C-SPAN is dividing this nation...

[kentuck]

All you child molesters, call this number. For Bush supporters, call this number. If you think Bush's vacation is OK, call this number. If you think it is inappropriate, call this number. If you support the torture and humiliation of prisoners of war, call this number. If you support our Great Leader Bush, call this number. And so forth...

Why can't they simply divide the lines up between GOP and Democrats or by regions of the country? They pretend every issue is a 50/50 divide. Bush starts out at 50%, no matter the issue. How could he ever lose? C-SPAN is doing a great disservice, although they may be doing it unintentionally.

[Raiden]

1. You bring up an interesting point

I like the idea of them grouping callers by region rather than politics

[Swamp Rat]

4. Good idea.

Let a caller from each state get a chance. The only problem is the Busheviks would get marching orders from Rove and call in from each state, systematically... it could happen, knowing Rove the way we do now.

[housewolf]

21. They used to do that...

Back in the early 90's the phone calls were divided by "east of the Mississippi" and "west of the Mississippi" because, at that time, approximately 50% of the US population lived east and west of the big river.

I'm not sure when they switched to pro- and con- on the issues but I do believe that Brian Lamb sees it as a good-faith effort to let people have their say on both sides of the issues.

The problem is that it creates an artificial impression that exactly 50% are on one side and 50% on the other.

And breaking it down by "supporters of President Bush" and "supporters of Democrats" is especially troubling, because one can either support or oppose the president generally while holding an opposite position on any particular issue being discussed.

[Vincardog]

2. it is not un intentional it is by design. Just call in on the ReThuglican

line the democratic one is always busy anyway. Remember to start by praising the 'great leader' before you let slip what a miserable failure he is.

[Qanisqineq]

3. I know what you mean

I've always wondered about those people that are not democrats or republicans and don't support Bush or are republicans and don't support Bush. It all seems kind of unfair that these other people are grouped into one of the two categories based on what phone number they call.

[chimpymustgo]

5. Totally agree. It is blatantly divisive, but Herr Brian is adamant

about keeping it this way. I have heard many callers challenge him on this. It creates such a "you're either with us or you're against us" atmosphere. He knows exactly what he's doing.

Fortunately, liberal callers are feisty and outspoken, and always seem to have better arguments.

Did you hear this the young Rethug this morning? Okay he was prepared to answer why he didn't feel it necessary to fight in the war right now - but when a caller asked him what the Republicans have done lately to improve the lives of Americans - he was completely flummoxed - we're bringing people freedom...

[oneighty]

6. Free speech

People call in and tell the most outrageous lies and distortions which go unchallenged and many people believe it to be the truth. It is the best propaganda TV going.

I believe in free speech but I no longer believe in C-Span and seldom tune in.

You are right Kentuck.

180

[Skittles]

11. hey Ed, I had to quit watching Washington Journal

it just sickened me the the ignorance I would hear on the conservative line

[leftchick]

7. I agree and

I believe it is intentional. Brian Lamb is so transparent as a RW enabler and he runs the show.

[asjr]

8. Lamb must own an interest in the

Wash Times. They read more from that paper than any other.

[leftchick]

10. and the NY Post!

I suspect he may be more than friends with Rupert.

:eyes:

[immoderate]

9. It's just not that simple.

They are trying to balance the debate. And there is no easy way.

I saw Brian do an "experiment" once. He designated the phones in a neutral way. The callers were 90% on one side. He said that when they do that, the side that has the biggest beef at the time floods the lines. Presently, I believe it would be us. During Monica, it would have been them.

If he didn't do a "support Bush" line they would get a lot of calls with the "I've been a Republican all my life, but this administration is driving me away..." type of message.

It is an attempt, and it's not easy, to present a parity of views. It is debatable whether that's good. I think that if the phone were "deregulated" most callers would reflect out issues, and we would like hearing that, but others would be driven elsewhere, and that might not be desirable in the long run.

C-SPAN tries to be neutral.

--IMM

[rman]

14. Presents a skewed picture;

They'll have a couple of callers on one side of the issue and a couple on the other side, irrespective of how many callers there are on either side of the issue.

It creates the impression public opinion is are divided 50/50, while this may not be the case.

[immoderate]

15. During the early part of the Afghan war...

When Bush had a 70% popularity rating, there were callers every day who insisted they should get 70% of the calls. Carried to an extreme this would produce a "feedback loop" that would influence even more people to be on this side.

I know that there are issues here, especially when one side of the argument is blatantly erroneous of false, but not balancing the argument gives weight to one side. We would not like it if we were in the minority. In the build up to Iraq, C-SPAN was the only place where you could hear opinions against the war.

Would you have the Congress apportion debate time by who was going to get the most votes?

--IMM

[jillan]

17. I think it's a great format

I like listening to what the repugs say.
I need a good laugh everyday.

Besides, nothing makes me smile more than when I hear
those beautiful words...
I used to be a republican -or-
I voted for Bush but...

Some of the hosts are a little too annoying, and try to slant things towards this administration. There is one guy, don't remember his name, that really pisses me off and always has a dumb look on his face when dems call. IMO Brian is a liberal. Before you bash me, I must say I don't catch him that often. But when I do, it seems like he is slanting towards the left.

[immoderate]

19. I think you're right.

I actually think that all the C-SPAN hosts have liberal philosophies. They could not perform that service if they didn't.

They go out of their way to appear neutral, and that is misinterpreted by many as their having an opposite point of view. I think the feeling around here is that because they allow right wing crazies on their program, that they support those right wing crazies.

No real right winger would tolerate the C-SPAN format.

--IMM

[kentuck]

12. Another example:

If you are against the private plans for Social Security, call this number. If you support President Bush's plan, call this number. We know from every poll that 50% of the people do not support Bush's plan. However, by C-SPAN's rationale, it is a 50/50 proposition. Bush has 50% of the people behind him on this issue. No doubt, Brian Lamb would argue they had to the same when Clinton was President, because the conservatives flooded the lines. ANd he would say there is no perfect way to do it. However, he should never put Bush up against the entire Democratic Party. He should make it GOP and Democrat if he prefers the party division.

[Jeanette in FL]

13. It wasn't always like this

In the beginning of Bush's term, they had the phones divided Democrats, Republicans and Independents. No matter what the subject was, there would be 2 calls against Bush and 1 call for Bush. That is why I never believed the polls that would show how much support Bush had. I think after "Sept. 11th" they went with this new format, Support Bush, Support Democrats and the third for specialty groups.

[Vektor]

16. I used to like them...

but their "call in and let's have an on air flame war" bit is getting old. Any time I watch anything of theirs I turn it off as soon as they start taking calls. I just can't stomach the B.S..

[Pepperbelly]

18. I like WJ and watch it every day. I think they are mainly fair ...

although at times, they piss me off. They piss off the righties as well and they are each and every one certain that C-CPAN is stacked against them.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

20. Yes, you are right. But, CSPAN is unfiltered TV for liberal comments

While I agree with you about the division of caller types, I don't want this to kill our participation on C-SPAN. As unfortunate as these arbitrary caller divisions are...C-SPAN still remains one of the SOLE OUTLETS on TV for unfiltered liberal comments and thought.

Anyway. The Repuke callers on C-SPAN always do themselves a disservice for their side when they open their mouths to speak.

JB

[donsu]

22. c-span isn't dividing the country, the bloody hands bushgang is

the way they divide callers doesn't bother me. callers still get to say what they want.

more power to them