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Cable News Takes On Proposition 8 Ruling In California In Very Different Ways

by Michael Triplett | 8:25 am, August 5th, 2010

» 24 comments

After a federal judge in California struck down California’s ban on same-sex marriage because it was unconstitutional, the cable shows went on high-alert covering the decision by Judge Vaughn Walker by talking to everyone from the lawyers involved in the case to Sarah Palin.

Unsuprisingly, both Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow spent significant time on the story on MSNBC. Maddow featured the two attorneys who challenged the law–David Boies and Ted Olson–and spent considerable time leading viewers through the decision including Walker’s take-down of the expert witnesses offered by Prop 8 supporters. She was almost giddy in highlighting a reenactment of a defense witness saying he learned that same-sex would lead to polygamy on the Internet.

“You know what else is on the internet?,” Maddow said gleefully, “Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling in this case which, I kid you not is better than whatever novel you are currently reading right now. You should print it out and curl up with it instead you will not be disappointed.”

On CNN, Rick Sanchez also put on his reading glasses to read directly from the decision. In a segment with same-sex marriage opponent Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Sanchez tag-teamed with gay marriage supporter Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marriage in pressing Perkins to answer Sanchez’s “cotton-pickin’ question” to explain how the judge was wrong.

Anderson Cooper went to a noisy rally in West Hollywood to interview Boies and Olsen and then did dueling experts with Wolfson and same-sex marriage opponent Maggie Gallagher from the National Organization for Marriage. Gallagher said the case was pushed by”two straight guys with a hunger for media attention” and against the wishes of the gay activist establishment. Gallagher became especially defensive when a frustrated Cooper compared the lack of public support for same-sex marriage with the lack of support for interracial marriage when interracial marriage bans were outlawed, saying she resented being called a bigot.

The decision was given the breaking news treatment on Fox News with Neil Cavuto, although it was ignored by Bill O’Reilly. Sean Hannity touched on the issue only briefly, interviewing Sarah Palin who said “I pray to God” that Congress doesn’t “rubberstamp” the nomination of Elena Kagan given the increasing number of times judges were overriding “thwart the will of the people.” Hannity warned that it could cause “increased anger in the country” if judges were allowed to continue to undo measures like Prop 8 and the Arizona immigration law.

On the Fox Forum feature on their website, Walker was accused of being biased in handling the case and said that because the judge was “openly gay” he had a conflict and that the media avoided discussing the issue. Matt Drudge also dug up a five-month old story about Walker’s sexual orientation and had it topping his page most of the day.

Bill O'Reilly, CNN, Evan Wolfson, fox news, keith olbermann, Maggie Gallagher, Matt Drudge, msnbc, Neil Cavuto, Rachel Maddow, rick sanchez, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Tony Perkins

http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Not one comment on the news from Tony Weiner or Barney Frank or even Snooki . What up with that ?
paulmdoro

And the world will keep turning and your straight marriage will not be affected in any way. Maybe someday we can focus on serious problems again and not who people fall in love with and marry.
The Real Royal King

I find the homophobia at FOX interesting. This morning on FOX & Friends, there was another mano a mano homoerotic wrestling demonstration with host substituting for Kilmeade. The Douchey was making goofy faces and fanning himself whist Gretchen van Karlson was chortling and klapping manically. I actually began to fear she might be wetting herself as the pitch of the laughter rose and rose.

THOREAU: “RATHER … THAN MONEY, THAN FAME, GIVE ME TRUTH.”
FOX NEWS: BUY GOLD. USE GOLD TO BUY WHATEVER TRUTH YOU WANT. AND, SEEDS.
The Real Royal King

paulmdoro said:
And the world will keep turning and your straight marriage will not be affected in any way. Maybe someday we can focus on serious problems again and not who people fall in love with and marry.

So, it is not your belief thousands of previously loyal, devoted and faithful husbands are packing up their belongings today and setting up house with their fishing buddies? Are you confident?

THOREAU: “RATHER … THAN MONEY, THAN FAME, GIVE ME TRUTH.”
FOX NEWS: BUY GOLD. USE GOLD TO BUY WHATEVER TRUTH YOU WANT. AND, SEEDS.
paulmdoro

The Real Royal King said:
So, it is not your belief thousands of previously loyal, devoted and faithful husbands are packing up their belongings today and setting up house with their fishing buddies? Are you confident?

I guess I should wait and check the freeways for carloads of men before I jump to conclusions.
The Real Royal King

paulmdoro said:
I guess I should wait and check the freeways for carloads of men before I jump to conclusions.

I think that prudent.

THOREAU: “RATHER … THAN MONEY, THAN FAME, GIVE ME TRUTH.”
FOX NEWS: BUY GOLD. USE GOLD TO BUY WHATEVER TRUTH YOU WANT. AND, SEEDS.
Moderate

I can understand how Cable revenue for News Corp was $563 million for the quarter, up $134 million compared to the fourth quarter last year. Good job.
Azarkhan

” I actually began to fear she might be wetting herself ” Royal

The way you did when the will of several million voters in California was overruled by one judge? Sorry Royal, Gretchen is a woman, not a girl like you.
ImNotBlue

The decision was given the breaking news treatment on Fox News with Neil Cavuto, although it was ignored by Bill O’Reilly.

You realize this is untrue, right? It was not “ignored” by O’Reilly… rather he said (briefly) that they were preparing a larger report on it to air on Thursday night.

As for the story itself… was this a surprise? Was there really any doubt who was going to win this? Is there any doubt as the case goes to the 9th Circuit, who will win there? It’s the 9th Circuit… duuuuuh!

The whole thing reminds me very much of the AZ law, which is just fighting its way to the Supreme Court. The same thing here. If we were more efficient, we’d quit wasting time and just go to the big guys, instead of pretending that what the lower guys say means anything.

As for the ruling itself, I’m conflicted. On the one hand, I respect the rights of people to vote for what they want and believe… if the majority says XYZ, then that means something. However, I don’t like the government being involved in the whole “gay marriage” deal from the start, and don’t see anything wrong with homosexual unions, or marriages, or whatever. So I’m more likely to say the court got it correct this time… but I still don’t feel comfortable with the courts overruling the clearly stated will of the people.

But again, at the end of the day… it’s all going to the SCOTUS, so I think this stuff beforehand is mostly just a waste of time. Wake me when it counts.
notsofast

The decision was given the breaking news treatment on Fox News with Neil Cavuto, although it was ignored by Bill O’Reilly.”

Nice lie, Mike!

The decision had just broken when Billo was taping and he said he hadn’t read the 100 plus page opinion yet and would talk about the decision tonight after he had read it.
paulmdoro

I agree ImNotBlue. It’s going to go to the SCOTUS and they will reverse yesterday’s ruling (by a Reagan and Bush Sr. appointee no less).
ImNotBlue

paulmdoro says:
August 5, 2010 at 11:39 am

Well… of that, I’m not so sure. They may reverse it, they may not. It’s going to be very close.

However, if they do reverse it… expect the talk from the left to be about amending the Constitution. Which, while again I have no problem, will be difficult for them to justify given their current (and future) rhetoric about not changing the 14th Amendment.
paulmdoro

Yeah I guess the judge used a lot of language meant to appeal to Kennedy, who ultimately will probably cast the deciding vote on this one.
The Real Royal King

notsofast said:
The decision was given the breaking news treatment on Fox News with Neil Cavuto, although it was ignored by Bill O’Reilly.” Nice lie, Mike! The decision had just broken when Billo was taping and he said he hadn’t read the 100 plus page opinion yet and would talk about the decision tonight after he had read it.

I suppose that’s the inherent fallacy in a news show on a news network being taped. I realize FOX needs to do this given O’Reilly’s explosive temper and the occassional guest who strays from RNC talking points, but it is a limitation, isn’t it?

THOREAU: “RATHER … THAN MONEY, THAN FAME, GIVE ME TRUTH.”
FOX NEWS: BUY GOLD. USE GOLD TO BUY WHATEVER TRUTH YOU WANT. AND, SEEDS.
The Real Royal King

paulmdoro said:
Yeah I guess the judge used a lot of language meant to appeal to Kennedy, who ultimately will probably cast the deciding vote on this one.

More likely 6:3 if the Court considers it at all. The Court can be particular about basing precedent upon weak cases, and the evidence presented, now set and not subject to additional evidence being presented, was extraordinarily thin. The defense (those representing the homophobes) shocked the opposing and apparently the judge by presenting virtually no credible evidence. The Mormon funding must not have been forthcoming, and the defense team seemed to lose any interest. Very puzzling.

If the Court takes the case only the radical rightist activitists, Alito, Scalia and Thomas are likely to overturn. Roberts, for a variety of reasons, may not be all that keen on this.

THOREAU: “RATHER … THAN MONEY, THAN FAME, GIVE ME TRUTH.”
FOX NEWS: BUY GOLD. USE GOLD TO BUY WHATEVER TRUTH YOU WANT. AND, SEEDS.
paulmdoro

Roberts is a conservative Catholic. He will side with Thomas, Scalia, and Alito on this one.

Yes apparently the defense only presented two witnesses, and both lacked credibility.
ImNotBlue

The Real Royal King says:
August 5, 2010 at 1:01 pm

I suppose that’s the inherent fallacy in a news show on a news network being taped.

You do realize that ALL the news networks at some point or another go to taped programming, right? Doesn’t MSNBC run “Docs” on the weekend? Again, your hate and desire to complain about FNC is getting in the way of basic logic and understanding.

I realize FOX needs to do this given O’Reilly’s explosive temper and the occassional guest who strays from RNC talking points, but it is a limitation, isn’t it?

Simply foolish. You make yourself look dumber and more pathetic daily.

The Real Royal King says:
August 5, 2010 at 1:07 pm

The Mormon funding must not have been forthcoming, and the defense team seemed to lose any interest. Very puzzling.

Actually, what’s really puzzling is the left’s treatment of the California groups opposed to Prop 8. They went after the Mormons mercilessly, and (as you just demonstrated) as though they were the only one’s responsible. However, there were two groups who overwhelmingly were anti-gay marriage: the Mormons, and Blacks. Why is it that the left refuses to criticize them? Is it because you guys are too afraid to criticize minorities? Is it because they’re too important of a voting block, so you’ll lie and pretend that it didn’t happen? Or is it that you’re just anti-religion bigots, so attacking the Mormons fits better with your MO.

Come on, King… tell us. Why will you attack the Mormons, but won’t even talk about the Blacks?
paulmdoro

I have read stories noting the fact that more than just the Mormon church supported Prop 8, including black churches.
ImNotBlue

paulmdoro says:
August 5, 2010 at 1:20 pm

But the level of anger and vitriol directed at the Mormon Church after the Prop 8 situation, is not even close to the level that was directed at Black Churches and groups. Not even close, and King’s comment is reflective of that.
paulmdoro

ImNotBlue said:
paulmdoro says:
August 5, 2010 at 1:20 pm

But the level of anger and vitriol directed at the Mormon Church after the Prop 8 situation, is not even close to the level that was directed at Black Churches and groups. Not even close, and King’s comment is reflective of that.

Yeah that’s probably true.
felixw

Hey, why have elections and a democratic process. Let’s just let this old gay judge decide everything for us.
NORBIT

Take at look at these democratic-advocacy ‘reporters’ of the so-called “mainstream media” trying to Play the Race Card with a group of Black Tea-Party reps.

http://www.breitbart.tv/reporters-take-on-black-conservatives-at-press-conference/

The Tea people put them to shame as they were flustered their Race-Card LIES were debunked, one after the other!

These are supposed ‘reporters’, yet listen to them Foam-at-the-Mouth when they can’t get their LYING RACIST SMEAR to stick!

Everyone – EXPOSE these examples of Left-Wing Bias in the “mainstream media” to all your family & friends, e-mail everyone you know NOT to BELIEVE the “mainstream media”!!!!!!
——————————————————–

GOP Candidates: BOYCOTT the “mainstream media”. YOU DON’T NEED THESE OBAMA-LOVING PROPAGANDISTS!! – The uninformed audiences they have won’t vote for you
paulmdoro

felixw said:
Hey, why have elections and a democratic process. Let’s just let this old gay judge decide everything for us.

I say let’s put you in charge.
felixw

paulmdoro said:
I say let’s put you in charge.

Here’s an idea you won’t like Paul. How about letting voters decide key issues, instead of one ideologue in a black coat? If you cared more about principles and less about forcing through your agenda against the wishes of the people, that would seem pretty obvious to you.