Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Hannity falsely claimed Obama "seemingly apologiz[ed] for our engagement in the war on terror" On his Fox News show, Sean Hannity falsely claimed that President Obama "seemingly apologiz[ed] for our engagement in the war on terror" when Obama said "[t]he United States is not ... at war with Islam." In fact, in those same remarks, Obama also stated that "Iraq, Turkey, and the United States face a common threat from terrorism" and that "we are committed to a more focused effort to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda." Read More NY Times uncritically reported GOP claim that F-22 cuts mean Obama "refuses to fund programs critical to our national defense" In reporting GOP criticism of the Obama administration's decision to end funding for F-22s, The New York Times but did not point out that Secretary Gates said the "military advice" he received is that "there is no military requirement for numbers of F-22s beyond" those that have already been funded. Read More Conservative media consistently scapegoat undocumented immigrants, ACORN In discussions of major news stories, conservatives in the media have repeatedly turned to two favorite bogeymen -- undocumented immigrants and ACORN -- in place of substantive analysis, even when those groups have little or nothing to do with the issue. Read More Outbreak: Limbaugh spreads Obama Derangement Syndrome Since President Obama's inauguration, Rush Limbaugh has made numerous baseless and ominous claims warning of what will happen if the United States adopts either Obama's policies or those pushed by other progressives, often while invoking fears of rising socialism, communism, and tyranny. Read More Hannity falsely claimed Obama administration "taking steps to cut defense spending" Sean Hannity falsely asserted that the Obama administration "is taking steps to cut defense spending." In fact, the administration's proposed 2010 budget would increase funding for the Defense Department and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by billions of dollars. Read More Ignoring Gates' comments, Hill article uncritically quotes retired general criticizing missile defense policy changes The Hill quoted a critic of proposed missile defense policy changes who claimed the proposal "will leave us vulnerable to missile attacks from countries like North Korea" without noting Secretary Gates' assertion that the changes would "focus on the rogue state and theater missile threat." Read More Scarborough claimed Pew poll "said [Obama] split the country," but Pew official reportedly disputed that conclusion Joe Scarborough claimed that a recent Pew poll "said [President Obama] split the country." However, a Pew official has reportedly stated it is a misreading of the poll to conclude that Obama has "caused this divisiveness." Read More Media figures advance false claim that Obama ceded economic sovereignty at G-20 summit Media figures have advanced the false claim that in signing the G-20 communiqué establishing a new Financial Stability Board, President Obama ceded U.S. sovereignty to international economic regulators. In fact, the FSB referenced in the communiqué does not have any authority over U.S. policy. Read More Human Events allowed McInerney to invoke false ACORN bogeyman in defense-budget attack Human Events uncritically reported retired Lt. Gen. Thomas G. McInerney's false claim that the "stimulus package ... gives $3-billion to ACORN." Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.