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The three network newscasts followed identical formulas to preview the State of the Union address by President George Bush. All three anchors were sent to Washington. All three networks led with their White House correspondent highlighting Bush's domestic priorities. All three followed with their Sunday morning anchors' skepticism about an enthusiastic Democratic response.

NBC's David Gregory called Bush's domestic energy and healthcare agenda "an attempt to widen the lens" and ABC's Martha Raddatz quoted the spin from White House aides that they are "bold and refreshing ideas." But all three correspondents put them in context. For example, CBS' Jim Axelrod (no link) shrugged: "With his Iraq policy so unpopular, will anybody really be listening to what he wants to do here at home?"

The Sunday morning anchors found it hard to be optimistic for the President. "It is Iraq," stated NBC's Tim Russert flatly. CBS' Bob Schieffer (no link) characterized Bush as "resigned" to the fact that his build-up plan will be opposed in a Congressional resolution. ABC's George Stephanopoulos offered one silver lining: when Bush proposes ethanol as an energy alternative to gasoline, he will get plenty of support from the corn-growing states of the midwest.

Andrew Tyndall 1/24/07 5:50:16 pm

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