The MSM is trashing & will continue to trash "Sicko" because....

[txprog]

because by doing otherwise is to admit their abject failures in properly covering the issue of health care. I'm sure they've done lots on this subject, but no where near enough, especially relative to the nature of the problem and the importance of this issue to the American people and to the health of our society. Certainly they have largely ignored issues central to the film - how the profit motive allows people to go without care and how other countries actually have goverment run systems that actually work.

One thing about our media. They don't like to admit mistakes. See WMD and Iraq war and W Bush....

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. So far, I haven't heard any MSM trashing Sicko. In fact I've heard a lot of great reviews about it.

Deservedly so! It's a fantastic film!

[kenny blankenship]

3. there was a thread recently about CBS's Jeff Greenfield spinning it as pointless

pointless because "Americans reject single payer universal healthcare".
(Jeff knows all this, the rejection is categorical and forever, and you mustn't question him.)

If the action that Moore wishes to incite with Sicko "can't happen" because Americans just don't do socialized medicine because it's un-American, then the silent implication that Greenfield is drumming into his audience is the that film needn't exist and you shouldn't waste your time going to see it. Don't get excited. Don't mark your calendar for its opening date and check local theaters. Don't think Sicko is answer to your problems. It's an answer that has already been rejected as worse than the problem.

I like how CBS made sure to do their hit piece BEFORE the movie opened and was viewed by millions--that tells you where Greenfield and his producers are coming from.
Their goal and motive is let's stop this thing BEFORE it gets started: let's tell America that they've already decided against Moore's proposal.

[txprog]

5. But does the film advocate a gov run single payer system?

Certinaly Moore himself has been doing this, but does he do it in the film? I suppose he does by way of implication, what with the glowing portrayal of other systems, the notions of "good" socialism, of shared responsibility and the like. But the film, as those who have seen it know, offers no specific policy proposals. So to criticize it because alledgely but incorrectly the American people don't want "socialized medicine" is absurd.

[kenny blankenship]

6. take it up w Greenfield

[Donnachaidh]

2. They also stand to lose MILLIONS in advertising dollars

If single-payer health care happens. Watch any morning msm newscast - most in my area is filled with advertisements for Kaiser, WellStar, etc.

And if the pharma's are put under strict regulation -- there goes all THAT advertising as well.

[dkofos]

4. Well, the M$M was never much good at truth telling.

[NYCGirl]

7. They're trashing it? The reviews have been almost joyous. Even Fox gave it

a rave.

[txprog]

8. The film people sure, but

let's see how the "news" people handle it.

[Javaman]

9. no because the pharma companies are gigantic advertisers on network TV.

it's in network tv's best interest to pan Sicko.

it's always been about money.