An ultimatum and a challenge to CBS and the national media...

[kentuck]

The right-wing idealogues have issued an ultimatum and a threat to CBS and the media in general. Either you go along with our program or we will destroy you. This is a challenge to the longstanding institution of free speech and a free press. CBS and the others can accept the challenge or they can run and hide with their tails between their legs. The right-wing has drawn a line in the sand.

The media can continue to cover up for this Administration or they can expose the lies that are told every day to the American public. If they are truly as patriotic as they think themselves to be, they will accept the challenge and start exposing this Administration or they can continue to be a simple mouthpiece for the propagandists in the White House.

They can tell the people that indeed, Mr Bush did present the Iraq threat as "imminent" - even if he didn't say the word. When he talked about nuclear weapons and mushroom clouds, it was meant to be interpreted as "imminent". They can tell the people that Mr Bush was offered a deal to negotiate a settlement to the Iraqi issue, but Mr Bush refused because he was intent on his war. Now that most of his assertions have been proven false, one must ask if the lives of the young troops were in vain and were the result of lies and deceit from this Administration.

They can remind the people that the decisions of Mr Bush has turned many of our allies and friends around the world against us. The "coalition" of nations that they speak of in Iraq is nothing more than an exaggeration. Most of the money and the troops are supplied by America. The other nations of the "coalition" are really just a drop in the bucket.

They could tell the people that there is no proof that the world is a "safer" place now that Saddam is gone, as the Administration is fond of repeating. To the contrary, there may be more terrorists now than before and the world may be much more dangerous. America looks like nothing more than imperialistic hegemonists.

The media is at a crossroads. They can accept the challenge of the right-wingers or they can slink away, like CBS, and permit the bullies and those with fascistic tendencies to call the shots about the direction this nation will go. They must understand the responsibility that they have in our democracy. Our nation cannot survive on the will of a few people or an opposing Party without the truthful intervention of a free and open press. There is the line in the sand.

[rwork]

1. Great post kentuck.

It looks like the RNC will be doing all of CBS's programming now. Need to send to CBS.

[kentuck]

2. Thanks rwork...

We have to see a change in the media or this nation is lost. We cannot save it by ourselves and neither can the Democratic Party.

[AP]

3. I disagree with something here: the media is about 40 miles past

that crossroads.

I can't help but feel this is beating a dead horse.

If you don't like the media, spend your time discrediting it to everyone who will listen to you and, by all means, avoid it. Stop consuming it. Tell others to stop consuming it. Consume honest media only, and consume lots of it so that it becomes empowered.

Cancel your cable too.

[kentuck]

5. And you may as well put a gun to your head...

Because whatever we are doing or saying here on DU is not powerful enough to save this nation from this threat. Neither is the Democratic Party. We have to have a media that tells the truth and not be intimidated or we are lost. It is that important.

[tom_paine]

4. From what I have seen they will slink away

Every day more and more, Imperial Amerika is a nation of bootlicking slaves.

Sure, if their Bushevik Masters order them, they'll go all Soviet and spy on their neighbors, or perhaps Nazi and beat the crap out of the weak.

But, as we saw during DubyaDubyaTwo (from the Germans), such "brave" characteristics are also the characetristics of slavish, cowardly people.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Is there any possibility of a lawsuit charging --

now that political campaigning and fund-raising have begun, that biased political coverage by news organizations amounts to unreported, illegal, in-kind contributions (in the form of free public relations and advertising), by the organizations' corporate owners, to the Republican/Bush campaign? I'm obviously no lawyer, but this idea came to me after the Rock the Vote debate, as I thought about Paula Zahn, Judy Woodruff, Candy Crowley, Tim Russert, Frank Luntz, etc. Could it, at least, get the networks attention, and maybe some response, as the lawsuit against fast-food chains' unhealthy food provoked a response?

[kentuck]

7. Interesting idea...

I would sign on to a class action suit... If we could get a judge that would be open to hearing it... Perhaps it would get their attention, if nothing else.