Was Bush trying to whine about "liberal media" bias during the debate?

Kerry brought up the fact that two news organizations had called Bush's distortions about the Kerry health plan "untrue" and "fiction." In the beginning of his response, Bush said, "...I'm not so sure it's credible to quote leading news organizations about...," but then suddenly stopped and decided that this wasn't the right road to take.


Transcript:
KERRY: Well, two leading national news networks have both said the president's characterization of my health-care plan is incorrect. One called it fiction. The other called it untrue.
...
BUSH: In all due respect, I'm not so sure it's credible to quote leading news organizations about – oh, never mind. Anyway, let me quote the Lewin report. The Lewin report is a group of folks who are not politically affiliated. They analyzed the senator's plan. It cost $1.2 trillion.
...

Full debate transcript:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/federal/20041013-1958-prezdebatetranscript.html

I wonder if the press will take off the gloves?