Calling it like it is: Obama Aides Rip Cable News, D.C. Media And Political Elite
By John Amato Wednesday Feb 11, 2009 5:31amCase in point: White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, on the presidential plane today, directly targeted cable news as out of touch with America when asked about polling on the stim package. From the White House transcript:
I think it’s illuminating because it may not necessarily be where cable television is on all of this. But, you know, we’re sort of used to that. We lost on cable television virtually every day last year. So, you know, there’s a conventional wisdom to what’s going on in America via Washington, and there’s the reality of what’s happening in America.
That’s not all. In response to another question about Obama’s scheduled rally today in Elkhart, Indiana, Gibbs directly attacked the White House press corps. “We’ll get to measure whose questions were better over the course of the day — the voters of Elkhart or the reporters of Washington,” Gibbs says
We've been saying this for a long time now. It's refreshing to hear....
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As do Geithner and Summers.
Stand behind the stimulus bill, whatever the fuck it is.
It's the home team's bill.
Vote for the home team.
That's what's you're supposed to do.
Let's face it--this is an awful stimulus package. Even Obama has admitted it has problems. During the campaign he said he would work hard to eliminate wasteful spending, yet now he is about to introduce more new wasteful spending and tax cuts than he ever will likely eliminate.
"Voting for the home team" is what got us into Iraq, approved the Patriot Act, and has led to the current economy. The Democrats need to learn to act thoughtfully and not just go along with conventional wisdom.
I bet the exact same post could have appeared on a right-wing blog during the bush admin with the names changed to bush people.
I guess its just a case of the press being so damn worthless eh? No matter what is going on, they'll be missing the mark. Help the country understand the details of Obama's plan? Hell no! Lets rile up some Dem/Repub rivalry!
more important than actually solving problems. Hell, that would be doing their jobs. You know, the low paying government jobs..
so correct.
When the right-wingers were in office, the "reporters" were all cheering them on... No matter what Bush might have tried to say about the media picking on him.
Now, the "reporters" are STILL cheering on the right-wingers...
So I don't see how blogs then and now are really the same...?
We all are responsible for improving the state of journalism in this country. Be the media. Ask the questions. Demand the answers.
What are the best groups you know of working for reforming the media.
'Outfoxed' and 'Orwell Rolls in His Grave' are two documentaries that lay out the problem real well.
Brad Friedman is putting it on the line for Election Reform. Who are doing the best work in Media Reform?
Blogs like this.
Join their action network. Help us solve the problem. Don't just complain about it. Do something constructive.
http://freepress.org/index2.php
I think the problem runs a little deeper than Republican talking points.
We're looking at the impact of immediacy on journalism. Stations and networks often seem to be obsessed with being first with a breaking story, more than being 'right' (the 'terrorists using sports drinks' crap that went on for a couple of days before the facts about a gimmicked bottle that happened to be a sports drink being revealed).
Closely linked to this is the push for market share and ratings. Facts will take a back seat if they don't keep viewers tuned in. The window dressing is insane - we're currently saddled with buzzwords like 'promise' and 'impact' in regards to our teases, because that's supposedly what gets people to watch.
We're also suffering from expert-itis. We don't know shit, we have to have an expert on set to explain what It All Means. When the populace can't be bothered to think, and the media (deliberately or unintentionally) provides 'experts' to fill the gap, the media contributes to its own downfall.
Seems to me the problem stems from abuse of having formed a monopoly by Republican ownership . . . Why does not the Sherman AntiTrust Act apply in this case.
in the Ronald Reagan view of the world that we live in...things like the Sherman Antitrust Act...Glass Steagall...fairness doctrine..etc...are "quaint".
The free market is PERFECT!! LOLOL!
... ever since he calmly destroyed Baby Jesus Hannity in an interview last fall.
Just killed him. It was beautiful to watch.
I think Obama finally got his stride these last few days when he bypassed the cable talking heads (that's for staff to do) and went directly to the American people. Cable news will cover it because they have to, after all, he is the President. [Pinch me because I still don't believe it.]
But what is his way?
I don't know.
Fair question because it is difficult for any of us to know with all the media filters in place. I guess only time will tell.
Tue, 02/10/2009 - 15:58 — They all suck
But what is his way?
I don't want to know.
Pinch me because I still don't believe it.
Pinch! Yes, it's President Obama. He's really the president.
I hold all those guys accountable for leading us into the mess in Iraq and failing to investigate the Bush Administration. Investigative and in depth reporting is up to us. Unfortunately they pay mainstream journalists so well that they don't do their job.
To paraphrase Caligula: If they all had but one head, I'd noogie it.
When I try to compare what I think I know, gleaned from blogs, The News Hour, BBC radio and my Magic 8-Ball, to what I'd know if I got all my news strictly from MSM sources (CNN for example)I have to sit down and take a few deep breaths till the fear and anger subsides.
THERE IS NO SUCH ANIMAL AS THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
It's a fiction created by Rush Limbaugh that allows idiots like him to browbeat the media into compliance.
Repeat the lie, and you give it credence.
Focus on the underlying issue - the essential need for accuracy and facts - and you'll find Rusholini right there on the chopping block with the rest of us 'MSM' slimeballs.
Lump together all the traditionally recognized valid news sources (Major newspapers, network news, 24 cable news channels) where the vast majority of people get their news from and they are the MSM. Whats fictional about it?
They all have the same story; the same talking points. Watch one and you have watched them all. Who is ordering them to all say the same damn thing with different words; the same damn message. WHO IS IT? They all can't think the same thing. Someone is ordering this from ON HIGH. Another thing, some years ago I saw Tom Brokaw on CSPAN at a meeting of all the head TV news anchors and he said that NBC takes the position of the majority of people in the country. If everyone loves BUSH, they slant the news toward being favorable to Bush. The credo that they follow has nothing to do with giving Americans facts. They slant what they say and they report what fits in with their bias and ignore the rest. This is how we got Bushed for 8 years. We need to get rid of these people!!!
When we say MSM do you think we're referring to the mythological librul media that Rush and co. like to rave about? Cause ya, that BS. but there is an MSM.
Screw the wars.
Screw the defense establishment.
More money for states.
No money for banks.
Support the American People.
But I'm not Obama.
And it's not going to happen.
'I think it’s illuminating because it may not necessarily be where cable television is on all of this. But, you know, we’re sort of used to that. We lost on cable television virtually every day last year. So, you know, there’s a conventional wisdom to what’s going on in America via Washington, and there’s the reality of what’s happening in America.'
Is this gibberish or am I having just a bad "reading" day??
It's amazing that President Obama lost on cable news every day during the campaign and yet he was elected president by 53% of the people that voted. Shows how insignificant cable news has become. When stories about Britney Spears become the focal point of the news for weeks, people just stop taking cable news as source for real information. Now the young woman that had octuplets is the "story of the day". In the meantime, unemployment rises and banks fail and cable news is focused on a woman with more children than the old lady in the shoe.
May the old lady throw her shoe at boosh.
The media has been failing us. Badly. Sometimes one side of an issue is WRONG and the media should be stating this!
Cable news is just about worthless unless you like to watch high speed car chases, movie star bs, and two people, who know nothing about most subjects, discussing those subjects and disagreeing with an expert in the field.
it's out of touch with reality. Quite pathetically so.
I so glad you have a President who actually takes the time to listen and respectfully respond to the questions asked of him.
Having said that, however, he needs to address those troubling questions about torture and the new troop deployments into Afghanistan. I think he might reconsider his thinking in those areas if enough people make their disapproval known.
The funny thing is while TV news is becoming more about enteretainment, the entertainment is becoming less entertaining.
It seems the only thing on anymore is "reality" shows, game shows and wrestling.
Reality TV shows basically distill down to 'fuck you'. Want a million dollars? You have to lie, cheat, steal, screw over your housemates, roommates, fellow castaways, singers, dancers, whatever.
When 'Survivor' first debuted on CBS, we started doing 'Survivor Updates' in the newscast, as to who got kicked off the fucking island, etc.
I asked my news director why we were doing this, when it was most certainly not news or news-worthy.
"I know, but it's a great opportunity for cross-promotion."
Y'all have a problem with vampires in your area?
You are one of the first people I've heard who have pointed out how destructive the "Survivor" show mentality is.
I have been saying for a while Survivor is the MOST immoral show on television. I predict that when the kids grow up watching that crap and think that is how adults actually interact with each other, that will be how the workplace is run.
the thing I didn't realize is the adults have been watching it and the behavior is now standard operational procedure in many workplaces.
Thinka how they "debate."
I'm so glad .... need coffee ...
Republicans still rely on cable news networks to get their message across to Americans. In the meantime, more Americans are turning to the Internet for information and that includes some of the "grays of America". As the older, less technical generation passes on and is replaced by the younger technical generation, the Republican owned cable news networks will become less and less relevant. Since Republicans are regressive, they are having more difficulty moving into the new world of technology. McCain's inability to use e-mail is a good example. Our grandchildren will be asking us, what was the Republican Party.
you are correct, but I doubt it. We need an American BBC.
Just like newspapers. The problem with cable news networks is that they got into the business of news as entertainment.
Sensationalizing the news to get more viewers is a shell game.
You never win. Unless you're the dealer with the shells. If you don't mind cheating. Yes, this will bite them in the ass for years to come.
The right wing is so behind the times with the exception of the fundy churches which use advanced technology to hypnotize their audience into following their fundy ideology. Sorry, I regressed.
The religious orgs are all over the intertubes. From what I hear, My Space is one of the big ones.
D'you hear My Space and Face Book are merging?
They're becoming My Face
Sponsored by Clearasil.
No, Really.
butt ugly. Especially in the mornin.
I think I'll start a social network for pot smokers called "Space Book".
Hope that name isn't taken.
I think thassa been taken by the trekkies.
Where no bong has gone before?
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/witchys...
... News Corp buy MySpace?
Way to kill a joke, bro
But they do own one of them.
bought MySpace.
The thought of Rupert Murdoch's mug and 'MyFace' isn't funny?
Rupert and mudshark can go on "My Ugly Facebook" LOL
When I fell out of the ugly tree, I didn't hit every branch. Just the big ones.:)
News should be facts alone and not accompanied by editorial comments.
News was never meant to be fair and balanced, it was meant to be factual and true.
And if editorial comments are allowed, an opposing opinion ought to be standard. I will never forgive or forget the MSM being willful whores for the crimes of the Bush Adminisration.
Bush scared the bejeebus out of the press or maybe they were hoping to have beer with him.
Thanks, POP. That says it perfectly.
In the 'old days,' when an anchor/reporter was giving their opinion, it would be labelled 'commentary,' and often prefaced specificially, to set it apart from the body of the news. This is what Olbermann does with his 'Special Comments.'
They have their own agenda. It is not news, people. It is not what is good for America. It is ratings and it is profit. News for profit is not news. It is argument, conflict, picking minor issues to get all worked up about. It is Tweety and Limpball. It is divisive; it is disingenuous. Whatever causes a stir. They do not care what they have to say to stir up controversy. They will do it. It is about greed. Just like the banks charging outrageous interest rates. They changed laws to make stealing from the common man legal. They stole one from the other. They destroyed our economy. Republicans destroyed our economy. The so called News media are enablers not reporters. Give us back control of our media and we will have government that works for ALL THE PEOPLE
When you see, as I did recently, Contessa Brewer of MSNBC arguing with Paul Krugman when talking about the economy, you just have to laugh or cry.
Amazing... she must be an idiot.
Most of the time, the mainstream media feels that it is their responsibility to be adversarial. They feel that doing that is good for America. It wasn't quite so adversarial during Bush's first term. The way they changed their direction (before the election to now) must have given them whiplash.
into Obama's WHITEHOUSE for beers!
I hope to GOD that Obama does not allow that insufferable nitwit into the Oval Office. If Obama does consent to have a beer with Hannity... it should be UNDER SOME INTERSTATE BRIDGE OVERPASS... where more and more people are LIVING these days.
In a room with Mike Malloy, Olberman, Ed Schultz, and Randi Rhodes.
It should not be in the White House. He should not have a beer with an addle brained nitwit, who should be confined to a residential home for the mentally incompetent and morally challenged.
As so long as they are not drinking Bud purchased from Cindy McCain's business. Wonder how the downturn in the economy is effecting Cindy's beer business. As long as John McCain has at least 8 roofs over his head, he won't care about the average citizen that has lost their one roof over their head.
Yes the MSM sucks mightily, but Pelosi and Reid are the architects of getting the first bailout(er,Stimulus) bill passed and as far as taxpayers know much of that money may have already been laundered into offshore accounts. Blame Paulson all you want, but the final go ahead came from Pelosi/Reid.
I am very proud that I voted for Barach Obama, and am proud to have him as my President.
However no one should be satisfied with their Government. Not one Taxpayer should be complacent in their demand for accountability.
If we all become complacent we will have Bush redux.
The 2% Looters never rest, and we dare not rest!
It's always been a Right Wing-Nut media lying and covering up their Reslug crimes.
Gibbs for President... Oh wait... Its kind of refreshing to have a adult calling it like it is... in the White house and the press room.
that O should have a special team just to monitor the American Taliban (aka, Pukes)
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Growing_suspici...
Just because this is supposedly a liberal, thinking president, it doesn't mean that i will give him carte blanche for whatever he proposes. I voted for him because he was going to get the brightest and most informed about him to assist him in making decisions. now as the stimulus bill nears 3 trillion (three doesn't sound like much can someone put a trillion in terms that the avg joe can understand. it's hard to visulize) Back to the original point, with obama's decisions as to whom to put in the most important of positions, right wingers and dems who have skated on paying taxes, it makes me wonder whether he actually does have the brightest about him assisting him with decisions and 3 trillion whatever the heck that is is just too much to waste on a bad decision.
I druther be a political eheavy, than elite.
Anybody see Jon Stewart comparing, with video, Whitehouse BS lines between Obama's spokesman, and the Shrub's spokespeople? Almost word for word exactly the same. They must all go to spokesman school.
He cuts to the quick.
Since we already know the answers, why bother with the questions. I'd rather have the equivalent of Prime Minister's Question Time.
... you're on to something.
There's also a disturbing similarity between the play-by-play announcers of most Major League Baseball teams. Clearly, it's a conspiracy.
/snark
Well, just pointing out the similarities. Speaking of things that make you go WTF?, anyone read the latest on Obama appointments? Citigroup seems to be doing quite well.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29134372/
Now why oh why would somebody keep drawing from the financially corrupt pool for administration officials?
Pay for play?
Seems that Robert Gibbs is not very good at spinning BS and is lashing out.
http://blog.indecision2008.com/2009/02/05/the...
When Gibbs aids and abets mass murder, abject lies and the theft of TWO national treasures, get back to me.
pay the troll no mind. The mere presence here of so many of them is just a sign of the desperation of the right wing.
They're entire ideology is falling apart. So, they have no recourse but to attempt to disrupt real political and intellectual discourse with their "concern trolling", half truths, rewritten history and pure unmitigated bullshit.
Honestly, at times I find it enjoyable. Everyone loves a good line of bullshit. Unfortunately, most times they can't even provide that.
The Media seems to operate off of established narratives that reflect accepted and acceptable ideas. They recycle constantly and apply them to every new event no matter what the actual circumstances are or how utterly unhelpful it is to stuff emerging truths into tired old story templates. This habit of framing every discussion using biased, outmoded, and/or possibly irrelevant viewpoints is a paradoxical outcome of the media commentariat efforts to appear 'savvy'.
An EXCELLENT discussion of the very problem Obama and his team are facing took place on Bill Moyer's show last friday - I would recommend that any fan of Crooks and Liars check it out. Here is a link to Bill Moyers show from Friday night - one of the best shows he's done - and the best interview I've seen in a long time with Glen Greenwald and Jay Rosen.
since reagan killed the Fairness Doctrine 20 yrs ago.
limbaugh and sons do their dirty work and heavy lifting. they launder the talking points with coordinated UNCONTESTED repetition so their media operatives and their sycophant politicians don't look so dishonest and corrupt and hypocritical when they repeat them later in the day or month.
the celebrity talking heads and the media moguls ride the talk radio bandwagon. it enables the govt or obstruction that ends with deregulation and tax breaks and subsidies they like. as long as 1000 radio stations across the country blast GOP and chamber of commerce talking points 24/7/365 the right wing/GOP will determine the perception of the political center as mirrored by the trad media.
as long as the GOP is ignored at their power source they will continue to obstruct at will, dominating the media with any molehils they want to turn into mountains and having it both ways in every major issue. at the moment the pressure for their filibusters starts with that RW talk radio station near everyone, but especially in those red states with their disproportionate numbers of senators.
any GOP senator who plays with obama or appears to be is getting hell. limbaugh dems (blue dog dems) in those red states feel huge pressure from constituencies blanketed in right wing talk radio disinformation and framing.
It's about time these shills are called out on just how irresponsible they have been and continue to be in regards to "reality".
I get so tired of it all....the propaganda network isn't even worth mentioning; but even n MSNBC and CNN the hypocrites line up and get called back again and again.
Those questions the other night at the news conference were depressing at best. I was stunned to see just what sort of things these idiots ask....even Helen Thomas asked a pretty obvious question, to which she never did get the answer....israel has nukes.
It was so sad to see that the voters had more intelligent questions and the reporters had to be taught by the President with their questions. I did notice new faces of reporters in the Press room. Seems the News Stations had to hire people they could pay less in salary to. It makes sence as the experienced reporters were working for the Bush Administration and the public got to see they were openly lying.
Once in a while I tune into Rachel or Keith, but that's it. Cable news has sucked forever.
The only ones that don't know that cable news sucks is the cable news people themselves.
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