Since the Stormy Daniels story broke, network and cable news have given the scandal near-daily attention, with CNN even devoting over half of its total primetime coverage one evening to the porn star’s lawsuit against President Trump. Her appearance on 60 Minutes, which is set to air on March 25, has been hyped enthusiastically by the media, and it will no doubt receive additional attention for days after it airs.
But Donald Trump is not the first President to have been accused of sexual improprieties. When President Bill Clinton faced allegations of sexual harassment from Paula Jones and even a rape charge from Juanita Broaddrick, these same outlets looked for reasons not to cover those charges.
Instead, Clinton’s alleged victims were excoriated in the media for embroiling a Democratic President in scandal. Some questioned the accusers’ motives (ABC’s Charles Gibson: “Is she not trying to capitalize on this?”); others attacked them (Newsweek’s Evan Thomas: “Some sleazy woman with big hair coming out of the trailer parks”); and still others dismissed the stories entirely (Gannett’s Deborah Mathis: “I don’t understand why this is even a case to begin with”).
NewsBusters analysts dug through the MRC’s archives for some of the most egregious examples of the media’s hostility towards these women. To say the least, there was quite a contrast between how each President’s accusers were treated. But don’t take our word for it – the media’s own testimony is proof enough:
“The case is being fomented by right-wing nuts, and yes, she [Paula Jones] is not a very credible witness, and it’s really not a law case at all…some sleazy woman with big hair coming out of the trailer parks…I think she’s a dubious witness, I really do.”
— Newsweek Washington Bureau Chief Evan Thomas on Inside Washington, May 7, 1994.“We’ve got an awful lot to talk about this week, including the [Paula Jones] sexual harassment suit against the President. Of course, in that one, it’s a little tough to figure out who’s really being harassed.”
— Today co-host Bryant Gumbel, May 10, 1994.“Why does anyone care what this woman [Paula Jones] has to say? …Bottom line, Sam. Is she not trying to capitalize on this, in effect to profit from impugning the President?”
— Questions from Good Morning America co-host Charles Gibson to Sam Donaldson about his Paula Jones interview, June 16, 1994. Note: Jones eventually was awarded $850,000 in damages from Bill Clinton.
Here is yet another former sex partner of a President that wonders why there is no media coverage of that affair/
So who still realy reads like rags like Newsreek or Slime who still watch’s The Today Show or GMA 60 Minnie Nuts, or the rest of them Some Parkland youth has already slamed TIME magazine for its one sided reporting but lying is what its all about Time has lied about Climate Change before
ha brian, how many of your co-workers did you have sex with??