CBS, Ronald Reagan, and The Bigger Problem

[kentuck]

Just how serious is it when one of the major media outlets in this nation can be intimidated into not reporting a story or not showing a television movie? It should scare every American into action. What other stories or news reports can they be prevented from telling the American people?

No one knew or imagined that the right-wing had garnered so much power or influence. Other networks must be likewise intimidated - unless they agree with the forced censorship? Which is an even scarier thought. To think they already have control over many of the major media outlets and only use their influence on the networks that have not yet joined their corps?

And what was the argument of those that did not want the "Reagan movie" shown? It might depict him in a manner that might conflict with their portrayal of him already in the minds of younger voters. As if their mythical portrayal is somehow more accurate? For those that do remember Ronald Reagan, there is a lot of truthful material with which to make a movie, of which very little is flattering. Will America accept the myth or the truth? Will the truth be permitted about the Gipper?

[FreeperSlayer]

1. Reagan was the WORST president...

...until the Shrub was selected.

[grannylib]

17. Hear hear....and that is saying a lot...Reagan sucked a$$

[realFedUp]

2. it's beginning to look a lot like.....

fascism everywhere you go....

[leftyandproud]

3. This is not censorship...

this is about PROFIT...CBS obviously felt the "boycott" would hurt the bottom line...They consider every call/complaint to be representative of 20+ people who DIDN'T call...and when the freepers have 500-1000 of their hardcore freaks calling/faxing/emailing them, they assume the general unhappiness with the movie details is much broader. Sad but true...They don't want the freepers turning away from them any more than they already have. It's all about cash in the end.

[Robroy]

4. I don't understand...

There's no such thing as bad publicity. Just look at what happened when Faux News went after Franken - his book went #1. If this is really about ratings then the Reagan movie, due to the controversy, would rule in its time slot. Could someone please explain???

[stopthegop]

5. no different than a group of blacks

objecting to a proposed mini-series showing MLK or Malcolm X in a bad light using questionable stories...would you object to that being pulled?

[kentuck]

8. Since when is Reagan equivalent to the racial divisions in this country

There is historical evidence to object to fanning the flames of racism but I don't think a story about Reagan would fit into the same category. However, that said, I think there should be the freedom to make such a movie.

[stopthegop]

10. thinking more of someone they admire

being 'smeared' in a manner they believe to be inaccurate

[tom_paine]

9. can you name a specific incident wher this happened?

I thought not.

[stopthegop]

11. didn't say it had happened...

but do you think it wouldn't?...just same idea is all...it's a threat of a boycott...pretty standard stuff

[tom_paine]

14. Disagree. This is NOT "just a standard boycott"

It is something different, aided as it is by the Mighty Wurlitzer of the "fehrundbalisnt" (it sounds so much better in the Original German) Party-Loyal Right-Wing Sub-Media.

Did ABC or CBS or any of the other netwroks EVER DIRECTLY AID THE LEFT IN A BOYCOTT OF THIS TYPE with it's corporate money and power and influence and, most importantly, it's MEGAPHONE.

I am not talking about reporting on a boycott, I talking about directly aiding the boycott and taking a stand to help it and transmitting the message through it's Mighty Wurlitzer pipes!

This is far from a "standard boycott". Understand the distinctions. This ain't your Daddy's Old American Republic.

This is the Amerikan Empire. So many things are different, so many transitioning to something even worse down the road...

[stopthegop]

15. your hatred of Bush is distorting your perception

if network A was set to air a movie about MLK that portryed him in adulterous relationships, do you think the other networks (direct competitors of A) would ignore it?...think the reaction would be less vehement...you're kidding yourself I fear

Have a pleasant day

[tom_paine]

25. Perhaps. Time will tell.

I'd be a fool not to give consideration to the fact that you might be right.

Have a pleasant dasy, yourself.

[kentuck]

6. They loved him because he was a "divider, not a uniter"..

just like the present occupant. They loved that he stood up to the unions and busted the air traffic controllers. They loved that he went to Bitburg to honor the Nazi dead. They loved it when he call ketchup a vegetable, when talking about school menus for children. They loved it when he "wagged the dog' and invaded Grenada before the bodies of the Beirut massacre were even cold. They loved it when he would cup his ear and pretend not to hear the questions from Sam Donaldson and others. They loved it when he said that "trees pollute". After all, if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all. If they wanted , they could find enough material to run a weekly comedy series about Reagan...

[grannylib]

19. "Weekly comedy series about Reagan..."

Now there is a stellar idea! Not nearly enough good humor on television these days...

[Wapsie B]

24. I'm afraid

that the studio putting on a comedy show about Ronnie would be fire-bombed shortly after airing its first episode. Just as if anyone else were to start a radio talk show that didn't appeal to konservatives. The death threats would start rolling in. All this would have to be done outside this country to pull it off. Welkome to Amerika.

[Bandit]

7. This post is to be edited for content not suitable to patriotic Americans

We will no longer allow posts of this negative nature. From now on any post must agree Liberals are Traitors and Bush* is God. Carry on.

[tom_paine]

12. No one knew or imagined that the right-wing had garnered so much power ...

I did.

It was easy. Would you expect Nazi Germans to sit still and allow the Jew-Run Liberal Media <sarcasm> to libel their God-Sent Fuhrer?

Same thing. Exact same thing.

And, given the slavish condition of the Imperial Subjects of Amerika, that they would succeed was almost as predictable.

How in hell did America go in 60 short years from the People Who Helped Vanquish Hitler to the Bootlicking Slaves Who Let Hitler Gain Power?

I wish I knew.

[Wapsie B]

13. To get a true documentary of Reagan,

one would have to go outside of this country to do it. It would have to be aired in Europe first.

[Snellius]

16. I wonder if Drudge et al really thought CBS would cave so easily

You almost get the feeling that they wanted the controversy as a wedge issue to demonstrate another example of the "liberal media" bias. It will be interesting to hear Bernie Goldberg on Hardball tonight. As it is, Drudge and Goldberg and the RNC have now become advocates for political intimidation of the press. And what sounds like a fairly mediocre and easily ignorable soap opera is going to end up a must-see underground camp classic: Ronny Dearest!

[kentuck]

18. We should say "successful" advocates for political intimidation...

of the press. They have succeeded.

[NewJeffCT]

20. heck...

Who was the congressman that threatened CBS's license over this? If that isn't intimidation, what is?

[Q]

21. It's not true that we had 'no idea'...

...of the power of the RWing Media. Some of us have known about it since the 80s and have tried to warn Democrats about it.

[kentuck]

23. I knew when I wrote that..

that some would correct it. I should have said "many" had no idea and many still have no idea...

[MI Cherie]

22. If people want all the facts ...

... Bush* should release all the Reagan/Bush presidential papers that he's hiding.

Bring 'em on out!