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Mediaite’s Tommy Christopher Talks Wisconsin Protest Coverage With S.E. Cupp

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» 52 comments

While protests have become the latest global media trend, it is with those closest to home, in Wisconsin, that they have the most wiggle room in their coverage (and spin). Mediaite Political Editor and White House Correspondent Tommy Christopher visited S.E. Cupp on her new program today to evaluate media bias in the Wisconsin story, from MSNBC’s budget analysis to Fox News’ claims doctors are giving protesters a likely illegal hand.

Cupp invited Christopher to her new Mercury Radio Arts show (Glenn Beck Insiders can watch here) to evaluate the media’s coverage of the claims network by network, beginning with Rachel Maddow‘s ultimately erroneous claim that Wisconsin’s economy was so good that the state was actually heading for a budget surplus. Christopher expressed hope (and confidence) that Maddow would correct herself, saddened that “the one mistake that she made undercuts an excellent segment” and adding that the “memo she was quoting,” to her credit, “was confusingly put together.”

They also discussed the reported fraud committed by doctors on the scene in Madison, allegedly hanging out medical excuse notes to protesters to help them keep their wages through the protest period. Cupp noted that “if that’s true, that’s a huge problem,” and Fox News was right in pointing that out in similar words, though Christopher was skeptical: “the only person Fox shows getting a doctor’s note is one of the Tea Party protesters.” On the other side of the spectrum, however, Christopher ceded that CNN “should not be saying that the doctors are helping out the teachers” if the alleged fraud is true.

Christopher’s full segment with Cupp below:

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  • tatboy

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… Boy. Two of my faves!!! :). Can’t wait to get home and watch this.

  • TfT

    So….Rachel makes an honest mistake but the evil FNC reporting the doctors note is very suspicious?

    Got it.

    BTW: O’Reilly just went after Rachel for her complete false reporting on Wisconsin. She earned that.

  • Jackyboy

    Very good talk from both of you, who knew you had it in you Tommy? Haha I kid I kid.

  • Obeezy

    the only person Fox shows getting a doctor’s note is one of the Tea Party protesters.”

    That is an outright lie.. Have some common descency to tell the damn truth..Is it that hard? I guess it is

  • http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

    I’m even gonna’ put the sound up for Cupp this time! lol

  • The Donger

    I just want to know why the medical excuse notes were hanging out, were they wet or did they too want to see what was going on.

    They also discussed the reported fraud committed by doctors on the scene in Madison, allegedly hanging out medical excuse notes to protesters to help them keep their wages through the protest period.

  • http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

    Oh, this should have been the issue Cupp addressed:

    “In responding to the recently released Wisconsin GOP video, “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski admitted that the mainstream media have not discussed the numerous examples of violent and negative rhetoric protesters have aimed at Gov. Scott Walker. If the same signs were carried by a tea partier, they noted, the video would be looped and played repeatedly.”
    ————————————————————————————
    and Here, on the pre-eminent Media Site, it should absolutely be addressed!

  • Nacho

    This lady is an idiot.

    I’m not convinced that this show isn’t a SNL skit.

  • Color Me Badd

    You mean to tell me S.E. Cupp has never called into work sick the next day after a long night of drinking and going home with some stranger. yeah right.

  • Color Me Badd

    Nacho said:
    This lady is an idiot.

    I’m not convinced that this show isn’t a SNL skit.

    There are smart conservative commentators, S.E. Cupp might very well be the stupidest one of them all, I kinda feel a little sorry for her.

  • Latin2

    MSNBC’s Morning Joe panel ADMITS that the media reporting is BIASED towards Liberals;

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Rz5hDvJeo&feature=player_embedded

    Joe asked why certain coverage by the Media has not been reported and one panelists says it all “Because the Media is Liberal”

  • http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

    ps) Buy up those SEIU shirts while you can – they’re gonna’ jump 100% as soon as Wisconsin Votes!

  • http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

    Latin2 said:
    MSNBC’s Morning Joe panel ADMITS that the media reporting is BIASED towards Liberals; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Rz5hDvJeo&feature=player_embedded Joe asked why certain coverage by the Media has not been reported and one panelists says it all “Because the Media is Liberal”

    Latin,
    I didn’t have the link, but been postin’ that someone should do a write-up on that here…perfect forum for it.

  • Big Eddie

    Obama is not just a union supporter . He’s a union leader .

    http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/02/obama_i_will_paint_the_nation.html

  • Latin2

    Obeezy said:
    the only person Fox shows getting a doctor’s note is one of the Tea Party protesters.”

    That is an outright lie.. Have some common descency to tell the damn truth..Is it that hard? I guess it is

    Actually Big Government’s Andrew Brebert got a doctor’s not, and so did a producer for Fox News and both were video taped to prove what was going on.

    Something the other MSM didn’t do.

  • Latin2

    NORBIT Jr. said:
    Latin,
    I didn’t have the link, but been postin’ that someone should do a write-up on that here…perfect forum for it.

    I agree Norbit Jr. It explains why the Media is unfair

  • Obeezy

    I really do’nt think the issue with the doctors is a democrat or republican issue, yes for the democrats affected by getting the notes. But this is blatant proof of the fraud and waste that goes on with doctors. If these doctors are capable of this, what else do they do? This is something we all should be worried about. Its fine to side with the protesters but condoning fraud is just crazy. Taxpayers eventaully pay for this type of fraud

  • TfT

    OReilly talking about Soros going on CNN taking on FNC. I am not surprised that Fareed did not criticize or take on Soros. Fareed is yet another terrorist lover who appaers on CNN and can’t speak the truth.

    Bernie taking on a “supposed journolist” Fareed, and also mentions that Fareed did not take on Soros at all, just let him rant. Fareed is a useless POS on air. Zakaria just ate it all up; funny,. Is it any wonder why CNN has no ratings?

  • Nacho

    Working class Americans supporting working class Americans, I know, it sounds totally absurd.

  • http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

    TfT said:
    OReilly talking about Soros going on CNN taking on FNC. I am not surprised that Fareed did not criticize or take on Soros. Fareed is yet another terrorist lover who appaers on CNN and can’t speak the truth. Bernie taking on a “supposed journolist” Fareed, and also mentions that Fareed did not take on Soros at all, just let him rant. Fareed is a useless POS on air. Zakaria just ate it all up; funny,. Is it any wonder why CNN has no ratings?

    Very good, I’m just listening to it while posting, and it’s on already…

    Check this out from Latin2:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Rz5hDvJeo&feature=player_embedded

  • http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

    All:

    Bernie making a Great Point about Media IGNORING the All-White crowd, while they continuously brought that canard up with Tea Party gatherings.

  • BadGenome

    Color Me Badd said:
    There are smart conservative commentators, S.E. Cupp might very well be the stupidest one of them all, I kinda feel a little sorry for her.

    It was very considerate of Mediaite to send Tommy, then. I’m sure S.E. didn’t feel out of her depth at all.

  • http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

    BadGenome said:
    It was very considerate of Mediaite to send Tommy, then. I’m sure S.E. didn’t feel out of her depth at all.

    OUCH!

  • Color Me Badd

    BadGenome said:
    It was very considerate of Mediaite to send Tommy, then. I’m sure S.E. didn’t feel out of her depth at all.

    Good one, I mean Charles Krauthammer and George Will she isn’t. I wonder if Victoria Jackson could take her place?

  • TfT

    Right Nor bit and Latin 2.

    Maybe tomorrow, Mourning Joe will invite bowing brian on and ask him what gives? Actually confront his own “newsman” abd ask him how come he is so biased and untrustworthy

    bwahahahaha

    Actually, i guess it is progress that MSNBC at least admited the liberal media bias. It would be nice if Katie, the bower, and the one who is not allowed to report all by her lonesome Dianne, actually reported on the signs and the bias. I won’t hold my breath.

    I remember this board, it had several articles just about the signs, one by one, pictures and lots of them condemning the tea paretiers. I do beleive Tommy was involved in that (or maybe it was Colby)…doesn’t matter, each of them have been relatively silents on the outrageous signs from the union thugs….but hey, Tommy and Colby have solidarity with them….the are one and the same – liberal through and through.

    Thanks for the link to mourning Joe and Mika actually recognizing the bias., It should be headline here, b ut alas, burried deep within the comments section is still better than not seeing it at all.

  • Latin2

    Nacho said:
    Working class Americans supporting working class Americans, I know, it sounds totally absurd.

    Weren’t you the same person who wished someone would assassinate Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer?

    Talk about sick.

  • tatboy

    How about the teacher that was being interviewed being a leader of their local? Does the Tea Party guy only have to be the only one grilled? Should the title have been changed to “Union Leader Labeled Only as “Teacher”".

  • tatboy

    P.S. My wife was born and raised in Racine, WI. So I feel a connection to this story.

  • da-wdc

    TfT said:
    Fareed is yet another terrorist lover who appaers on CNN and can’t speak the truth.

    Let’s see, he has brown skin and is named Fareed, therefore he’s a terrorist lover to you? Nice.

    Also I’ve never seen any article indicating that Zakaria was on JournoList, I don’t know why Goldberg says that. Does anyone have this information?

  • tigerprez

    Nice try, Tommy. If you actually watch the video, you can hear the doctors saying that they’re handing out excuse slips to anyone who wants them, so the idea that only Tea Partiers signed up for them has been widely debunked. Even Politifact confirmed it.

    So, keep spinning, Tommy. Even the left isn’t buying it anymore.

  • Nacho

    tigerprez said:
    Nice try, Tommy. If you actually watch the video, you can hear the doctors saying that they’re handing out excuse slips to anyone who wants them, so the idea that only Tea Partiers signed up for them has been widely debunked. Even Politifact confirmed it.

    So, keep spinning, Tommy. Even the left isn’t buying it anymore.

    Tommy was referring to the FoxNews coverage and the footage FoxNews showed. If you watch this painful Cupp show, Tommy even questions the clip they chose to play and she acknowledges its just a random clip that her producers pulled.

    Tommy is there representing Mediaite, an informal media watchdog group, discussing his 3 latest columns about the WI union situation and he appeared rather neutral in the face of Cupp’s poorly executed leading questions.

    You need to slow your roll a bit and let your lagging comprehension skills catch up with that fast lane glenn beck mind.

  • Paleoconservatarian

    I’m not a medical ethicist, but I knew there were lines being crossed the second I saw the solicitation sign sticking out of the crowd last week.

  • http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

    Nice recap of a few Mediaite stories and I’d say that it was a fine effort for what I believe is a new webshow. If I were to say anything that’s not predominately flattering, I can’t help but notice the spinning logo is very similar to the one originally used by Wonkette and still in use to mark their Twitter feed.

    Of course Ms. Cupp looks a lot more like the Wonkette than Ana Marie, Pareene, Jim Newell or even Ken Layne, but if the original is a licensed trademark, she may want to consider a change.

  • http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

    Uh… as usual, if you’re snarking a criticism or correction on an uneditable site… “predominantly”.

  • OxyCon

    Oh man! Right when I’m kinda getting into S.E. Cupp’s pretty face, all the sudden outta nowhere here comes Rachel Maddow!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A

    Tommy…you lucky dog!

  • WHarropson

    NORBIT Jr. said:
    Check this out from Latin2:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Rz5hDvJeo&feature=player_embedded

    Thanks for this. I don’t watch Joe except when reported here, but I understand Oprah is a big fan. I remember Joe before he was on MSNBC and was a conservative. I mostly avoid his show. If this is how they amble into truth, I’ll leave ‘em to the Oprah set. Yaahhn.

    “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.” Sir Winston Churchill …

  • OxyCon

    Latin2 said:
    MSNBC’s Morning Joe panel ADMITS that the media reporting is BIASED towards Liberals;

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2Rz5hDvJeo&feature=player_embedded

    Joe asked why certain coverage by the Media has not been reported and one panelists says it all “Because the Media is Liberal”

    Thanks for that video! Mika @}-’-,-’-,—

  • Tommy Christopher

    tigerprez said:
    Nice try, Tommy. If you actually watch the video, you can hear the doctors saying that they’re handing out excuse slips to anyone who wants them, so the idea that only Tea Partiers signed up for them has been widely debunked. Even Politifact confirmed it.

    So, keep spinning, Tommy. Even the left isn’t buying it anymore.

    I was referring to the clip that Mediaite used. In the interview, you can hear me say that this wasn’t the same clip. And I was not suggesting that “only Tea Partiers signed up for them,” I just found it funny that, in the clip we used here comparing Fox to CNN, the only person actually shown getting a note is a Tea Partier. I go on to talk about the doctors shown in the CNN clip.

  • Michael_T

    tigerprez said:
    Nice try, Tommy. If you actually watch the video, you can hear the doctors saying that they’re handing out excuse slips to anyone who wants them, so the idea that only Tea Partiers signed up for them has been widely debunked. Even Politifact confirmed it.

    Watch the video again b/c your post is a complete misrepresentation of what Tommy said.

    An open mind is a terrible thing to waste. :)

  • Michael_T

    Nacho said:
    Tommy is there representing Mediaite, an informal media watchdog group, discussing his 3 latest columns about the WI union situation and he appeared rather neutral in the face of Cupp’s poorly executed leading questions.

    I will say this – S.E. Cupp (who I generally like) sure obsessed over the “fake doctor excuses” angle … even after Tommy Christopher addressed her issue. She returned to it after the subject was changed.

    It has occurred to me that FNC and other conservative pundits are playing up this story/controversy b/c to attack the teachers (as opposed to their union) would be foolhardy. I even noticed that Bill O’Reilly took a surprisingly balanced view on the whole “Walker vs. The Union” debate.

    BillO is a smart man (at least compared to others on FNC) and I think he realizes there are a lot of people out there who may not totally agree with the union – but they admire and respect many (not all) teachers who have been a positive influence on their life.

  • TangledThorns

    SE Cupp is too hot for cable news. The problem with her is she is the kind of girl that knows how hot she is too.

  • http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

    TangledThorns says:
    “SE Cupp is too hot for cable news.”

    If she went to work for today’s biggest charlatan in radio and television commentary, I doubt that she’s very concerned about her career path or integrity or honesty.

  • TampopoLoco

    I would tap the republican right out of S.E Cupp. The chick is smokin’

  • Libertarian-Observer

    A Tale of Two Counties …. Comparing Fairfax Co, VA (no collective bargaining rights for public employees) and Montgomery County, MD (collective bargaining rights for public employees) … Straight from the Washington Post (05/30/10).

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/29/AR2010052903132.html

  • J Baustian

    Tommy Christopher, Mediaite political editor and chief apologist for Rachel Maddow.

    S.E. Cupp must be desperate for someone to talk with, if she has to stoop to inviting Tommy Christopher to her show.

  • J Baustian

    Nacho said:
    Tommy is there representing Mediaite, an informal media watchdog group, discussing his 3 latest columns about the WI union situation and he appeared rather neutral in the face of Cupp’s poorly executed leading questions.

    That does not seem to be an accurate description of Mediaite.

    As for S.E. Cupp, this is a very new project for her and it is not clear that this is the kind of work she should be doing.

  • MSDNCteabaggers

    Wow, she looked like she was very uncomfortable sitting in that chair… Next time tell her she can use my face anytime.

  • Color Me Badd

    BadGenome said:
    It was very considerate of Mediaite to send Tommy, then. I’m sure S.E. didn’t feel out of her depth at all.

    Tommy is okay, he almost got in a fight with Andrew Breitbart, that was fun!

  • Color Me Badd

    Andrew Breitbart Flips Out on Tommy Christopher

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AagTFmsT6c

  • bealzebubba

    Note to Tommy Christopher: Racine is pronounced Rah-Seen…not Ray-Seen.

  • http://twitter.com/SailRabbits Magister

    @Color Me Badd: That video is a year old and was originally posted here by Colby, then followed-up with background information from Tommy, so that you know.

  • Tedderman

    More Fox News lies, she’s barely a B-cup.

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