July 10, 2007 07:20 PM
Did CNN Try To Make Michael Moore Look Bad?
In addition to the Gupta hit piece they aired at every opportunity, it looks like CNN wanted to make Moore look as bad physically as they could. Look at that image. Hoffmania! noticed that Michael Moore looked much different--and not for the better--on CNN's site than he did on air. Hmmmm....
UPDATE: CNN's page describing the exchange between Moore and Sanjay Gupta on Larry King also depicts a decidedly splotchy Moore. Our video of the exchange doesn't look nearly that bad. Coincidence?
UPDATE #2: MBH looks at what may be behind Gupta's spat with Moore.
Would I be surprised? Nope, not a bit.
How could CNN not realize that we are watching them like hawks? Their BS is exposed and they still try lame ways to belittle the messenger!
Second to Post
Not CNN's fault moore is fat and unshaven
[Wow. "Michael Moore is fat." No one's ever posted THAT here before-Sitemonitor]
They did a pretty good job on cnns website... Guess that was a mistake huh
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/10/gupta.sicko/index.html
At their site, the doctor looks polished and Michael looks wiped out.
Yes!
Gupta and Aderson Blooper both down-played and generally poo-pooed Michael Moore's "Sicko".
Michael Moore did NOT make a good argument because he disputed statistics, rather than CNN'S INTERPRETATION OF THE STATISTICS.
In the end, "the most trusted name in news" Lost my trust and Gupta should be publicly humiliated and FIRED.
"look as bad physically as they could"?
It's not really that hard to do just contrast him to anyone who weighs less than Kevin Smith and he comes off as looking like a fat pink version of shreik.
Forgive me if this has already been suggested...
Might one reason CNN is so vicious towards Moore be not so much that he's left-wing but that he represents real competition in the news business? That he does a better job of reporting?
Just wondering.
I watched last night and thought that Moore was drunk. Then I realized it was me that was drunk.
FTR no I don't hate Moore I just think this is a silly story.
when decisions like that are made by people in departments such as the one responsible for creating that effect, it shows a deep and concerted attempt to smear and lible Mr. Moore.
Such a concerted effort can only be a mandate of its corporate officers.
As such it should be investigated by the FCC
If Deloitte, Humana, and UHC paid me enough I'd give Michael the what-for with the ol' digital grader machine too!
baby jesus says...my work here is done, back to Darfur
No offense, but I don't think Michael Moore needs a lot of help looking unattractive. The first picture (this one)--
http://www.hoffmania.com/blog/2007/07/if-the-cnn-vide.html
--might have been edited.
The second picture (this one)--
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/10/gupta.sicko/index.html
--was not.
Michael Moore looked splotchy, huh? It's called being obese and of Irish ancestry. While I can't speak to the former, I can tell you that the latter can make folks look a little red in the face, splotchy, etc. It's genetic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosacea
brokenspatula @ 4:
Hey Sysop, A better response would have been:
Yeah well, that's just, ya know, like, your opinion, man.
Yes
jsquire @ 9:
Well, Michael Moore certainly is a better Investigative Journalist, in terms of what is truly screwing Americans, than CNN has ever even attempted to present.
Gupta cares about nothing but his overflowing bank account and of course stroking his own ego.
There goes Moore's sex appeal...
According to Moore, they aired the Gupta piece three times ... is that " ... at every opportunity," Nicolle?
I think not.
Well, they say the camera adds 10 pounds.
Media altering images to make the person more or less attractive is nothing new. Most hollywood stars and models are heavily airbrushed. Anyone remember when Time and Newsweek ran the same picture of OJ on their front covers after he was arrested? One of the magazines (ummm...I forget which) artificially darkened his skin so he would appear more African.
On CNN radio, the soundbite they played was when Sanjay Gupta says something like "Wow, we've never seen Michael Moore speechless before!", in my view, implying the Gupta got the better of him. I'm not exactly surprised that they did that, though.
Gotta tell you-Moore has looked like crap physically in every interview I have seen him on. Don't think you can blame CNN for how he looks physically-how can you make him look any worse anyway?
I don't care how "fat" Michael Moore is.
I only care about the Information he brings me.
If looks was the over-riding factor Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Blooper would still be delivering pizza.
Well, you know that CNN stands for Conniving Naughty Nancie's*, wouldn't put it past them.
*People at large generally aren't aware of this. Feel free to enlighten them at the next, awkward silent moment at a company gathering or social event.
Something I was definitely put off by during the Moore/Gupta face off was when CNN re-ran the Gupta hit piece and kept the camera on Mike's face almost the entire time in a suspiciously drawn out static shot.There was something very aggressive and intimidating about it.Lets face it-they despise Moore and will do what ever they can to go after him and denigrate him.I thought Mike momentarily "ran out of gas" so to speak after Gupta challenged him on his numbers.He just sat there shaking his head and seemed to be thinking:I can't take much more of this horse shit.Luckily he regrouped and rallied back towards the end of the segment.I think he IS tired.People have no concept of how much time and energy he's put into trying to get a dialogue happening on the question of universal health care.
He can't do it alone.He's going to need a lot of help and support.
hueylong @ 24:
Compare the pictures from the site with the video we have up.
They distorted his image to look fatter and splotchier.
As Bob Roberts says, it's nothing new for media outlets to do things like that.
baby jesus, you have a hell of a job ahead of you in Darfur. Good luck, they need you more than we do, that's for sure.
Being as honest as I can be, I was pleasantly surprised to see Michael at the beginning of the first interview with Wolf. He looked the best I had ever seen him. He looked neater and cleaner than he ususally appears.
All the health care numbers you could ever need are here. This summary includes comparisons of the American health care system relative to other countries and between the states, plus data on the uninsured, rising health care costs, the woes of Medicare and Medicaid and more.
For all the details, see:
"SiCKO Required Reading: U.S. Health Care by the Numbers."
Not for nothing but Gupta was sitting in a professional studio with state of the art lighting and camera control. Moore appeared to be sitting in a poorly lit office with a camera facing him at an unflattering angle. I don't think we are looking at a conspiracy here, just different production standards across america. Haven't you ever noticed how crappy your local news looks compared to the national news?
In a word, yes. But not as bad as Scarbourogh did on MSNBC Tuesday AM. Prick.
I too noticed the fade back and forth from a 3 day old growth, tired MM to a clean shaven, clear eyed ergo credible individual speaking taboos that should have been spoken in the MSM at least 7 years ago.....I am sure someone out there has this morphing shit that CNN pulled off saved and ready for a Hippie Forensics check...what a bunch of shmucks although it does show how deeply single payer Free Universal Health Care resonates with the evil ones....I think anyone would be crazy to have stock in anyone of the Health Insurance companies at this time mainly because the term penny stock will sound like good money seemingly overnight for these Vampires.
Angry One @ 31:
Who needs numbers? Fucking spend a couple nights in the Hospital....even WITH insurance! Why are there NO STATISTICS SHOWING JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE LOOSE THEIR HOMES EACH MONTH OVER MEDICAL BILLS?
DOES THAT HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE PLANET?
HELL NO.
THE REASON THEY WENT AFTER MOORE WAS HE CALLED WOLF JUST WHAT HE IS A CNN HOE PIMPING HIM SELF FOR CASH, NO ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT THE TRUTH ANYMORE, JUST TELL US SWEET LIES, WE ARE DOOMED!!
[Jerry. Please don't post in all caps. Thanks-Sitemonitor]
wow. you guys are paranoid. This is about as important as John Edwards haircut. Yes, I'm sure CNN doctored the images because as CG implied, Micheal Moore's celebrity is based up on looks and animal magnetism. I love this site, but occasionally you go off to far-right whacko conspiracy land.
Let's not be SO shallow in making "looks" an issue. MMoore has been on the fast track in promoting Sicko and showed up for interviews across the US. His message in the movie is has touched so many families across the US who have had Medical Insurance Nightmares. Yes, Michael may look tired but he gives his heart and soul to America to make it a better place.
On another note, did Dr Gupta take the Hippocratic Oath in becoming a Dr.? I question Dr Gupta's personal ethics as a Dr. in that oath that so many Drs take to heart and follow in their practice. Dr Gupta seems to have placed the Oath to the side for his own personal agendas-one has to ask his connections to the Network as being a spokesperson. That would be telling.
As Dr Gupta being a Journalist , he fits right in with Wolf B.-as far as I know, there is no Oath for journalists in researching and reporting the news truthfully without bias. For the most part, our reporters, doctors or journalists, on the news stations are under the thumb, hired by the BIG networks in reporting a story.....BIASED? You bet.
I give MMoore great credit in his work in Documentary, SICKO. It certainly has raised awareness and touched the depths of all Americans who have been thru the medical insurance nightmare. Thanks to MMoore for speaking on behalf of mega thousands of AMericans. He has gained much support in his undying efforts in bringing this issue forward. I applaud him.
it's because CNN doesn't understand the basic concept of aspect ratio.
"They distorted his image to look fatter and splotchier."
Splochier? Maybe. But fatter? How? And I mean that in both ways--how would they do it? How would you be able to tell that Michael Moore was looking more than usually fat?
Just like CNN used its logo to cover up Cuba on Moore's ranking of countries.
Moore has schooled these people the way republican hacks like Hannity jump all over people. Moore's not going to take it. No guest should take it.
!2 @ 40:
It's really not that hard...they stretched it along the vertical. Look at the screen grab we made of the video down on the page and compare it to the picture from the CNN site.
Of course CNN skewered Moore in the worst light possible. The interests of corporate America are antithetical to its citizens. There's barely- just barely- a lick of difference between CNN and FOX.
Why can't Michael Moore just be an obese, unattractive man and be left alone?
Who cares what he looks like. He has a message that our EXTRME RIGHT WING MAIN STREAM MEDIA (ERWMSM) has failed to deliver.
This Guy @ 26:
Hate to break it to you, but there is a substantial number of Americans who refer to CNN as the "Communist News Network" because of how left wing it is. Not all of these people are hiding out in bunkers armed to the teeth either....
Michael Moore weighs 300 pounds...it doesn't take outside sources to make him look bad.
His film isn't "Sicko" its "Blimpo"
peter @ 37:
they try to make him look disheveled, unshaven and sullen!
I disagree. by creating a negative image for Moore, the messenger, they surreptitiously undermine "SICKO". the message.
Bob Roberts @ 46:
What do you call a substantial number. I talk to a lot of people who watch CNN and I have never heard the phrase.
!2 @ 44:
Oh, I see. My bad. You don't want to actually look at this with anything resembling intellectual honesty. You just want the opportunity to pull the old "oh yeah, you're ugly" ad hominem against Michael Moore a few times by appearing to be concerned over the content of the post. Well you and andrew can go ahead and call him fat a few more times. I'm sure that fulfills some part of you to do so.
"wow. you guys are paranoid."
Peter the flip side to your statement is wow-those guys are petty.and vicious.and ruthless.It may seem like a small point but these things happen constantly and they add up.They just can't seem to give Mike an honest break.
Bob Roberts @ 46:
How many of them are hiding in bunkers armed to the teeth? And is someone coming by now and again to make sure they have food and water?
However, perhaps our two groups could get together and form some manner of conglomeration? I rather like the sound of Conniving News Nancie's.
Uh, no. I'm wondering if perhaps people could just accept that the guy is neither the most handsome nor the leanest fellow in the world and not worry about it.
You're a tad nutty.
Nicole Belle @ 28:
Yeah, the left side of the pic definitely looks stretched out. You can tell where his ear should be showing up, and they did a poor job matching the skin tone at that spot.
Ron @ 49:
Take a look at most conservative blogs for a start. Also, a lot of the devoted viewership of Fox. Many of the people who routinely argue that the mainstream media is overwhelmingly liberal. In general, conservatives who are the flip side of many people posting on C&L.
I admit that I have not done a survey and that I am sure there are some extreme conservatives who simply haven't heard the term. That still probably leaves millions of Americans. From a personal standpoint, quite a few of my relatives in Oklahoma.
Hmmm [Deleted-Wanna find yourself banned? Leave the bigotry on your side of the keyboard-Sitemonitor]
If anyone saw the Situation Room this afternoon:
Wolf Blitzer gave Gen Kevin Bergner a TOTAL softball question setting up Michael Moore. He let the General get away with claiming that Moore’s statement (that FDR confronted the Axis in less time than it’s taken to secure the road to the Baghdad airport) was no longer relevant, that the road is secure and used by unarmed civilians.
NO follow-up…sure, Iraqis can travel it unarmed, CAN HE? IT’S NOT A SECURE ROAD.
Moore really got under Wolf’s skin, good for him. I don’t think Wolf is the devil incarnate or anything, but he needs to answer tough questions like everyone else in the political arena.
AC
Bob Roberts @ 55:
I don't take anything that a conservative says seriously. Wen you say a substantial number of Americans, I assume that you mean REAL Americans.
!2 @ 53:
That's the way I read your post, too, !2, but, ya know, we're all of us a tad nutty...
andrew @ 47:
Hmm. So if MMoore physical appearance was that of George Clooney or Angelina Jolie -you would take more notice of the message. Einstien wasnt attactive either.
Dont select a book because of 'it's cover', it is the message that is important. Use your brain not your eyes. Food for thought.
I mean, I read your post the way you later said you meant it -- not worry about it.
And here I'm worrying abt being seen as a tad nutty...
Nuts for all!
BaScOmBe @ 48:
Agree with you totally. Some cannot address the truth of the medical insurance issues that MM displays to the public so they attack his appearance instead of his message. So sad that some are so lead in the visual and not the mental in issues that affect all Americans
!2 @ 62:
Hear! Hear!
"Did CNN Try To Make Michael Moore Look Bad?"
DAR
Obviously. Shamelessly they stretched the picture sideways to make him look wider and they adjusted the contrast to make him look splotchy. Not an accident. This is just pathetic. I lost respect, and stopped watching CNN when they gave the dishonest shill Glenn Beck a slot. That was beyond the pale. No serious news organization would do this. This is what happens when your media is completely turned over to, and driven by profit. Truth goes out the window.
Definitely distorted to make it wider. Photoshop 101.
Who wants to take a shot at rubbersheeting Gupta?
cnn shills for big finance,pharma,and defense contractors. check out the commercials.
looks like the took him and gave him a little anamorphic stretch.
To be honest, I doubt Michael Moore is losing any sleep over how CNN made him look physically. He and everyone else is and should be more concerned with the misleading report they aired before his interview. I am a huge fan of Moore and all of his movies, but this discussion looks and sounds like something Malkin, O'Reily, or Hannity would be talking about.
Fat is Fat...
Facts are Facts.
About a year ago Stephen Colbert interviewed, as a guest on "The Report," Anderson Cooper. He intentionally had his lighting crew change Cooper to look splotchy and the color of a zombie. It was very funny and Cooper took it like a gentleman.
It was also enlightening to me and I've made a point to look for similar distortions when watching news programs. It's actually rather common. Pathetic but true.
Moore kicked the crap out of Gupta with the facts.
ROUND ONE - BLITZER vs. MOORE
MOORE - 42
BLIUTZER - 1
ROUND TW0 - MOORE VS. GUPTA
MOORE - 7
GUPTA - 3
FINAL SCORE ??
If you want news ,or to be truely infomed , do not watch CNN ( The Situation Room or what's his face ,Lou Dobbs, or FOX TV ).
My guess is that major news networks, which now includes cable stations, have put so much on their plates that they are unable to do the depth of research necessary to cover a topic well. If Gupta is a busy surgeon my guess is that others did the research. Those others were probably low paid staff or interns who just made a quick general overlook of the subjects-- and he accepted it, since it usually works for him and the network---ie. "news lite and quick". Wolfe B. just moves from one subject to another and has no ability to address anything in depth. I just wonder if they will ever mess with Moore again since he knows his "stuff." Of course they will because people will watch and they will make $$$$$.
I saw Michael Moore on the Daily Show a couple weeks ago and he mentioned to John Stewart that he was supposed to be on Larry King but they cancelled him to get Paris Hilton on instead. Let's see, a flake versus health care. Hmmm.
Then when Moore was on Larry King with that Gupta character last night he was ambushed. But Moore handled himself well, but was pretty agitated. They even took great pleasure in leaving Moore speechless for a minute while he gathered his thoughts. But Moore got some good jabs in and made Gupta look like an idiot. And you could see whose side King was on.
And I agree the lighting on him was awful.
yea if you paid attention to the king interview. it seemed like larry king's agenda was to make it look like michael moore "over-reacted" and not about the merits to Michael Moore's complaint with Gupta and CNN. they tried to do a hit job on him. i wish moore was a little better prepared, he should have taken this interview more seriously but all in all everyone came out ok.
Gupta is part of the problem with the news gathering sources Americans rely on for the truth today....they don't tell the truth anymore. They tell what they have to to keep ratings up and money coming in. If it weren't for the internet, Americans would get NO truth from the media. Just like in USSR back in the day! Gupta's seemingly good looks and smooth on-camera delivery makes him a winner with the thick-headed sleep-walkers in this country, but he's part of the mis-information problem the country faces and should be forced to suck the pipe for being such a shallow asshole.
....and did anyone see the Kyra Philips(?) tease to the Situation Room around 3:40pm yesterday? After the review of the story(they re-played Michael's reaction Gupta's hit piece(ediied) she said...(and I paraphrase-) "There will be part II of our interview with Michael Moore, if you can stomach it"
This is journalism in America in 2007. If we don't demand the truth they will continue to present their own agenda...everyday, unabated...it is time to take to the streets, I believe!
Wolf has an interesting concept of excellence.
I will add CNN to my no-watch list, right alongside Fox News. Anyone else have the spine to join me?
foxxysports @ 69:
Actually I think Michael Moore is quite pleased with the whole episode. It has drawn national attention to his cause which is exactly why he made SICKO in the first place.
If you look at the bloggs there is a huge number of posters debating the health care system, throwing facts at each other, and people debating every issue that the film raised. National media have picked up on it and its generating huge interest across the web and MSM.
In short... the buzz it has created is priceless exposure. The worst thing would have been that the public would yawn at the film and it would slip into oblivion.
Ad hominem attacks? I'm sure that Moore has heard them all before and could care less... he's winning in the court of public opinion and to him that is the only thing that matters!
Otay @ 79:
After Disney and ABC pulled that stunt on "The Path to 9/11" I blocked them as well as FOX. A house guest asked me about that the other day and if I thought it really made a difference... the answer is yes on two counts: 1. the boxes can detect blocks and Neilson and Arbitron do get data on this. 2. It matters to me... not one frickin' penny to those corporatist fascist jackasses.
Rasputin @ 82:
So you should block NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, HBO, etc. If in fact you believe your statement "not one frickin' penny to those corporatist fascist jackasses".
king is a piss-lapping scumbag...more interested in his ratings than in his country. What a douchebag. He's about as good at journalism as miller is at being a comedian....both pathetic.
I thought MM did a good job explaining his position and defending himself against the claim that he "fudged the facts", but I still find it hypocritical that he is complaining about the high cost of health care. A large part of this high cost is caused by people like him who make poor life style choices resulting in obesity which leads to costly chronic conditions such as diabetes. These expensive health conditions are preventable by simply altering behavior (such as being a non-smoker or eating healthy and exercising). And before you complain that this may just be a genetic condition, see his interview on Maher's show where he admits to this (and tries to claim he is reformed because now he has begun eating some vegetables).
Oh, and Nicole -- I think you need to respond to #20 above who asked about your claim in the post that the hit piece against MM was "aired at every opportunity". You answered other posts -- so answer his. How many times was it aired? Let's use facts rather than innuendo.
This was so overblown. Gupta acted like a teacher reading a report from a student and made some corrections. Moore acted like a spoiled high school kid and had a fit. I am surprised that Moore didn't have his parents call and complain. Moore's research is on par with a high school student's. Gupta has an MD, and is an expert in this field. He knows how to do research, and just acted as a teacher to Moore. In the end, I don't think Moore was being sincere in his objections. I think he was trying to create more publicity for his movie, and therefore more money in his pocket.
Moore makes great documentaries, but he has fudged facts on every movie he has made. That is what good documentaries do. It is not that big of a deal.
CNN should get some feed back about all this.
Right CNN to tell them what you think about Wolfs and Gupta's coverage:
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?65
Come on now, fair's fair. Moore hasn't looked very good in any of his interviews, least of all the satellite ones. I don't think CNN would have to try to make him look unattractive.
Let's stick to the substance of the issue and not fall into the trap of trying to pin everything on the evil media. The real transgressions are bad enough without having to go looking for more.
All we need to know about Sanjay Gupta's ability is what did he say about the Terri Schiavo issue. he should have said that Bill Frist could not have made any diagnosis looking at a video tape. He, Dr. Neurosurgeon, should have told people that the MRI should be believed. I really don't remember what he said but I don't believe that he stood up for science over magic and the Republicans. Sanjay is a talking head plain and simple. If he were the editor of the NEJM rather than medicine's shock and awe voice, he would be reliable.
Bob Roberts @ 46:
these people your talking about wouldnt be a bunch of fluck faced repigs would they? cnn liberal ha ha ha
The TRUTH will bring down CNN. Who cares if these corporate whores continue to try so many ways to bring Michael Moore down? It DOES NOT MATTER because they are failing. Big time!
Michael Moore has exposed the truth about the MSM WHORES and how they are simply corporate whores who care nothing about We The People.
It's time for the Fairness Doctrine to get rid of MSNBC and CNN!
Yeah for Michael! The MAJORITY of America is behind you!
Tuesday's beating of CNN is just the start.
Living it and loving it!
Time Warner has a track record of altering cover images, particularly of Time Magazine, to make the subject appear more menacing or crazy or whatever. I guess they are just applying that propaganda on CNN now as well...didn't matter tho, it was the words coming out of his mouth that people were/should be concerned with...Michael Moore has shown time and again to be a leader of the highest order, by consistently speaking truth to power. He even called out the Beard that they would edit his segment...
oh yeah, and crooksandliars has NEVER made anyone (they didn't like) look bad? give me a fucking break......[deleted--don't insult the site or its contributers on their bandwidth-sitemonitor]
I couldn't care less if Michael Moore's a little butter ball with a shiny forehead... However, I DO care about seeing his movie. Ugh, people, CNN just sucks...
that's a good point ... you must admit.
Guys, get a clue. And update this post - it's an embarrassment
to an otherwise fine website. This has nothing to do with Moore:
CNN's crappy web video system does this to ALL of their videos.
They're taking a 4x3 (square) broadcast and showing it in a
16x9 (rectangular) box, which distorts the image making objects
(and people) look wider than they are.
All Gupta's really did was just bashed the movie, which really does no one any good. It was an amazing blind-side, just before Moore was about to go on the air to talk about his movie. You would think that CNN would want to have a positive conversation about the movie and the very important healthcare issue.
It is amazing that his "fact checking" report said absolutely nothing positive about the movie. It was just a fluff piece talking about a few facts in a movie about a very important topic.
It is also amazing that a smart guy like Gupta just seems to miss the point. He nit picks about some facts, but misses the bigger point, that Moore is out there talking about the healthcare problem. Moore should be commend for making it an issue and stirring up the soarly needed conversation. That should be incredibly commended. I do not see Gupta out there taking on the problem and forcing politicians to face the healthcare issue. Where are his journalistic skills in really addressing healthcare in the U.S.? As a Doctor/journalist he should be in Washington questioning the politicians about what they are doing on the healthcare issue. The public consistently considers it one of the most important issues.
At the end of the day I am afraid Gupta is really just another guy looking to cash in on his media fame.
Although certainly controversial you have to commend Moore for taking on the biggest issues of the day: guns/culture of violence, healthcare, Iraq war, and reckless corporate downsizing in his movies. Truly amazing. We should have a couple a dozen Michael Moores in the U.S. He should be considered a hero for trying to make the country a better place.
Site Monitor: Please don't use all bold in your posts.
To expose the bias of TV News look at the promos and in-show teases.
In CNN they teased the M Moore piece by unfairly slamming him and the doc Sicko.
But exaime FOX News' teases - they are far more twisted than the network's actual reporting.
This is the weak link for attacking media bias because teases and promos are not subject to the same protections as a journalistic story.
Because the tease/promo can be argued to be a commerical product - geared to attract an audience to earn a profit - and not to directly inform the public.
So the standards for proving libel are lower and the penalty for airing false information is greater.
And this is where the far greater distortions occur.
I wish someone would pick up on this and hold FOX News accountable - and CNN because they do it too. Dobbs I'm looking at you.
who cares if were 36 or 39 ... we should fucking be number 1.... what the fuck is going on?
When did America become OK with being anything less than number 1? Or at least striving to achieve the status.
Can there be any doubt now where CNN allegiance lies -- the RepubliCON$ may have called it
the "Clinton News Network" in the 1990s but it, like everything else, that told the more of the truth than not
has been brought under the CON$ervative yoke of lies.
One wonders how or if Vanderbilt heir, Anderson Copper*, manages to tell "all sides"
of the story. Or maybe the fact the he may not need to pay check helps him keep the corporate types at arms length, or maybe not)
Anderson Copper is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt (those of us old enough may have worn her jeans in the 1970s and 80s)
She is the great grand daughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt
whenever someone, or some group of people, does anything within their power to protect one of their own (like has been done here by ms. belle here to defend mr. moore)......they demonstrate that they are no different than any political party.
what ms. belle should do is hold all of mr. moore's statements to account. she should never, ever absolve herself, or mr. moore, of self-scrutiny. otherwise, they lose.
members of crooksandliars, never forget this.
crooksandliars is censoring my comments
oops, guess not.
blacklabelbeer @ 101:
It started around the election of 1968 with the 'silent majority' speech by noxin. he unleashed a hateful, uneducated, racist, sexist, xenophobic, ignorant torrent of bile that has culminated in a country that wants a preznitwit they can have a beer with.
minorities should be extinctified
women who are not barefoot and pregnant are whores.
quears are to be feared
doing any wrong to an 'evil-doer' is justifiable
and no matter what 'facts' you try to use, my 'faith' is stronger.
bill @ 103:
you have a real problem, bill.
you can't see past your own argument.
it's pretty pathetic.
I could understand your supposed point if you were actually arguing facts. but you're not.
you're trying to parse, hair-split and cherry-pick against Moore and your attempts are pathetic.
what's worse is your whining about Ms. Bell personally.
then you 'reach out' to all of C&L for what, SYMPATHY?
eh!!
bill @ 103:
I defy you to find anywhere in this post where I defend Michael Moore's statements. COMPLETELY irrelevant to the point of this post, Bill. Whether or not I agree with MM (and for the record, I do for the most part), my focus here was on the subtle and not so subtle ways that CNN sought to detract from Michael Moore's message by distorting his physical image. There's a reason they choose beautiful models as spokespeople for products, Bill. It's our basic animal psychology that we tend to dismiss ideas from those we find physically unattractive. CNN distorted images of Moore on their website in their coverage of this flap up for a reason. This website is full of ways that the media tries to frame issues for us. I think this is a valid example of another method.
And for the poster who dismissed this as your basic video distortion, I'd suggest you read the links again. This had to do with the screen captures and photos CNN opted to use on their website.
And to TB above, even after being told by Moore's people that "hit piece" was inaccurate, they saw fit to air it no less than 3 more times that I saw, and I don't watch CNN often. I'd say that was slipping it in as often as possible, unless you see another reason why they'd air a disputed piece after being told that.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/article.php?id=10017
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/news/article.php?id=10026
um that pretty much sums u the debate about the "facts"
i like this one the best
CNN: The United States ranks highest in patient satisfaction.
THE TRUTH:
* True, but even when the WHO took patient satisfaction into account in its comprehensive review of the world's health systems, we still came in at #37. ("World Health Organization Assesses The World's Health Systems," Press Release, WHO/44, June 21, 2000. http://www.who.int/inf-pr-2000/en/pr2000-44.html ).
* Patients may be satisfied in America, but not everyone gets to be a patient. 47 million are uninsured and are rarely patients - until it's too late. In the rest of the Western world, everyone and anyone can be a patient because everyone is covered. (And don't face exclusions for pre-existing conditions, co-pays, deductibles, and costly monthly premiums).
* It's not that other countries are unhappy with their health care – for example, "70 to 80 percent of Canadians find their waiting times acceptable." ("Access to health care services in Canada, Waiting times for specialized services (January to December 2005)," Statistics Canada, http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-575-XIE/82-575-XIE2006002.htm )
Gupta is getting trashed in the comments section of his own blog. This guy is a real slimy piece of work. Help us challenge him on his lies about Michael Moore: PAGING DR GUPTA BLOG
CorporateNewsNetwork
Nuff said.
Did CNN Try To Make Michael Moore Look Bad? Most likely. He's not a big advertiser, like some big pharma, so who cares/why care about him? It's profit-driven America. Yeah. (???)
Other than us I mean. We love you Michael. Keep fighting!
Judy Woodruff said that there would be a part 2 coming up later that day "if you can stomach it." So count her in on the Moore bashing at CNN.
In a fascist society (or any other form of corporate governed dystopian kakistocracy) just telling the truth becomes an act of treason and/or sedition. Has anyone noticed that there's a media-wide moratorium on using the term "filmmaker" in regards to Mr. Moore unless it's falsely quantified by the word "controversial"?
In proper Orwellian kakistocratic context, the new definition of "controversial" is "honest and truthful".
www.HelpBuyTheBeer.Org
www.ByeGeorge.Org
This is not unlike the corporate suck up they are, as is most the MSM. Even in our "liberal" ( supposedly so) local paper, all they could do is run a short piece about the 5-10-15% error they claimed...know what? WHO gives a-shit! I do not care if Moore had a 20% error or debatable factor...the other 80% undisputed truth is totally being IGNORED...as usual. So, here is the plan...the media will bull-dog the 1'' of error in Moore's documentary, mean while we the people will get the other 9'' shoved up our ass, per usual, no questions asked... Now there's an accurate proctology report for you.
This is not important enough to care about really. Anyone whose concern for the health care issue would be swayed by the appearance of the person on one particular side is not someone we should concern ourselves with, ultimately, is it???
Remember, if Edwards would be (is??) saying the same things as Moore, then he'd be dismissed by those who love the profit-driven medical care system for being a Prell-Boy or whatever else. He's either a fat slob who has no right to lecture people on health care, or he's so good-looking and vain he can't be trusted - as long as the Right disagrees with him!
Keith @ 110:
thanks! I left them a steamer, them being LK and goopta
Conspiracy theories be damned. I saw Moore's interview with Amy Goodman on "Democracy Now" a couple weeks ago, and he looked just as obese and disheveled as he does there.
Stick to real news.
From Nicole
Bull. Maybe for the weak minded, but those that society considers beautiful as of late, seem to be the most dense (aka Paris Hilton, etc....) People dont hate Michael Moore because he's unattractive. Those that do hate him because he is less than credible in the way he spews and stretches facts, which make him no different from the mainstream media.
People watch Larry King and BOR in large numbers, but they arent exactly covermodels....
Gee...the plaything of TimeWarner/AOL...whose board members sit on the boards of Big Pharm companies....trying to make the guy making Big Pharm look like the highly unethical profit-driven drug dealing Pieces of $hit that they are..look bad
Nah...no way.
Compare these pictures, supposedly from sessions right after each other:
http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/10/gupta.sicko/tzsup.moore...
http://www.hoffmania.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/07/09/picture_2.png
Noone is proposing that you can mistake Michael for miss universe, but come on!
Maybe they should change their motto to "CNN the most childish name in news"!
Jay @ 119:
I'm pretty sure that Nicole is right.
Who is the president? The answer to that question proves that people can be turned into idiots and vote against their better interests in sufficiently large numbers to allow Scalia to steal a presidency. So your 'weak minded people' are more prevalent and malleable than you'd apparently like to believe
So, like it or not, the manipulation of opinion by the media is an art that has been somewhat perfected over the years, to the point where you, apparently, won't even recognize or acknowledge it.
No...sorry, but not falling for that one. One conspiracy theory has nothing to do with the other...except that we both agree that most people are generally stupid by nature. I however see no difference in the stupidity of those that worship at the church of the extreme right Republican party versus those that worship at the church of the Liberal Michael Moore wing of the Democratic Party. A sheep is a sheep.
and why do they always try to say Moore is a socialist.. he is obviously a capitalist.. Makes a product and sells it. Hmmmmmmm smells like capitalism to me
Of course they tried to make him look bad - they're a fascist propaganda outlet. If you are looking for truth, or facts or responsible journalism from these hacks, you are looking in the wrong direction. It isn't going to happen. They're as bad as FOX Noise.
Funny thing, the people making fun of Michael Moore for being heavy are fans of rash limpballs. If being overweight disqualifes the former's statements, shouldn't they also disqualify the latter?
At least Moore checks his facts.
the light is very poor, not pro quality whatsoever
the camera angle is off horizon and above, and worse, it moves, which NEVER happens in an interview
not to mention they use a hit piece on him to start with that is all false?
face it, CNN is the fascist boob they appear to be. guess they are getting a lot from the big pharma hmm?
Is that Moore's pie hole talking or is it Gumby?
MM's work is provocative and timely. Gupta works within the parameters of his profession and affiliation with CNN. Both express excellent touchstone viewpoints and are equally valid. We NEED dialogue folks! Actually, Gupta seemed more relaxed and was intellectually more nimble than Moore for the most part. Nevertheless, MM's film is relevant to the general malaise and chaos of these dark neo-con times we are collectively suffering through under this vile administration.
!2 @ 15:
Having worked in Television all my life I know what they did (or did not do to the pictures)...
The first pic was taken from "The Situation Room's" Video wall. The video wall is made up of a collection of video screens. You can clearly see the lines dividing each projection screen. None of them match each other and also the picture has been stretched width wise to fit the widescreen media-player they use. They then took a snapshot of the distorted image and put it on their website. This then exaggerated the faults even more.
The second image is taken from full screen video of Michael (not the video wall). It's image was stretched for widescreen as well. CNN then took this stretched image and reposted it on their website.
Both images are distorted in one way or another. Someone was very lazy for doing this when they could have used the original undistorted images. Or was it on purpose as many have suggested... Hmmmmmmm.....?
This "story" about CNN showing Michael Moore as being extra 'splotchy' reminds me of when Bill O'Reilly accused Al Franken of the EXACTLY same thing a few years back, regarding the cover of Franken's "Lies..." I come to C&L every day, and I'm a huge fan of the site, but this story is idiotic. Moore just isn't an attractive TV personality. Get over it.
May I suggest another reason why the doctor might be against Universal Healthcare? I live in Canada and one of the problems we have is doctors going to the States where they can make more money. Perhaps Dr. Gupta is afraid that Universal Healthcare may adversely affect his wallet?
if nicole belle actually believes that our media are to blame for physically distorting the physical features of leftists, in order to smear or otherwise fault them, then how would she defend crooksandliars' use of the same tactic? every day, on this site, i see a distorted, pathetic image of a republican or conservative. can she actually defend this claim i am making? good luck, nicole!
and to follow up on my original claim......can anyone here dispute it?
"Physician and journalist"?!? Gupta looks like a smarmy used car salesman
nicole, i like what you do, and i enjoy this site, but you are not immune from criticism. i understand you must self-preserve, otherwise perish, but let's be serious. this site has often trashed, smeared, and insulted republicans. there is simply no doubt about it.
so, why this post of yours? do you actually think that CNN is any different than crooksandliars when it comes to ways of defeating or demeaning the opposition, or opposition party?
nietzsche once said, "madness is rare in individuals, but in nations and political parties it is the rule."
Michael totally wiped up the floor with CNN's quack of a doctor and Wolfman. Was great to watch.
God the press is f-in crooked. I just watched a few of these clips and CNN was falling over themselves trying to make Moore seem like a "radical" fool. These bastards are suck.
I watched this the other night, and I had to endure listening to that smarmy elitist quack try to defend his lies. What really got me is when he said the following...
"However, Gupta said he was concerned that the movie -- which notes that other developed nations such as France and Canada have universal health care --suggests that health care in those countries is free."
OK...I'm no rocket scientist. But at least I'm smart enough to know that nothing is free! Apparently the audience that you usually entertain at CNN is stupid enough to believe everything that the media tells them.
And then he comes back with..."I thought it was a good movie, and I wanted to say that," Gupta said. "I think it strikes at the irrefutable fact -- it's broken. We get it." Well, if you "get it", then how come we don't have Universal Health Care in this country, and we still have elitist morons like you, coming onto these "So Called Liberal Media" shows, saying that his numbers are wrong? Because you don't "get it"...not yet, at least.
Bill, for the record, I have NEVER distorted any image of any person on this site. Ever.
If I use a photo or graphic for a post, I do a Google image search and upload what I find. Are they sometimes unflattering? Sure. But if you cannot understand the difference between using an unflattering photo that's out there in the internets and specifically distorting an image of your own, then you are the one with the problem.
Also, let's be clear: this is not a neutral news site. Never have claimed to be one either. This is a personal blog and reflects the views of the site owner and we the contributers. I don't have to remain non-partisan, and I make no assertions of being so. CNN does. And again, if that stance is too nuanced for you, I'm very sorry.
So stop the false equivalencies, because it only makes you look bad and your criticism rather inane.
Anon Y Mous @ 87:
Thanks! I told them what I thought about Gupta's hit piece, nicely.
The key is to remember that half the population has below average intelligence, by definition.
Then again, that is not to say that those that are above average can't be manipulated too. I know a few very intelligent people that still believe things like there were WMDs in Iraq and that Iraq was affiliated with Al Qaeda. It all depends on who you trust, I guess.
Hit piece against Michael Moore? Huh? You guys are out of your minds! So Michael Moore made some mistakes in his movie and Gupta stated them. That's a hit piece?
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