Contact MSNBC and demand to know why Harold Ford was ordered to be quiet on Morning Joe!

[Empowerer]

A few minutes ago on Morning Joe, Scarborough railed about the "unfairness" and "double standard" being applied to John McCain by those who are criticizing him for his campaign's race-baiting. Usually, Joe's rants about race are done among only white people since he doesn't think it's necessary to allow black guests to participate in such discussions.

But this morning, they brought Harold Ford on for the segment. I'm not sure why since Joe did most of the talking, ranting and railing and talking over Mika and Harold. Harold's frustration at not being able to get a word in edgewise was obvious.

But at one point when Joe took a breath and Mika looked at Harold, urging him to respond. Harold said, "I'm being told to be quiet." Mika said, "Oh, you're being told to be quiet. Ok . . ." and then she sputtered something

So, who told Harold to "Be quiet?" It wasn't Joe who was in a different studio. It wasn't Mika who was on camera and clearly did not say that. So it must have been a producer.

And why would he be told to "be quiet?" It couldn't have been because they were worried that too many people were talking at one time because no one was talking at that moment.

Call Morning Joe and DEMAND to know WHY Harold Ford was told to "be quiet" during a discussion about race in the campaign.

Joe Scarborough
[e-mail]

MSNBC
Mr. Phil Griffin,
Senior Vice President, News
NBC Television Network
30 Rockefeller Plz
New York, NY 10112
[e-mail]

Steve Capus,
President, NBC News
[e-mail]

MSNBC
[e-mail]
MSNBC/Microsoft-NBC
30 Rockefeller Plz
3rd Fl
New York, NY 10112
[phone]

[Coexist]

1. being told to be quiet? wtf??

[rateyes]

2. This program should now be removed from the air. nt

[billyoc]

3. Oh, I thought I was hearing things. He DID say "I'm being told to be quiet", didn't he?

:wtf:

[Empowerer]

6. Yes - that's exactly what he said

It was a stunning admission.

I'd also like to know why Harold Ford would quietly acquiesce to being muzzled on national television.

[Oceansaway]

4. stop watching the asshole...n/t

[scubadude]

5. Perhaps it was someone in the Obama camp....

I believe they may be guiding the message. Not sure, but possible.

Scuba

[Empowerer]

12. Who from the Obama camp was in the Morning Joe studio this morning instructing Ford to be quiet?

Much more likely it was a producer in his earpiece.

But rather than speculating, I'm going to insist on an explanation from MSNBC.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Don't cha know? Even if he's not present, everyone SUBMITS at Joe's Racist Clubhouse.

Look at the people who surround Joe Scarborough? It's pathetic how they give this clearly racist right wing hate monger AN ENTIRE SHOW. :puke:

I respect Pat Buchanan a modicum more because at least WYSIWYG while Scarborough *pretends* that he's "fair and balanced."

While his club house sycophants and occasional "black folk" individual guest sit STONE COLD SILENT, Joe filibusters on with the most vile right wing propaganda.

MSNBC thinks they can MOLD opinion but they're just pathetic with "Morning Joe." :thumbsdown:

[endthewar]

8. Because Ford's point was villifying McCain

Scarborough had to shut it down before McCain's negatives went even higher. :rofl:

[Bonn1997]

9. It really angers me that Joe Scarborough gets 15 hr/week

that's more than Keith and Rachel combined.

[MannyGoldstein]

10. Could Be The Obama Campaign Asked Him

Obama wants to stay on the high road. It's working, too!

[Empowerer]

14. You can't possibly be serious.

[Catch22Dem]

11. Don't automatically assume it's MSNBC telling him to be quiet

The Obama campaign might not want him talking about it. I know I don't want him talking about it. It's not a productive conversation.

[ShortnFiery]

13. No, I'm sure that "the suits" who call the shots at MSNBC are completely innocent.

:eyes:

[OneGrassRoot]

15. Understood. Many here at DU don't want anyone representing the Obama...

campaign involved in this discussion.

If that was the case with Ford, he shouldn't have been on this morning. The John Lewis thing was inevitable.

There should have been a better comment other than "I've been told to be quiet."

That's my first reaction, at least. ;)

[ShortnFiery]

17. I get the impression that Harold Ford is NOT a part of Obama's inner circle. eom

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

24. IMHO Ford is a Repuke in Dem clothing.

[schmiss]

34. Yes but

if anyone knows what it's like to be race baited it's him.

[goclark]

67. He may have forgotten that they raced baited him

Harold has been disappointing of late.

Don't think he is in the inner Obama circle and that makes him ticked, IMO.

Maybe he was getting the "NO" signal from JOE and the thugs that run his show.

Mika is a tool.

[ShortnFiery]

35. Well, many of us are hesistant to claim DLC democrats, but at least they are not

"barking at the moon" bat shit insane. We just need to tap down that corporations-first mindset a little in order to serve the Wage Earning Americans also.

[Fluffdaddy]

72. Thank you..................I think

:evilgrin:

[Empowerer]

20. It was clear from the context of this that he had JUST been told to be quiet

Not that he shouldn't talk about the issue at all - he HAD been talking about it but got to a point where he couldn't get a word in over Scarborough's carrying on. When Joe finally took a breath, Mika turned to Harold and Harold said, "I've been told to be quiet."

Clearly this was not a situation where someone from the Obama campaign advised Ford not to talk about this issue. He was on the show talking about it but then someone told him not to say any more. There were no Obama people sitting at that table with them. Whatever had been told to him was probably being told to him through his earpiece.

Whatever it was, this was not a case of someone telling him earlier not to discuss this issue.

[OneGrassRoot]

29. Gotcha. Thanks so much for the clarification! :) n/t

[lamp_shade]

16. DONE. I emailed all four.

[blueknight]

19. its great advice!

harold usually does us NO GOOD at all when he does speak. we need to keep him out of the MSM. he is a poor represenative for the dems, imho.

[AllentownJake]

18. It might be the Party telling him to be quiet

So this isn't turned into a race war election.

[ShortnFiery]

21. Um ... and who praytell is "The Party" ... have we named a monarch yet?

:(

[AllentownJake]

31. Actually we have

He was nominated in Denver and he tries to discourage talks on race.

[ShortnFiery]

32. Hello? Call me quaint, but I don't think Obama was speaking into Ford's earpiece.

Further, Obama is "a leader" vice "a monarch" and would be the first to set that CLEAR distinction.

[AllentownJake]

33. I didn't see this

However, the going nuts on here over Morning Joe is almost as amusing as the going nuts over Olbermann by some people during the primaries.

[ShortnFiery]

36. Then, with respect, it's time to Wake the Fuck Up. If you wish to nix this hype on

the right wing racist side, you have to PUSH BACK and do it hard.

No Slack. "Morning Joe" is a venue to spew right wing racist hatred. It may be a courtly southern type gentlemen spewing the bile, but racism it is. Make no mistake that this shit will stir up "simple minded" right wingers to violence.

Nix it now! :thumbsup:

[AllentownJake]

37. Liberals watch morning Joe

To get angry in the morning than they watch Maddow and Olbermann at night to calm down and feel good.

The ones who are talking to the nuts who would create violence and hatred are on Fox and Friends. Steeve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade are the asshats you should be charting in the morning if you are looking to fight back. The nuts wouldn't touch NBC or MSNBC with a 30 foot poll because their leaders have told them MSNBC is a bunch of evil liberals.

[ShortnFiery]

38. Yes, you have all the answers. Perhaps you think yourself "Monarch"?

:eyes:

[AllentownJake]

40. Right because I disagree wtih you and think that

calling MSNBC over a show that reaches 250,000-400,000 people depending on the morning mostly liberals who just watch it to get pissed off right now vs. the show that is the fundy talking points show for the day on Fox and is actually watched by the crazy people you fear I'm a monarch.

When someone throws logic in your face it doesn't mean that they are dictating to you. They are just asking you to think.

[ShortnFiery]

44. No, you labeled me "liberal" and extrapolated inappropriately. Off issue attack = MOST illogical.

Game over man! You LOSE. :evilgrin:

[AllentownJake]

46. Sorry I'm a liberal and proud of that word sorry if your not

President John F. Kennedy on being a liberal...
"I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, in human liberty as the source of national action, in the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas. It is, I believe, the faith in our fellow citizens as individuals and as people that lies at the heart of the liberal faith. For liberalism is not so much a party creed or set of fixed platform promises as it is an attitude of mind and heart, a faith in man's ability through the experiences of his reason and judgment to increase for himself and his fellow men the amount of justice and freedom and brotherhood which all human life deserves

I believe also in the United States of America, in the promise that it contains and has contained throughout our history of producing a society so abundant and creative and so free and responsible that it cannot only fulfill the aspirations of its citizens, but serve equally well as a beacon for all mankind. I do not believe in a superstate. I see no magic in tax dollars which are sent to Washington and then returned. I abhor the waste and incompetence of large-scale federal bureaucracies in this administration as well as in others. I do not favor state compulsion when voluntary individual effort can do the job and do it well. But I believe in a government which acts, which exercises its full powers and full responsibilities. Government is an art and a precious obligation; and when it has a job to do, I believe it should do it. And this requires not only great ends but that we propose concrete means of achieving them.

Our responsibility is not discharged by announcement of virtuous ends. Our responsibility is to achieve these objectives with social invention, with political skill, and executive vigor. I believe for these reasons that liberalism is our best and only hope in the world today. For the liberal society is a free society, and it is at the same time and for that reason a strong society. Its strength is drawn from the will of free people committed to great ends and peacefully striving to meet them. Only liberalism, in short, can repair our national power, restore our national purpose, and liberate our national energies.

What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label "Liberal?" If by "Liberal" they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer's dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of "Liberal." But if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy

GAME OVER YOU LOSE :evilgrin:

What have you done for your ideals other than call a TV show that is watched by 300,000 people to complain.

[ShortnFiery]

49. blah blah blah, If you are, then you'd be equally incensed by your own words.

Hey, if you little "blue dog" self wants to TAKE OVER the game with inconsequential information, have at it, Sport. :eyes:

[AllentownJake]

55. Your an idiot who doesn't know who your talking to

I put over 50 hours in the Obama campaign right now in addition to my job which I'm off sick for and have used all my vacation time for the last week of the election. I actually spend my time doing something constructive other than calling cable news channels complaining.

I've been with Obama since Febraury volunteering and the term Blue Dog lol. If I'm a blue dog so was Paul Wellstone.

I think its funny when people on here get all angry over Joe because the truth is for the most part the people watching Joe are us not the Fundies. Most Fundies wouldn't touch Joe or MSNBC if it was the only channel on TV. If you don't like Joe stop watching and he'll go away.

[ShortnFiery]

56. Oh nice. Why should you give a damn that people wish to complain? Aren't you LIBERAL?

If so, calling a fellow DUer, a person who canvasses and phone banks for Obama also, "an idiot" isn't exactly what most THINKING people would term "liberal." Hum? ;)

BTW ... you can say you won, I honestly don't have my ego invested in our personal little dust-up here. :hi:

[AllentownJake]

58. I don't know you personally

However, when you called me a Blue Dog....I wanted to throw something through the computer screen, that was a bigger insult than idiot. :hi:

[ShortnFiery]

60. Then please accept my sincere apology for calling you "blue dog" - fellow "liberal."

You're "ok" even if you don't wish to figuratively storm the M$M. :-) :hi:

[AllentownJake]

63. I do

first things first and with a plan like the GOP did in the past 8 years. They aren't changing for the next 3 weeks.

[Empowerer]

22. This was NOT the party or the Obama campaign!

He was sitting in the studio, obviously having been brought on the show to talk about just this issue. He was talking about it. He was going back and forth with Scarborough - as much as you can do with Scarborough given his filibustering. And then, all of a sudden, when asked to respond to something that Scarborough said, Ford responded, "I've been told to be quiet."

That is NOT a case of the campaign or party having told him to shut up about it. If they did, he didn't listen to them since he went on the show and discussed the issue anyway. And if they did, why did he suddenly STOP talking at that moment?

I'm sorry, but I think there's only one explanation for this, no matter how much people try twist themselves into knots trying to find a more innocuous rationale.

[wndycty]

23. Exactly

:kick:

[ShortnFiery]

26. Exactly, the M$M was able to help the GOP with that reverse racism garbage when times were GOOD

but no more. The free pass of PSYOPS of the incongruent perspectives is NOT SELLING today.

The M$M is playing with fire as it can't be considered "racism" when the person being criticized is speaking from a position of power vice poverty.

It's about time we call the vile right wing and M$M on their BULLSHIT propaganda. :grr:

As James Carville would quip, "That dog won't hunt!"

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

27. I've heard Ford often, and he is no friend to the Democratic Party. Having a "D" by your

name, doesn't always make it so.

[ShortnFiery]

30. He's a buddy of the DLC/New Democrats - which in the 1970s we knew as Moderate Republicans.

What a strange world we live in today. :shrug:

Not to say that Harold Ford is not a rationale human being. He's just too right of center ... but still he's "blue dog" and I must claim him as part of our present democratic party. :-)

[Tatiana]

66. This is one the dumbest things you've written on DU.

Obviously someone from the party did not have direct access to Ford through his earpiece.

And thinking DINO Harold Ford Jr. would ignite a race war is insane.

[AllentownJake]

73. Thanks!

I didn't see the piece so I assumed Harold just said he wasn't supposed to talk about it. I did not know that Harold was talking than shut up. The Obama campaign criticised James King's words the other day. Do you know why? They don't want to talk about this issue. They aren't dumb asses despite all the arm chair strategist on here always having a better idea. I'm sure there is a reason why.

The GOP is trying to ignite a white vs. black mentality right now. Obama doesn't want to be drawn into that bullshit. Race War was a bad choice of words which is what I'll agree with you on.

Thirdly everyone on here hates Morning Joe so much however, every morning there are about 50 threads OMG Joe did this and OMG Joe did that. The only people who watch that show are democrats looking to get angry. The Freeper nutbags believe NBC is a subsidiary of the democratic party and have boycotted MSNBC years ago. You know why Morning Joe is on the air. Because we watch it. If we stopped watching his lunatical ramblings and getting upset about them he'd be in Tucker Carlson land. He hooked us in with the repentent republican nonsense a year ago over Iraq and Katrina and we bit the hook and haven't let go of it. Do you know why I didn't see the piece. Because I stopped watching Morning Joe because I have let go of the hook.

[Tatiana]

74. All right.

:toast:

[brianna69]

25. Morning Joe sucks

[mod mom]

28. done. I wish Harold Ford would walk off the set

[iamahaingttta]

39. Why do you people watch this crap?

It causes brain damage and you really should have more respect for your brain!

[ShortnFiery]

42. Yes, but many AMERICANS tune into this PsyOps Propaganda. It must be countered.

until the ruling class (money-power brokers) can be divested of an M$M Stranglehold.

If you don't think that the M$M isn't trying to MOLD/SHAPE OPINION, think again.

I take nothing for granted. They need to be called on their "reverse racism" bullshit lest it infect the dim-witted authoritarian leaning watchers. And not all those who are racist watch solely "Fox and Friends."

[vi5]

41. Jesus Christ people....

IT'S A SHOW HOSTED BY A FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN!!!!!!! WHY DO YOU PEOPLE NOT ONLY EXPECT FAIRNESS OR GOOD JOURNALISM FROM SUCH A SHOW, BUT THEN ALSO FEEL COMPELLED TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY COMPLAINING ABOUT IT?!?!

Since you obviously have cable, that must mean you have plenty of channels. So if you choose to watch the show hosted byt the former republican congressman, why would you then feel compelled to complain that he treats democrats poorly and republicans favorable?

This just blows my mind.

[ShortnFiery]

43. Then simply don't get involved with calling the M$M on their propaganda attempts.

It's as simple as that. :shrug:

[vi5]

48. Nobody watches that shit anyway...

Honestly, the only people who watch cable news are the already decided partisans. And hardly anyone watches MSNBC period, especially that dreck.

If there's something on the network morning shows (Today, GMA, etc.), or the network nightly news then yeah, I see a point in complaining about that. Those shows reach waaaaaay more people and affect waaaaaaay more opinions and at least have the veil of journalism around them.

If anyone is honestly under the delusion that writing a little watched network about a little watched show, basically telling them "I'm watching your show!" is going to do anything other than bring a smile to their faces, then I'm sorry but they're just as foolish as anyone on the right. The way you call them on their shit is to stop watching and stop letting them know that you're watching. Period.

[ShortnFiery]

51. No, we deserve better programing. Turning it off is NOT the answer.

Taking back the Media for "the American People" and not "the upper 1%" and demanding de-consolidation IS the answer.

[vi5]

70. Yes, and there are better targets....

Honestly, you can watch the major networks and still find any number of ridiculous right wing bias statements and infractions, etc. And those are shows that people actually watch and which shape public opinion and which people are under the delusion are unbiased. People actually believe that Charlie Gibson, and Tom Brokaw and Cokie Roberts and all of them are unbiased journalists, so when they spew republican talking points on the network morning shows then it actually has an impact.

I'm sorry, but the only people I know who watch Morning Joe are the people on DU. The only people who don't seem to get that watching a show with a former republican congressman is going to be biased, are on DU. And if you stop watching then it will got he way of Tucker Carlson on the same channel. People ignored him, stopped watching his show, and it went away. Period.

So yeah, fight the power and all that. Take back the media. I'm all for it. Just take back the media that actually matters and that people actually watch. Sorry but anyone bothering to watch and/or get balance on Morning Joe, on MSNBC is accomplishing nothing.

[smoogatz]

45. Why do you watch that crap?

If people like you stopped watching, Scarborough would be out of a job.

[ShortnFiery]

47. That's the point. If they are left to spew this bile unabated, it will continue.

Or haven't you noticed how CONSOLIDATED the M$M is today.

The ratings don't matter - only the message.

Let's see? Who owns the M$M?

http://www.globalissues.org/article/159/media-conglomerates-mergers-concentration-of-ownership





We, the people, must keep vigilant to keep them honest.

[smoogatz]

69. The ratings DO matter.

Except on Faux Nooze, of course. If it was just about the message, Tucker Carlson would still have a show.

[AllentownJake]

50. Most people on here don't realize

the only people watching Morning Joe are us. The fundie nuts are watching Fox and Friends.

[ShortnFiery]

52. Yes, Jake knows. He disrespects us Liberals then turns around and claims to be one of us.

Go figure. :eyes:

[AllentownJake]

57. What did you do for Senator Obama to be elected in the past

2 weeks. When did you first volunteer for Senator Obama? How many others have you recruited? How many voters have you registered? What are you doing the last week of the election?

Keep calling Morning Joe...your making a difference

[ShortnFiery]

59. Oh Jake, my whole family has worked to help not only Obama but our local democrats.

We clearly got off ot a bad start. Don't disrespect my decision to "make a change" in the M$M and I won't call you a "blue dog."

With respect, SnF

[AllentownJake]

62. Sounds good

I'm with you on that battle but its secondary to what needs to be done in the next 3 weeks and I think the party needs to adopt a more cohesive strategy for the MSM after the election and use the grass roots to implement it. Get out the Vote is only two weeks away.

[ShortnFiery]

65. This last post of yours, I can fully support.

I'm with you - we're now an the same team. Best Regards to you and yours. :-) :hi:

[nichomachus]

53. Scarborough is a dipshit -- why would anyone waste their beautiful mind

watching him?

[ShortnFiery]

54. Then let's help get his smarmy a** kicked off the air?

:thumbsup:

[nichomachus]

61. If we kicked every smarmy ass off the air

there would be nothing to watch.

This is why I use the "off" button on my TV --- actually, it's more of a case that I don't often use the "on" button. I haven't watched one of these talking-head shows in a decade, only when I find myself a captive somewhere where it's playing constantly, like the doctor's office. I find that more than enough for me.

[ShortnFiery]

64. You make a point. But don't WE, the American People deserve better?

I sure hate the fact that the only TV channels that are clear or enjoyable are CSPAN, Comedy Central and TV Land. :(

But yes, I get your point. It's just that those who are not as intellectually curious and/or work 2 or more jobs may not get access to diverse opinions. :(

[nichomachus]

68. What we deserve is a diverse media

not the corporate news outlets, owned by five major corporations. Kicking Scarborough off the air is like taking a drop of water out of the ocean. We need to attack the problem at its core, which is concentration of media in the hands of a very few people.

Joe is not the problem - merely the symptom of a much more dangerous problem. Going after him will have two effects -- it will sap your energy to try to bring about a result that won't solve the real problem and, more important, it will be appreciated by the network because it means people are watching -- and that's all they want. They want eyeballs to pass their ads in front of. It they get a million letters from people ranting about Joe, they can go to their advertisers and raise the rates for Joe's show because all these people are watching. The idea for them is to generate controversy and your letter will prove they're doing that.

Worse still, imagine you do get Joe canned -- prepare yourself for the Sarah Palin Show. The network execs are having wet dreams about that possibility.

[ShortnFiery]

71. "Sarah Palin Show"?!?

:wow: :scared: I just may have to go back and regroup. Oh how I hate to admit it, but you make some valid points. OK. I will consider this but first things first - let's get Obama and Biden in OUR Executive Branch? :-) :thumbsup:

[Egnever]

75. Frankly i have wished for him to be quiet many times

any time he is not spewing his garbage is time well spent as far as i am concerned.

[Imagevision]

76. Morning Je should join Tucker Carlson as a Commentator - arrogant bastard!