On the day of the first presidential debate, author and nationally syndicated radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger told her listeners: “We have insurgents, terrorists, Muslim terrorists in Baghdad murdering children to make sure [Senator John] Kerry's elected.” Six minutes earlier on her September 30 program, she said, “This is not a political show, and I don't want it to be a political show, but there are certain things, as a mother, that really offend me.”

Dr. Laura joined a long list of media figures, most recently right-wing pundit Ann Coulter, who have echoed the Republican suggestion that terrorists want Kerry to win in November's election. As Media Matters for America has noted, there is a conspicuous lack of evidence to support the claim; however, there is some evidence suggesting terrorists would prefer four more years of the Bush administration.

According to her website, Schlessinger is the “second most popular radio talk show host in the country.” She is broadcast on about 300 stations and has 12 million weekly listeners.