If KDKA-TV reporter Jon Delano hoped to appear objective in his Monday story about local reaction to President George W. Bush's proposed budget, he failed miserably. As did everyone else associated with the predictably biased report.
This Viacom-owned station leans as far left locally in Bush coverage as Viacom's CBS television network does nationally. Dan Rather would have loved the Delano hit piece.
If KDKA News Director John Verrilli thinks that was fair and balanced reporting, well, that might play in New York City where he was managing editor of the WCBS-TV news, but it should not play in Greater Pittsburgh.
Delano is a genuinely nice person who also is a genuine liberal. His family tree shares a branch or two with Franklin Delano Roosevelt's. Not that there is anything wrong with that -- that is, if you can keep your politics out of your reports.
As news anchors Jennifer Antkowiak and Ken Rice revved up the spin about angry protestors upset over program cuts they could not afford, videotape was rolling showing the angered with signs including one person in a wheelchair. Virtually identical shots of the tiny crowd, including a sign erroneously equating budget deficits with tax cuts, aired at least three times.
Yet, no mention about who organized the rally and why.
A somber Rice said the budget featured cuts at home and spending increases for defense.
Delano said 150 programs will be eliminated, or close to it. It was unclear if "it" was the antecedent to "150" or "eliminated."
Congressman Mike Doyle, D-Swissvale, was given an incredible amount of time in his two segments-- about 40 seconds -- to scare everyone about Bush's "meat ax" spending cuts that supposedly hurt veterans, police departments, education and prescription drugs.
At least he did not claim it would cause global warming.
The region also is represented by two Republicans in the House and two more in the U.S. Senate. There also are many high-profile Republicans in local government and the business community. But Delano featured "a local Republican leader" -- Monica Douglas.
No, I never heard of her either.
Delano never mentioned her name although Douglas was identified on screen as the Allegheny County Republican political director. Her first segment lasted five seconds, the second, six. If she responded to Doyle, her rebuttal did not air.
Now, about the protest.
It was organized by the usual gang of suspects -- very liberal organizations such as the Thomas Merton Center, Just Harvest, the Western Pennsylvania Welfare Coalition, the Raging Grannies of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and others.
There were about 120 protestors, according to Joni Rabinowitz, co-director of Just Harvest. "People knew what programs would be threatened -- programs of particular concern for their agencies," she said.
You cannot fault Rabinowitz, et al., for voicing their opposition. But by not coming clean about the protestors' agenda, KDKA grossly distorted the truth about local reaction to the budget.
News Director Verrilli declined to respond.
But interestingly, Delano's report, which had been "Reaction to 2006 Budget Plan" on its Web site became "Some Pittsburghers Protest President's Budget Plan, Cuts" shortly after my call.
From CBS to KDKA, Viacom's liberal blind spot clearly is systemic.
