So Katie Couric's "Today" show replacement, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and "The View" host Meredith Vieira, sees no conflict between covering the news and marching in an anti-war rally, as she did in 2004. NewsBusters has the story and video of Vieira showing off a photo of herself and her family marching in an anti-Bush protest. Looks like when it comes to liberal media bias, NBC is sticking with what they know.
On the Monday, August 30, 2004 edition of The View, the former CBS 60 Minutes reporter told viewers that she attended the anti-Bush protest held in New York City on the Sunday before the Republican convention opened, insisting: "I didn't go anti-Bush or pro-Kerry. I'm still so upset about this war and I'm so proud I live in a country where you can protest." She showed a photo of herself marching with her pre-teen daughter and her husband, Richard, who was the senior political producer at CBS News for most of the 1980s. Behind her in the photo: A protest sign featuring a “W,” for George W. Bush, with a slash through it.
Earlier in 2004, she declared of the Iraq war: "Everything's been built on lies. Everything! I mean the entire pre-text for war." And, with war impending in March of 2003, Vieira argued that anti-war protests "should be consistent and repeated every day, I believe." On other episodes of The View Vieira has also made clear her opposition to the death penalty and when guest Ann Coulter charged that “liberals hate America,” Vieira called that “stupid" and became defensive: “But some people wrap themselves in the flag -- I mean, that's what some liberals are against.” Then she charged: "Just like McCarthy: 'I'm just being patriotic.'"
CNN's Fredricka Whitfield is currently waxing rhapsodic about "Katie's" new job and Vieira's ascension--but no mention of how Vieira's made herself part of the Iraq war story. (Um, maybe she's "Katie" to you, Ms. Whitfield, but I don't know her.) Somehow, I doubt this will change.
