20070705 CyberAlert

20070705 CyberAlert

CyberAlert

9:35 am EDT, Thursday July 5, 2007 (Vol. Twelve; No. 114)

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1. Panic Over Possible Pardon, ABC Contrasts Libby to Cocaine Dealer

Broadcast network anchors and reporters on Tuesday night seemed to be in a near panic over the possibility President Bush might yet pardon Lewis "Scooter" Libby, while ABC's Martha Raddatz illustrated special treatment for Libby by highlighting a man sentenced to 20 years for selling cocaine, whose commutation request Bush rejected, and Martha Stewart who served five months for violations similar to Libby's.

With "Libby PARDON?" on screen, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams warned that Bush is "not ruling out the possibility of a full pardon."

Bush remarked on Tuesday that "as to the future, I'm, you know, rule nothing in and nothing out." CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric made that her hook, citing "a lot more fireworks today...sparked by what the President said he may or may not do in the future." Bill Plante began: "A day after he commuted Lewis Libby's prison sentence, President Bush raised the ante by leaving the door open to an eventual pardon." ABC anchor Charles Gibson teased World News: "Angry reaction to President Bush sparing Scooter Libby jail time while the President doesn't rule out granting Libby a full pardon."

2. Olbermann Calls on Bush and Cheney to Resign, Congress to Impeach

On Tuesday's Countdown, MSNBC host Keith Olbermann used his latest "Special Comment" to demand President Bush and Vice President Cheney resign because of the commutation of Scooter Libby's prison sentence, contending that President Bush is only President of a "rabid and irresponsible corner of the Republican Party."

Olbermann further accused Cheney of being "without conscience" and compared the two to a "ventriloquist" and "dummy." After calling on Congress to "pressure, negotiate, impeach," Olbermann concluded: "Display just that iota of patriotism which Richard Nixon showed, on August 9, 1974. Resign. And give us someone, anyone, about whom all of us might yet be able to quote John Wayne, and say, 'I didn't vote for him, but he's my President, and I hope he does a good job.' Good night and good luck."

3. Vieira Plugs NBC's Al Gore-athon for the Earth with Singer Nutini

NBC invited aboard singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini to perform on Tuesday's Today show, but Meredith Vieira didn't let the artist get away without using his spot, in Saturday's Live Earth concert, as an excuse to plug NBC Universal's sweeping coverage of the Al Gore musical marathon which she trumpeted as "a worldwide event to save the planet."

After Nutini gushed about how "Al Gore, himself, has been, for 16 years, been fighting to, to be heard. And for this to be made, in such and an event like this to happen," Vieira enthused: "And hopefully this will affect people and impact on people's desire to, to help save the environment." Vieira helpfully informed viewers: "We want to remind the audience, too, that you can see all the concerts this Saturday, July 7th, on the networks of NBC Universal at 8/7 Central....We're also gonna have live coverage from the U.S. concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, all right here on NBC."

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