CNBC exec: Stewart's criticisms "unfair," "out of line"

[WildEyedLiberal]

Boo fucking hoo :eyes:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090318/tv_nm/us_nbc_jonstewart

NEW YORK (Reuters) – NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker fired back at comedian Jon Stewart on Wednesday, saying it was "unfair" and "absurd" for the funnyman to criticize CNBC and question its coverage of financial news.

"Everybody wants to find a scapegoat. That's human nature," Zucker said during a keynote address at a media industry conference. "But to suggest that the business media or CNBC was responsible for what is going on now is absurd."

"Just because someone who mocks authority says something doesn't make it so," Zucker said, describing the comedian's comments as "completely out of line."

.....

Zucker, speaking at the McGraw-Hill Media Summit in New York on Wednesday, said that CNBC's reporters and commentators had done a "terrific" job and the network remained a "go-to" place for financial news.

"It's unfair to CNBC and to the business media in general," Zucker said. "I don't think you can blame what happened here on the business media."

:nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[Larkspur]

1. The peacocks are ruffling their feathers

and still trying to hide the dirt that Jon Stewart found under their feathers.

[Frustratedlady]

2. If Jon is so wrong, why does the public stand behind and applaud him?

The antics of Cramer were for the purposes of drawing viewers. He's no different than Beck, who is so far out of line, it's as though he has a comedy routine.

The media needs to clean up the media as we clean up government.

Huge task, but look at how much better the world would be when we were done.

[tama]

14. To be fair

right and wrong are not dependent on public reaction. Public also stood behind Hitler and applauded him.

But never, never underestimate the power of a jester speaking truth to the Power... :)

[LaurenG]

3. How can a comic's OPINION be out of line?

:shrug:

[Last Stand]

10. Only when it's *really* hurting your ratings or credibility.

Imagine a lowly comedy show rocking a financial juggernaut like CNBC? Oh, my. :wow:

[Vinca]

4. Unfair in what way?

We still don't know whether or not the Cramer show exists for the purpose of manipulating the stock market. After viewing the 2006 tape of him bragging about just that, the whole network should be investigated.

[notadmblnd]

5. Whaaaaaah! C'mon guys, put your big boy panties on and deal with it.

Jon was totally spot on!

[Tyler Generation]

6. NBC's network programming is absolute shit too

I just wanted to throw that in. Has anyone seen the Jimmy Fallon late night show?:puke:

[AndyA]

7. Hey Zucker: Facts matter.

And the facts are that CNBC was one big advertisement for all these corporations who were taking advantage of the Bush Administration's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on oversight.

Cramer did your viewers a disservice. Information on your cable channel was presented in a manner which made viewers feel CNBC was a neutral party, when in fact they weren't.

Facts matter. You owe your viewers an apology. And your business plan needs a serious do over.

[DCKit]

8. Zucker would be just as pissed and Cramer out of a job...

if Zucker believed any of Cramer's spin and had followed his advice. So, Zucker feels Cramer is good enough to put on the air to provide investment advice to U.S., but gets his own advice elsewhere and, therefore, didn't lose his ass in the downturn.

If you consider "Mad Money" to be an entertainment program Jeffy, you need to label it as such. Otherwise, STFU.

[ixion]

9. Absurd? Hardly.

The media provides to key components: They act as enablers, giving credibility to BS hacks like Cramer and the gang; and using those hacks, they frame the debate.

So, Mr. Zucker, you can whine all you want. That doesn't change the fact that your organization is, in part, responsible for this mess.

[devilgrrl]

11. And how about his network's personalities behavior toward the president? Talk about unfair!

:nopity:

[baldguy]

12. So, the head shill is whining about the scam being exposed.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

13. Jon Stewart did CNBC a favor.

Zucker should use the Cramer interview to rewrite CNBC's business plan. CNBC has been exposed as a fraud and millions of people are laughing at them and not tuning in.

He should also use that interview as a training session for his "journalists" to show them what a real interview looks like.

[Dukkha]

15. why are the rich so divorced from reality?

Are they really that clueless how their CONSTANT whining about their 'unfair' treatment for being stinking filthy rich makes them look? Yes, the public really sympathizes with you assholes!

[Echo In Light]

16. They figure, "whaddya gonna do 'bout it, eh?" And given the docile passivity of Americans...

...very little, if anything at all. Hell, by many Americans standards, caring at all about an issue equates to caring "to a fault." Beyond that you're just one of those "crazy conspiracy theorists," which when you think about it, isn't very far from categorizing Jon Stewart's remarks as "absurd."

[sweetpotato]

17. They believe they are rich because they are smart

They think they are smarter than the rest of us - they think we are all stupid.

[annabanana]

18. Oh brother!. .Talk about buying into your own Press Release!

It is hard to believe that this guy should be this deluded. If he can't see that CNBC has been nothing more trenchant than a cheerleader for "the masters of the universe", then his head is so far up his butt that his "outie" is just his nose..

[varelse]

19. WTF

The most damning words in Jon's recent shows were spoken ON THE AIR by CNBC's own employees. Did he even watch the video clips and do any fact checking before he opened his own mouth and inserted a size 11 loafer into it?

What a horse's ass.