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. WSJ's Moore falsely claimed Obama "never used the word 'entrepreneur' " in speech On CNBC, Stephen Moore falsely claimed that President Obama "never used the word 'entrepreneur' " in an April 14 speech. In fact, during the speech Obama said, "If businesses and entrepreneurs know today that we are closing this carbon pollution loophole, they'll start investing in clean energy now." Read More Scarborough ignores Bush FBI report to claim Obama administration stoking fear Joe Scarborough distorted a DHS intelligence assessment to allege the Obama administration is warning that returning war veterans "are to be feared." In fact, the assessment, citing a Bush administration report, warned of a possible resurgence among extremist groups that "will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans." Read More Conservative media freak-out: claim Obama DHS targeting conservatives in report on right-wing extremists Conservatives in the media are citing a declassified DHS report detailing potential increases in right-wing extremism to claim that the Obama administration is targeting conservatives and others simply because they disagree with administration policies and proposals. Read More Beck's claim that tea parties not about Obama contradicted by Fox News' own reporting Glenn Beck has repeatedly claimed that the "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties" are "not about [President] Obama." However, Fox News' own reporting contradicts Beck's claim. Read More Fox News pushing questionable Spanish study on green jobs Fox News' Shannon Bream touted a Spanish study on green jobs to cast doubt on President Obama's proposal to fund green energy, without noting criticism of the study or that the study's author is reportedly a founding member of a group "aimed at countering panic connected with global warming." Read More Hosting the party: Fox aired at least 20 segments, 73 promos on "tea party" protests -- in just 8 days A Media Matters study found that from April 6 to April 13, Fox News featured at least 20 segments on the "tea party" protests scheduled to take place on April 15 and aired at least 73 in-show and commercial promotions for their April 15 coverage of the events. Read More Memo to MSNBC: numerous Republican leaders speaking at "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties" MSNBC's Contessa Brewer falsely suggested tea party organizers are excluding Republican elected officials or party leaders from speaking at the events. In fact, at least 15 elected GOP officials will reportedly speak, or have already spoken, at the protests, while another 33 will reportedly participate in the events. Read More On Dobbs, Baker apparently falls for PA paper's April Fools' Day joke Chris Baker apparently fell for an April Fools' Day joke by The Patriot-News of Pennsylvania, claiming on Lou Dobbs Tonight that Gov. Ed Rendell is using stimulus funds to "hir[e] comics, magicians, and mimes" to "cheer up" Pennsylvanians. Read More Fox's Kelly falsely claimed that Justice Stevens hasn't "made any bones about" being a liberal Megyn Kelly asserted, "Between Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Justice [John Paul] Stevens ... they haven't made any bones about their political leanings." In fact, according to a 2007 New York Times Magazine profile, Stevens has said, "I don't think of myself as a liberal at all." Read More Despite polling on public blaming Bush for economy, Politico predicts public will soon blame Obama Despite polling showing that the public overwhelmingly blames the Bush administration for the poor economy, Politico baselessly asserted that "after the spate of media attention to come when [President Obama] hits the 100-day mark, Obama will own the economy in a very real political sense." Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.