Williams Admits Bias, Discovers Opposition to Illegal Immigration
Media Research Center
NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams conceded on Thursday's newscast that NBC has focused on the interests of those in favor of the immigration bill as he acknowledged "a lot of people" have a different perspective. A week after the immigration bill collapsed in the Senate, NBC got around to the other side -- but that's still sooner than ABC or CBS. With "Immigration Backlash" on screen, Williams explained how "as we have covered the immigration debate here, we have heard from numerous Americans who are trying to run businesses, make money and in some cases bring in ripe crops. They've been begging lawmakers for a workable immigration solution. A lot of people think this country is letting too many people in. Tonight we hear their take on immigration."
In the subsequent report, David Gregory narrated video from North Carolina as he relayed how "a retired schoolteacher complains the reform plan ignores the steady flow of illegal immigrants" Gregory realized that "the anger in North Carolina is being felt around the country and it has created a nearly-unprecedented grassroots movement dedicated to defeating the immigration measure." He characterized the view as part of "an anti-immigration assault" fueled by "opponents of the immigration bill who claim it's nothing more than amnesty for law breakers." But he then cited opposition to all immigration: "The issue cuts across party lines. The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that 50 percent of Republicans, 41 percent of independents, and 40 percent of Democrats think immigration hurts more than it helps."
[This item was posted Thursday night on the MRC's blog, NewsBusters.org: newsbusters.org ]
A year ago, the June 6, 2006 NBC Nightly News ran a piece from Gregory which looked at the immigration debate through the prism of illegals in Queens: "You see a neighborhood among the most diverse in the city on the leading edge of this fight. Some are afraid. Luis Amigo owns this bodaga. Here illegally, he says he won't visit his sister anymore, fearing he'll now get stuck in Mexico." Gregory set up "community activist" Ana Maria Archilla: "Leaving really isn't an option?" And before a minister, who didn't differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants, argued that "we would fail our forefathers if we are not doing what we are supposed to do, to welcome immigrants," Gregory delivered this chastisement of conservatives, "There is also this appeal: Don't let today's politics change the country."
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