A Wink And A Nod
For those who haven't seen it, check out this tape for the latest example of the sad state of our purported "press."
Scary times for those who understand the role of journalism in a stable and functioning democracy.
Scary times for those who understand the role of journalism in a stable and functioning democracy.
posted by The Cunning Realist at Thursday, April 06, 2006
7 Comments:
The latest example of the sad state of our purported "press."
"Bush Administration Media Collusion Memos Surface
Monday, April 3, 2006
WASHINGTON — In a disturbing turn of events for an administration already plagued by sagging poll numbers and waning support for the Iraq war, Friday's revelation that the Bush Administration issued direct guidelines for programming to media outlets is troubling even die-hard conservatives.
Late Friday a series of memos between senior Bush Administration officials and management at Viacom, Inc. were leaked calling for the media giant to focus on stories and programming choices that "reinforce the Administration's positions" and to "ignore and/or discredit points of view in opposition to the Bush Administration's foreign policy objectives for the purposes of National Security."
Democrats and key civil rights figures were quick to comment on this latest chapter of alleged government malfeasance. [...]
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist took a more defensive stance. "Of course it raises some concerns, but we can't let this issue be blown out of proportion. Of course there have to be media guidelines. Hell, if we want to plant I.D. chips in people and torture their loved ones until they break, we will. I know the idea of governmental control over what the media can or cannot say during wartime may be an uncomfortable topic for some to digest, but it is a necessary fact of life when our enemies are trying to kill us."
Debra L. Lee, president and CEO of Viacom's Black Entertainment Television, agrees. "Even though our moniker is BET, our allegiance lies with our government and its directives, not the African-American community. Anyone who believes that we will endorse messages in contrast to our government's wishes, or that express dissent, is sorely mistaken." [...]"
http://www.fox-news.us/story/0,3566,190215,00.html
"Bush Says He Wants 'Independent' Relationship with Press
Published: January 26, 2005 12:01 PM ET
NEW YORK At President Bush's press conference this morning [...] he also tackled other subjects, including the rising concern about columnists and commentators taking money or receiving other favors from officials in return for friendly coverage.
Bush said the Education Department made a mistake in paying conservative commentator Armstrong Williams to promote administration policies. (It has also now come out that another columnist, Maggie Gallagher, received money from a different department.)
"There needs to be a nice, independent relationship between the White House and the press," Bush said, adding that the White House didn't know about the Williams agreement.
He added: "But all our Cabinet Secretaries must realize that we will not be paying commentators to advance our agenda. Our agenda ought to be able to stand on its own two feet. I'm confident you'll be, over the course of the next four years, willing to give our different policies an objective look -- won't you?" [...]"
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000777576
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Scary times, indeed...
To: jay(walker)
Jay, thanks for the link. I'm left speechless by the quote:
"if we want to plant I.D. chips in people and torture their loved ones until they break, we will. I know the idea of governmental control over what the media can or cannot say during wartime may be an uncomfortable topic for some to digest, but it is a necessary fact of life when our enemies are trying to kill us."
Sounds like Beria or Göring. No. Heck, it's not some obscure city councillor from Hicksville, either. Fer crissake, it's the United States Senate Majority Leader.
And I thought Chris Matthews was one of the better ones.
Antonie,
You do know that Matthews' brother is running for the Lt. Governor position as a Republican in Pennsylvania, right?
Oooops, ehm...
jay (walker) said..[...]
"Bush Administration Media Collusion Memos Surface
Monday, April 3, 2006"
My posting 4/06/2006 2:46 PM
The story / link was a hoax. I fell for it hook, line & sinker....
"Fox News? Or Fox Views?
By Admin.
April 5th, 2006
Peace All,
Recently a satire piece went out that caught the attention of many, detailing how the Bush Administration and Viacom, among others, colluded to suppress dissent and infuse communities of color with negative and escapist entertainment. [...]
Note that the above is satire and the link now reflects it as such. [...]
It was a shock tactic intended to make people notice and it worked. [...]
And let's not lose sight of the fact that the success of the dupe underscores why it is necessary to do research on topics prior to endorsing them. www.fox-news.us is not www.foxnews.com. A simple google search or click on the Associated Press link would have revealed this fact. Most people nowadays believe what they want to believe, not what is actually real (like the arguments for WMDs and illegal wire-tapping, etc.). "
http://www.guerrillafunk.com/thoughts/doc000025.html/story/0,3566,190215,00.html
My bad, sorry. 'Fool me once... shame on me...'
Retired General Zinni has written a book and is making the rounds. "The Battle for Peace : A Frontline Vision of America's Power and Purpose"
He states very clearly, it takes more than elections to make a Democracy.
Highly recommend this "The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism", too.
Without a honest and free press, that does it job, there is no Democracy.
Corporate or Government propaganda, fake news, fake journalists, will destroy the fibers of a Democracy.
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