Breaking: CNN's Stunning One-Sided Coverage of Health Care Summit

[FourScore]

Breaking: CNN's Stunning One-Sided Coverage of Health Care Summit
by mediapolitic
Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:30:21 AM PST

In a stunning display of one-sided coverage, during the first three hours of coverage of the Health Care Summit televised so far, CNN only interrupted, whether for commercial or comment, Democratic speakers.

Yes, I could have watched the first three hours on C-SPAN, but I was interested in the balance of coverage.

I was stunned.

In the first three hours televised so far, CNN interrupted:

1. Pres. Obama (D) for a Chantax / Pfizer commercial

2. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D) (entire speech) for a Liberator medical device ad as well as an ad by American Future Fund featuring a lipstick-wearing pig which advocated "Tell Congress Start Over and Get Health Care Right."

3. Pres. Obama (D) for ads (including an ad by the Oil and Gas Industry)

4. Sen. Max Baucus (D-sorta) for ads

5. Rep. Robert Andrews (D) (entire speech) for comment

6. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) for ads

7. Pres. Obama (D) for ads including another one by Pfizer

8. At this point, they did cut into the very tail end (couple seconds) of Rep. Charles Boustany's (R) comments but only to go to Rep. Anh Cao (R) for comment while not showing a couple moments of Pres. Obama (D) and several minutes of another Dem (didn't even see who he was!)

But oh, they came back straight away for Sen. McCain (R)!

9. Then they cut away from Kathleen Sebileus (D) for commentary which they then interrupted their own commentary in order to catch all of Eric Cantor's (R) comments.

10. Then they cut away for the entire Rep. Louise Slaughter (D) comments.

I could understand a slight imbalance, but a total, complete one-sided coverage needs to be called out.

A question I have: is this one-sided coverage 1) on purpose; 2) unintentional, an act of the subconscious. And if so, what does that say about their producer / director? It's an either/or proposition.

Not to mention that their "commentators" include Rep. Anh Cao (R), David Gergen (R), Dana Bash (R) and Ben Stein (R-asshat).

This is what America is watching. The Most Trusted Name in News?? Actually, at this rate, they should change their entire name from CNN to Fox Lite.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/2/25/840666/-Breaking:-CNNs-Stunning-One-Sided-Coverage-of-Health-Care-Summit

[Subdivisions]

1. This fucking shit HAS GOT TO STOP! Some way, some how! Edited:

I have CNN on in the background while watching the summit on CSPAN. They preempted all of Jay Rockefeller, preferring instead to show a debate between Brazille and Stein.

[movonne]

40. Don't watch cnn...

[gblady]

52. the point for me....

is that they are being so discriminating against Democrats...

and it's a channel where lots of peeps take their word as "fact"...
and do not do their own personal investigations for any type of truth.

[Bill_Segundo]

193. Watch CSpan if you hate commercials

They even have replays on the net.

[Blacksheep214]

94. Don't watch CNN?

I got ill many years ago watching what used to be the flagship for the news, no pretty talking heads, just the news.

I can't watch overproduced drivel!

[ffr]

188. CNN HLN and most FOX channels blocked already

I did the same as you. A funny airport moment several years back was seeing a channel named HNL with a yellow logo. I thought I was in Eastern Europe, until I found out days later that it was CNN Headline News. lol

[NoSheep]

107. WRITE them instead!

[gardentoad]

185. Here's their email.

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.o.html?2

The more people that complain about it the better!!

[RKP5637]

197. THANKS!!! I just sent CNN an email! n/t

[Bill_Segundo]

116. Dems get twice the time

should CNN interrupt reps equally, half as much, or twice as much? If one thing is unfair, what balances it, or is fairness not involved, just political advantage? I'd like to see a couple minutes from Bernie Sanders, where do independents fit in?

[daleanime]

121. .....

Huh? :shrug:

[Whisp]

179. that's Wolfy...

say hi to Wolfy... woof.

:rofl:

[itsrobert]

151. The Executive Branch got 1/3, The Democratic Party Congress Members got 1/3

and the Republican Congress Members got 1/3. Exactly how government is divided by the way people voted as directed by the US Constitution.

[Bill_Segundo]

196. Nothing in Constitution divided in thirds

Obama is king, he can do as he pleases. No reason to make stuff up.

[itsrobert]

201. You're delusional. Actually there are 3 branches of government

Executive, Judicial, and Legislative. Only two branches of government were represented at the Summit. The Executive and Legislative. If you want to be technical about time, Obama should have gotten 50 percent of the time. And the Legislative should have split the rest. But since the Democrats have a hefty majority, the Democrats deserve more time. Now off to Freeperville for you.

[Bill_Segundo]

202. Branches have no bearing on TV debates/discussions

Obama hosted the discussion and he could split things any way he wanted to.

The judicial branch wasn't there at all. If Reps want to have more time they can host their own discussion.

[MrsCorleone]

55. I'm just as frustrated. Here's a small start.

Please flood your local cable/satellite providers with letters and calls demanding that C-Span channels 1, 2, & 3 be made available in their basic packages.

[defendandprotect]

145. They've gone to a lot of trouble to remove them ....

Comcast wanted to present C-span II and II in High Definition!

For more $$ --

It will probably up to Congress to get them put back into basic.

And when it happened to us, I did write my Senator, but it's had no effect

on Comcast as far as I know. Meanwhile, Comcast is making $500 million a year

on internet porn!!

We finally switched to Verizon --

[dixiegrrrrl]

172. We are finding we can access stuff on the internet for free

that we used to pay a cable bill for.
More and more tv is becoming a dust collector here at the house.

[midnight]

180. Same here...

[RKP5637]

199. Yep, Agree so much with you, Television is obsolete. n/t

[shintao]

95. Not to get excited now

Something should be done, question is, who is willing to change it?? Who is willing in America to buy into a media corporation for $100-1,000. to launch our own communication satellite, and feature 24/7 Liberal issues and the news, a wireless internet, radio, and cell phone service? The satellite itself and a station site would require some maintenance, so some selective advertisements would be necessary to help pay the annual bills.

I think it can be done, it is just a matter of doing it. The idea will become palatable as the FCC & other media censor what is seen in America.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

100. THIS IS NOT A T.V. SHOW

THE MEDIA IS TRYING TO RUN OUR NATION.

[WatchWhatISay]

128. They are just angry because the banks and insurance companies are running it now

and they think the media should run it.

[Dunky360]

101. UNFAIR AND UNBALANCED

Why is the media so afraid of liberal voices and liberals opinions? What are these sniveling cowards so scared of???????

[WatchWhatISay]

130. An educated populace?

[rhett o rick]

169. The ruling class are afraid of the peons. nt

[DrDan]

2. a conspiracy, obviously

[pinto]

3. I noticed that, as well. Usually I take "spin" w/ a grain of salt, but this seemed a coverage edit.

I switched to whitehouse.gov for a live feed.

[tallahasseedem]

4. They cut in EVERYTIME

a Democrat gets on. It's so obvious.

Now they have Ben Stein on. Yeah right...

[geardaddy]

34. So he can talk about his dry eyes,

or Comcast?

[CLANG]

37. Yes, we should all have our opinions based on Ben Stein's fucked up politics.

Way to stay classy, CNN!

[Wednesdays]

181. Refresh my memory...

Which district did Stein represent?

[Qutzupalotl]

186. The financial district. n/t

[RKP5637]

200. Ben Stein is such an asshole. n/t

[indepat]

5. It's a shame the administration too oblivious to this imbalance to call them out

:P

Edited for context

[progressoid]

6. What is this CNN everyone is talking about?

Never watch it.

At least not on purpose.

[Enthusiast]

129. But the point is millions

do watch it. Those millions are getting a very slanted view of the country, of politics. The view they are receiving is anti-Democrat and pro-Republican. That doesn't disturb you?

[Bozita]

7. Republicans have jobs and pay taxes. Dems don't. -- UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE!

[malaise]

10. Fuck Ben Stein

He has no empirical evidence to back that shit. I'm watching uninterrupted here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35523266

[xxqqqzme]

78. Did stein actually say that?

[Bozita]

106. Yes. Amazing, isn't it?

[Wednesdays]

182. So, in other words Dems aren't really people.

Just like the "darkies" weren't really people before 1863. Ahh...the good 'ol days.

[zanana1]

8. CNN has been one-sided since Bush was elected.

It seemed to happen overnight. I thought it was the balance of power in Washington that dictated the news slant and I expected CNN to have some respect for President Obama. I was wrong. Bush was given a free pass for at least seven of his eight years. Obama was criticized as soon as he was elected.

[EFerrari]

Imo, they started going there when they saw how Faux's ratings improved

by slamming Clinton during Monicagate.

[blm]

44. Nope - once Kingdom Holdings bought a huge share and the Bush-Saudi-UAE agenda had to be served.

Fucking fascists.

[bertman]

92. blm, a brief explanation, please, about Kingdom Holdings. Not familiar with them. Thx.

[blm]

162. Saudi/UAE money - longtime Bush cronies. Also, recently increased shares in News Corp.

Their huge shares in CNN have gone UNnoticed and UNdiscussed for many years because it was only reported as their shares in AOL and TimeWarner.

[bertman]

204. Thanks, blm. I am not surprised in the least. That really sucks. nt

[The Wizard]

86. CNN jumped the shark

with their feigned outrage during the Clinton impeachment. Their broadcasters were having verbal orgasms every time Starr's office leaked lurid details. Half their air staff is American Enterprise Institute. Some say Blitzer is a CIA mole.

[Quantess]

187. Remember when Glenn Beck was on CNN Headline News?

He was on about 2 hours, prime time, every week night.
That's jumping the shark, right there.

[fasttense]

141. The bush was never elected. The Dancing Supremes appointed him as our President.

But you are correct, President Obama was criticized the moment he was elected.

So exactly where can we fine that infamous "liberal" media?

[defendandprotect]

147. As Ted Tujrner lost control, new ownership moved it to the right ...

[Whisp]

178. YES!!

If only they were as best a 'political team on televisioon' for the Iraq War! fuckers! I remember clearly how they had military guests on pushing for war at a rate of about 25 to 1 as opposed to someone who was against it! Oh, you can't criticize the president in a time of war! pinless traitors!

Remember that shit Paula Kahn? She used to actually fucking roll her eyes when a democrat had anything to say that didn't fit in her little scheme of thinking during the presidential elecion in 2004. Thankfully she's been gone for a while but makes no difference, just replaced her with other piles of steaming coils.

The only people I can stand there is that Tooban lawyer and Zakeera (sp?) and a smattering of 2 or 3 more I can't recall.

David Gergen, ugh! Mary Matalin! omg, she's on so much and what should be an embarrassment is called discussion when she opens that GOP tool trap. and that John King! so smug and assured he's going to be the next Cronkite - his lips look like the edge of a lasagna noodle!

Its so sick. I don't know why I watch CNN - but a little something inside me does for the same reason you can't not look at a dead animal on the road.

[nashville_brook]

9. was stuck watching this during the enormous wait i had in the doc's office. bleh.

[defendandprotect]

148. Next time, change the channel to C-span . . .

[Uzybone]

11. our so called media at work

[barbtries]

12. that is infuriating

so glad i don't watch tv.

[Bobbie Jo]

13. Recommended

[malaise]

14. They carried all of Ryan and now they cut

Obama...again.

[tallahasseedem]

17. OMG...

I just replied to a thread in GDP about it. I thought I was just being paranoid at first, but it's becoming obvious.

[malaise]

21. I have on both CNN and web GEM$NBC

so they can't silence anyone for me. Fugging hacks - all of them.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35523266

[jimshoes]

15. As a side note to this

Back before the new administration took their oaths, my local Marc's used to have CNN (they loved everything repub I think) on every TV above every cash register. Since the switch in admins, they show the Food Network all day. Other stores may be different but I found it a bit curious.

[malaise]

19. Expect Blitzer to use the Ryan quote about

a ponzi scheme that would make Bernie Madoff proud. That's the official talking point.

[defendandprotect]

149. Wall St. Journal and GOP have been pushing that for two decades . . . !!

[proudohioan]

27. Don't shop at Marc's; it's filthy.

I worked at Marc's for about 9 months (very recently). Once I started working there and saw how gross and dirty everything was, I quit shopping there, despite my employee discount. Trust me, you think their shopping carts are disgusting? Wait til you see the back where all the food comes in......

:)

[defendandprotect]

150. Over the years of GOP control, all food service has deteriorated . . .

and all supervision of food has become worse --

Restaurants are no where near as clean as they used to be --

Fast Food restaurants went backwards into using people who prepare your food

to also clean the Johns!!

Usually, teenagers!!

[proudohioan]

175. And all the meat and produce recalls as well.

I honestly can't remember any other time when so much was being recalled.

Fast food restaurants? I can only imagine...

[defendandprotect]

184. Places like MacDonalds,Wendy's, Pizza Hut . . . in their absolute GREED . . .

wanted to have teenagers work cheaper -- and without Unions, as well --

they were able to get rid of cleaning staff and use the teenagers to clean Johns!

Same teenages who prepare the food!

You see this actually in the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" ...

Right wing, taking us backwards as usual.

Child labor is of big interest to corporations, believe me!

Right Wing Libertarians will argue it's no problem!!

Amazing -- and few people seem to notice!!

Don't know if anything has been reversed on this recently, but I tried often to

get our "free press" to cover that story. No luck!

I think Pepsi owned Pizza Hut?

Forget all the details on it now --

I've spoken to the people doing this when I've seen it -- and they are usually

teenagers -- and usually their parents don't know what they are being asked to do.

Also, very young women with a child or two to support.

Capitalism is suicidal in its greed!

[proudohioan]

189. A lot of those greed heads don't even want to hire teenagers...

why get "unreliable teenagers" when you can exploit "reliable adults" and even senior citizens? Sure, pay them minimum wage, and those corps know that they can push all the shit they want on them, cuz adults and seniors NEED that paycheck to make ends meet! But I must agree with you that the child labor laws are being stretched, to say the least. And what kid is gonna know his/her rights?

Employers LOVE this kind of economy; they profit most when we are all down!

[defendandprotect]

203. True -- many seniors are working way past retirement . ..

and because they have Medicare makes them very attractive to employers vs

other workers.

I know other people who really don't need to work, but work simply for medical

benefits because they're too young for Medicare.

Capitalism is exploittion -- plain and simple!

[proudohioan]

32. Oh, and by the way....

I think Marc's switching to the Food Network was more about getting customers thinking about buying food, because there were complaints that having to listen to reports of the stock market crashing and huge job losses were getting too depressing. I had to agree, I listened to that shit all day long! But it would have been nice to make the switch BEFORE Sarah Palin and her screeching fingernails-on-chalkboard voice came onto the scene. CNN sure as HELL played more of HER speeches than either Obama or Joe Biden combined!

[frazzled]

16. Add: the cut away from Rockefeller the moment he was announced to speak

This is not new for CNN: they do it whenever they air a committee hearing or any other "bipartisan" session. It's SOP for them. It was when Bush was president and it still is now that Obama is president. It was when Republicans were in the Congressional majority. It was now that the Democrats are in the majority.

Just watch this thing at http://www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting

[malaise]

25. Well they've also cut away before Grassley

what a shock

[Supersedeas]

30. thanks for the link

[Joanne98]

18. Here's the CONTACT PAGE!

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.o.html?2

Complain

[tallahasseedem]

22. Just did...

they stink.

[Raven]

29. Thanks Joanne. Done. I sent this:

"I was hoping to watch the Health Care Summit without interruptions from CNN for ads or commentary from people who obviously think I don't have a brain in my head. You have done a disservice to me and the American people and I will not watch your channel again or buy your products."

[SusanaMontana41]

33. Thanks for the link

Glad others are seeing what I'm seeing. CNN is Faux Lite.

[julian09]

71. That didn't end when they got rid of LouDobbs

I've noticed the bias for some time.

If they were covering a plane crash, fire or Michael Jackson
There would be no commercials for hours.
Wolf likes his uglyface time. Good god get rid of the guy, I'm sick of looking at him.

[SusanaMontana41]

90. I didn't mention Lou Dobbs

but am glad you did. You are spot on about Wolfy's ugly mug, too.

:fistbump:

[olegramps]

159. Wolf Blister was an employee of AI PAC.

He got his start in journalism in Israel. I believe this explains his biased reporting and obvious support of the right wingers who dragged us into fighting a proxy war for Israel.

The Israelis would like nothing better than for us to bomb Iran into oblivion. Really can anyone blame Iran for seeking nuclear weapons when Israel is reported to have an extensive nuclear arsenal. Israel has a right to exist, but also do the so-called Palestinians have a right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Has our treatment been even handed and isn't this a source of much of the bitterness toward the United States? I don't see a hell of lot of difference between the tactics that were used by the Jews when they were fighting to establish the state of Israel and those used by the Palestinians. Neither one is conducive to establishing charitable relations.

[dmr]

93. That is so true. No commercial breaks for Jackson, balloon boy

or whatever they deem important for long periods of time.

[Tailormyst]

41. Done

[Cass]

45. Thanks for the contact info. I complained, too.

The thing that was really ticking me off was cuting away from the meeting so their panel could spew talking points. WTF. Let the viewers hear the damn meeting directly. I don't need some two-bit pundit interpreting what's going on for me.

[FourScore]

51. Done!

[Last Stand]

53. did it. screw them. nt

[66 dmhlt]

57. And for those wanting to write, call, email ...

CNN
One CNN Center
PO Box 105366
Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: [phone]
Comment Line: 404.827 - 0234
FAX: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

CNN Washington Bureau
820 First St. N.E.
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

CNN NEWS CHIEF: Eason Jordan
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

CNN NEWS DIRECTOR: Kim Bondy
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

[I Have A Dream]

98. Thanks! Done. nt

[12AngryBorneoWildmen]

157. Done and done. Tanks (sic).

My note to CNN
Your coverage of the summit on health care was heavily propagandistic. I don't watch CNN anymore primarily because I find Wolfie vapid and shallow, to say nothing of your pathetic excuses for "panels of experts". John King makes me sleepy and his wife, Dana Bash, ditto.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

158. Done

"Your coverage was horrible and one-sided, fully in support of the health care industry and the Republicans who are obstructing real change which will improve the economy, help businesses and save lives.

Just as you beat the drum to march us into a bank-busting war in Iraq without so much as a thoughtful question, you continue to carry water for advertisers and the Republican party.

You have become another FOX News, yet another channel on cable to pass over."

[KansDem]

165. Just sent a complaint...

Thanks for the link! :hi:

[Echo In Light]

20. _

[Barack_America]

23. K&R

[mfcorey1]

24. Wolf is always looking for drama

When there was coverage on Haiti, the first thing he wanted to know was there any violence.

[seattle_blue]

26. CNN has been getting pretty bad

But it's not just them. I've noted that when I go to completely "neutral" sites like AOL, YAHOO, and a lot of others, they ALWAYS have "headlines" displaying the Dem's in a negative light. I see it just about every day.

[Hutzpa]

28. Glad I'm not watching CNN hehe. n/t

[proud patriot]

31. I had to turn it all off and watch it on the net

it was disgusting and shameless .

[bullwinkle428]

35. They've been screaming "ZOMG!1! TEH GOVERMENT IZ BROKEN!!"

for weeks now, as part of their latest "theme" to suck more viewers in, so I'm not shocked by the bias shown in today's event at all.

[Cherchez la Femme]

36. However, Louise Slaughter is simply awesome

I wasn't able to watch tv today, but Ms. Slaughter has never ever disappoined me -- not once.

So at least there was that, of which I'm truly surprised they showed her at all.
If they were to show a Dem's entire talk, one would think DLCSchumer would be their choice.


But as for the rest of it... who's surprised?

[otohara]

38. 404-827-2600 .

press 2
press 3 for comment
or 0 for real person

[redthunder]

39. David Gergen

David Gergen is an INDEPENDENT not a republican.

[Uncle Joe]

42. If Gergen is Independent, he leans toward the Republican or Conservative position,

for years they had him debating opposite the ostensible liberal Mark Shields on PBS's Newshour.

Welcome to D.U. redthunder.:hi:

[annabanana]

47. Independent's are just republicans with any remaining sense of shame.

That's all

[MadBadger]

49. delete

[Enthusiast]

133. Gergen clearly represents what

we call the "conservative" position. He isn't even close to neutral.

[hvn_nbr_2]

43. The most trusted name in corporatist propaganda. nt

[MrsCorleone]

56. Lol! Perfect! nt

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

67. CORPORATE NEWS NETWORK

[wizstars]

156. CNN = Certainly Not News

They just work harder than Faux to hide it.

[redqueen]

173. LOL - well said. (nt)

[LaPera]

46. Your facts & documentation needs to be shoved in CNN face....Phone-emails-letters!

I plan on calling and emailing using your post as a reference, since I've been listening via C-SPAN

[droidamus2]

48. MSNBC too

I started out watching MSNBC and they were pulling the same crap. Cut away to inane talking head comments when Democrats are speaking and cover word for word when Republicans are speaking. This is why the American public is so uninformed and misinformed the media doesn't report anymore the manipulate.

[Enthusiast]

134. MSNBC has received their orders.

When some of us say the country is fascist we aren't just saying that to feel air flow past our lips.

This country is fascist, thoroughly fascist. It took a decidedly wrong turn in the year 2000 but it was headed downhill ever since Reagan was not prosecuted for Iran-Contra.

[flyarm]

50. and on MSNBC the commericals and the talking heads were only happening when repukes spoke!

after 2+ hours I switched to CSPAN because I wanted to hear just WHAT THE REPUKES WERE SAYING and i was curious what their arguments were going to be..I couldn't hear that on MSNBC!

so it seems to be equal opportunity censoring...or interupptions whatever you want to call it!

[FrenchieCat]

123. Bullshit!

They weren't cutting off any Republicans. Hell, the first person they cut away from for a commercial was Pres. Obama.

[rambler_american]

155. MSNBC

used as commentators
Armstrong Williams
Pat Buchanan
and
John Cornyn.

Armstrong effing Williams for crissake. The biggest bush whore since Jeff Gannon, the GOP's crack reporter and their TOP choice for coverage.
Liberal media my ass.

[CHelms]

54. The "liberal media" strikes again.

It has always been my belief that the only difference between CNN and Fox is that CNN is usually not this blatant about its pro-business-at-any-cost bias, but it does come through sometimes. I remember the 2000 election and CNN short changing, disparaging and generally dismissing anyone who smelled a rat. I remember the run up to the Iraq invasion and CNN was right there with Fox "News" and Clear Channel with the pom poms and the war drums. CNN, like the rest of the "liberal media," allowed BushCo to repeatedly insinuate that Saddam Hussein was involved with 9/11 until something like 70% of Americans believed it and they didn't lift one finger to correct that (deliberately planted) mistake until we were in Iraq and the point was safely moot. They regularly question, challenge and sniff around for falsehoods with statements from the Obama administration while they sat there for eight years with their thumb up their ass as the Republicans looted the country, mindlessly repeating whatever the Bush administration fed them without so much as a cocked eyebrow.

[hisownpetard]

58. And on MSNBC, they had... women's curling.

[nc4bo]

63. Not much different during the Toyoda hearing either. Kucinich was

beginning to speak when talking heads decided it was a great time to have a "commentary".

I really wanted to hear what he had to say or what questions he asked but I guess I'll never know.

[vduhr]

74. I know. What the heck was up with that?

I started watching on CNN, got the talking heads, switched to C-Span, but they went to the House of Reps during the lunch break and didn't switch back right away, so I went to MSNBC and saw that they were only showing the Olympics, even though they started out with the summit.

I finally switched to watching live-stream on MSNBC.com for the duration.

I recorded the entire thing (I hope) because I had my DVR set on C-Span, but switched the recording to CNN when C-Span failed to return to the summit right away. Did C-Span ever return to the summit meeting? I hope I got Obama's slam dunk of Boehner's theatrics, (Boehner tried to pull the same crap that his bitch Cantor tried earlier) but haven't checked the recording.

[FrenchieCat]

59. I saw two minutes of it, and turn the channel!

as soon as the broke for a commercial early in the session
as President Obama was talking, I knew they were up to no good!

[Hawkeye-X]

60. Lets get the CNN stock WAY down to the shitter

so Ted Turner can buy it back for a song and make it Democratic/fair and balanced once again.

Hawkeye-X

[onpatrol98]

61. No such thing as news...

I seldom watch CNN. What passes for news these days is distressing...regardless of the channel.

[never cry wolf]

62. Can an advertiser name their time slot?

Could the pharmaceuticals and anti-reform ads request to be played during Dems only?

[DFW]

64. CNN, hungry for improved ratings, follows the lead of FOX

I heard that some of the news programmers are told to "go right" when Fox ratings pull ahead of theirs. Very shortsighted.
The worst political team on television, because they tow a rightward line, and don't admit it like Faux does. Then they wonder
why their ratings slip. Well, DUH! If people want a rightward slant, they'll go directly to Faux, and if not, they don't
get a neutral take from CNN. CNN's news is Faux lite, and they think no one notices. With Democrat-haters like Bill Schneider
and Candy Crowley on there, do they REALLY expect us to swallow any claim of balance or impartiality whatsoever? I know one
guy who used to be one of their division broadcast chiefs (not political), and he told me flat out that there was a rightward
slant in the political reporting, and that it was intentional. Since he was gone from there, and had no personal stake in the
political side of CNN one way or the other, before or after leaving, I believe him.

[Overseas]

65. CNN does seem to have been Foxifying itself lately. Very sad. //nt

[madmax]

66. Oh stop!

Don't you know only Fox is Fair and Balanced everyone else is the Librul Media. :evilgrin:

[GETPLANING]

68. CNN = Conservative News Network

But I do like Rick Sanchez

[Enthusiast]

135. They will stifle Rick Sanchez. nt

[hay rick]

69. CNN has been useless for some time now. nt

[harmonicon]

70. CNN has been a right wing tool for many years now ... should we be surprised by this?

In their slant, they're no different than fox - they only change the delivery.

[liberation]

72. If you talk to any wingnut, they use CNN as proof of liberal bias in the media with a straight face

I no longer know if I should cry or laugh for this society...

[Touchdown]

77. Cry. I do.

They also say Chimpy was an intelligent President.. no irony there, just glassy, vacant stares.

[bjobotts]

80. Cry. Any nation that thinks it can have sustained perpetual growth with finite resources is doomed

[bjobotts]

81. Without balance with finite resources we destroy the planet.Same with news.

[bjobotts]

82. News replaced with speculation, opinion and propaganda for ever increasing ratings-bad idea

[bjobotts]

89. News replaced with speculation, opinion and propaganda for ever increasing ratings-bad idea

[theophilus]

73. I certainly noticed it and turned to FOX, yes FOX! Except for the

idiots like Beck, Orally, etc. Just the regular news on FOX is more interesting, imo. Since they were not "cutting away for a short break" everytime a Dem spoke, I stayed on FOX for a bit. I then went back to CNN and CNN did it again!. I gave up on the "Corporate News Network" some few weeks back and have not missed it one iota. CNN stinks!

[spanone]

75. the media is the enemy...they allow the minority to sound like the majority

[destes]

125. Actually, their owners are the enemy.......

....but that's quibbling on my part. Your comment sums up the situation in its entirety. The media advocates as a voice for the minority. It has always been the only source, for most, of "other" views. Corporatization and technology allow a very few powerful people to channel and censor virtually every thought of every voter and potential voter in the world. The desires of the powerful cannot be denied by anything less than a state of general anarchy and worldwide chaos brought about by individuals pulling away from the trappings of contemporary civilization.

[Little Star]

76. I emailed those hypocrites! Shame on them! k&r

[Sparkly]

79. They got their big guns out for this one.

They're swamping ALL the networks, they've got their ads running at full tilt, they've got their scripts memorized and they are all in lockstep.

I haven't seen this level organized BS since 2004 -- seriously.

[Liberal_Dog]

83. Score Another On For The "Librul Media"

What a disgrace.

[Grand Taurean]

84. Fox "News" sister channel CNN strikes again/

[The Wizard]

85. CNN is Pox

in a baseball hat and sun glasses.

[snot]

87. Excuse me for asking, how many here have taken action to bring about media reform?

Every time I've brought it up on DU, no one's seemed to care.

[annabanana]

136. It comes up with some regularity in the Media forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=109

[tokalion]

88. Fed up...and just had to send this....

I don't typically post...but pissed off enough to send this email to CNN:

========================
To: [e-mail]
Subject: CNN...the info-tainment network...

Dear Sirs,

I find your 'news' organization incredibly/vehemently obnoxious and refuse to even read 'information' posted on your website. Get a clue....when you parade right wing pundits in front of your cameras whose only purpose is to spout off unchecked , unsubstantiated, concocted 'facts' without any investigative fact-checking, you lose all credibility. Today's right wing fantasy show on your network today further gave credence to this.

News...or investigative news...does NOT give carte blanche microphones to one side. Just a hint....the majority of Americans voted for Obama....the majority of Americans are NOT right wing. When you give un-checked air wave time to right wing ideologues whose only purpose is to repeat false fantasy 'facts', you prove yourself nothing more than an 'Info-tainment' media. Might as well publish the CNN 'Globe' to be placed at grocery store check out lanes with headlines such as, 'two headed monster gives birth to little black twins'.

Sincerely,

Disgusted ex-CNN viewing American

[janet118]

103. Thanks for the e-mail link

They just got a note from me as well.

[kevinbgoode]

113. So what can be done?

I've often wondered why. . .in both the case of Faux and CNN, can't there be some organized campaign to get them pulled from cable providers? And if that doesn't work, why can't we demand legislation allowing us to opt out of paying for them to have access to our homes?

[bertman]

91. The fact that millions of so-called intelligent Americans watch CNN for their news and views

is just beyond fucking scary to me. Their bias is so blatant it is nauseating.

REC.

[mckara]

96. Preaching to the Choir: I HATE CNN, TOO!!!!!!!!

This health care summit is another example of their right-wing bias!

[SlingBlade]

97. That's because Republicans deserve the spotlight ...It's their

plan !

[deacon]

99. k + r n/t

[liberal_at_heart]

102. something definitely seems to be going on at CNN

Between the simulated terrorist attack to the Healthcare summit they do seem to be one sided lately. I don't watch CNN anymore so I don't really care. I'll stick to watching world news at night on ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS. I really like the world news on PBS.

[defendandprotect]

152. Look at their ads -- it's the health care industry they are serving --

I don't watch TV except C-span, weather channel, old movie when C-span gets boring --

but once in a while I have to go around the channels.

I've noticed one health care ad where a woman is floating happily thru her life with

music playing in the background and absolute joy and wonder while in text on the screen

you see all the side effects of the drug -- !!

[BrklynLiberal]

104. It was absolutely intentional and anyone who doubts it is living in a different plane of reality.

[winyanstaz]

105. K & R.....

When a news station is so blatantly biased in their news coverage as this, they should LOSE their license!
The airwaves belong to ALL of Us..WE THE PEOPLE and we shouldn't have to put up with this kind of crap.
Most trusted? Hell no! And anytime anyone has to tell us over and over and over again just how "trusted" they are..your red light should go on. Its time to shut them off and refuse to buy from their sponsors.

[Captain Hilts]

108. I tuned in at 8 and was horrified by what Campbell Brown was doing. nt

[Vinnie From Indy]

109. They don't give a shit what we think here at DU

American media has been corrupted to a point that rivals the yellow journalism of Hearst and Pulitzer over 100 yrs ago. What is call news reporting in America today is a grotesque mixture of freak show, violence, distraction, lies and corporate propaganda.

[Turbineguy]

110. Maybe we're looking at this the wrong way.

The country knows that the Democrats want to provide health care reform. By only showing the repub side, they showed the poorly formed arguments. They can easily see through the repubs just trying to stall things some more. Those who saw this may very well find out that the repubs were lying or at least had their facts wrong. Nobody is going to change the teabaggers (what passes for) minds anyway.

[eagertolearn]

111. I used to watch CNN and now only watch MSNBC!

[lob1]

112. CNN = Certainly Not News.

[1776Forever]

114. Yes not only that but read these quotes from various CNN shows:

This was published in the Weekly Standard but the quotes are right out of CNN transcripts! What a bunch of BS! The Repubs were nothing but liars and manipulators! Damn I cannot believe the stupidity and that goes to show just how much these idiots like Wolf B really know about the truth!

Republicans Brought Their A-Game to Summit... Say the Media?
BY Mary Katharine Ham
February 25, 2010

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/media-republicans-brought-their-game-summit


......CNN’s WOLF BLITZER: “It looks like the Republicans certainly showed up ready to play.” (CNN’s “Live,” 2/25/10)

CNN’s GLORIA BORGER: “The Republicans have been very effective today. They really did come to play. They were very smart.” (CNN’s “Live,” 2/25/10)

• BORGER: “They took on the substance of a very complex issue. … But they really stuck to the substance of this issue and tried to get to the heart of it and I think did a very good job.” (CNN’s “Live,” 2/25/10)

• BORGER: “They came in with a plan. They mapped it out.” (CNN’s “Live,” 2/25/10)

CNN’s DAVID GERGEN: “The folks in the White House just must be kicking themselves right now. They thought that coming out of Baltimore when the President went in and was mesmerizing and commanding in front of the House Republicans that he could do that again here today. That would revive health care and would change the public opinion about their health care bill and they can go on to victory. Just the opposite has happened.” (CNN’s “Live,” 2/25/10)

• GERGEN: “He doesn’t have a strong Democratic team behind him.” (CNN’s “Live,” 2/25/10)


:puke:

[olegramps]

161. What struck me was how they parroted the FOX comments:

Their transcripts were taken verbatim from FOX:

THE HILL’S A.B. STODDARD: “I think we need to start out by acknowledging Republicans brought their ‘A Team.’ They had doctors knowledgeable about the system, they brought substance to the table, and they, I thought, expressed interest in the reform. I thought in the lecture from Senator John McCain and on the issue of transparency, I thought today the Democrats were pretty much on their knees.” (Fox News’ “Live,” 2/25/10)

[Divine Discontent]

115. someone should tell Pres. Obama, bc I'm sure they have no clue. typical MSM bs - liberal media my

ASS

[SleeplessinSoCal]

118. Certainly Obama knows. Hopefully he is playing them.

[Divine Discontent]

191. I hope so. Sometimes, not always, but sometimes, we'd be amazed at how insulated the WH is from

what some of us see. I am sure it's been related to them that they were getting the shaft on CNN (and they know without being told they're getting it on Faux News).

I'm so sick of GOP sh*t like Bunning pulled last night that I want them to railroad all kinds of progressive changes, tax hikes on the wealthy and corporations, and anything else they can accomplish before November!

We WILL stand with them if they are brave.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

117. There's nothing more important than exposing corporate shills - CNN , MSNBC, FNC.

[alp227]

119. Yea, CNN is sinking to the level of Fox. Not surprising.

Back in 2004, Fox News devoted significantly less time than CNN and MSNBC to speeches in the Democratic National Convention.

And, ABC planned more coverage of speeches in the Republican convention than in the Democratic one that same year.

Sources:
FOX aired significantly less of Dem convention speeches than other cables
ABC plans more coverage for RNC than for Dem convention, including during Monday Night Football

[DallasNE]

120. Look Who's Commericals Were Running

Those advertisers would not want a Republican cut off and they call the shot. CNN's choices were to either not accept the money or run the ads when ordered. They opted to take the money.

[upi402]

122. I saw some CNN coverage and PUKED!

The spin and syrupy head-shaking... and Gergen's utter bullshit... oh god I hope there IS a hell.
MSNBC was Chris Mathews over and over so in desperation I tried CNN for the first time in a looong time.
:puke: :puke:

Corporate
News
Network

[Imagevision]

124. Don't forget, CNN was one of those that sold us Bush's war on Iraq's WMD's...

[warm regards]

126. I wouldn't ready too much into it.

The Dems had the floor quite a bit more than the GOP.

CNN is not FOX news.

[Enthusiast]

127. CNN has been completely

one sided for a long while now. Unfortunately right wing pundits still claim they are "liberal". But that very claim is just another of the thousands of daily lies foisted on us by the M$M.

I watched part of the health care summit. It was all but unwatchable. Everything about it was a disappointment to me.

[DisgustedInMN]

131. The Coke / Pepsi battle rages on.

In the meantime, more and more Americans are edging closer and closer to destitution each. 31 MILLION without jobs. Millions more put out of their homes because of a fraud hosted on them by a totally corrupted economic system run by greedy banksters with our government in their pocket. Two unjust, illegal, immoral and foolish wars continue to sap our best and brightest and our treasure. Members of our own political party continue to spy on everyday citizens, without judicial oversite. Basic medicine has become a luxury item for most.

... and a thread about someone counting who gets more or less face time on a cable channel makes the top of the Greatest list on DU.

:wtf: is wrong with this picture?

[trumad]

132. The picture?

More face time for the idiots who put us in this boat is bad.... agree?

[DisgustedInMN]

137. Less than 1% ...

.. of Americans watch that particular crappy "news" station at any given time. You don't like the coverage? CHANGE THE FUCKING CHANNEL! Whining about it here does abso-fucking-lutely nothing to make things better. Good grief, is it supposed to be some kind of surprise that CORPORATE owned media, financed by commercials from CORPORATE sponsors, favors the wholly owned CORPORATE political party over the partially owned CORPORATE political party in a Kabuki Theater, dog and pony show, CYA, "debate?"

Really?


:crazy: :silly: :tinfoilhat:

[trumad]

138. OK---well me and other DUers will lok the other way then.

thanks for the advice.

[DisgustedInMN]

139. What the hell..

.. is that supposed to mean?

I mean really, what is it you hope to accomplish by bitching about crap you can't do a damn thing about? Media programs live and die by how many people watch them. That is the reality. By having a tuner set to a particular media outlet, regardless of the reason, you contribute POSITIVELY to their ratings. When you change the channel, you don't. This isn't rocket science.

And BTW, exactly when did "other DUers" elect you to speak for them?

[geckosfeet]

140. keep paying those cable bills and that's what you will get

[Stuart G]

142. This post could be the most important ever put up on DU ..Why?

It proves beyond doubt that a major news source is slanted.

That proof, is what needs to be presented to change either the minds of people, or force some kind of change in the system...We need to all bookmark this one..It is a great post..Thanks.

[FourScore]

168. Thanks Stuart G!

:hi:

[kpominville]

143. CNN = Corporate News Network

nuff said

[tcaudilllg]

144. The solution: Boycott CNN

We need a boycott of CNN. Its website has become a haven for extremists... abusive, violent language is routinely tolerated and encouraged. Avoid it, let it's numbers plummet, and see if it doesn't become more centrist.

Its delusional bosses are tilting the coverage in the Republican's favor. I remember their favoritism of the McCain campaign in the election so angered me that I stopped watching its news station altogether. I still visit the CNN website at times, but it's more out of habit than anything else.

CNN was really innovative and all when it first came out 30 years ago... but it's no longer in Turner's hands and as such, it's not the same company it used to be. These days I don't really think it favors anybody... I think, in fact, it just aims to get its viewers, most of whom are Democrats, into a ruckus and a frenzy. And I think they've actually hired people who have that specific intention in mind.

[blueworld]

146. Excellent points & I'd like to add a tiny one

Many of us don't HAVE C-SPAN 3, therefore we are basically blindfolded. Why does C-SPAN (a.k.a. cable) always put the important stuff on C-SPAN 3 instead of the legislative debates over "National Pancake Day"?

I have dial-up; can't watch the videos...I am thus usually forced to watch some of the TV propaganda & then research on the internet.

I do not believe the C-SPAN crap & lack of national high-speed internet is coincidental either. Profit, greed & more profit while keeping the serfs under control.

If internet neutrality dies before I get cable or DSL, I'll be listening to Radio Free Cuba in desperation. :tinfoilhat:

[defendandprotect]

153. Certainly C-span was damaged by Gingrich revolution and years of W . . .

not what it once was many years ago--

However, I think C-span is dedicated by the government to USHR --

and C-span II to the Senate -- In other words, if there was only one C-span

channel it would be covering the House. That was agreed upon.

It really gets bad when we have a "war" cause then the Pentagon/Homeland Security

stuff completely takes over C-span.

Know your frustration -- we're with Verizon now so for about a year I've had

all three channels back. But, again, not what they used to be!

[freddie mertz]

154. CNN sucks and is biased. But maybe if the Dems had brought some bettr talent to the event...

I know the "leadership" needed to be there.

But I suspect the show would have been much improved if Sens Whitehouse, Wyden, and Franken, and Reps Weiner and Grayson, or some combination or selection of this sort of talent, could have been brought to the table.

We should use our best and brightest.

[eagertolearn]

163. I'm with you on this one. Obama made a big mistake not bringing

them to the table with him! Again Obama trying not to be what the GOP paints him as being and but still can't create change being the nice guy with a hand reached out.

[freddie mertz]

167. Wyden is very strong on the bipartisan issues, and Weiner brings a moral tone.

Some mixture of these talents, the NEW and better voices we have, would presumably have held CNN's attention a bit more than the likes of Hoyer, et al.

[fatbuckel]

160. Boo Hoo Hoo

If you don`t like the way CNN handles the news .....don`t watch them. Watch another network. Watch C-span. Watch PBS. Hell,watch FoxNews if you wanna see poor,biased news coverage. But if you don`t like the way someone covers the news,don`t watch them. If enough people don`t watch a certain network,that network will eventually go away. Not rocket science.

[GreenPartyVoter]

164. Wecome to DU.

[DireStrike]

166. Except that's not the way it works.

FYI I think most people in this thread don't watch CNN. I sure don't. However they are seen as the middle of the road network. Shit like this can't be allowed to stand.

[otohara]

171. You're Missing The Point

and you are being naive to think that by not watching a powerhouse like CNN is going to make the network simply "go away".

Glenn Beck only has about 6 advertisers left - do you see him being fired from FOX?

[rhett o rick]

170. I dont see that anything can be done. CNN is worse than Faux. nt

[Bert]

174. Not that stunning

I am really not surprised at the corporate coverage. How many drug commercials does CNN show every 30 minutes? In a country like this where money is free speech and corporations are people I am surprised it is not worse.

[nadinbrzezinski]

176. Phew it wasn't me

:-)

I even mentioned that to my mom. And no, we did not have the CSPAN choice in a hospital.

[RaleighNCDUer]

177. But..but CNN is the epitome of the liberal media elites!

I get it! CNN is protecting the Democrats by always cutting them out of the discussion, thereby not exposing the liberal wrongness they speak to the discerning American public - how can the public argue against an agenda they don't hear?

DAMN THOSE LIBERAL MEDIA ELITES!!!!

[BlueIdaho]

183. Give. Them. Hell.

[Stinky The Clown]

190. More important than health care, than war, than *anything* is the media. it MUST be fixed.

An honest presentation of facts would go MILES toward lighting a light of enlightenment in the populace.

[RKP5637]

192. CNN just simply sucks, another lame crap propaganda news source in USA, Inc. n/t

[upi402]

194. CNN< Corporate News Network

100% propaganda

[RKP5637]

195. Agree!!! And it seems to be getting worse and worse! n/t

[RKP5637]

198. Thanks for posting this!!! n/t