From January 1, 2001 (three weeks before President Bush's inauguration) until November 19, 2002, reporters for the CBS Evening News brought up Republicans and their relationship with "special interests" seven times more than they did with Democrats.

Out of 20 stories in which any reporter used the words "special interests" in politics, seven discussed whether the Republicans were giving in or pandering to special interests, while only one story included a reporter doing the same of Democrats. Many stories about "special interests" did not mention a specific party, such as what Dan Rather said on March 20, that a ban on soft money would stop "the unregulated special interest donations to national political parties." But based on his reporting over the last two years, it appears he meant to say it would stop the "unregulated special interest donations to the Republican Party."

Listed below are the seven excerpts that bring up "special interests" and Republicans and the one that brings them up with Democrats. One of the more recent quotes features Rather claiming pro-gun groups were partially responsible for the success of the Washington sniper.

"Also in the Senate tonight, opponents of the Bush tax cut plan have delayed a vote on it, but Senate approval is still a matter of when, not if. Another piece of legislation still on hold is campaign finance reform, and it's still no-holds-barred in the rush to cozy up to big-money special interests, including a huge Republican fund-raiser tonight featuring President Bush. CBS' John Roberts is following the dollars and the rhetoric."
--Dan Rather, May 22, 2001

"All day Republicans were deflecting accusations that money buys access, but a copy of tonight's gala program circulated by Democrats reads like a Who's Who of special interest groups, from big tobacco to energy companies that will benefit from the president's new energy policy."
--John Roberts, May 22, 2001

"The real pressure on the White House is coming from special interest groups who fear an end to soft money would diminish their power and influence in Washington, but because he could do well under the new rules, the president isn't yet willing to spend the political capital to pick up the phone himself and kill the bill."
--John Roberts, February 13, 2002

"Democrats know they can't return the environment to the top-tier status it enjoyed prior to September 11th, but they would love to re-engage the president on issues from clean air to global warming to energy policy. Just look who was out today, assailing Mr. Bush for giving in to the special interests."
--John Roberts, April 22, 2002

"With a serial killer on the loose, you might think the police are using every high-tech tool to catch him. You might think that, but you would be wrong. For instance, while the police are allowed to use computers to trace the owner of a car, they are not allowed to use computers to trace the owner of a gun. One reason, bluntly put, is politics and special interest money, as CBS' Wyatt Andrews reports in tonight's Eye on America."
--Dan Rather, October 17, 2002

"The Senate is about to give final congressional approval to the creation of a new Cabinet department, the Department of Homeland Security. It will mean a huge reorganization of the government, creation of a new bureaucracy and spending more money in hopes of defending America from terrorists. The bill survived one final hurdle today: a failed attempt to remove controversial special-interest benefits for businesses tucked into the bill. The bill in this form seals a big victory for President Bush, who's now off to a NATO summit in Europe."
--Dan Rather, November 19, 2002