Scolding Gratuitously Mean Dick Cheney

Scolding Gratuitously
Mean Dick Cheney

ABCs Peter Jennings scoffed at his own networks poll showing more voters believed Vice President Cheney won last nights debate, calling the poll a who won thing and warning viewers that ABCs pollsters may have over-sampled Republicans. Pundits on MSNBC and the Fox News Channel credited Cheney with the stronger showing, with only CBS presenting Democrat John Edwards as the outright winner:

■ Typical CBS. CBSs survey of uncommitted voters dwindled to just 178 people, most of whom came into the debate with an animus against the Vice President, reporter Anthony Mason admitted: Going into tonights debate, nearly 60 percent of the uncommitted voters we surveyed said they did not personally like him. When asked how theyd feel if Cheney became President, 24 percent said scared, only two percent said excited. But CBS used these voters to claim a 42 to 29 percent victory for John Edwards.

■ Cheney Failed. CBSs Bob Schieffer, who will moderate next weeks final presidential debate, argued that Cheney accomplished nothing. The Vice President tonight had the unfortunate task of defending a war that does not appear to be going well, Schieffer insisted. The arguments that Vice President Cheney was making tonight clearly did not take.

■ Scolding the Tone. CBSs John Roberts insisted the debate got downright nasty there for a little while. ABC News Political Director Mark Halperin, appearing on PBSs Charlie Rose, called Cheney gratuitously mean when the Vice President chastised Edwards weak Senate attendance record. But Newsweeks Jon Meacham called Cheney strong and serene, and MSNBCs Chris Matthews wondered if the liberal press [will] admit that Cheney won?

■ John, Meet Dick. ABCs George Stephanopoulos spent much of Nightline trying to figure out if Cheney was right when he said he hadnt met Edwards before the debate, avoiding Cheneys larger point that Edwards was a Senate no-show: Were told...they met at a national prayer breakfast a couple of years ago and they might also have met at the swearing in of Elizabeth Dole, Stephanopoulos told Cheneys daughter, Liz. He also raised the point with his former Clinton White House colleague Mike McCurry, now a Kerry media adviser.

■ Woodruffs Wonderland. CNNs Judy Woodruff looks to the media elite for objective analysis: Ive talked also to reporters, who, you know, one assumes theyre coming at this from the center. In their opinion, this debate was close to a draw, and what they go on to say, though, is that if the Republicans, if Dick Cheney was hoping to put away John Edwards, by virtue of the Vice Presidents considerable experience, he didnt do that tonight.

■ Beware the Media Spin. On MSNBCs Imus in the Morning, Newsweeks Evan Thomas thought Thursdays Bush-Kerry debate was pretty much of a tie, but I was quickly informed I was wrong and that Kerry had won. Lets see how they spin the VP debate in the days ahead.

Brent Baker and Rich Noyes