Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor
Will a Democratic Win Bring Us Political-Profiling?

NOVEMBER 1, 2006 --

The flap over the Michael J. Fox political ads attacking Republican candidates for U.S. Senate on the embryonic stem cell issue has, for LPR, the side effect of underscoring the anti-GOP slant at the Sunday TV talk programs moderated by Tim Russert at NBC and George Stephanopoulos at ABC.

As these gentlemen were Democratic aides in Washington, we should not be surprised by the slant.

LPR has heard Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin, among other conservatives say that embryonic stem cells are not helpful to patients, but adult cells could be and
neonatal cells even more. LPR did not hear Mr. Russert or Mr. Stephanopoulos raise these questions on their October 29 programs.

LPR did hear Mr. Russert challenge Maryland's Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele, the GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate, if he would support President Bush should he become Maryland's junior senator.

Let's see: Mr. Steele is a Republican; President Bush is a Republican -- Mr. Steele is not supposed to support a
Republican president in the U.S. Senate. Mr. Russert began this phase of his interrogation of Lt. Gov. Steele by inquiring if he would join the Republican
caucus.

 LPR did not listen to all of the discussion on Meet the Press between Russert, Steele and Maryland's Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, who, likely, was not asked if, elected senator from Maryland, he would join the Democratic caucus.

But, of course, for Mr. Russert, there is no taint to being a Democrat.

LPR is concerned, however, that, borrowing the title of James Morton Smith's book on the Alien and Sedition
acts, election of a Democratic majority in Congress will lead to freedom's fetters for those of us who do not give Bill Clinton $60,000 to $500,000 for a week-end celebration.

Just a bit more on Sunday TV talk shows. Chris Wallace sounded more like Chris Matthews in hectoring GOP Senator Elizabeth Dole -- perhaps as penance for
appearing, at least in the eyes of Mr. Clinton, a Republican operative.

Interesting how former President Clinton seems to be the leader of the Democrats -- and not Al Gore or John Kerry. Could it at all be possible that the Clintons were not much distressed that Gore lost the
presidential race in 2000, as did Senator Kerry in 2004?