappy with direction, but
Bush still leads Kerry," see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4907503/



    # Friday night on CBS's JAG, a pro-military show revolving
around lawyers in the Navy's Judge Advocate Corps, as summarized
on CBS's Web page for the program: "As the grieving mother of a
Marine killed in Iraq prepares for her son's body to arrive home
and his funeral, Harm steps in to help when he learns that she is
being hounded by reporters wanting to interview her about her
tragedy."

    CBS's Web page for the show:
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jag/

    JAG airs Friday nights at 9pm EDT/PDT, 8pm CDT/MDT.


-- Brent Baker


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