A Media Matters review of the media's coverage of two stories negatively affecting or reflecting on Sen. Barack Obama -- his ties to Bill Ayers and Antoin Rezko -- and two stories negatively affecting or reflecting on Sen. John McCain -- his reported facilitation of land deals that benefited donors and his association with G. Gordon Liddy -- found that, while the five major newspapers frequently mentioned Obama's ties to Ayers and Rezko throughout the 2008 election cycle, they rarely mentioned McCain's reported facilitation of land deals that benefited donors, and they almost completely ignored McCain's association with Liddy. In addition, the three evening network news broadcasts mentioned Obama's ties to Ayers and Rezko several times, but never reported on McCain's reported facilitation of land deals that benefited donors or his association with Liddy. This despite the fact that the media continued to uncritically report complaints by the McCain campaign that they favored his opponent in their coverage of the presidential race.
Media continue to uncritically report McCain campaign attacks on their coverage, but case studies still show disparate coverage in McCain's favor
Written by Matt Gertz
Published
Throughout the 2008 general election campaign, the media uncritically reported complaints by Sen. John McCain's campaign that they favored his opponent in their coverage of the presidential race, while making little attempt to assess the accuracy of those complaints or to confirm or refute them. In September, Media Matters for America undertook a review of the media's coverage of two stories negatively affecting or reflecting on Sen. Barack Obama and two stories negatively affecting or reflecting on McCain and compared the extent of media attention to each. Media Matters has since updated that review through Election Day, November 4. Specifically, Media Matters compared the media's coverage of Obama's association with Chicago developer Antoin Rezko to the media's coverage of McCain's associations with donors for whom McCain reportedly facilitated land deals. Media Matters also compared coverage of Obama's association with former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers to coverage of McCain's association with G. Gordon Liddy, whom Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Chapman has described as McCain's “own Bill Ayers.”
Media Matters found that while the five major newspapers -- the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post -- frequently mentioned Obama's ties to Ayers and Rezko, they rarely mentioned McCain's reported facilitation of land deals that benefited donors, and they almost completely ignored McCain's association with Liddy. In addition, the three evening network news broadcasts mentioned Obama's ties to Ayers and Rezko several times, but never reported on McCain's reported facilitation of land deals that benefited donors or his association with Liddy. Indeed, since The New York Times first reported on April 22 that McCain facilitated land deals that benefited major donors, these media outlets mentioned such deals in only five additional reports and one editorial. By contrast, those media outlets mentioned Obama's ties to Rezko -- who was convicted in June in a case in which Obama was never accused of any wrongdoing -- in 76 network evening news broadcasts, news reports, editorial, or opinion pieces during that same time period. Moreover, while these same media outlets mentioned Obama's ties to Ayers 311 times in 2008 through Election Day, they produced only five reports mentioning McCain's connections to Liddy, whom McCain has praised and repeatedly associated with in public and in campaign settings.
Following Media Matters' September report -- which found that those media outlets had yet to cover McCain's relationship with Liddy -- there was some media attention on that association. However, the broadcast networks continued to ignore the association on their evening news programs, and, with the exception of a single Washington Post column by Richard Cohen, mentions in the five major papers were limited to six articles noting that CBS host David Letterman had asked McCain about his association with Liddy.
Media Matters has previously noted McCain's ties to Liddy. Liddy served four and a half years in prison in connection with his conviction for his role in the Watergate break-in and the break-in at the office of the psychiatrist of Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers. Liddy has acknowledged preparing to kill someone during the Ellsberg break-in “if necessary”; plotting to kill journalist Jack Anderson; plotting with a “gangland figure” to kill Howard Hunt to stop him from cooperating with investigators; plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution; and plotting to kidnap “leftist guerillas” at the 1972 Republican National Convention -- a plan he outlined to the Nixon administration using terminology borrowed from the Nazis. (The murder, firebombing, and kidnapping plots were never carried out; the break-ins were.)
Media Matters previously conducted a review of articles in The Washington Post and The New York Times comparing coverage of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. with coverage of televangelist James Hagee, a McCain supporter who has made numerous controversial comments. Media Matters found that, from February 27, the date Hagee endorsed McCain for president, to April 30, the two papers combined published more than 12 times as many articles mentioning Wright and Obama as they did mentioning Hagee and McCain. Media Matters also documented (here, here, here, here, and here) other examples of the disparity between the media's extensive coverage of controversial comments made by Wright and other supporters of Obama and their coverage of controversial comments by Hagee and other supporters of McCain.
McCain and land deals vs. Obama and Rezko
McCain has reportedly facilitated several land deals that benefited wealthy developers who were major McCain donors. But while several major newspapers published initial articles concerning those deals, the media have devoted far less attention to McCain's involvement in land deals than they have paid to Obama's ties to Rezko. According to a Media Matters search of the Nexis and Factiva databases, since The New York Times' initial April 22 article, the land deals were mentioned in only six additional news articles, editorials, or opinion pieces in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, or The Washington Post, and were not mentioned on any evening network news program through Election Day. By contrast, during that same time period, 71 news articles, editorials, or opinion pieces in those papers have collectively mentioned Obama and Rezko; the evening news broadcasts have collectively mentioned Obama and Rezko in five reports.
Specifically:
- The Los Angeles Times published one news article that mentioned McCain-facilitated land deals, compared with nine news articles mentioning Obama's association with Rezko.
- The New York Times published its original April 22 news article and one editorial that mentioned McCain-facilitated land deals, compared with 16 news articles and two opinion pieces mentioning Obama's association with Rezko.
- USA Today published one news article that mentioned McCain-facilitated land deals, compared with three news articles mentioning Obama's association with Rezko.
- The Wall Street Journal did not publish a news article, editorial, or opinion piece that mentioned McCain-facilitated land deals, but published six news articles and nine editorials or opinion pieces mentioning Obama's association with Rezko.
- The Washington Post published three news articles that mentioned McCain-facilitated land deals, compared with 20 news articles and six editorials or opinion pieces mentioning Obama's association with Rezko.
- ABC's World News did not air a report that mentioned McCain-facilitated land deals, but aired three reports mentioning Obama's association with Rezko.
- The CBS Evening News did not air a report that mentioned McCain-facilitated land deals, but aired one report mentioning Obama's association with Rezko.
- NBC's Nightly News did not air a report that mentioned McCain-facilitated land deals, but aired one report mentioning Obama's association with Rezko.
In its April 22 article, headlined "A Developer, His Deals and His Ties to McCain," The New York Times examined McCain's relationship with Arizona developer Donald R. Diamond, reporting that McCain “sponsored two laws sought by Mr. Diamond that resulted in providing him millions of dollars and thousands of acres in exchange for adding some of his properties to national parks.” The article described Diamond as “one of the elite fund-raisers Mr. McCain's current presidential campaign calls Innovators, having raised more than $250,000 so far.”
In a May 9 article, headlined "McCain Pushed Land Swap That Benefits Backer," The Washington Post reported that McCain “championed legislation that will let an Arizona rancher trade remote grassland and ponderosa pine forest here for acres of valuable federally owned property that is ready for development, a land swap that now stands to directly benefit one of his top presidential campaign fundraisers.” The Post identified the “Arizona rancher” as SunCor Development president Steven A. Betts, and described him as “a longtime McCain supporter who has raised more than $100,000 for the presumptive Republican nominee.”
In a May 19 article, USA Today reported that McCain also “inserted $14.3 million in a 2003 defense bill to buy land around Luke Air Force Base in a provision sought by SunCor Development.” The article further noted that “McCain's campaigns have received $224,000 since 1998 from donors connected to [SunCor Development parent company] Pinnacle West, including $104,100 for his current presidential run” and that Pinnacle West's CEO, vice president and lobbyist, and former president, in addition to Betts, are all McCain fundraisers.
In an October 27 article, headlined "McCain pushed regulators for land swap, despite pledge," McClatchy Newspapers reported that "[y]ears after he resurrected his political fortunes from the Keating Five savings and loan investigation, John McCain promoted an Arizona land swap that would've benefited a former mentor and partner of the scandal's central figure":
The owners of the Spur Cross Ranch, a dramatic 2,154-acre tract of Sonoran desert just north of Phoenix, in the late 1990s sought to sell it to a developer who planned to build a premier golf course surrounded by 390 luxury homes.
Nearby residents and environmentalists, however, wanted to preserve the area's unusual cacti, stone formations and hundreds of Hopi Indian tribal artifacts.
After opposition surfaced, the developer sought McCain's help in forging a land swap with the U.S. Forest Service -- a deal that also would benefit the owners of the ranch, including a company controlled by billionaire Carl H. Lindner Jr., an associate of S&L chief Charles H. Keating.
McCain and an aide pushed for the exchange in more than a half dozen sometimes-testy letters and phone calls up and down the Forest Service's hierarchy, according to former agency officials and correspondence. McCain's office even circulated draft legislation that would have overridden the agency's objection to surrendering national forest land. Ultimately, the deal fell apart.
McCain's behind-the-scenes maneuvering on Spur Cross contrasts with his image as a congressional ethics champion and his pledge -- made after the Keating scandal in 1991 sullied his reputation -- never to intervene with regulators again.
McClatchy further reported that “the 89-year-old Lindner and his son, Carl H. Lindner III, have raised more than $300,000 for McCain's presidential campaign.”
McCain and Liddy vs. Obama and Ayers
According to a Media Matters search of the Nexis and Factiva databases, between January 1 and Election Day, the five major newspapers, as well as the network evening news broadcasts, collectively broadcast or published 311 news reports, editorials, and opinion pieces mentioning Obama's relationship with Ayers. By contrast, over the same period, the five major newspapers produced six articles and one opinion piece mentioning McCain's association with Liddy; the evening news broadcasts did not mention that relationship at all. All six news articles were reports on McCain's appearance on the October 16 edition of CBS' Late Show with David Letterman, during which Letterman questioned McCain about his association with Liddy.
Specifically:
- The Los Angeles Times published two news articles that mentioned McCain's ties to Liddy, compared with 46 news articles and 13 editorials or opinion pieces mentioning Obama's association with Ayers.
- The New York Times published one news article that mentioned McCain's ties to Liddy, compared with 60 news articles and 16 editorials or opinion pieces mentioning Obama's association with Ayers.
- USA Today published one news article that mentioned McCain's ties to Liddy, compared with 11 news articles and seven editorials or opinion pieces mentioning Obama's association with Ayers.
- The Wall Street Journal did not publish a news article, editorial, or opinion piece that mentioned McCain's ties to Liddy, but published 14 news articles and 26 editorials or opinion pieces mentioning Obama's association with Ayers.
- The Washington Post published two news articles and one opinion piece that mentioned McCain's ties to Liddy, compared with 58 news articles and 35 editorials or opinion pieces mentioning Obama's association with Ayers.
- ABC's World News did not air a report that mentioned McCain's ties to Liddy, but aired nine reports mentioning Obama's association with Ayers.
- The CBS Evening News did not air a report that mentioned McCain's ties to Liddy, but aired eight reports mentioning Obama's association with Ayers.
- NBC's Nightly News did not air a report that mentioned McCain's ties to Liddy, but aired eight reports mentioning Obama's association with Ayers.
The Tribune's Chapman wrote in a May 4 column, "[B]ack in the 1970s, [Liddy] extolled violence and committed crimes in the name of a radical ideology." Writing that “Liddy's penchant for extreme solutions has not abated,” Chapman went on to note that, in 1994, Liddy “gave some advice to his listeners” on how to shoot ATF officials. Chapman further wrote that "[f]ar from repudiating him [Liddy], McCain has embraced him." In an August 22 blog post about an Americans Issues Project ad about Obama's association with Ayers, Chapman wrote: “If Obama needs to answer questions about Ayers, McCain has the same obligation regarding Liddy. How about they both get started?” Nevertheless, in a 2,140-word October 4 front-page article about Obama's association with Ayers, The New York Times quoted Chapman denouncing Obama's association with Ayers but did not note that Chapman's statement that "[i]f Obama needs to answer questions about Ayers, McCain has the same obligation regarding Liddy." In an October 7 blog post citing the Times article, Chapman wrote: “While Obama has gotten lots of scrutiny for his connection to Ayers, McCain has never had to explain his association with Liddy. If he can't defend it, he should admit as much. And if he thinks he can defend it, let him.” During his October 16 interview with Letterman, McCain said of Liddy: “You say I know Gordon Liddy. I -- he paid his debt. He went to prison. He paid his debt, as people do. I'm not in any way embarrassed to know Gordon Liddy, and his son who is also a good friend and supporter of mine.”
Rezko coverage
From April 22 to November 4, 76 combined network evening news broadcasts and news, editorials, or opinion pieces covered or mentioned Obama's ties to Rezko:
Los Angeles Times (9)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Judge delays sentencing for Rezko
10/9/08
N
Prosecutors delay Rezko sentencing
10/7/08
N
McCain, Obama introduce newly sharp tone amid major news events
10/7/08
N
Barack Obama accuses Republicans of distracting voters from the economy
10/6/08
N
Hiding Sarah Palin behind 'deference'
9/9/08
N
Barack Obama: Search for identity
8/28/08
N
McCain out of touch if he's lost count of his homes, Obama says
8/22/08
N
Rezko closing arguments begin
5/13/08
N
Antoin Rezko won't take the stand in his fraud trial
5/6/08
N
The New York Times (18)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Barack Obama, Forever Sizing Up
10/25/08
N
10/14/08
N
Attacking Obama's Associations
10/10/08
N
McCain Excites Crowds With Criticism of Obama
10/8/08
N
Seeking to Shift Attention to Judicial Nominees
10/6/08
N
10/4/08
E
Lawmakers in Illinois Make Ethics Top Priority
9/24/08
N
Pinpoint Attacks Focus on Obama
9/23/08
N
Obama's Chicago, in McCain's Eyes
9/23/08
N
Obama Carries Uneven Record as Debater to First Contest With McCain
9/22/08
N
Obama and McCain Seek a Common Touch
8/21/08
N
UNIONS UNITED; Hitting McCain Where He Lives
8/19/08
N
Ex-Obama Fund-Raiser Is Convicted Of Fraud
6/5/08
N
Corruption Case Taints Rising Political Star
5/12/08
N
Pragmatic Politics, Forged on the South Side
5/11/08
N
Republicans Focus on Obama as Fall Opponent
5/8/08
N
How McCain Lost in Pennsylvania
4/27/08
E
Ex-Official in Illinois Admits Lying About Job for Donation
4/23/08
N
USA Today (3)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Fundraisers linked to corruption cases
10/16/08
N
McCain ad: Clinton's 'truth hurt'
8/24/08
N
Obama slams McCain's inability to count family residences
8/21/08
N
The Wall Street Journal (15)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
11/3/08
E
10/31/08
E
10/23/08
E
A McCain Comeback May Rely On Feeling the Nation's Anger
10/7/08
E
9/30/08
E
Obama Should Come Clean on Ayers, Rezko and the Iraqi Billionaire
8/30/08
E
House Party: Obama Homes In on McCain
8/22/08
N
8/20/08
E
6/11/08
E
GOP Starts Recycling Primary Clips Attacking Obama
6/7/08
N
Obama Heads to Election With Some Weaknesses
6/5/08
N
Rezko Convicted of Wire Fraud, Money Laundering
6/5/08
N
5/28/08
E
5/12/08
N
From Their House to the White House
5/9/08
N
The Washington Post (26)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
In Ads, GOP Stresses Obama's Ties to Chicago Developer
10/23/08
N
10/19/08
E
McCain Attack Ads Called Inevitable -- And Ineffective
10/14/08
N
To Some Readers, Bias on Display
10/12/08
E
10/11/08
N
10/10/08
E
Candidates Prepare for Tuesday's Town Hall Debate
10/6/08
N
Obama Attack Gets Asterisk on Accuracy
10/6/08
N
McCain Plans Fiercer Strategy Against Obama
10/4/08
N
10/3/08
E
10/3/08
N
Hitting Hard on Debatable Points
9/23/08
N
McCain Strategist Blasts Media
9/3/08
N
Romney Leads a Denver Counteroffensive
8/27/08
N
Obama Calls His Pick, Biden, Both a Statesman and Fighter
8/24/08
N
8/23/08
E
Obama's Judgment Is Questioned
8/22/08
N
Houses Add Up to A Snag for McCain
8/22/08
N
Can McCain Use Advice Clinton Got on Obama?
8/13/08
N
In Obama's Circle, Chicago Remains The Tie That Binds
7/14/08
N
Obama Got Discount on Home Loan
7/2/08
N
Former Obama Fundraiser Convicted of Corruption
6/5/08
N
For Clinton, A Following Of 'Marshans'
6/4/08
N
Obama as You've Never Known Him!
5/23/08
N
Rezko's Defense Rests Without Calling Witness
5/6/08
N
4/25/08
E
ABC evening news broadcasts (3)
Show
Date
World News Sunday
8/24/08
World News with Charles Gibson
8/21/08
World News with Charles Gibson
6/4/08
CBS evening news broadcast (1)
Show
Date
CBS Evening News with Katie Couric
6/4/08
NBC evening news broadcast (1)
Show
Date
Nightly News with Brian Williams
6/4/08
Land deals coverage
From April 22 to November 4, seven news, editorials, or opinion pieces mentioned that McCain reportedly facilitated land deals that benefited wealthy developers who were major McCain donors:
Los Angeles Times (1)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
McCain land deal benefits donor
5/9/08
N
The New York Times (2)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
The Trouble With Not Being Earnest
4/25/08
E
A Developer, His Deals and His Ties to McCain
4/22/08
N
USA Today (1)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Price of power: McCain action helped Arizona land developer
5/15/08
N
The Wall Street Journal: No coverage.
The Washington Post (3)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Top McCain Adviser Has Found Success Mixing Money, Politics
6/26/08
N
John McCain's Rapid-Fire Responders
5/20/08
N
McCain Pushed Land Swap That Benefits Backer
5/9/08
N
ABC evening news broadcast: No coverage.
NBC evening news broadcast: No coverage.
CBS evening news broadcast: No coverage
Ayers coverage
From January 1 to November 4, 311 combined network evening news broadcasts and news, editorials, or opinion pieces mentioned Obama's ties to Ayers:
Los Angeles Times (59)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Negative campaigning -- what's new?
11/4/08
E
McCain, Palin demand L.A. Times release Obama video
10/30/08
N
Social conservatives fight for control of Republican Party
10/28/08
N
10/26/08
E
10/25/08
E
10/23/08
E
Swing voters are bothered by McCain's temperament and his party
10/21/08
N
Barack Obama turns rivals' words on them in Florida
10/21/08
N
“Fox & Friends” anchors are having fun
10/21/08
N
Barack Obama has advantages of big bucks, a big name: Colin Powell
10/20/08
N
Palin doesn't doubt Obama loves America -- but Michele Bachmann does
10/19/08
N
10/19/08
E
Obama, McCain solidify campaign themes in fights for crucial states
10/18/08
N
GOP Sen. Susan Collins decries anti-Obama robocalls
10/18/08
N
McCain campaign's robocalls seek to link Obama, Ayers
10/17/08
N
McCain appears on Letterman show, hat in hand
10/17/08
N
Obama, McCain repeat themes from debate
10/17/08
N
From Ayers to abortion: fact-checking the debate
10/16/08
N
10/16/08
E
Undecided Latino voters may be key in New Mexico
10/16/08
N
McCain deals no lethal blows in final debate with Obama
10/16/08
N
McCain, Obama duel in caustic debate finale
10/16/08
N
5 voters identify high, low points
10/16/08
N
Attack ad seeks to link Obama to his former pastor
10/15/08
N
McCain calls for “voter fraud” inquiry
10/15/08
N
Another day, another strategy for John McCain
10/14/08
N
Fire and ice in American culture
10/14/08
N
Former federal prosecutor decries William Ayers link
10/13/08
N
These days, even “The View” is getting political
10/13/08
E
John McCain and Sarah Palin try new tactics
10/12/08
N
Obama rides a wave of bad economic news
10/12/08
N
McCain calms supporters, urges respect for Obama
10/11/08
N
McCain, Obama seek to seed doubts
10/10/08
N
Fox News' faux documentary sets new low
10/10/08
E
McCain campaign ratchets up the rhetoric
10/9/08
N
McCain, Obama and a “friendly” town hall
10/8/08
E
McCain, Obama clash over economy in a testy debate
10/8/08
N
In debate, McCain and Obama battle mostly to a draw
10/8/08
N
McCain, Obama introduce newly sharp tone amid major news events
10/7/08
N
10/7/08
E
Barack Obama accuses Republicans of distracting voters from the economy
10/6/08
N
Sarah Palin claims Barack Obama would “pal around with terrorists”
10/5/08
N
Barack Obama raises the funding roof
9/15/08
N
8/30/08
N
Barack Obama: Search for identity
8/28/08
N
Biden's jokes about his wife Jill? OK with Pelosi
8/24/08
N
Billionaire behind Swift Boat ads funded anti-Obama spot
8/23/08
N
Ad attacks Obama's ties to leftist leader
8/22/08
N
The Obama-McCain age gap that matters
6/1/08
E
5/19/08
N
5/15/08
E
GOP makes a target of Obama
4/25/08
N
Ex-radical William Ayers keeps low profile
4/24/08
N
What to look for in Pennsylvania
4/22/08
N
4/21/08
N
Moderators' 'gotcha' tone inspires angry new debate
4/18/08
N
4/18/08
N
4/18/08
E
Debate dwells on Obama's past
4/17/08
N
The New York Times (76)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
He Gave Voice to Many, Among Them Himself
11/2/08
E
Call to Ease Property Taxes Resounds in 35th District
10/31/08
N
Obama Is Up, And Fans Fear That Jinxes It
10/31/08
N
Political Storm Finds A Columbia Professor
10/30/08
N
Coverage Of Election Now Lacks Suspense
10/27/08
N
10/27/08
E
Pennsylvania Republican Apologizes for Anti-Obama E-mail
10/27/08
N
Democrats in Steel Country See Color, and Beyond It
10/26/08
N
Ex-Radical Talks of Education and Justice, Not Obama
10/26/08
N
In Westchester, Economy is No. 1 Concern, but Agreement Stops There
10/24/08
N
Economy Is No. 1 Concern, but Agreement Stops There
10/24/08
N
G.O.P. Denies Involvement in Fox-Quoting 'Robotext'
10/23/08
N
In Political Coverage, Nothing Succeeds Like Success
10/23/08
N
10/23/08
N
A Onetime McCain Insider Is Now Offering Advice (Unwanted) From the Outside
10/22/08
N
Confessions of a Phone Solicitor
10/22/08
E
Donation Record as Colin Powell Endorses Obama
10/19/08
N
Republicans Rain Negative Automated Calls on Voters in Swing States
10/17/08
N
Polls Cause Campaigns to Change Their Itineraries
10/16/08
N
10/16/08
E
McCain Attacks, but Obama Stays Steady
10/16/08
N
10/16/08
E
Rivals Split, With Joe in the Middle
10/16/08
N
10/15/08
E
Candidates Clash Over Character and Policy
10/15/08
N
In Debating McCain, Obama's Real Opponent Was Voter Doubt
10/14/08
N
Poll Says McCain Is Hurting His Bid By Using Attacks
10/14/08
N
10/14/08
N
10/13/08
N
Tempering Attacks, McCain Says He's a Leader for Troubled Times
10/13/08
N
10/13/08
N
Race Remains Campaign Issue, but Not a Clear One
10/12/08
N
History Suggests McCain Faces an Uphill Battle
10/12/08
N
McCain Campaign Sustains the Focus on Obama's Links to a 1960s Radical
10/12/08
N
The Terrorist Barack Hussein Obama
10/11/08
E
Concern in G.O.P. After Rough Week for McCain
10/11/08
N
Attacking Obama's Associations
10/10/08
N
10/10/08
E
For Karl Rove, a Busy New Career and a 'Rovian' Legacy
10/10/08
N
McCain Draws Line on Attacks as Crowds Cry 'Fight Back'
10/10/08
N
McCain Joins Attacks On Obama Over Radical
10/9/08
N
10/8/08
E
McCain Excites Crowds With Criticism of Obama
10/8/08
N
10/8/08
N
10/7/08
E
10/7/08
E
Palin Plays to Conservative Base in Florida Rallies
10/7/08
N
Economic Woes Set Tone for Rivals in 2nd Debate
10/7/08
N
Obama's Personal Ties Are Subject of Program on Fox News Channel
10/6/08
N
Campaigns Shift to Attack Mode on Eve of Debate
10/6/08
N
Seeking to Shift Attention to Judicial Nominees
10/6/08
N
Is Era of Dominance Over for Conservatives?
10/5/08
N
10/5/08
E
Palin, on Offensive, Attacks Obama's Ties to '60s Radical
10/4/08
N
Obama and '60s Bomber: A Look Into Crossed Paths
10/3/08
N
Pinpoint Attacks Focus on Obama
9/23/08
N
Obama Carries Uneven Record as Debater to First Contest With McCain
9/22/08
N
Interest Groups Step Up Efforts in a Tight Race
9/15/08
N
On the Web, a Nonpartisan Look at Those Partisan Campaign Ads
9/11/08
N
Obama Looks to Lessons From Chicago in His National Education Plan
9/9/08
N
Obama Steps Into O'Reilly's 'No Spin Zone'
9/5/08
N
Obama Campaign Wages Fight Against Conservative Group's Ads
8/27/08
N
A Billionaire Finances Ads Hitting Obama
8/22/08
N
Group Plans Ad Criticizing Obama's Ties To Ex-Radical
8/21/08
N
7/6/08
N
Pragmatic Politics, Forged on the South Side
5/11/08
N
Republicans Focus on Obama as Fall Opponent
5/8/08
N
5/3/08
E
McCain Criticizes Clergyman's Remarks
4/28/08
N
How McCain lost in Pennsylvania
4/27/08
E
4/20/08
E
Clinton Impugns Obama's Toughness
4/19/08
N
'60s Radicals Become Issue in Campaign of 2008
4/17/08
N
Former Friends Weigh Into Debate, and the Former Amity Drains Out
4/17/08
N
Clinton Uses Sharp Attacks in Tense Debate
4/17/08
N
4/17/08
E
USA Today (18)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Battle of the 'robo-calls' rages
10/23/08
N
Voters approve this message: Do not 'robo-call'
10/23/08
E
Deceptions, distortions mar final clash
10/17/08
E
All is forgiven: Letterman, McCain are pals again
10/16/08
N
In final debate, McCain takes the fight to Obama
10/16/08
E
McCain more cutting; Obama low-key
10/15/08
N
Debate tackles domestic policy
10/15/08
N
McCain reboots, takes fight to new level
10/13/08
N
Put the brakes on incivility, rev up attention to economy
10/13/08
E
Obama to go prime time as poll says debate boosts appeal
10/9/08
N
McCain, Obama spar over economy in debate
10/7/08
N
Sharp tone, no gaffes in town hall debate
10/7/08
N
McCain ready for debate battle
10/6/08
N
10/7/08
E
Candidates pursue trivia while economy burns
10/7/08
E
Obama's tie to '60s radical fuels attacks
10/6/08
N
Groups play up Obama link to '60s radical
8/26/08
N
4/30/08
E
The Wall Street Journal (40)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Are Obama's Friends Fair Game?
11/3/08
E
11/3/08
E
11/3/08
N
Campaigns are Where the Real “Change” Will Take Place
11/3/08
E
Why Obama Is Competitive in Indiana
11/1/08
E
10/31/08
E
McCain Tries to Shift to Security
10/30/08
N
Vote for the Party, Not the Person
10/27/08
E
When Academic Freedom Lost its Meaning
10/24/08
E
10/23/08
E
10/22/08
N
10/17/08
E
Hillary Made Obama a Better Candidate
10/17/08
E
Obama, McCain Trade Jabs Over Taxes, Tone of Campaign
10/16/08
N
Ready, Aim, Backfire: Nasty Political Ads Fall Flat
10/16/08
N
Ayers Is No Education 'Reformer'
10/16/08
E
10/15/08
E
Hopes Quickly Fade For a Postpartisan Era
10/14/08
E
Wall Street Donors Resent Being Blamed by McCain
10/14/08
N
10/14/08
E
10/14/08
E
In Virginia, McCain Struggles to Hold the South for GOP
10/13/08
N
McCain Campaign Is at Odds Over Negative Attacks' Scope
10/10/08
N
News Flash: The Media Back Obama
10/9/08
E
McCain Still Targets Pennsylvania, Ohio
10/8/08
N
Group's Ad Blames Crisis on Democrats
10/8/08
N
McCain, Palin Intensify Swipes Against Obama
10/7/08
N
A McCain Comeback May Rely On Feeling the Nation's Anger
10/7/08
E
9/30/08
E
Obama and Ayers Pushed Radicalism On Schools
9/23/08
E
Obama Is Stoking Racial Antagonism
9/19/08
E
Obama Should Come Clean on Ayers, Rezko and the Iraqi Billionaire
8/30/08
E
Legal Controversy Erupts Over TV Ads Linking Obama to '60s Radical
8/29/08
N
6/12/08
E
5/29/08
E
5/9/08
E
5/2/08
E
Democratic Fight Has Its Upsides
4/23/08
E
Woods Fund Could Become Obama's 'Swift Boat'
4/18/08
N
Democrats Meet in Feisty Debate
4/17/08
N
The Washington Post (93)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Hard-Fought Battle in Hard-Hit Ohio
11/3/08
N
11/3/08
E
Obama's Talk Show Advantage Is No Idle Chatter
11/3/08
N
Dancemaker Doesn't Sweat A Hot Topic
11/2/08
N
10/31/08
N
In Washington, Halloween Costumes Unmask Our Inner Political Goblins
10/31/08
N
10/31/08
E
McCain Again Points to Obama's Associates
10/30/08
N
10/29/08
E
N.H. Senate Race Illustrates The Dismal Climate for GOP
10/28/08
N
Poll Gives Obama 8-Point Va. Lead
10/27/08
N
Worlds Apart: The Great Hannity-Olbermann Divide
10/27/08
N
Mailed Ads Have Become Mostly Negative, Experts Say
10/26/08
N
10/24/08
E
10/24/08
E
Candidates Keep Up Attacks in Key States
10/22/08
N
10/22/08
E
O'Reilly: You'll Still Have Me to Kick Around
10/22/08
N
Brown's CNN Role: A Matter Of Opinion
10/21/08
N
10/21/08
E
10/21/08
E
Rabbi Pushes McCain to 'Hammer' Obama on Wright
10/20/08
N
Obama Endorsed By Colin Powell
10/20/08
N
Economic Downturn Sidelines Donors to '527' Groups
10/19/08
N
'60s Radical Ayers Among Subjects of McCain 'Robo-Calls'
10/18/08
N
A Rage No One Should Be Stoking
10/18/08
E
Last Debate Is Not a Winner, In the Ratings
10/17/08
E
10/17/08
E
10/17/08
E
McCain Forced to Fight for Virginia
10/17/08
N
10/16/08
E
10/16/08
N
10/16/08
N
Both Campaigns Distorting Facts on Money Matters
10/16/08
N
Candidates Make A Name for This Guy Joe
10/16/08
E
At Height of Election Season, a Full Haul of Blog Items
10/16/08
N
What Joe the Plumber Can't Fix
10/16/08
E
Aggressive Underdog vs. Cool Counterpuncher
10/16/08
N
10/16/08
N
10/15/08
E
Remark About Bin Laden, Obama a Joke, Official Says
10/15/08
N
10/15/08
E
10/15/08
N
10/15/08
E
10/14/08
E
10/14/08
E
10/14/08
E
McCain Attack Ads Called Inevitable -- And Ineffective
10/14/08
N
GOP Head Compares Obama to Bin Laden
10/13/08
N
McCain and Palin Are Playing With Fire
10/12/08
E
Issue of Race Creeps Into Campaign
10/12/08
N
To Some Readers, Bias on Display
10/12/08
E
10/11/08
N
McCain Moves to Soften the Tone at Rallies, if Not in Ads
10/11/08
N
Candidates Spar Over McCain Plan for Loans
10/10/08
N
10/10/08
E
Anger Is Crowd's Overarching Emotion at McCain Rally
10/10/08
N
RNC Ads to Link Obama to Radical
10/10/08
N
Battling Through Battleground States
10/9/08
N
10/9/08
E
10/9/08
E
10/8/08
E
Economic Crisis Dominates Debate
10/8/08
N
10/8/08
N
Both Candidates Misleading TV Viewers With Attacks
10/8/08
N
As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating
10/7/08
N
10/7/08
E
Unleashed, Palin Makes a Pit Bull Look Tame
10/7/08
N
Candidates Prepare for Tuesday's Town Hall Debate
10/6/08
N
10/6/08
E
Obama Attack Gets Asterisk on Accuracy
10/6/08
N
Palin Seizes On Obama's Ayers Ties
10/5/08
N
10/3/08
E
10/3/08
N
Group With Swift Boat Alumni Readies Ads Attacking Obama
9/14/08
N
Obama Met With Fox News Executives
9/3/08
N
8/29/08
E
Obama's Response Ad Reflects Lessons of 2004
8/27/08
N
Romney Leads a Denver Counteroffensive
8/27/08
N
'She Could Accept Losing. She Could Not Accept Quitting.'
6/5/08
N
Obama as You've Never Known Him!
5/23/08
N
Candidates Vie to Be The Anti-Lobbyist
5/20/08
N
Clinton Quiet About Own Radical Ties
5/19/08
N
Obama Has the Upper Hand. But McCain Can Still Take Him
5/18/08
E
5/11/08
E
5/9/08
E
4/25/08
E
McCain Questions Obama Remark Comparing '60s Radical, Lawmaker
4/21/08
N
Obama Looks To Turn Debate Into a Victory
4/18/08
N
Performance By ABC's Moderators Is a Matter Of Debate
4/18/08
N
Former '60s Radical Is Now Considered Mainstream in Chicago
4/18/08
N
4/17/08
N
'Soft' Press Sharpens Its Focus on Obama
3/3/08
N
ABC evening news broadcast (9)
Show
Date
World News Sunday
10/19/08
World News with Charles Gibson
10/16/08
World News with Charles Gibson
10/15/08
World News with Charles Gibson
10/10/08
World News with Charles Gibson
10/9/08
World News with Charles Gibson
10/8/08
World News with Charles Gibson
10/6/08
World News Sunday
10/5/08
World News Sunday
4/20/08
NBC evening news broadcast (8)
Show
Date
Nightly News
10/23/08
Nightly News
10/19/08
Nightly News
10/17/08
Nightly News
10/12/08
Nightly News
10/9/08
Nightly News
10/8/08
Nightly News
10/5/08
Nightly News
4/17/08
CBS evening news broadcast (8)
Show
Date
CBS Evening News
10/22/08
CBS Evening News
10/20/08
CBS Evening News
10/16/08
CBS Evening News
10/15/08
CBS Evening News
10/10/08
CBS Evening News
10/9/08
CBS Evening News
10/7/08
CBS Evening News
10/6/08
Liddy coverage
From January 1 to November 4, seven news, editorials or opinion pieces mentioned McCain's ties to Liddy, but six of those reports were on McCain's October 16 interview with Letterman. None of the network evening news broadcasts mentioned McCain's association with Liddy.
Los Angeles Times (2)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
11/3/08
N
McCain appears on Letterman show, hat in hand
10/17/08
N
The New York Times (1)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
The Hot Seat; McCain Faces Letterman
10/17/08
N
USA Today (1)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
All is forgiven: Letterman, McCain are pals again
10/16/08
N
The Washington Post (3)
Headline
Date
News or Editorial/Op.
Obama's Talk Show Advantage Is No Idle Chatter
11/3/08
N
Last Debate Is Not a Winner, In the Ratings
10/17/08
N
10/14/08
E
The Wall Street Journal: No coverage
ABC, CBS, and NBC evening news broadcasts: No coverage
Additionally, a February 8 Washington Post column by Dana Milbank and an August 13 New York Times article both mentioned Liddy and McCain but did not report or note any ties between the two.
NEXIS SEARCH TERMS: Media Matters searched the Nexis database for The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, ABC, CBS, and NBC using the following terms: Obama and Rezko; McCain and ((land swap) or (Don! pre/2 Diamond) or (Ste! pre/2 Betts) or (Suncor) or (Pinnacle West) or (Del Webb) or (Fort Ord) or (Yavapai) or (Fred! pre/2 ruskin) or (Great American Life Insurance) or (Carl pre/2 Lindner) or (Luke Air Force Base) or (spur cross ranch)); Obama and Ayers; McCain and Liddy.
FACTIVA SEARCH TERMS: Media Matters searched the Factiva database for The Wall Street Journal using the following terms: Obama and Rezko; McCain and ((land swap) or (Don* near2 Diamond) or (Ste* near2 Betts) or (Suncor) or (Pinnacle West) or (Del Webb) or (Fort Ord) or (Yavapai) or (Fred* near2 Ruskin) or (Great American Life Insurance) or (Carl near2 Lindner) or (Luke Air Force Base) or (spur cross ranch)); Obama and Ayers; McCain and Liddy.