My feedback to CNN re: their ignorant coverage of Senator Kennedy.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

I'm posting my response to CNN as a template for anyone else wishing to speak up to them.

I encourage EVERYONE -- please help yourself to my note, or use your own words...just please respond to them

Their bias and shallow sensationalism is not just a smear to his memory, but a very BLATANT example of the promotion of ignorance which grips this country.

Please, if you're feeling lethargic about clicking, please.... just DU it!! :grouphug:

The link, thanks to DUer NoElephants: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv/


Thank you, in advance--
Blanche

Unconscionable. Sen Kennedy's list of accomplishments over 40 years is truly awe-inspiring. Each one was a landmark in establishing real improvement in the quality of life for real people, real Americans.

For you to focus on one brief but outrageously, tragically sensational moment in the life of someone who has an unbroken record of true accomplishment for all of OUR sakes is a disservice -- a disgusting disservice -- to us all.

You contribute to the deepening hate and ignorance of our own history which holds us back as a country.

[tularetom]

1. OK. I'll do it just tell me what they said

I'd like to be specific in my response and I didn't watch CNN.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

2. hi tularetom....

Great -- thanks!

I don't have cable, didn't watch either... but I found out that's what they're doing from this thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4032625#4032820

So, I just had to respond to CNN, even though I don't have specific quotes to include.

[dem629]

4. So neither of you have been watching CNN, but you're both writing to complain?

I watched them late last night and most of this morning. There has been no "focus" on Chappaquiddick. It's mentioned, yes, but that's part of his bio. But "focus" on it? No.

[tularetom]

7. I don't have to get bit by a rattlesnake to know it isn't good for me

Likewise I don't have to watch CNN to know that a large percentage of their content is corporate propaganda bullshit heavily slanted against any prominent Democrat.

[dem629]

8. Right.

You're just good at acting as though you've been bitten by the rattlesnake.

I just forwarded this link to the Cafferty File. Maybe you'll get on TV this afternoon!

[tularetom]

9. Okay I'll explain this to you real slow

I was informed at a very young age by people I loved and trusted (my parents) to avoid rattlesnakes because their bite could be harmful or fatal to me.

So I avoided them (mostly). A bad experience when I was 22 years old confirmed that my parents were correct.

Similarly I've been informed by people I respect (my wife, friends, DU'ers) that CNN haas become a propaganda outlet for corporate interests in this country.

Sadly, the few times in the past five years I have watched CNN has reinforced my opinion that their warnings were valid.

If I get on TV will I have the opportunity to say this directly to one of the whores? I can't wait.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. instead of eating our own........

I don't doubt for a minute that the specific show, John King was as described by several posters on the http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph... thread


Instead of focusing on slagging, you could take inspiration to respond to any number of networks who toe the rw line, to the detriment of us all. The rw media disinformation is the topic of alot of threads today.

As a television watcher yourself, I assume you see plenty of it -- therefore you have plenty of opportunities to act, rather than passively swallow the swill and slag fellow progressives for responding.

[onenote]

6. you wrote to complain but you didn't actually watch?

Sorry, but that's a big FAIL in my book.

I've been watching and its been a very fair and favorable depiction of Senator Kennedy's life and career overall.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

11. well, good

I'm glad to hear that they weren't entirely disinformational.

I don't doubt for a minute that the specific show, John King was as described by several posters on the http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4032625#4032820 thread

Fail? Nah.

Instead of focusing on slagging me, personally, you could take inspiration to respond to any number of networks who toe the rw line, to the detriment of us all. The rw media disinformation is the topic of alot of threads today.

As a television watcher yourself, I assume you see plenty of it -- therefore you have plenty of opportunities to act, rather than passively swallow the swill.

[Hatchling]

3. Done!

I am outraged. Already they start to tarnish his reputation.:mad:

[Le Taz Hot]

5. Not just CNN

I had to turn off CBS where, in a span of about 2-1/1 minutes, talked about his early alcoholism, flunking out of Harvard and Chappaquiddick (sp?). Let's just forget about all of his accomplishments in his 40+ years in the Senate. Just another reminder why the MSM is increasingly irrelevant. The one bright spot is that MSNBC seems to be broadcasting with some modicum of respect.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

14. Hope you send them all an email...share the link here!!

That would help!

I've got ColorofChange on my mind... they got action because people responded. Lots and lots of people.

This isn't just about Senator Kennedy, it's about turning back the tide of ignorance. It's a HUGE opportunity, if we only take it.

[Inuca]

20. Did not watch CBS

but are you sure you did not happen on THE 2 minutes where they talked about this? As I mentioned below, the more than one hour of CNN that I am aware of was more than respectful, even if they mentioned the problems (but in no way did they focus on them). In the context of the problems, they mentioned a quote from Hemingway I think (or maybe somebody else quoting Hemingway, I don't remember) that I did not know and is very beautiful and I think it perfectly applies to Ted Kennedy "The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. "

[Nikki Stone1]

10. They're trashing the man because they want to trash his ideals--and ours

Notice that Jerry Falwell got quite a sendoff, even though he was easily one of the most vile, divisive political operatives of our time. It's all about ideals. Trash the man, trash what he stood for.

[cayanne]

13. I've been watching CNN all morning

I think their tribute to Ted Kennedy has been extremely honorable towards him.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

16. ahh good...

apparently, it was John King's show that focused on spin. I directed my letter to that show.

I may just redo the thread as a general template.

[Inuca]

15. I don't think this is fair

Watched some in the morning, listened for an hour or so while driving to work. It was a respectful and fair coverage. Even when the "tragically sensational moment" was mentioned (very little) it was not done in a bad way, but rather emphasizing his regrets. Aren't there enough REAL reasons to be outraged and mad about?

[BlancheSplanchnik]

17. I'm thinking

beginning to think I should redo the thread as a template and call for response to any program we see that is distorted....... A unified response is important though. As Color of Change achieved in the withdrawal of advertisers on beck's show.

I DO think it's important -- really really important -- to respond to the media disinformation, and this seems like a time when it might be possible to get many people to unite in speaking back to media.

Media controls the conversation; they have a huge part of the guilt for the ignorance level of American society.

[bertman]

18. As long as they're not focusing on the negative aspects of his life I have no problem

whatsoever if they mention Chappaquiddick, his alcoholism, his womanizing. Those are parts of his life and should be part of any fair remembrance of him.

Of course, the major focus should be on his accomplishments as a representative of the people of his state and of the nation.

This is supposed to be a time for reflection and remembrance, not for a deification.

[Inuca]

21. Very well put n/t

[alsame]

19. I saw a few minutes of Barbara Starr with Wolf and she

referred to 'Senator' Obama and the late 'Senator' Jack Kennedy.

[Egnever]

22. Complaining about something you didnt even see seems fairly strange to me.