Analysis:

This story is framed purely as a partisan story. Viewers are given opinions from both sides without being informed about the issues surrounding the story. Read the comments from both Republicans and Democrats and ask yourself if anything they said informs you. The reporter states at one point “If a picture is worth a thousand words the message here can’t be missed – George Bush is standing by top aide Karl Rove.” Indeed, the message is hard to miss, yet the story never delves deeper into questions posed by the photo, questions relating to national security and the War on Terrorism and their connection to the Administrations defensive attitude towards Rove. Reporters must provide independent perspectives, particularly if they provide viewers with substantive analysis.

Story:

WXMI 17 News reader – Tonight top Presidential aide Karl Rove is under increasing fire from Democrats. They say he ought to be immediately punished for leaking a CIA operative’s identity, but Republicans are saying slow down and is joining the White House in calling for a ceasefire during the investigation.

Reporter – Two ways to look at this depending on your politics, it’s either small time in-fighting or another Watergate in the making. But folks on both sides of the fight know it is not about to die down. If a picture is worth a thousand words the message here can’t be missed – George Bush is standing by top aide Karl Rove. This as administration critics are ramping up their rhetoric. They want Rove canned, short of that…

Democratic Congressman Schumer – Mr. President I urge you to take a stand, do the right thing, and immediately suspend Karl Roves’ security clearance.

Reporter – Democrats say a Time Magazine reporter’s recently revealed notes prove Rove is behind the leak with the CIA operative’s name. He could be guilty of a felony.

Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean – Who do you value more Mr. President; intelligence operatives defending the United States of America or do you value a political operative from Texas? We are going to find out.

Republican Senator Coleman – Let us let the special council finish his work, let’s put the partisan attacks aside, lets cool down the rhetoric…

Reporter – As Republicans publicly keep up their support for Rove, some are starting to wonder, will this hurt efforts to push their agenda? Then there is the ex-CIA operative’s husband. He claims the White House outted his wife and is now smearing him because he spoke out against the administration’s Iraq policy.

Former US Ambassador Joe Wilson - This is a question of whether the national security of our country was violated.

Reporter – And many here in the nation’s capitol say they are surprised the White House isn’t doing more to publicly back Rove, the man whom some jokingly refer to as Bush’s Brain. The President himself says he’s not going to comment on the matter until investigators rap up their work.

Total Time: 1 minute and 53 seconds