Reply #53: Smiley Producer: Luntz not appearing in Dem Forum

[Spazito]

David Brock, President and CEO of Media Matters:

"While Media Matters for America is pleased with PBS' announcement this morning that discredited Republican pollster Frank Luntz will not appear on its Thursday-night programming, PBS has yet to address the fundamental problem with its choice of Luntz to participate in analysis of the PBS forum.

"Luntz's Republican ties, his history of being criticized by his peers for misrepresenting polling data, and his past personal and professional affiliation with GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani make him an inappropriate choice to provide the sole voice of expert analysis on Mr. Smiley's program in the wake of a Democratic presidential primary forum. The fact that PBS has not acknowledged Luntz's partisan affiliation -- either in its original press release or in today's statement -- makes PBS' use of him in this way all the more troubling.

"Viewers of the Tavis Smiley program clearly deserve a balanced discussion of the previous night's Democratic forum and would benefit from the analysis of a polling expert beyond reproach, one without a clear conflict of interest and a questionable record. At the very least, PBS and Tavis Smiley have a responsibility to disclose Luntz's Republican ties and his past professional affiliation with Giuliani.

"It is our sincere hope that Tavis Smiley and PBS will reconsider their decision to have Luntz provide solo focus-group analysis on Smiley's Friday program and recognize their responsibility to the viewing public to fully disclose Luntz's partisan ties, conflict of interest, and controversial record on the air during Friday's broadcast."

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http://mediamatters.org/items/200706270006?f=h_top


WTG all those who contacted the Smiley show, it obviously had an impact!!