Think Progress

Journalist asks FBI director hard-hitting question: ‘So I can’t ask you to be my Facebook friend?’»

Today, FBI director Robert Mueller spoke at the National Press Club. The journalist hosting the event asked Meuller if he had ever posted anything on the Internet. When Meuller said that he had not, the journalist replied, “So I can’t ask you to be my Facebook friend?:

Q: Have you ever posted anything on the Internet?

MUELLER: That is a very good follow-up question to which the answer is no. […]

Q: So I guess I can’t invite you to be my Facebook friend?

[LAUGHTER]

MUELLER: No. I will go look you up on facebook now.

Q: You’ll love the picture!

Watch it:

When face-to-face with Washington’s leaders, the media sure knows how to ask the most important questions.

O’Reilly compares Markos Moulitsas to David Duke.»

On Fox News’s The O’Reilly Factor last night, Bill O’Reilly attacked Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas by calling him “one of the most despicable Americans in the country.” Noting that Moulitsas writes a column for Newsweek, O’Reilly compared him to white supremacist David Duke:

And Newsweek magazine, by the way, has legitimized [Moulitsas] by giving him a columnist position. I talked to the editor by email, and I said I can’t believe that you’re — that’s like hiring David Duke. Again, I use Duke too much, but I have to — the level of hatred coming out of that website is unprecedented. Isn’t it?

Watch it:

Last year, O’Reilly attacked the YearlyKos convention — which was named after, but not sponsored by Moulitsas — by saying it was like “a David Duke convention.”

McCain campaign threatened to cut off Newsweek’s access.»

Earlier this week, after Newsweek published a cover story examining the hardball tactics conservatives might use in the general election, Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) “true partner” and longest-serving aide, Mark Salter, fired off a stinging retort that accused the magazine of being “biased.” Today, a Wall Street Journal profile of Salter reveals that he also “threatened to throw the magazine’s reporters off the campaign bus and airplane“:

He threatened to throw the magazine’s reporters off the campaign bus and airplane, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Salter says he expressed the campaign’s displeasure and is talking to the publication about future access.

Salter’s move to cut off Newsweek’s access is reminiscent of how in 2004, “a New York Times reporter assigned to cover Vice President Cheney was routinely excluded from the press plane.”

Pentagon said O’Reilly, Malkin had ‘thoughtful’ views on Guantanamo.»

Last month, the Pentagon released a document collection on its military analyst propaganda program. In a July 2006 e-mail between Public Affairs official Jeffrey Gordon and other Pentagon officials, Gordon attached several articles on detention policy by right-wing talkers, including Bill O’Reilly and Michelle Malkin, that he said were “thoughtful.” In a later e-mail, Gordon said officials could use the articles “with military analysts as appropriate” (p. 5808). His initial e-mail lauded the right-wing voices (p. 5808):

From: Gordon, Jeffrey D LCDR OSD PA
To: Ruff, Eric, SES, OSD; Bryan Mr OSD PA; Keck, Gary L Col OSD PA; [Redacted] AFIS-HQ/PIA
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 6:38 PM
Subject: RE: articles on detainees

Gentlemen,

As requested, attached document contains four thoughtful articles/columns about Guantanamo, from Charles Krauthammer, Bill O’Reilly and Michelle Malkin. I have a call out to OGC and DoJ to provide some inputs as well. I Envision that I will have more material tomorrow a.m.

What were the “thoughtful” remarks of Malkin and O’Reilly on detention policy? In the Malkin column, she said that a “far greater threat” than Guantanamo to America is the “unseriousness and hypocrisy of the terrorist-abetting left.” O’Reilly said there were only “minor cases of abuse” there. In fact, when news broke of suicides at the prison, Malkin’s reaction was “boo-freaking hoo.”

Moore making ‘Fahrenheit 9/11′ sequel.»

Variety reports that Michael Moore is making a sequel to “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which was a “scathing indictment of George W. Bush’s war on terrorism and a hit at the worldwide box office.” The new film will reportedly pick up where “Fahrenheit” left off: “In the time since, President Bush’s popularity has plummeted, while the Iraq war continues and the economy falters.”

The inside scoop on Sunday show guests.»

TVWeek recently interviewed producers, bookers, and moderators of the Sunday morning news talk shows and found out what they really think of their political guests. Some highlights:

THE HARDEST TO GET

Leading vote-getter: Vice President Dick Cheney. “He doesn’t give a s***. He’s checked out,” said one respondent. “I don’t know what he does all day,” said another.

DOESN’T MAKE THE NEWS THEY PROBABLY SHOULD

Leading vote-getter: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “never says anything.” “Everybody got really tired of the spin.”

A veteran newsmaker also commented that Rice is lying so low, “She’s under the rug in the living room.” Among the presidential candidates, Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) are considered the “biggest gets,” and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is reportedly “great in a green room.” (HT: Jossip)

Washington Post’s Balz: Media will scrutinize McCain ‘once the general election really begins.’»

During a Washington Post online discussion today, a questioner wondered why Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is running close to Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in polling despite “discontent” with the direction of the country and President Bush “at an all time high.” Post reporter Dan Balz cited McCain’s “maverick identity,” and — echoing one of his colleague’s sentiments — added that press scrutiny of McCain will come in time:

It’s been said repeatedly that McCain may be the only Republican who could win the White House, given the public’s disaffection with the president and the GOP. Both he and the Democratic nominee will get renewed scrutiny once the general election really begins.

NBC’s Tim Russert has also acknowledged that McCain has avoided press scrutiny because of a “grace period” the media have given him. As Atrios patiently noted, we’re “still waiting.”

Media quoted ‘military analysts’ over 4,500 times since 2002.»

According to Media Matters, the so-called “military analysts” exposed in the recent New York Times article disclosing the Pentagon’s propaganda program were quoted in the media “more than 4,500 times” since Jan. 1, 2002:

A Media Matters review found that since January 1, 2002, the analysts named in Barstow’s article — many identified as having ties to the defense industry — collectively appeared or were quoted as experts more than 4,500 times on ABC, ABC News Now, CBS, CBS Radio Network, NBC, CNN, CNN Headline News, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC, and NPR in segments covering the Iraq war both before and after the invasion, as well as numerous other national security or government policy issues.

View Media Matters’s full spreadsheet of analysts’ appearances here.