Media bury, ignore Leach speech at Democratic National Convention
SUMMARY: Several media outlets have ignored or buried the Democratic National Convention speech by former Rep. Jim Leach, an Iowa Republican, in which Leach endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president. Indeed, ABC, CBS, and NBC did not air any of Leach's speech, while MSNBC and Fox News aired only seconds of it.
As Washington Monthly blogger Steve Benen has noted, several media outlets have ignored or buried the August 25 speech by former Rep. Jim Leach, an Iowa Republican, at the Democratic National Convention in which Leach endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president. Indeed, ABC, CBS, and NBC did not air any of Leach's speech, which took place during the networks' hour of live coverage of the convention. Further, MSNBC aired only seconds of the speech while Hardball host Chris Matthews talked over him. Similarly, while Fox News noted Leach was speaking, Special Report host Brit Hume spoke over Leach and also aired only seconds of Leach's speech without interruption.
Additionally, during an August 26 washingtonpost.com discussion, a participant asked Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz why Leach's speech was "buried deep in [staff writer] Jonathan Weisman's [Washington Post] story this morning, without even a sidebar of its own." Kurtz replied: "Mainly because it wasn't one of the speeches featured on television. Zell Miller was the keynote speaker at the GOP." Kurtz did not elaborate on his apparent assertion that the Post chose not to give greater attention or prominence to the Leach speech "[m]ainly" because the networks decided not to "feature[]" it.
From the August 26 washingtonpost.com online discussion:
Chesapeake Beach, Md.: It was a big deal four years ago when barely-a-Democrat Zell Miller blasted the Democrats from the podium at the GOP convention. Last night a well-respected Republican -- former Rep. Jim Leach, did a similar (though more soft-spoken) number on the GOP. Why was one notable, and the other buried deep in Jonathan Weisman's story this morning, without even a sidebar of its own?
washingtonpost.com: Obama's Family Night Out (Post, Aug. 26)
Howard Kurtz: Mainly because it wasn't one of the speeches featured on television. Zell Miller was the keynote speaker at the GOP.
From the 10 p.m. ET hour of MSNBC's convention coverage:
MATTHEWS: Former Congressman Jim Leach, Republican of Iowa, is now addressing the Democratic convention. And in few moments, it'll be Michelle Obama's turn. Let's check back in with Norah O'Donnell and the panel. Norah.
O'DONNELL: All right, Chris. Thanks so much. You know, you were talking about the economic disadvantages that Barack Obama, Michelle Obama faced.
From the 10 p.m. ET hour of Fox News' America's Election HQ:
HUME: Down on the convention floor right now, the delegates are hearing a speech by former Iowa Republican Congressman Jim Leach. It'd be nice if we could actually see him.
There you see him, Jim Leach, now. It is well-known that Joe Lieberman, the one-time Democrat, now independent senator from Connecticut, will address the Republican convention.
Well, the Democrats don't have anybody of quite the stature of Joe Lieberman to address this convention, but they got Jim Leach, who is receiving a respectful hearing from the delegates here tonight. He is backing Barack Obama.
But of course, this reception for Jim Leach is as nothing compared to what I think may be the highlight of this night so far, and that was the appearance by Senator Edward Kennedy.
KENNEDY [video clip]: Together we have known success and seen setbacks, victory and defeat, but we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world. And I pledge to you, I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate when we begin the [unintelligible]
LEACH: Well, it's the Marshall Plan. And Everett Dirksen backed Lyndon Johnson's landmark civil rights legislation.
HUME: Well, there you have Senator Kennedy tonight. More [unintelligible] you see on the screen, Jim Leach. It was kind of a touching moment earlier. You saw Senator Biden in that applause shot there as he listened to Senator Kennedy.
So FOX News has more credibility than ABC or CBS this time around?
And also, why are we treating NBC and MSNBC as two separate entities?
And also, why are we treating NBC and MSNBC as two separate entities?
Because they are. They may share the same top management, but they operate as separate entities, as does CNBC.
I can't imagine hearing "Look, honey. It's Jim Leach!" in too many households.
Maybe he was ignored because outside of Iowa almost nobody knows who he is.
Someone's gotta do it.
Sorry, but the way I see it is that we need to get into the gutter to fight this enemy we have on the Right. So far, the Dem convention has been a bit too lightweight in my view. Hopefully, Biden will change that.
Except for...?
The party affiliation in and of itself MAKES IT a big deal! He'd be a household name the very next day, if they'd aired his speech and highlighted that he's a Republican.
They buried it out of bias. No other reason. Zel Miller was only significant because he spoke at the RNC. Leach is just a significant, for the same reason.
(Excepting of course, that we KNOW it's just wrong to have a Democrat in the WH! Can't have that! No way! Better bury that speech!) /sarcasm >P
I can't imagine hearing "Look, honey. It's Jim Leach!" in too many households.
Maybe he was ignored because outside of Iowa almost nobody knows who he is.
But all across the Internet, people are saying, "Look, honey - it's another stupid post from Shoes on MMFA. When is that woman gonna learn that she doensn't know what she's talking about??"
mmfa uncritically links to a report stating, " Last night a well-respected Republican -- former Rep. Jim Leach"...without stating why he is well-respected...you know how mmfa detests that practice of uncritical reporting.
Here's a little background on the "well-respected" republican speaking at the democrat convention:
-- Leach was usually reelected without much difficulty, he represented a district that was trending more Democratic. For most of his career, he represented the Democratic strongholds of Davenport and Iowa City. The district has not supported a Republican for president since 1984, and most of its state legislators are Democrats. -- wiki
Additionally, the American Conservative Union gives him a lifetime rating of 44...making it more appropriate to speak to a room full of democrats.
Leach was very well known for being a bright policy wonk, well respected by both Congress and the individual agencies. He was an expert with the figures.
Back when he was a doctrinaire Republican, the MSM always featured him somewhere. Much like Bob Barr, who too is now ignored. Both were considered to be shining lights.
Wesley, this comment seems more like something RINO HUNTER would post.
All week we've hear the media pontificating about the conservative wing of the Democratic Party, and how they might not support Obama
Now you imply that there's no room in the Republican "Big Tent Party" for anyone who is not a conservative?
You may be right. I'm not a Republican, so I wouldn't know. But my understanding of our system is that the two parties have a left, right and a centrist wing. If what you imply is true, then could the Republican Party be putting party before country?
Worrierking, in your last paragraph, you just answered your own question.
Republican politicians, and Republican voters, place their party before their country. They also place their party before everything else sometimes, too.
This is what you call an orwellian slip.
Further, MSNBC aired only seconds of the speech while Hardball host Chris Matthews talked over him.
Well where was MMFA's Golden Boy Olbermann while Matthews was doing this? Sitting next to Matthews? Shouldn't he get a slap too?
There's always one or two who will cross over and support the other parties candidate so it's not really big news. OTOH it was apparently BIG news when Zell Miller spoke at the Rep convention and you know it will be when Lieberman does it this time. Media Matters is right to point out this disconnect.
That's something that you could probably take to the back easily. If Levin is against something, or calling someone names, then I must like whatever it is he's harping on.
For Wesley. You stated that how come MMFA didn't post anything in respect to how well respected Leach was or is, but then you followed it up with, well, nothing as to why you think he doesn't deserve respect. I think that you were trying to make the point that he's not a "real" conservative because he doesn't tote the party line all of the time. Isn't that what republicans are trying to pawn John McCain off on America as? The "Maverick" and all? So if McCain is OK, the Leach must be super! Because according to your numbers, he doesn't vote along the party line all of the time, so indeed, Leach must be the real Maverick.
I agree; this was fantastic speech filled with historical insight and good, solid points. It's nice to have someone put Obama's potential presidency in historical context so intelligently. I was pissed when the networks cut away from it. Apparently it wasn't flashy or dumb-downed enough for the masses to enjoy. Oh well, it takes work to stay informed.