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. Quick Fact: Scarborough falsely claimed trials of foreign terror suspects through U.S. judiciary are "unprecedented" MSNBC host Joe Scarborough falsely claimed that it is "unprecedented" to try foreign terror suspects through the United States' judicial system, stating, "It's unprecedented to afford constitutional rights to, basically, prisoners of war." In fact, during the Bush and Clinton administrations numerous foreign terrorists have been tried and imprisoned by our federal system, including 9-11 conspirator Zacarious Moussaoui and 1993 World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Ahmed Yousef. Read More Morris falsely claimed Obama said he "opposes a congressional investigation" into Fort Hood Dick Morris and Eileen McGann falsely claimed in the New York Post that President Obama said "he opposes a congressional investigation into the Fort Hood massacre" and that Obama "is doing his best to stop Congress from finding out why these warnings went unheeded." In fact, in his November 14 weekly address Obama said "there should" be "inquiries by Congress." Read More Echoing a right-wing blog, Doocy repeatedly claimed Obama's bow was unprecedented In reporting on the manner in which President Obama greeted Japanese Emperor Akihito, Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy repeatedly claimed that "dating back to the very founding of this Republic, American leaders do not bow to leaders of other countries." In fact, Obama's greeting was far from unprecedented, as several past Presidents have bowed while greeting foreign leaders. Additionally, in reporting on Obama's bow, Fox & Friends repeatedly cited right-wing blog Hot Air in their reports on Obama's greeting. Read More Quick Fact: On Oprah, Palin repeats falsehood that media didn't criticize "other candidates" over fashion During an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Palin trumpeted the false claim from her memoir, Going Rogue, that criticism over reports that the Republican National Committee spent $150,000 to clothe and accessorize Palin and her family represented a "double standard," because "it wasn't a controversy with other candidates." In fact, Democratic primary candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and John Edwards were repeatedly criticized for their clothing and hair. Read More Fox, MSNBC reports of "local opposition" to housing Guantánamo detainees omit reports of local support Following the announcement by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) that the Obama administration is considering housing Guantánamo detainees in a largely vacant prison in Thomson, Illinois, Fox News' Catherine Herridge reported that that "we're seeing some signs of local opposition" among the residents, and MSNBC's Monica Novotny said there was local "outrage." Both omitted additional reporting that some residents welcome the decision, which could provide employment and economic stimulus to the community; indeed, Herridge ignored an earlier report on Fox News that some residents are "pretty open" to the decision. Read More Quick Fact: Beck smears SEIU's Stern as a communist because he said "workers of the world, unite" Glenn Beck asked, "What are the goals of Andy Stern and SEIU?" then aired a clip of Stern stating on PBS's Bill Moyers Journal, "workers of the world, unite, it's not just a slogan anymore. It's the way we're going to have to do our work." Beck then commented that "workers of the world, unite" is "a really dicey kind of phrase there" because "it's the old communist slogan," adding: "Good thing there hasn't been a recent rash of communist radicals running around the White House, right? I mean, because then I'd really be concerned." Read More Quick Fact: In latest Beck conspiracy, SEIU's Stern tied to alleged beating In his latest conspiracy theory, Glenn Beck tied SEIU's Andy Stern to the alleged beating of SEIU critic Ken Hamidi. Read More Quick Fact: Morris again falsely claimed Obama said he's "against a congressional investigation" into Fort Hood On Hannity, Dick Morris again falsely claimed that President Obama said "he's against a congressional investigation of Fort Hood because he doesn't want to kindle political theater." Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.