Networks Give 15 Times More Coverage to Correspondents' Dinner Than Benghazi

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On Monday, the three network morning shows provided 12 minutes 24 seconds to Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner but only CBS This Morning reported House Speaker John Boehner on Friday announcing a new investigation into Benghazi – a news brief that totaled a mere 47 seconds. [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]

This Morning co-host Charlie Rose noted: "Both parties on Capitol Hill are sniping over new a investigation of the deadly Benghazi attack." After a soundbite of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham discussing the scandal on Sunday's Face the Nation, Rose added: "House Speaker John Boehner is calling for a new investigation based on a White House memo released last week. Republicans say the document proves the Obama administration tried to spin the attacks for political gain." NBC's Today and ABC's Good Morning America completely ignored the story on Monday.

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The three morning shows devoted far more time to President Obama's stand-up comedy at the annual Correspondents' Dinner.

CBS White House correspondent Bill Plante proclaimed: "It's a springtime ritual, where, for one night, the commander-in-chief becomes comedian-in-chief." After Plante's report, Rose gushed about Obama's performance: "I'm always reminded of how great his timing is." Fellow co-host Gayle King chimed in: "Yes, he's good. He's good. It's very well timed and the jokes are funny."

On Today, national correspondent Peter Alexander declared: "The man behind ObamaCare sprinkling in some self-deprecating humor with plenty of political jabs."

Good Morning America was more focused on the fashion at the D.C. event, with co-host Lara Spencer asking Elle Magazine's Joe Zee: "What's the difference between a Hollywood red carpet and a Washington red carpet?" Zee replied: "Well, when you talk about Washington, it isn't Hollywood, so you still want that Hollywood glamour but it's about restraint and refinement. I mean, there's not going to be a lot of plunging necklines..."

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