Andrew Breitbart, Big Journalism‘s Dana Loesch To Contribute To ABC News’ Election Night Coverage

by Frances Martel | 11:50 am, October 30th, 2010

» 27 comments

Andrew Breitbart is going mainstream. The Big site proprietor and polarizing internet mogul has been tapped to provide Election Day analysis for ABC News along with Big Hollywood editor Dana Loesch, and the amicable relationship between a major network and a major Tea Party icon has made many on the left predictably uncomfortable.

While ABC News only officially announced Loesch as a contributor, Big Journalism broke the news that Breitbart would be chiming in from Arizona, and several outlets (including Breitbart himself, on Twitter) have confirmed it. The response from Breitbart detractors, who cite the Shirley Sherrod mess, among other things, as reason to ban Breitbart from any and all media outlets, has been nearly unanimous. Media Matters, who confirmed his appearance, announced the news with a Breitbart “greatest hits” compilation of their stories on the “noted propagandist.” The Daily Kos writers “thought it was a joke” until it was confirmed, to which they respond, “WTF ABC!?” Comments on Twitter, as furiously retweeted by Breitbart himself, range from the usual anti-Breitbart gay references to calling him “Baghdad Bob” to the rare but existing positive comments from liberals.

Meanwhile, Breitbart himself spent his Friday night celebrating the only way he knows how: further irritating his detractors on Twitter.

Say what you will about Breitbart, Loesch, and their respective credibility, but their appearances (alongside fiery liberal commentators like Donna Brazile and anchors who could provide balance like George Stephanopoulos have now made ABC News must-see TV next Tuesday night.

Update: ABC News has responded to the criticism, distancing themselves from Breitbart and clarifying his role:

Mr. Breitbart is not an ABC News analyst.

He is not an ABC News consultant.

He is not, in any way, affiliated with ABC News.

He is not being paid by ABC News.

He has not been asked to analyze the results of the election for ABC News. [...]

He has been invited as one of several guests, from a variety of different political persuasions, to engage with a live, studio audience that will be closely following the election results and participating in an online-only discussion and debate to be moderated by David Muir and Facebook’s Randi Zuckerberg on ABCNews.com and Facebook.

ABC News, Andrew Breitbart, Big Journalism, Daily Kos, Dana Loesch, Media Matters

notsofast

Talk about “jumping the shark”, I guess this is ABC’s answer to MSNBC.
Big Eddie

Breitbart and Dana – terrific people . Fox still the place to be .
Pablo

The response from Breitbart detractors, who cite the Shirley Sherrod mess, among other things, as reason to ban Breitbart from any and all media outlets, has been nearly unanimous.

Yes, because they’re tolerant, thoughtful people who have no fear of engaging on the battlefield of ideas. BAN THE HERETIC!!!
Harry Flashman

Is ABC management finally waking up to the fact that people don’t want to hear just one take on issues – the left’s?

Watch their rating climb WAY over NBC and CBS if they keep this up.
philipjames

Breitbart is “polarizing”…?? Is there a liberal media playbook that got distributed? How to describe anyone on the the right…. “polarizing, controversial”, etc. I thought all you liberal media types used those up on Sarah Palin.

how about every time you write something about Barack Obama, you say he is polarizing, or controversial…. because he is…

what? you only can find “wonderful, genius, god like, misunderstood” , etc. in that playbook?
TfT

ABC reaching out to the majority in this country by allowing a conservative perspective on air for a change?

Shocking and good for them.

As usual, Frances is over-blowing the Sherrod bru-ha-ha. As Frances well knows, Brietbart didn’t edit any video, he played what he received…but hey, facts are facts, something Frances doesn’t like to deal with often.

I wonder just how much air time the conservative contributors will get on ABC. I do applaud them for reaching out beyond the typical group/grope liberal mindset of today’s liberal media.
NORBIT

In case you progressives get confused, Breitbart will be the one WITHOUT the black mourning armband.

lol!
TfT

I must say, I am very proud of Frances for making this statement:

(alongside fiery liberal commentators like Donna Brazile, George Stephanopoulos, and several others)

Admitting that George is not a journalist is a great step in the right direction.

Good job, bravo.
tgk

““WTF ABC!?”

LOL, liberal heads exploding everywhere for ABC straying even a fraction from towing the democratic line. Love it!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-A-Wojtowicz/1471630141 Michael A. Wojtowicz

No silly, Breitbart will be the one with the Hitler Youth Knife strapped to his leg. Duh.
TfT

According to ABC insiders, there is a lot of discomfort and anger inside the network that ABC has reached out to conservatives to participate in their election analysis.
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Mangan/100000213524770 David Mangan

ABC is under new management, with the Westin scion given the shit-can just last month and it looks like ABC will become the mainstream network to follow FoxNEWS to bigger and better pastures. NBC has Andrea Mitchell and UpChuck Todd along with Gregory to avoid on election night and CBS will be a predictable libtard hangout.

I am getting off hearing the wails and rending of garments on the ultra-left agitprop cadre blogs…! No one would touch their garbage and lies with a hundred-foot pole.
NORBIT

The MSNBC hosts, and their benefactors in the White House, are sweating in their jackboots!
NORBIT

How long before Olbermann, Matthews, Maddow, Shultz and Ugghh are all co-hosting on “The View”?

LMAO!!
bealzebubba

Waiting to see how quickly they loose credibility amongst the Fox news crowd for this act of defiance.

And I’ll probably still watch them…..until 10pm EST…sorry, SAMCRO is more important.
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Mangan/100000213524770 David Mangan

“According to ABC insiders, there is a lot of discomfort and anger inside the network that ABC has reached out to conservatives to participate in their election analysis.”

Someone should remind these diehard commies that ABC is under new management and their asses are on the way into the network’s garbage bin.
the mad doctor

“According to ABC insiders, there is a lot of discomfort and anger inside the network that ABC has reached out to conservatives to participate in their election analysis.’

Hah! God forbid that our media elite should actually ask an opinion from a true conservative. Guess Megan McCain wasn’t available.
http://Mediaite.com uggugg

What bothers me about elections; In America, educators teach the young up and coming leaders of America how to squeeze the last drop of juice out of the turnip without using moral standards to guide them. The turnip, usually (the worker customer) is so busy trying to stay ahead of the survival curve, he has no time to follow or analyze the political activity going on between elections, and so what does he do? A week or two before election time, he listens to a number of broadcasters on TV telling everything from lies to more lies through manipulated misinformation to unfairly trick the voters into voting the way the News Media wants them to vote. The voters, being exhausted from trying to make a better living for themselves and their families, vote to the benefit of the fear mongers and manipulators which are usually big business backed.
The decent people make zillions of mistakes listening to bad information that has no benefit to the common working class people. The quicker people get it in their heads that no one is for the common working people but the common working people. All others are in the dog eat dog race to nowhere. If this sounds sadistic, it is but it is reality. The working class will always be kept hungry so that they will always be handy and if they don’t submit to accepting abuse from the rich, they will lose their jobs to foreign workers who are reported being treated like slaves and if they complain, we will see pictures of their bodies being fished out of the river while American business is profiting from all the activity. I don’t think the world will stay in orbit long enough for anyone or any government to stop it. Justice has a way of correcting some of this by allowing what goes aroung comes back around. We see this every day.
TeaBagALibby

Did I just read balance and Stephanopolous in the same sentence?
Cancon2

Wow, the other 98% of the MSM sure must be quaking. Damn, they have taken York.
TfT

Teabagalibby:

The original article/column had this statement in it:

“(alongside fiery liberal commentators like Donna Brazile, George Stephanopoulos, and several others) ”

Frances must have gotten some direction from ABC to change it, so it was changed to how it reads now. There is no correction or explanation from the author as to why the original statement was edited.

Such journalistic integrity. Really Frances – shame on you for editing your column without issuing a statement as to why you made the change.

PATHETIC.

Your original statement (liberal commentators like Donna, George, and other) was CORRECT; now your column is INCORRECT.

For shame…..
jrcmi

“Breitbart is “polarizing”…?? ”

Liars tend to have that effect.

“Breitbart will be the one WITHOUT the black mourning armband.”

It should be wrapped around his MOUTH.

“There is a lot of discomfort and anger inside the network that ABC has reached out to conservatives to participate in their election analysis.”

Liars tend to have THAT effect, too.

“Waiting to see how quickly they loose credibility amongst the Fox news crowd for this act of defiance.”

“REPORT: More than 30 Fox Newsers support GOP in 600-plus instances during midterms”

http://mediamatters.org/research/201010270005

“During the 2009-2010 election cycle, more than 30 Fox News personalities have endorsed, raised money, or campaigned for Republican candidates or organizations in more than 600 instances. The Republican support has been given to more than 300 different races or party organizations in at least 47 states. Fox News personalities and hosts have also helped start pro-Republican organizations, which have raised tens of millions of dollars.

“FoxPAC: More than 30 Fox Newsers have supported GOP candidates or orgs
The following Fox Newsers have offered support for Republican candidates or organizations during the 2010 election cycle:

Fred Barnes, Fox News contributor
Glenn Beck, host of Fox News’ Glenn Beck
Eric Bolling, host of Fox Business’ Follow the Money
John Bolton, Fox News contributor
Tammy Bruce, Fox News contributor
Elaine Chao, Fox News contributor
Monica Crowley, Fox News contributor
Mike Gallagher, Fox News contributor
Newt Gingrich, Fox News contributor
Sean Hannity, host of Fox News’ Hannity
Mike Huckabee, host of Fox News’ Huckabee and Twentieth Television’s The Huckabee Show
David Hunt, Fox News contributor
Laura Ingraham, Fox News contributor
John Kasich, former host and contributor
Brian Kilmeade, co-host of Fox News’ Fox & Friends and host of Fox News Radio’s Kilmeade & Friends
William Kristol, Fox News contributor
Michelle Malkin, Fox News contributor
KT McFarland, Fox News national security analyst and host of FoxNews.com’s DEFCON 3
Angela McGlowan, Fox News contributor
Dennis Miller, Fox News contributor
Dick Morris, Fox News contributor
Rupert Murdoch, CEO and president of News Corp., parent company of Fox News
Andrew Napolitano, Fox News senior judicial analyst and host of Fox Business’ Freedom Watch
Sarah Palin, Fox News contributor and host of Fox News’ Real American Stories
Dana Perino, Fox News contributor
Dave Ramsey, listed Fox Business personality and former host of Fox Business’ The Dave Ramsey Show (through June)
Sandy Rios, Fox News contributor
Karl Rove, Fox News contributor
Rick Santorum, Fox News contributor
Doug Schoen, Fox News contributor
Andrea Tantaros, Fox News contributor
Stuart Varney, Fox News contributor and host of Fox Business’ Varney & Co. . . . ”

Every FOX-GOP person cited is linked to their specific political activities.

“Fair and balanced.” Sheesh.
—
“diehard commies”

Ran out of lithium again, eh?

http://www.RepubliCorp.us
VRWC Destruction Machine

It’s a pisser that ABC is trying to be Fair and Balanced over the other two networks on election night.
VRWC Destruction Machine

jrcmi said:
“FoxPAC: More than 30 Fox Newsers have supported GOP candidates or orgs
The following Fox Newsers have offered support for Republican candidates or organizations during the 2010 election cycle:
Fred Barnes, Fox News contributor
Glenn Beck, host of Fox News’ Glenn Beck
Eric Bolling, host of Fox Business’ Follow the Money
John Bolton, Fox News contributor
Tammy Bruce, Fox News contributor
Elaine Chao, Fox News contributor
Monica Crowley, Fox News contributor
Mike Gallagher, Fox News contributor
Newt Gingrich, Fox News contributor
Sean Hannity, host of Fox News’ Hannity
Mike Huckabee, host of Fox News’ Huckabee and Twentieth Television’s The Huckabee Show
David Hunt, Fox News contributor
Laura Ingraham, Fox News contributor
John Kasich, former host and contributor
Brian Kilmeade, co-host of Fox News’ Fox & Friends and host of Fox News Radio’s Kilmeade & Friends
William Kristol, Fox News contributor
Michelle Malkin, Fox News contributor
KT McFarland, Fox News national security analyst and host of FoxNews.com’s DEFCON 3
Angela McGlowan, Fox News contributor
Dennis Miller, Fox News contributor
Dick Morris, Fox News contributor
Rupert Murdoch, CEO and president of News Corp., parent company of Fox News
Andrew Napolitano, Fox News senior judicial analyst and host of Fox Business’ Freedom Watch
Sarah Palin, Fox News contributor and host of Fox News’ Real American Stories
Dana Perino, Fox News contributor
Dave Ramsey, listed Fox Business personality and former host of Fox Business’ The Dave Ramsey Show (through June)
Sandy Rios, Fox News contributor
Karl Rove, Fox News contributor
Rick Santorum, Fox News contributor
Doug Schoen, Fox News contributor
Andrea Tantaros, Fox News contributor
Stuart Varney, Fox News contributor and host of Fox Business’ Varney & Co. . . . ”
Every FOX-GOP person cited is linked to their specific political activities.

Sounds like a winning team. You should be happy. You guys have Parker Spitzer, Anderson Cooper, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Joy Behar, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz and Laurence O’Donnell and CNN has Anita Dunn as a contributor.
Greg

Since conservative commentator Andrew Breitbart announced on his website that he was going to be a participant in ABC’s Town Hall meeting at Arizona State University, there has been considerable consternation and misinformation regarding my decision to ask him to participate in an election night Town Hall event for ABC News Digital. I want to explain what Mr. Breitbart’s role has always been as one of our guests at our digital town hall event:

Mr. Breitbart is not an ABC News analyst.

He is not an ABC News consultant.

He is not, in any way, affiliated with ABC News.

He is not being paid by ABC News.

He has not been asked to analyze the results of the election for ABC News.

Mr. Breitbart will not be a part of the ABC News broadcast coverage, anchored by Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos. For the broadcast coverage, David Muir and Facebook’s Randi Zuckerberg will contribute reaction and response gathered from the students and faculty of Arizona State University at an ABC News/Facebook town hall.

He has been invited as one of several guests, from a variety of different political persuasions, to engage with a live, studio audience that will be closely following the election results and participating in an online-only discussion and debate to be moderated by David Muir and Facebook’s Randi Zuckerberg on ABCNews.com and Facebook. We will have other guests, as well as a live studio audience and a large audience on ABCNews.com and Facebook, who can question the guests and the audience’s opinions.
Sunnyr

Holy Cow, HELL just froze over! And I could not be happier! It looks like ABC needs a few Conservatives to prop up their lousy ratings. I love Andrew Breitbart, the KING of Conservative Journalism on the web and I will even switch over to ABC and watch them for a while if they are going to have a balanced team. I quit watching these Leftist nutballs who have “round tables” made up of Uber Liberals. UGH. Looks like they are finally “getting it.” Fair and Balanced works.
Pablo

Uh oh. Jay Rosen has his panties all knotted up.

“Say what you will about Breitbart, Loesch, and their respective credibility” No, Mediaite, what do you YOU say about it? http://jr.ly/5nw2