http://mediamatters.org/tools/syndication/tag_rss/2008_elections This link is for use by RSS-enabled software to retrieve Media Matters items matching the term: 2008 Elections en-US Copyright 2008, Media Matters for America http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030014 In covering Sen. Barack Obama's comments, "When I go to Iraq and have a chance to talk to some of the commanders on the ground, I'm sure I'll have more information and will continue to refine my policies," the media have reported Republican claims that Obama reversed himself. In fact, Obama has said for months that he would set Iraq war policy in consultation with military commanders. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030014 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 20:47:45 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030013 On <em>The Radio Factor</em>, Robert Novak falsely asserted that Wesley Clark joined a group of "Obama surrogates who have been questioning and attacking [Sen.] John McCain's credentials as a war hero" and suggested that Clark's comments were part of "a really conscious effort to downgrade [McCain] as a war hero." In fact, Clark praised McCain as a "hero" for "his service as a prisoner of war," while, as <em><em>CJR's</em></em> Zachary Roth wrote, "question[ing] the relevance of McCain's combat experience as a qualification to be president of the United States" -- an argument Clark has been making for months. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030013 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 19:27:53 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030011 In a <em>Politico</em> op-ed, <em>The New Republic</em>'s James Kirchick cited Wesley Clark's comments about Sen. John McCain on CBS' <em><em>Face the Nation </em></em>as part of a "pattern of attacks meant to insinuate that McCain's Vietnam experience not only shouldn't count as meaningful 'experience,' but rendered him psychologically unfit for presidential office." In fact, Clark did not "attack[]" McCain's Vietnam experience or suggest that it "rendered him psychologically unfit for presidential office." Kirchick also asserted that "one would be foolish not to at least consider the possibility they [the "attacks"] were coordinated by the Obama campaign." But Clark has been saying for months that McCain's military service alone does not make him qualified to be president, including while he was speaking on behalf of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030011 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 19:08:23 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030010 On CNN's <em>The Situation Room</em>, Carly Fiorina asserted that Sen. John McCain is "extremely well qualified" on the economy and that he "understands how the economy works." John Roberts did not challenge Fiorina's assertion, and he concluded the interview without noting numerous statements by McCain on the economy that were false or disputed by economists -- including McCain's own economic adviser -- or that McCain has repeatedly acknowledged weakness on economic issues. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030010 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 19:07:58 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030009 ABCNews.com's The Note, after linking to reports on Sen. John McCain's recent trip to Colombia, stated: "(And the RNC may want you to remember that it was Obama's name -- not McCain's -- that popped up on a seized FARC laptop.)" ABC offered no explanation for its reference to a report that Obama's name "popped up" in a computer seized from "FARC," the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Several right-wing groups and media outlets have used a letter from a FARC spokesman that reportedly mentioned Obama to falsely allege "contacts" and other connections between FARC and Obama. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030009 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 18:26:53 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030008 On <em>This Week</em>, Hugh Hewitt claimed that a comment he made during the June 25 edition of his show -- that the September 13 Ohio State-USC football game will "probably [be] the last football game we'll ever get to see before the United States gets blown up by the Islamists under Obama" -- was distorted by Arianna Huffington. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030008 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 18:13:00 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030007 In a <em>Wall Street Journal</em> op-ed, Karl Rove stated that an ad for Barack Obama "says he was raised with 'values straight from the Kansas heartland,' though he grew up in Hawaii." But Obama does not suggest in the ad that he was raised in Kansas; rather, he explicitly notes his mother and grandparents "grew up" there. Rove also asserted that Obama claims in the ad "to have passed three bills, but fails to mention that two were in the Illinois state Senate." However, Obama does not suggest that the bills referenced in the ad were passed by the U.S. Senate, and the ad displays the years in which the bills were passed. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030007 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 16:32:07 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030004 ABC's Robin Roberts said to Sen. John McCain, "You have admitted that you're not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy and many have said that they," at which point, McCain said repeatedly, "I have not." Roberts did not challenge McCain's denial, even though McCain has made repeated remarks acknowledging his weakness on economic issues. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030004 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 14:05:45 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030003 CNN's John Roberts asserted that Sen. John McCain "is a very different person, at least his record in terms of being a maverick and independent, than George Bush." But Roberts did not mention that, according to <em><em>Congressional Quarterly</em></em>, McCain was the Bush administration's most reliable supporter in the Senate in 2007, or that McCain said in 2005 that "on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I've been totally in agreement and support of President Bush." http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030003 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 13:44:45 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030001 When Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis said on MSNBC that "to go out there and wax poetically about 'how dare someone question the patriotism of John McCain,' no Democrat has been doing that," political analyst Joe Watkins interrupted, saying, "Wesley Clark did, though," repeating the assertion in a later MSNBC segment. In fact, Clark praised McCain as a "hero to me and to hundreds of thousands of millions of others in the Armed Forces as a prisoner of war." http://mediamatters.org/items/200807030001 Thu, 3 Jul 2008 11:16:15 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020013 Fox News' Molly Henneberg uncritically reported the assertion by Bud Day, a member of the then-named Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, that Wesley Clark "spent a month in Vietnam, got badly wounded, evacuated, and that was his Vietnam experience." In fact, according to documents posted on the website for Clark's 2004 presidential campaign, Clark served at least six months in Vietnam -- first as a 1st Infantry Division staff officer, then as an infantry company commander -- before he was wounded. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020013 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 20:07:42 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020012 In an interview with Gen. Wesley Clark, Andrea Mitchell stated that "there's a whole issue of whether there is an organized campaign against John McCain's military service, which ... Barack Obama can stand above and say, 'I honor his service.' " Clark responded: "Absolutely not." Mitchell then said: "Take a look at the MoveOn.org ad, the MoveOn.org ad with AFSCME, which has been airing quite widely." But, as Clark stated, the ad "doesn't say anything about [McCain's] military career." http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020012 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 19:22:19 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020011 In an online chat,<em> The Washington Post</em>'s Michael D. Shear asserted, "McCain rarely talks about his time as a POW (though others sometimes do on his behalf.)" In fact, McCain has repeatedly highlighted his experience as a POW, even as he and the media have promoted the notion that he is reluctant to do so. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020011 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 18:51:16 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020010 On MSNBC's <em>Hardball</em>, Andrea Mitchell stated, "We know what he said on <em>Face the Nation</em>. He took issue with the qualification of John McCain, saying that being a fighter pilot and getting shot down over Vietnam doesn't qualify you to be commander in chief. He said subsequently that he honored his service." In fact, Clark praised McCain earlier in his <em>Face the Nation</em> interview, saying, "I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war." http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020010 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 18:12:21 EST http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020009 In an online video on <em>The Hill</em>'s website, A.B. Stoddard purported to "read the quote" from retired Gen. Wesley Clark's interview with <em>Face the Nation</em> host Bob Schieffer. In fact, Stoddard did not fully "read the quote," omitting major parts of the exchange, including Clark's praise of Sen. John McCain and Schieffer's comments. http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020009 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 18:05:02 EST