Announcing Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani, MSNBC failed to note Robertson's numerous controversial remarks

Announcing Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani, MSNBC failed to note Robertson's numerous controversial remarks Summary: Reporting on the announcement that Pat Robertson would endorse Rudy Giuliani for president, MSNBC's Contessa Brewer stated, "A big coup, of course, for Giuliani, who is fighting to win the votes of social conservatives." NBC political director Chuck Todd described Robertson as "the guy that almost invented the social conservative political movement" and asserted: "Robertson is a foreign policy hawk, and on foreign policy he sees eye to eye with Giuliani." But neither Brewer nor Todd noted that Robertson has repeatedly made controversial and inflammatory comments, including calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and endorsing the late Rev. Jerry Falwell's comments that "the abortionists," "the feminists," and the American Civil Liberties Union "helped this [the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks] happen." During the 9 a.m. hour of the November 7 edition of MSNBC Live, reporting on the announcement that Pat Robertson, former Republican presidential candidate, founder of the Christian Coalition founder, and host of the Christian Broadcast Network's (CBN) 700 Club, would soon endorse former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) for president, MSNBC anchor Contessa Brewer reported: "It now appears that Pat Robertson, the evangelist, is going to come out and endorse Rudy Giuliani to be the Republican nominee for president. This is expected to happen at 9:30 this morning. A big coup, of course, for Giuliani, who is fighting to win the votes of social conservatives." NBC political director Chuck Todd described Robertson as "the guy that sort of almost invented the social conservative political movement" and asserted: "Robertson is very much a foreign policy hawk, and on foreign policy sees eye to eye with Giuliani." Todd later added: "[I]t's interesting. I mean, abortion and gay rights -- they are just not playing in this election. I don't know if you want to say that it's pragmatism when it comes to Republicans, or the fact that Pat Robertson looks around and says, you know what, they're all flawed, OK, but my number one priority is foreign policy. Well, if that's the case, the guy that probably lines up closest on foreign -- on some of the key foreign policy issues regarding the Middle East, both Israel, Iran, and Iraq -- well, then Robertson lines up closest with Giuliani." However, neither Brewer nor Todd noted Robertson's history of controversial remarks. As Media Matters for America has extensively documented, Robertson has repeatedly made controversial and inflammatory comments, including calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and endorsing the late Rev. Jerry Falwell's comments that "the abortionists," "the feminists," and the American Civil Liberties Union "helped this [the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks] happen." From the 9 a.m. hour of the November 7 edition of MSNBC Live:

BREWER: Good Wednesday morning, everyone. I'm Contessa Brewer. We have some breaking political news now. It now appears that Pat Robertson, the evangelist, is going to come out and endorse Rudy Giuliani to be the Republican nominee for president. This is expected to happen at 9:30 this morning. A big coup, of course, for Giuliani, who is fighting to win the votes of social conservatives. And another big endorsement this morning: Sam Brownback, who was a presidential candidate himself, the conservative senator from Kansas, now is going to endorse his former Republican rival, John McCain. Let's get right to Chuck Todd, NBC's political director. Chuck, big endorsements this morning. But how effective are they really? How influential in terms of getting votes?

TODD: Not influential of getting votes, but influential of creating this idea and story line that social conservatives are completely split in this Republican primary. You know, Pat Robertson, this is the guy that sort of almost invented the social conservative political movement. You know, Jerry Falwell started it, but Pat Robertson made it practical and rode it to a second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses back in 1988. He comes out for Rudy Giuliani. You know, a year ago, the idea of that would have seemed crazy. But in the last few months it doesn't seem so crazy. You know, Robertson, very much is a foreign policy hawk and on foreign policy sees eye to eye with Giuliani. Meanwhile, you go over to John McCain. John McCain and Sam Brownback have been very chummy in the Senate for quite some time. Brownback had been flirting with possibly endorsing Giuliani. I mean, the one person he didn't want to endorse was Mitt Romney. And see - and that's what all of these endorsements have in common.

BREWER: Why is that? Why did he have such a problem with Mitt Romney?

TODD: It's interesting, for Brownback, he was uncomfortable that Romney, I think, was a flip flopper on this stuff, or a Johnny-come-lately on social conservatism. Not quite sure if that's where Pat Robertson is going to be, and why he did this. I mean, it will be interesting to see what he says. But that's sort of like I said the common denominator here. This isn't not good for Fred Thompson or Mitt Romney. Both of them have been trying to figure, to be the candidate that could coalesce social conservatives. Instead, they're as split as ever. Pat Robertson, look, as a political leader anymore, his days are - you know, he's sort of waning as far as influence is concerned, but symbolism, it's huge, and that's why I think the Giuliani campaign is --

BREWER: OK, but here's Mitt Romney, who has already won an endorsement from Bob Jones III, he founded this very famous Christian university. You have James Dobson, Focus on the Family, who says none of these guys are who I want representing my views. And now you have Robertson coming out and saying Giuliani is my man. Well what about his stand on abortion?

TODD: Well it's interesting. I mean, abortion and gay rights -- they are just not playing in this election. I don't know if you want to say that it's pragmatism when it comes to Republicans, or the fact that Pat Robertson looks around and says, you know what, they're all flawed, OK, but my number one priority is foreign policy. Well, if that's the case, the guy that probably lines up closest on foreign -- on some of the key foreign policy issues regarding the Middle East, both Israel, Iran, and Iraq -- well, then Robertson lines up closest with Giuliani. I mean, one of the things that a lot of us overlook when it comes to Giuliani is, yes, he is a social moderate or liberal when it comes to gay rights or an abortion, but not -- he's very much in the conservative when it comes to foreign policy as far as his ideology on that or when it comes to taxes. So, you know, on one hand you sit there and you say, wow, the New York City mayor is getting Pat Robertson endorsement? It's sort of cats and dogs living together. This seems nuts. But watching this campaign over the last three or four months, it isn't that nutty and it isn't that surprising. Again, collectively, Brownback for McCain, Robertson for Giuliani, this is not something that's going to make Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson happy. Because it's just more proof that social conservatives aren't going to coalesce. And that's good news right now, for the national front-runner, Rudy Giuliani.

BREWER: So what we'll do is we'll stay on top of this, and once again, that announcement about Robertson's endorsement is expected to come at 9:30. So we'll be looking at that. Chuck, thanks. [...] BREWER: We want to go back to Washington, D.C., now, where we understand the political breaking news that we've been following this morning is under way. Apparently an announcement about who is endorsing Rudy Giuliani. Let's listen in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- International Family Entertainment, who has a very important announcement and statement to make. Thank you.

ROBERTSON: Thank you. Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, I want to give a prepared statement and then I guess we'll take some questions. In less than two months, American voters will begin choosing the nominees of their respective political parties for the office of the presidency of the United States. To me, the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the bloodlust of Islamic terrorists. Our second goal should be the control of massive government waste and crushing federal deficits. Uppermost in the minds of social conservatives is a selection of future Supreme Court justices and lower court judges who will sit on both the federal circuit courts and the district courts. Our world faces deadly peril: Nuclear-armed North Korea and the foreboding of nuclear arms in Iran. Deadly violence from Hamas and Hezbollah against Israel. The possible overthrow of Pakistan's government. And drawn-out wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In all of the crises which confront our nation and the world, we need a leader with a bold vision who is not afraid to tackle the challenges ahead. For months I have contemplated our future and the outstanding group of men who are offering themselves to the Republican Party to be its standard bearer in the 2008 presidential election. Today, it is my pleasure to announce my support for a mayor, America's mayor, Rudy Giuliani, and a proven leader who is not afraid of what lies ahead and who will cast a hopeful vision for all Americans. Rudy Giuliani stood tall as his city was rocked by the worst terrorist act in America's history. Rudy Giuliani took a city that was in decline and considered ungovernable and reduced its violent crime, revitalized its core, dramatically lowered its taxes, cut through a welter of bureaucratic regulations and did so in the spirit of bipartisanship which is so urgently needed in Washington today. He proved time and again that he is a true fiscal conservative. Rudy served as a high official in the Justice Department of Ronald Reagan and later, as a United States attorney, won a claim as a valiant crime fighter. Justice triumphed as he took down mafia dons, drug traffickers, and corrupt politicians. He understands the need for a conservative judiciary and, with the help of the distinguished Ted Olson, who's here today, and other members of his team, has assured the American people that his choices for judicial appointments will be men and women who share the judicial philosophy of [Supreme Court Chief Justice] John Roberts and [Justice] Antonin Scalia. Today, I wish Rudy Giuliani success in the caucuses and primaries which will take place in a few months. And beyond that, it is my hope and prayer that he will lead the Republican Party to victory in November of 2008. Congratulations. GUILIANI: Thank you very much. ROBERTSON: Thank you. GIULIANI: Thank you very, very much, Pat. I am very, very honored by this endorsement. Pat Robertson is very well known leader, person of great, well-deserved reputation, someone who has, as Ted pointed out, run for president of the United States, been all across this country, understands, I think to a very large extent, what America is all about, and has very well articulated what are the overriding issues of our time: dealing with the Islamic terrorist war against us, dealing with that in a way in which we are safe or as safe as we can be, and we conclude it with victory and success as quickly as it reasonably can be done, and the enormous importance of having --

BREWER: All right, Rudy Giuliani there, accepting the endorsement from Pat Robertson today to be the Republican nominee for president. Of course Pat Robertson is a staunch conservative, founded the Christian Coalition, founded the Christian Broadcasting Network. And in a time when the Republican candidates are fighting to win support from the Christian right, obviously, his endorsement means something there to Rudy Giuliani. Bad day for Mitt Romney though, and Fred Thompson with this endorsement. We've also heard today that Sam Brownback has endorsed John McCain for president. So, there you are on the political front