On Backbone Radio, Andrews mischaracterized Colorado Media Matters' criticism of his show

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

On his May 13 broadcast, John Andrews falsely stated the source of Colorado Media Matters' funding and inaccurately described its criticism of his Backbone Radio show as impugning co-host Krista Kafer's “political incorrectness.” Colorado Media Matters has not directly criticized Kafer, but repeatedly has cited instances of Andrews and his guests dispensing falsehoods or misinformation.

Calling Colorado Media Matters “the local arm of the George Soros left attack machine,” KNUS 710 AM host John Andrews misleadingly suggested on his May 13 broadcast that the research organization has criticized his co-host, Krista Kafer, for her “political incorrectness.” However, rather than directly impugning Kafer, a former Heritage Foundation analyst, Colorado Media Matters has highlighted numerous instances of false or misleading information Andrews or his guests have dispensed on Backbone Radio since August 30, 2006.

Furthermore, contrary to Andrews' insinuation, Media Matters for America -- the parent organization of Colorado Media Matters -- repeatedly has pointed out that the progressive philanthropist Soros never has given money to Media Matters, either directly or through another organization.

Andrews, former Colorado Senate president, jokingly asked Kafer on the May 13 show if it were true that she was “feeling a little neglected because Colorado Media Matters, the local arm of the George Soros left attack machine, has not attacked this radio show or your political incorrectness lately?” He further joked that Kafer could have provoked criticism during the program's previous “energy segment” by calling for “drilling rigs every few yards in the Alaska wildlife refuge, more oil, fewer caribous.” Andrews added that “they seem to have a heart for the animals. When you were talking about that fur you wore in here that day ... that seemed to bother them.”

Andrews apparently was referring to a January 28 broadcast in which he told the "Media Matters people" to "[g]et a life" after noting that the organization regularly monitors his program. But rather than objecting to Kafer's fur coat, Colorado Media Matters noted Andrews' comment that "Media Matters has also assigned individual harassers" to monitor Andrews and Kafer “to get after us for our blogs on BackboneAmerica.net.” In fact, as Colorado Media Matters noted, it has never monitored or published an item about BackboneAmerica.net. The organization also noted at the time that it had identified at least 10 other broadcasts in which Backbone Radio dispensed falsehoods or misinformation.

From the May 13 broadcast of KNUS 710 AM's Backbone Radio:

ANDREWS: Krista Kafer, is it true that you're feeling a little neglected because Colorado Media Matters, the local arm of the George Soros left attack machine, has not attacked this radio show or your political incorrectness lately?

KAFER: I feel unloved. Ignored.

ANDREWS: You could have tried harder during the energy segment just now. I didn't hear you saying anything about let's put drilling rigs every few yards in the Alaska wildlife refuge, more oil, fewer caribous. That might get 'em out. I me -- I --

KAFER: Yeah.

ANDREWS: -- they seem to have a heart for the animals. When you were talking about that fur you wore in here that day --

KAFER: I know.

ANDREWS: -- that seemed to bother them.