Video: The Tiffany Network’s tradition of objective journalism

Just in case you might be wondering about the kind of coverage the CBS Evening News will give the health-care bill in the coming weeks of Senate debate, Noel Sheppard of Newsbusters caught this big signal from Katie Couric on CBS’s website. Couric offers this little poem, based very loosely on “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clark Moore, on CBS.com’s Notebook, and gives a cutesy endorsement to Olympia Snowe and any aisle-crossing she might to do save Harry Reid’s bacon:

Twas just weeks before Christmas and what do you know
Senate Democrats are once again praying for Snowe.
They won 60 votes to start the debate
But they’re back to square one and the just have to wait.
Wait for Blue Dogs like Nelson and Lincoln
Who say a public option would mean the economy sinkin’.
Wait for Joe Lieberman who says it won’t pass
And hope Mary Landrieu can change her mind fast.

The Republican votes right now total zero
But a trigger could make one woman a hero.
The moderate who hails from the land way up north
Could save Harry Reid’s Christmas with a deal she brought forth.
Urging government plans for when private ones fail
To think: both sides happy, can both sides prevail?
At this point no compromise looms within sight
That means after Thanksgiving it’s on with the fight.
Enjoy your turkey and know we’ll be here
To help make this tough topic just a little more clear.

Yes, I remember fondly when Edward R. Murrow used to bastardize children’s poems in order to flack for policy on the air at the Tiffany Network. This may have been my favorite Murrow ditty:

Mary had a little lamb, whose fleece was white as snow,

And everywhere Kefauver went, Stevenson’s sure to go.

OK, OK, the meter was a little rusty, but it was Murrow, man!

And to think that people don’t take Couric seriously as a journalist ….

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