Conservatives Unfairly Rip CBS’ Norah O’Donnell Over ‘We Got Nothing’ Debt Deal Misquote

video

by Frances Martel | 3:35 pm, August 1st, 2011

» 163 comments

It was a question asked repeatedly during today’s White House press briefing, but some conservatives are lashing out at CBS’ Norah O’Donnell for asking Press Secretary Jay Carney how the Democrats benefit, if at all, from the final debt deal. The controversy began with a post from Commentary Magazine entitled “CBS’s O’Donnell to Carney: ‘We Got Nothing,’” which was technically a correct quote, except Commentary omitted some key words preceding that statement: “You have Democrats saying…”

The ball that O’Donnell had let slip she was on Carney’s team with inappropriate pronoun use began rolling at Commentary and took flight on the Twitter account of John Podhoretz, who tweeted out the story asking for an explanation. The post described O’Donnell’s questions as “terse and accusatory,” adding that the “we” was very telling and removing the key “Democrats are saying” portion of the quote. Those who were in the room immediately rose to their defense– ABC’s Jake Tapper pointed out the misquote and called the attacks “scurrilous and false.” Conservative columnist Stephen Hayes lamented that “phony claims of media bias undermine real ones,” and this was the case here. The New Republic penned a piece in her defense, simply calling the attack “amazing.” Podhoretz responded to both: “Fine. We can amend. But your facts do not jibe with the reality of what happened. She wasn’t quoting. She was representing.” The story bounced around in the blogosphere, with the video and post popping up at Big Journalism and the Media Research Center, whose video was used.

Meanwhile, O’Donnell herself has kept mostly quiet, thanking those on Twitter that corroborated the validity of her original quote and telling our White House Correspondent Tommy Christopher,”I know he must have just misheard. And I trust he will correct it.”

It seems both Seth Mendel, who authored the original Commentary piece, and Podhoretz have heard the complaints from those who were there and are not entirely ceding the point. On his part, Podhoretz responded to Tapper’s and Hayes’ allegations, noting that the post has been corrected, but arguing that the missing text doesn’t take away from the bias, as the “some say” is, to him, a common journalistic tool for masking bias. Mendel’s update takes a similarly strident tone, noting that O’Donnell’s tone was “hostile and dramatic” enough for them to conclude she was speaking in her own voice, despite the fact that the quote in question is preceded by “Democrats are saying” (words that was only added to the post upon a second update, for which O’Donnell thanked the magazine):

If you watch the whole clip, she asks a question before this statement that is clearly in her voice, not that of agitated liberals: “Two weeks ago the president talked about shared sacrifice, and he talked about ending subsidies for oil companies and he talked about ending tax breaks for corporate jet owners. He talked about that this was a very fair deal where he was offering three-to-one, spending cuts for one in tax revenues. Where are the tax revenues?” She then asks the question where her defenders insist she is quoting others. Watch the delivery of her question–it’s both hostile and dramatic, and was made only after questioning Carney along the same lines in which there is no contention that she is speaking for anyone other than herself. Viewers can decide.

Update: Podhoretz has penned a response to the controversy at Commentary, where he reiterates that the point stands because O’Donnell’s mannerisms and tone of voice give away what they were perhaps incorrect in identifying in the text:

But what Seth perceived and what I perceive in O’Donnell’s words (discernible in the 45 seconds before she said the words that we made controversial) is the revelation—through tone and comportment—of her own view. This is something to which I, as a conservative member of the media and watcher of media for three decades now, have long since been hypersensitive. The raised eyebrow, the cynical half-glance, the ironic turn of phrase, some inappropriate anger—these are all behavioral cues that reveal a supposedly objective reporter’s true feelings and in which they unconsciously express their ideological fealties.

While Commentary (and main player in this controversy, Podhoretz) don’t seem to be backing down completely on their claim, they have at least modified it to acknowledge that O’Donnell did not chastise Carney from the position of a disappointed progressive, but rather paraphrased the sentiment. Their claim that O’Donnell’s general attitude was enough to prove she agreed with the sentiment she echoed is neither here nor there– it’s a good rule of thumb in journalism that what your gut tells you about someone’s innermost feelings generally does not make for a good media criticism post.

Below is the video of the exchange in question between O’Donnell and Carney via C-SPAN, and the transcript, and the beginning of the controversial sentence gets a little lost in crosstalk:

O’Donnell: You mentioned that the president and the vice president are selling this to members of Congress by saying it’s a victory for the American people. How is this a victory for the American people when it still adds $7 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years?

Carney: Because it significantly reduces the deficit. It significantly addresses some of the drivers — or will address some of the drivers of our long-term debt. And if you’re asking, “Does the government continue to function and does — do we still owe — do we still have to borrow money on — to pay our bills?” yes, that has not been eliminated. We will continue to have a debt. The point is — economically, is to begin to get the growth in our deficits and the growth in our debt under control, and that is what this agreement begins to do very significantly. Will all the work be done? Absolutely not. That’s why the joint committee’s work is so important. And I’m sure even as that occurs and takes place, there will be more work that is necessary. But this is significant and it should not be discounted. I mean, it’s a little — not — the ink hasn’t even been printed on the paper yet, let alone signed into law, and we’re already talking about how it’s not substantial enough or what the next step is.

I think we ought to all take a step back and remember where we were 24, 48 hours ago, a week ago, two weeks ago, the prospect that was hanging out there that America would not honor its obligations for the first time in its history, and the impact that would have on our economy and the global economy, and the fact that, while I got a number of questions, understandably, during briefings in recent days and weeks about why we were optimistic that we could reach a bipartisan compromise because it looked so unlikely — the fact is here we stand today, less than 24 hours after that compromise was reached, anticipating votes in both houses of Congress that will achieve something rather significant. Yes, that’s a victory for the American people.

O’Donnell: You talk about two weeks ago. Two weeks ago the president talked a lot about shared sacrifice. He talked about ending subsidies for oil companies. He talked about ending tax breaks for corporate jet owners. He talked about that this was a very fair deal, where he was offering 3-to-1 spending cuts (inaudible) tax revenues. Where are the tax revenues?

Carney: Well, Norah, I think we just addressed this, but I’ll be happy to do it again.

We did not get the grand bargain up front. And we all know why, OK? There were, as the speaker himself said, $800 billion on the table in revenue as part of a grand bargain. There were tough choices made by both sides in that potential agreement that was not reached. And we did not get that done. The speaker decided he…

[Crosstalk]

O’Donnell: …Democrats saying he gave them everything they wanted and we got nothing.

Carney: Norah, I feel like I’ve taken this question two or three times already and I’ve been very clear about how that’s not the case, and, in fact, we had — we’ve got significant achievements.

barack obama, debt crisis, Democrats, Jay Carney, Norah O'Donnell, White House

Michelle

Frannie, so you can say with a straight face that Norah doesn’t include herself in that group of Dem’s who got nothing? Come one, you libs aren’t great at hiding your bias, so don’t get your panties a bunch when you are called on it. If you don’t want to be called a liberal lapdog, then don’t be one.
Irish189

I read it, I don’t see a problem

These were good questions for a journalist to ask considering the circumstances, aka the president calling for shared sacrifice and tax loopholes being closes, etc.

This is a case of crying wolf, and the wolf wasn’t there
Ralph-NY

White House Correspondent Tommy Christopher? What? I thought he was the flake liberal columnist on this site. Wow that makes this site look awful if this is true. By the way anyone who have seen Norah on TV knows she liberal. Its not a secret.
Rrascal

As I’ve said here on several previous occasions, you people sorely need an editor to deal with the clunky writing on this site.

Witness this sentence in the second paragraph of the article above:

“The ball that O’Donnell had let slip she was on Carney’s team with inappropriate pronoun use began at Commentary and took flight on the Twitter account of John Podhoretz, who tweeted out the story asking for an explanation.”

After three readings of that gibberish, I finally was able to discern Frances Martel’s meaning. But that’s some pretty bad writing.
Michelle

I know right!? They let just anyone in there. Well, as long as you are a flaming lib, that is.
Anonymous

“CBS’s O’Donnell to Carney: ‘We Got Nothing,’”

WE ???!!! WE ???!!!!

To a lamestream socialist stooge of the d-cRAT socialist party, there is NO DIFFERENCE between them and their socialist party – NONE, NADA, ZILCH, ZIP. But, of course, they’re just objective “reporters” telling it like it is. Right ? Yeah, right.
http://capitolcommentary.com Harrison

Strunk and White isn’t required reading at Mediaite I guess.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

Norah is good reporter I do think where she said We gave them everything and we got nothing showed where she is in terms of her politcs. And she’s right in alot of ways. I think MSNBC really messed up by letting her go.
Michelle

The Blatant Liberalism of Norah O’Donnell, CBS’s New Chief WH Correspondent
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/lachlan-markay/2011/06/17/blatant-liberalism-norah-odonnell-cbss-new-chief-wh-correspondent
Junkforkaryn

we libs aren’t too great at manufacturing a crisis, either, in fact we have a hard time keeping a straight face around you conservative terrorists, let alone not letting our bias for the truth show. when you have no ideas, no conscience and no brains, then all you have is the parsing of words. such lame, pathetic pieces of corporate dung.
Anonymous

Noron hits Ferret boy Carney Barker from the left with the “shared sacrifice, oil subsidies and corporate jets” question, then she gets frustrated and upset with Carney Barker’s response and let’s out the “we get nothing” comment.

If you can’t see the bias in her actions, sadly you are either a biased lefty or a brain dead moron.
http://twitter.com/LippyBroad lippybroad

Um, how exactly is it ‘unfair’? Those were her own words right?

“We” in this context is unambiguous.

She should probably quit her bitching and just take her medicine.

Yet another progressive media hack.
Anonymous

You didn’t read the whole article, did you?
O’Donnell said she was giving the Democrat opinion, not (necessarily) her own. If anything, she was pointing out the failure of Obama and the Dems to get anything they wanted from the final bill–assuming the final bill will pass. That was not in any way pro-Obama.
Independent

And, yes — conservatives are always the victims. It’s an outrage!

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-27-2011/gop—special-victims-unit
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SJ6RMBVCOS2GUO5FQX27QOFDOQ Neal

Ive watched the episode several times and O’donnell is quite upset. It is obvious that she wanted those tax increases bad.
Michelle

On Bill Maher’s show she said, President Barack Obama is “a pragmatic centrist”. HAHA!!
Michelle

Thanks for proving Marco Rubio correct AGAIN , by AGAIN calling Conservatives terrorists. This is why you libs have no credibility.
chris

What’s the difference? “She” is a dem so she was talking about herself.
Anonymous

Noron has a long, detailed left wing bias while at MessNBC. SeeBS knew exactly what they were hiring…a leftist activist. I would not be surprised to learn that the Obama administration has considered her to replace Carney Barker.
Michelle

One of my personal Norah moments was when she berated a 13 year old Palin supporter on camera. Yeah, no bias there!
Junkforkaryn

marco rubio? hahahahaha!
Anonymous

” On his part, Podhoretz responded to Tapper’s and Hayes’ allegations,
noting that the post has been corrected, but arguing that the missing
text doesn’t take away from the bias, as the “some say” is, to him, a common journalistic tool for masking bias.”

How can that be true? Some say that Journalists lie for their own personal benefit and jockeying for promotion; but I believe that journalists lie out of a deep sense of compassion and concern.

Some say that this website is clearly a liberal front likely funded by Soros; but I think they’re just the usual liberal ratpack of bias without excessive conspiracy necessary.

And Some say that you’re an idiot incapable of seeing a clear trick even when it’s used time and time again; but I say you’re just a bit naive and capable of seeing how this works… if you see it enough.

What say you?

As for Norah’s questions; I think I’m going to go with Ace of Spades… what is the problem with the compromise exactly? What are the criteria by which she attacks this bill? Haven’t we been hearing that “both sides need to compromise and might not get all their desires met”?

So “both sides need to compromise” … except the liberal side? the hierarchy of needs is what?

1) Liberal political position that cannot be changed. (MORE TAXES)
2) Compromise by both sides, “for the good of the country”
3) Conservative ideals (END THE DEFICIT)

Is that the premise by which we ask why the democrats didn’t get everything they wanted? Or is there some other starting premise that makes these questions reasonable; AND doesn’t start with the assumption that only the Democrats political positions were valid?

We cut (at best, pushed into “out years” so this is questionable that it would happen) 2/15ths of the deficit or so by this deal for the next decade… you think the fiscal conservatives are happy? Yes, we’re not going to double the debt over the next decade, just icnreass it by 87% or so… conservatives got everything they wanted… they demanded 0 of 100 and got 87.

Oh, 87% isn’t that close to 0? Well at least we restructured and cut entitlements… oh entitlements couldn’t be touched? Well at least we… what? Trimmed a bit off the edges and really didn’t do anything to fix the problems fiscal conservatives have complained about for years (starting late Bush’s first term for me)…

And I won? Crap this doesn’t look like winning. Deficits double than the ones I thought were unsustainable under Bush… I’d hate to see what losing would look like.
Michelle

By definition, you can’t be a good “reporter” when you show your bias that much. Reporters are not supposed to show a bias.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

I hate to say this but those days are over.
Anonymous

Norah O’Donnell: “I hear Democrats saying you gave them everything they wanted and we got nothing!”

What do you hear Republicans saying, Noron? Oh, you don’t hear them saying anything because, number one, you don’t associate with Republicans, and number two, there are almost no conservatives inside that press room even though according to Gallup 41% of the country identifies themselves as conservative, while only a fringe minority of 21% identify themselves as MessNBC type leftist asshats.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ECYBIXNKAG5E46BC3GCJQPA7CQ well_its_no_cannibal_holocaust

Yeah I know but that is because everyone knows the mentality of a Palin supporter is 13 years old, so she got confused when she was actually talking to an actual 13 year old. I forgave her for that one.

God Bless.
chuckkoala

Suuure, it was not quoted correctly. She’s not a lib…she’s not a lib…she’s not
Resident of 0bomberVille

The Socialist, Mr. O’Donnell, also deserves a gravesite next to the Rosenbergs.

The sooner, the better.

-Save America, Nuke DC-
Anonymous

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/11/21/video-norah-odonnell-challenges-teen-palin-admirer-to-televised-debate/
Michelle

Only if they are allowed to get away with it.
Anonymous

Norah, you definitely got your panties in a twist. But it’s OK. Next weekend you’ll be back in the Hamptons, sipping wine and
commiserating with that other wealthy, white left wing nitwit, Maureen
Dowd. Hey, maybe she’s heard another corny joke about the Tea Party!
That’ll lift your spirits.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VPOX7QKJCIVFGUSF5W2W4Z4LXE esther

So right Michelle, this is the same Norah Frannie that ripped Conservatives or anyone with an R behind their name on msnbc, nbc, when I read this title to your article I had to see who was writing this with a straight face, and really believed it, I thought for sure it was a joke. Pleaseeee Frannie your liberalisim is showing, typical media and press defend someone like Norah who has never hidden her bias, totally in the pocket of obama. What a joke this article is.
Anonymous

It is never unfair to rip Norah O’Donnell. She is a lamestream hack of he lowest order.
Anonymous

They don’t even use Webster’s.
Anonymous

Except you just said that you approve of it.
Anonymous

Who said anything about victims?
demo33

you men like fox
demo33

I meant ” you mean like Fox”. There reporters show no bias?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VPOX7QKJCIVFGUSF5W2W4Z4LXE esther

This is why the libs are shrinking, you have people like you here spouting filthy words like calling conservatives terrorist, but then you know junk you really sound like your describing most of the libs I’ve seen lately, especially the union members, you got a job? Well some of those corporate people you hate and all you libs hate, they give you a job when you need one, you want to go after a pathetic piece of corporate dung, then go after obamas friend Mr. Immelt who is in charge of jobs, really pathetic who last week sent millions of jobs to china. google mr. immelt and learn something, talk about obama kissing a– to his friends in corporate world, Soros another dung junk lol
Redleaf

I think it’s really important that you only read enough of the story so your hatred for the opposition can be confirmed. If you read anything more, you might get the entire story…and we can’t have that.
The Real Royal Emperor

Apparently, whatever Marco Rubio says has the same force, authority and infallibility of the Golden Plates. Which, of course, is not much, if any.
The Real Royal Emperor

There you go again. Saying what some man said.
The Real Royal Emperor

Geez, what crippling paranoia you have. The most obvious symptom of CVS*. Perhaps, a suppository is available for it.

—

*Conservative Victimization Syndrome.
Anonymous

Fact:

when you have no ideas, no conscience and no brains, then all you have is the parsing of words. such lame, pathetic pieces of corporate dung.

Well Junky you need to get off the drugs get a job from the corporate
dung people and start contributing like the rest of the working class and pay
your share of taxes because entitlements will become a nasty term soon when all
decide to quit passing our problems to future generations and really deal with
debt. Progressives will once again like in all points in history of America run
and hide for another thirty or so years because America just don’t like them
but has memory loss every time they first show up on the scene. Really progressives’
cult hahahahahahahaha………………..
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SI5NXALBPMGH5A7BLRV6GWW3BM Jim

Oh, Francis… You’re such a silly goose. Nora O’Donnell, The Iron Butterfly (to borrow a name from Jeanette MacDonald) or the partisan hack from hell, really doesn’t need to be defended by you. Unless, or course, you’re sucking up to CBS instead of your usuals.
The Real Royal Emperor

CVS.
Redleaf

Do you people even know how to read?
I mean honestly, here’s the sad part: it’s already been completely debunked that O’Donnell was speaking personally when she said “we.” But that won’t stop Republicans and Tea Partiers from using it as an example of media bias…even though the claim has been disproven by the record.

And instead of saying, “you’re right. O’Donnell didn’t say that”, your spin yourself into the ground finding a way to use this false story to propagate a dislike of non-FNC media outlets.

Oh well…welcome to politics in 2011.
The Real Royal Emperor

I have to agree with you on that one, Michelle-in-Utah. The test of being a *good* “reporter” is how well you hack the voice mails of murder victims, wounded troops and 9/11 victims, isn’t it?
The Real Royal Emperor

Still, you can’t blame her. CBS gives her a forum exponentially larger than any cable news network, or all cable news networks in the aggregate does.
Anonymous

An idiot asks a stupid question.

. . . . . . .. Dog bites man.
Anonymous

It’s not nearly as outrageous of a question as initial reports made it out to be, as many conservative bloggers have pointed out. But this has gotten additional traction because Ms O’Donnell has a history of this sort of bias.
The Real Royal Emperor

Newsbusters! What a great source! At the Koldys PHOX Phan Klub. At Mediate, not so much. If any.
Anonymous

Nora O’Donnell is a member of the Journ-o-list lefty cabal.
The Real Royal Emperor

Of course, he is and he has always been. Perhaps not so much to Mussolini or O’Beckerhead, Hitler or Lard Limbaugh, Franco or Sauerkrauthammer, but to reasonable, intelligent people, yes.
Anonymous

Fact:

You didn’t read the whole article, did you? O’Donnell said she was giving the Democrat opinion .

Why?

All A-holes when caught try to brush off the stench.
She is a loser lunatic liberal nothing else applies.

You didn’t read the whole article, did you? O’Donnell said she was giving the Democrat opinion .

Why?

All A-holes when caught try to brush off the stench.
She is a loser lunatic liberal nothing else applies.
The Real Royal Emperor

You are such a prevaricator. She even defended Brisket, Oak and Piper when she felt they were being treated unfairly.
The Real Royal Emperor

What utter filth you are.
Anonymous

Ya know, I about fell out of my chair when I heard that but convinced myself that she said “He (Obama) got nothing.”
Anonymous

Ya know, I about fell out of my chair when I heard that but convinced myself that she said “He (Obama) got nothing.”
Anonymous

you are right…..on this occassion she didnt show her bias
Anonymous

Fact: Stay on topic liberal who cares about daily show?Why not wait for it’s daily thread then post your BS. What a stinkbug!
Anonymous

we libs aren’t too great at manufacturing a crisis”

Really? Your not?

just who was out there day after day talking about a default? Just who went on FOX with Chris Wallace using the term “default” over and over again? Just who was it saying that our soldiers and seniors they might not get there checks? It certainly wasn’t the republicans, you pathetic reprehensible lib pederast!
david francis

Obviously this site is not fair and balanced. Funny that you say the conservative site misquoted, when this site miss represents anything conservatives have to say. This site is very HYPOCRITICAL.
Anonymous

Fact: Start calling you the kool-aid kid. You appear to have the true pulse of how children act and think.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NK5INRFELITZ3TS337HINC3VMM Adam

C’mon, folks. If anyone’s earned the benefit of the doubt, it’s someone like Norah O’Donnell. You know, the former NBC/MSNBC reporter who thought Newt Gingrich telling Obama to stop shooting hoops was racist? Yeah, no detection of bias(or stupidity for that matter) there.
Anonymous

“The post described O’Donnell’s questions as “terse and accusatory,”
adding that the “we” was very telling and removing the key “Democrats
are saying” portion of the quote”

Wow. Just wow.
It’s bad enough this happened but it’s even harder to believe there are actually teabaggers here defending it.

Have you no shame?
Anonymous

“O’Donnell said she was giving the Democrat opinion, not (necessarily) her own”

They are one in the same.
Anonymous

Well, she does have nice eyes.
Anonymous

Fact: What happened to the green Hamptons wind farm
off the coast for that entire windbag alarmist liberals fighting global warming?
Anonymous

damn you stupid ass baggers just refuse to believe your lying ears…now you goofballs are starting to alter audio and video from live tv….no need for hidden cameras anymore….youre not getting better YOURE GETTING WORSE…..even after the liar gets caught and corrects his mistake and apoligizes you hobbits STILL hold on to the lie…..youre freakin nuts
Anonymous

It doesn’t matter one bit to you inbred teabaggers that she said “Democrats are saying we got nothing.” Even after hearing it in the video and knowing that the original writer at commentary magazine had to admit to selectively ommiting the words “Democrats are saying” you will continue to spread the lie as you want to tell it. Your Sith lord masters at Faux News have trained you well….never let a fact get in the way of a good made up story!
Anonymous

Fact: Placed after Azarkhan’s post but it moved to here.
Michelle

The REALLY funny part is Frannie claims to be an Independent.
Anonymous

You lost! Get over it!
Anonymous

Fact: Pop replies are not going where I put them in.
Michelle

My attorney, Gloria Allred, has been trying to contact you with an updated copy of the restraining order, but she says you keep running away for her. Stand still so you can be served, Royal Dimwit.
Anonymous

Get out of here you abominable pederast!
Michelle

Funny, I’ve never once heard you say this to Nacho or Pubey when they are wishing death on Rush, so it’s really hard to take your FAUX outrage serious now.
Jerry Baustian

Quote: “Podhoretz responded to both: “Fine. We can amend. But your facts do not jibe with the reality of what happened. She wasn’t quoting. She was representing.”

And later on: “On his part, Podhoretz responded to Tapper’s and Hayes’ allegations, noting that the post has been corrected, but arguing that the missing text doesn’t take away from the bias, as the “some say” is, to him, a common journalistic tool for masking bias.” (end of quotes)

I do not watch much of Norah O’Donnell to know, but Katie Couric never interviewed anyone without posing the “some say…” presupposition. It always bugs me when these anonymous voices are allowed to frame the debate. “Some say you’re a mean, despicable snake, Mr Smith. What is your response?”

Here we have “Democrats are saying…” which is unfair to Jay Carney and I’m surprised to find myself defending him, and I promise never to do it again.

But we actually know what the Democrats are saying — they are repeating what they read in the New York Times. So I don’t know why O’Donnell didn’t just quote Krugman directly instead of using weasel words.
Anonymous

Fact: Don’t pick on the gay demarodents. You have no shame!
Anonymous

It’s time for you to take your Midol.
Anonymous

Sorry, but I have to call utter BULLSH*T on the part of Frances Martel, who is clearly trying to write in defense of O’Donnell, but who ultimately slips up with this laughable bit:

(Quote from the article): “Their claim that O’Donnell’s general attitude was enough to prove she agreed with the sentiment she echoed is neither here nor there – it’s a good rule of thumb in journalism that what your gut tells you about someone’s innermost feelings generally does not make for a good media criticism post.”

OH, PUH-LEEEZE.

Sorry, Frances, it is NOT “neither here not there.” From the moment O’Donnell jumped ship to CBS — and worst of all, in a laughable farce was named White House correspondent — there have been loads of examples cited…quotes, writing pieces, clips taken from her time at MSNBC…that clearly show where O’Donnell’s political allegiances are…which is clearly to the Left.

Not to mention, given all of the things I just mentioned…quotes, writing pieces, clips taken from her time at MSNBC…it’s likewise clear that she’s a HUGE Obama supporter. In fact, like most MSNBC personnel, she could give “leg tingle” Matthews a run for his money when it comes to secretly harboring a desire to bed Obama.

This is NOT about anyone’s “gut reaction”. Yes, in this ONE instance the fact that they dropped a few words would TECHNICALLY give her some cover. But based on O’Donnell’s record and stated comments, it would be just that — a TECHNICAL bit of cover…for this ONE time…while everyone knows the OBVIOUS truth about her.

For crying out loud, lest we forget, this is the same buffoon who showed up at a Palin book signing where she PURPOSEFULLY singled out a poor little teenage girl, and then proceeded to HARASS her on-air, all in an attempt to embarrass and humiliate her simply because she wanted Sarah Palin’s autograph.

To which I ask one simple question: Do you EVER think O’Donnell would act that same way at an Obama appearance? Answer: No. Which is why it’s a total JOKE to see her named a White House correspondent since it’s obvious that her time in the chair will ONLY be to serve the needs of the DNC or to prop Obama up with softball questions as we near election time.

Guess when Katie Couric left the network they realized they needed another major on-air Liberal suck-up that was somewhat pleasing on the eyes. And thank goodness O’Donnell was available! Heaven forbid that CBS might have to ACTUALLY put a REAL news person on!!!
Michelle

Um, even Bill Maher told her she was full of it, Royal Dimwit.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NUT75XKRMJZ2QZJUUWOYH7Y7TA Cincy

That dimwit O’Donnell CLEARLY said..”and we Democrats saying he gave them everything they wanted and we got nothing.”

Look up in Franny’s transcription, she PURPOSELY left out those first two words. This is just one lying leftard media hack trying to cover for another leftard media hack
Anonymous

it’s a good rule of thumb in journalism that what your gut tells you
about someone’s innermost feelings generally does not make for a good
media criticism post.

Interesting quote. I may have to save this post’s URL for a later date.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NUT75XKRMJZ2QZJUUWOYH7Y7TA Cincy

>> bulsh*t. She clearly said “we Democrats”
Anonymous

We’re surrounded , Tonto . We’re in trouble .

” What do you mean WE , Kemo Sabe ?”
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RSLEVQBMJKCHPALYRG4FM2LFPQ Chuck

This makes for a good discussion on journalism bias and practices, and while I agree there’s little doubt as to her bias considering her past works and we can have fun with the discussion but at the end of the day its a reporter asking an obvious question. A different reporter might have worded it differently but it was a valid question to ask.
Junkforkaryn

the important issue was/is default. of course, if i weren’t smart, or funny, or creative, i’d opt for stupid, too. hang in there skippy, nobody is going to tear the ignorance from your grasp. we actually like you fundamentalist ideological loonies (better?) in fact, if you didn’t exist, we’d just make you up!
Anonymous

Frances,

Excellent stooge piece for Norah O’Donnel and NBC News.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NUT75XKRMJZ2QZJUUWOYH7Y7TA Cincy

Even seen this video of the dimwitted O’Donnell?? It’s hilarious

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnWndWRrgw4&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLaLsNkaEq8 Unicon

Must.protect.Norah………..
Jerry Baustian

Cincy, John Podhoretz actually admitted that O’Donnell used a pronoun to indicate “them” (the Democrats) and was not stating her own opinion.

I agree with you that O’Donnell’s own political biases are well-known.

But there is no need to accuse Frances Martel of falsifying a transcript.
Anonymous

How did this article get so many comments? I mean….the video clip is right there. Anyone who is still trying to bash O’Donnell over this really needs to get a hobby. Fast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLaLsNkaEq8 Unicon

Hah !!!
Michelle

Can we accuse her of being a liberal lapdog?
Anonymous

your ignorent
Michelle

Stick a tamale in it!
Anonymous

She’s right…Democrats got NOTHING. The annointed one totally caved and threw his followers under the bus just to get reelected.
Jerry Baustian

Newsbusters, along with Times Watch, is a division of the Media Research Center. MRC has had to add a lot of staff lately, because documenting the left-wing bias in the mainstream media is such an overwhelming job.
Anonymous

The misquote is atually what O’Donnell really meant & felt, so ” No Harm, No Foul.
Anonymous

WOW, Frances takes the side of a woman for a change? I’m shocked given her support for all the sexist, priggish, piggish things Maher and many others have said about conservative women, and nary a word from Frances about how “Democrats unfairly (insert name of conservative woman here) rip…”

That of course would never happen.

Norah however, is a fellow lefty, so Frances jumps to her defense.

Poorly phrased question or otherwise, Norah is a rabid liberal….her history proves that.

Lefty members of NOW support other lefty members of NOW while ignoring all conservative women who are slandered, ripped, lied about etc.
Michelle

Well, Shep does show the occasional liberal bias, but I let that go.
Anonymous

I was one who jumped on this before I heard the full context and I apologize to Nora O’Donnell. I’d heard this same line of thinking and assumed she had joined in.
Jerry Baustian

Of course she’s a liberal lapdog. I just don’t see that this question posed to Jay Carney rises to the level of some ground-shaking event. If you want to criticize Francis Martel of making a big deal out of a little one, that’s fair. But accusing her of falsifying the transcript, to benefit Norah O’Donnell, is unfair, because I listened to the tape.
Michelle

Point taken.
Anonymous

A different reporter might have worded it differently but it was a valid question to ask.

Probably with far less sympathetic mannerisms and exasperation, but you’re essentially correct. This is a case of a detractor aiming a hairs breadth too high. Of course, she might also have asked a follow on question in a similar vein with consideration for those who sought a Balanced Budget Amendment as a means to cap our ballooning debt and who wished to cut near term spending such as to forgo the possibility of credit ratings agencies downgrading America’s AAA status, which is still chanced even with this debt ceiling deal. But she probably doesn’t run into too many people with those concerns to have considered that angle or question valid.
Anonymous

This is merely the latest example of the forty-year war on the media by the Right Wing Wurlitzer, who’ve accomplished their goal of cowing the corporate media into reporting false equivalencies and outright misrepresentations, by constantly attacking and smearing anyone who dares to report what the right is actually up to.

The very idea that the media in America is liberal is a sick Orwellian joke, with the misinformed American electorate being the unwitting butt of said joke. If I hear one more CNN announcer say “some say” one more time…
Anonymous

You don’t even know on what story Michelle is commenting. Follow oxycon’s link.
Anonymous

Do all the centrist you know have friends who are unrepentant terrorists?
Anonymous

Well, not in the content of the question. Her face, on the other hand,…
Michelle

Or America hating racists.
Anonymous

More dishonesty from the right. Who would have guessed.
Moosenuts99

MEDIAIte: WILL YOU POST THE STORY ON REP LANBORN AND HIS “TAR BABY” COMMENTS PLEASE?
realheadline

Liberal parrots: Party of no….. skwaaaac, millionaires and billionaires….. skwaaaac, tea party terrorists….. skwaaac George Bush……. skwaaac…. The giberish rantings of the collective mind. These people are like some kind of malfunctioning Borg drones.Thanks Norah another new low.
Anonymous

The funny thing is that if one poster here on Mediaite half-quoted to change the context of another poster there would be universal cry of foul from both sides for the blatant distortion.
That strictly is against the message board/blog rules of fair play.

But then they cheer when they see the media doing it.

It makes no sense to me.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VPOX7QKJCIVFGUSF5W2W4Z4LXE esther

” Not necessarily her own” that says it all you libs, why would she even say that, OMG and someone here msnbc was wrong to let her go , who wants to stay at msnbc, the no ratings network, come on libs admit it, their ratings are really bad no matter how they try to spin it, no one wants to watch anymore a network that salivates at the mention of obama, but O’Donnel just went to another liberal network, with low ratings also, I mean compared to NBC and ABC. Please tell me someone how anyone can still watch these networks knowing their bias, I quit watching their news years ago, never watch Meet the Press since we lost Tim who was the best even if I kinda knew he was a democrat, but was always fair. No one anymore at NBC or ABC like Russert, they just dont care anymore if they show their bias, O’Donnell one of the worst.
Anonymous

LOL

You are truly loaded with ignorance, poor boy!

There was little chance of default- except in your meager brain which you so elegantly just proved.

ta-ta!
Latin2

Mediaite to the rescue of Liberals as usual
Michael T.

Isn’t all the fuss about whether Nora O’Donnell exhibited bias a little silly? Doesn’t it take a back seat to the much larger issue at play here?

Namely, the fact that Jay Carney had to squirm and wiggle to try to extricate himself from the corner Nora painted him in by insisting that, “You have Democrats saying we got nothing”.

In other words the real political story here is why, once again, did Obama and the dems in congress capitulate to the Republican conservative base?
Michael T.

Isn’t all the fuss about whether Nora O’Donnell exhibited bias a little silly? Doesn’t it take a back seat to the much larger issue at play here?

Namely, the fact that Jay Carney had to squirm and wiggle to try to extricate himself from the corner Nora painted him in by insisting that, “You have Democrats saying we got nothing”.

In other words the real political story here is why, once again, did Obama and the dems in congress capitulate to the Republican conservative base?
Anonymous

I love how the libs howl over this. Yes, these are the same libs who said that that O’Reilly, when he was doing a segment on union thuggery around the COUNTRY and showed video of such, was misleading the viewers when he started talking about the thuggery in Wisconsin and the video was showing union violence from another place.

LOL
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

not too much I only watch the 5 and red eye. most the cable news I watch is CNN and MSNBC.
The Real Royal Emperor

What man told you to say that?
The Real Royal Emperor

Dr. Ayers was never convicted. He is therefore no a terrorist.
The Real Royal Emperor

No, I don’t have friends in the Tea Party. My friends all walk fully erect and breathe through their noses.
The Real Royal Emperor

That surprises me when you listen so closely to men. Nacho, I have critcized and even reported, Michelle-in-Utah. You lie. Again.
The Real Royal Emperor

That surprises me when you listen so closely to men. Nacho, I have critcized and even reported, Michelle-in-Utah. You lie. Again.
The Real Royal Emperor

She is, indeed a gorgeous woman with a wondrous laugh.

She was in Austin for a time when W’s team was stifling the Florida recount, leading up to W’s appointment as president. We were so lucky to have her here.
The Real Royal Emperor

Xenophobe.
The Real Royal Emperor

Xenophobe.
Anonymous

Anwar al-Awlakii has also never been convicted. He is therefore no terrorist. By your illogic, of course.
The Real Royal Emperor

“Even if some people say, ‘Well the Republicans
should have done this or they should have done that,’ they will hold the
president responsible,” Lamborn said in the interview.

‘Like’ FOX31 on Facebook for News Updates, Giveaways &
Discussion

“Now I don’t want to even have to be associated with him. It’s like
touching a tar baby and you get it and you’re stuck and you’re part of the
problem now, and you can’t get away.
The Real Royal Emperor

“Even if some people say, ‘Well the Republicans
should have done this or they should have done that,’ they will hold the
president responsible,” Lamborn said in the interview.

‘Like’ FOX31 on Facebook for News Updates, Giveaways &
Discussion

“Now I don’t want to even have to be associated with him. It’s like
touching a tar baby and you get it and you’re stuck and you’re part of the
problem now, and you can’t get away.
Anonymous

Remember the phrase “out of context?”
Michelle

No, it’s lie if I KNOW it to be untrue and say it anyway. I have NEVER seen you do it, so I’m not lying.
Michelle

Why exactly? Back up your repeated claims or SHUT UP!
Dflojak

Barry Obama, hahahaha.
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Cankles

To help with the White House’s push for new healthy Happy Meals, they have put Grimace in the front row.
fwg

So Norah’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer…..but she does have a decent pair of knockers.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

how did I say that ?
LandisTwo

She’s an idiot.
TXarc

Bottom feeders like Andrew Breitbart jump on this stuff right away, facts be damned.
http://capitolcommentary.com Harrison

Sure… the “debt crisis” for one. Dems had 800+ days to pass a budget. That wasn’t manufactured.
Gary H

Martel misses from the git go. First of all, Norah O’Donnell has always
been a shrill for the Democratic party and that which is to the left of. From
her days of the 2008 campaign over at NBC, where she was a shrill for anything
Obama, and an antagonist for much of anything from the other side – nothing has
changed.Whether she said “we,” or not really doesn’t matter, as she
never asks questions respectful of the other side of the isle; never asks
questions of the D’s, or of Obama, asking them why they don’t reach out to the
other side; never is going to ask a question of the D’s, or Obama, why they
don’t consider the majority views – of the other side of any issue out there
where it’s either closely divided, or when a super majority of Americans do no
support the Obama or D side. Take Immigration issues. Fully 69% and 73%, in a
poll done by the liberal Pew Center, during the heat of the Arizona immigration
bill, were found to support the two supposedly contentious issues in the bill.
The WH sues to block it.

Would O’Donnell, or any single other national mainstream journalist ask
either the WH or the President, how they could take such issue – shrill such
vitriol - with the super majority of Americans who have such heartfelt views
about enforcing the rule of law (something that Obama promised on this issue, as
a candidate)? Same poll found that only 25% support Obama’s view of immigration
reform. Any questions there for the WH, from the press. No – because the
liberal press never represents any view which does not support their personal
political wants.O’Donnell belongs on MSNBC as a shrill liberal
commentator. She should simply be honest and identify herself as such.As
they say, let’s help her come out of the closet, and be herself.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZIQS6YEA47QFXGOR4JWUBU2QRM Shark City

O’donnell “they got everything they wanted and we got nothing” oh no no! Man….i thought CBS was straight. I thought it was just puta NBC that works for the liberals and the president.
Anonymous

More GOP intellectuals.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWUI6JH3KWIAFWIWHBZGHPFIN4 Cotton Picker

If you can call me a terrorist, then I can call you a socialist commie pig who loves American killing Islamist jihadists.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NWUI6JH3KWIAFWIWHBZGHPFIN4 Cotton Picker

I remember in 08 when Sarah Palin first appeared, Norah was on air amongst those saying Palin was not qualified because she had young children she should look after.

This while Norah had just given birth to twins and had another baby about a year old. Norah is a hypocritical $&*@.
Jampjparent

Nora showed liberal bias while on MSNBC, but now at CBS she’s trying to fulfill a role of asking questions from all sides. I first heard this comment on Mark Levin’s radio show (which i listen to to keep up with what the wacky righties are making up). At first i believed Levin, and then figured Nora wasn’t doing a good job keep her natural bias at bay. Thankfully Mediaite has posted this to clear up this mess; another example of right-wingers taking something way out of context and making hay with it. Why don’t they spend their time instead trying to convince us that rich people will use their extra Bush-era tax money to create jobs instead of making stuff up all the time? Answer: Because their tax stance is indefensible.
Wake up America

All the bimbos are in Obamas corner. That’s exactly why theyre in his corner. Bimbo being the operative word.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

I don’t know. The alot of peolpe talk wreather on these boards or TV by the numbers. alot of them say that not awhole lot of peolpe watch news from the big 3 NBC CBS ABC. Hell Fox news beat all 3 of them last year on Election day. Other thenthe baby Boomers are older .

On paper yes but the trends are changing. The Nightly news and Meet the Press And Nightline is iconic. Becuase of the years of Histroy behide it. And the people who made it that way. Wreather it was Walter Cronkte for CBS or Dan Rather who took it up for him Or Tom Brokal and Tim Russert for NBC Peter Jennins and Ted Kopel of ABC.

Sadly that era is ove Half of those guys are retired dead. Or in Dan’s case forced out for doing his job.

In time I think Cable News will pass the big 3 if it has not already. And it’s not just Cable you have the internet now also.

As far as Norah joining CBS go’s. If the money was right and she is getting more airtime. But she is just one of the meny people walking out on NBC news. I do think there is something going on down there. I think it was a mistake for MSNBC to yank her show form her and give it to Andrea Mitchell. And not make her part of the Today show That might have played into it.
Doug Rodrigues

You can’t be serious??? You just saw Obama manufacturing a crisis!
NeverWrong

Whatever Norah got from any Conservatives she most likely deserve it. She was well known when she was still with poor, little LSDnbc, to totally lose her cool when she had a Conservative/Republican/Tea Partier on a morning or afternoon LSDnbc show she was filling it on. She was actually worse as an interviewer than all the other talking heads at PMSnbc. She is not what one would call ‘kool’ Fonzy style. She came across as unbalanced just like Contessa rewer.
http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

Editor’s Note
A HuffPost story on an exchange between Norah O’Donnell and Jay Carney incorrectly raised the possibility that Andrew Breitbart had “doctored” a video clip from a White House briefing to make O’Donnell look like she was “distraught over the debt compromise.” A viewing of the clip in question clearly shows that he did not. We regret the error, have removed the story, and apologize to Mr. Breitbart.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/p/editors-note-breitbart.html?clear

Or perhaps, bottom feeders like Huff Po (and you) jump on Breitbart right away, facts be damned.
NeverWrong

Please!!! An edit button/feature. Something happens/glitch between typing your post and what shows up as the finished post.
cocomom

Always resort to name calling… pathetic.
cocomom

Huffington Post forced to apologize, read it and weep, libs. Lies, distortions and more lies. They should try “reporting” the news vs manufacturing it. Link below:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/p/editors-note-breitbart.html?clear
Anonymous

Conservatives are not happy unless they have something bitch and moan and complain about. What a group of losers.
Even when they get what they want they bitch, moan and complain.

The Party of NO NO NO NO.
Anonymous

Nora O’Donnell is an intellectual bimbo! While she appears to be a journalist, the fact is she doesn’t even attempt to hide her left-wing, liberal bias. She wears it as a badge of honor which strips away any credibility she may attempt to project.

She might as well be a DNC spokesperson.
Anonymous

Nora O’Donnell is an intellectual bimbo! While she appears to be a journalist, the fact is she doesn’t even attempt to hide her left-wing, liberal bias. She wears it as a badge of honor which strips away any credibility she may attempt to project.

She might as well be a DNC spokesperson.