GMA at Carolina this morning: kicks Obama supporters out of spaces to make it look like McCain equal

[zazen]

I just got this e-mail from a good friend of mine over in Chapel Hill, who said I could distribute it.

I just wanted to share a little about my experience at the ABC Good Morning America visit to the campus of UNC-CH early this morning.

Of the thousand or so people assembled for the 5:30-8:00 a.m. broadcast, probably 30% (including the band and cheerleaders, plus the Chancellor) were Carolina students dressed or painted in "Carolina blue" and just having fun. Minimally 60% were additionally adorned with home made and printed Obama signs. At the most 10% were carrying McCain/Palin signs.

The Obama supporters had come as early as 4:00 a.m. (and earlier) to claim the most visible positions during the broadcast. But, as the time for the program airing neared, the ABC staff demanded that the Obama supporters give up their space for McCain supporters - and furthermore demanded that at least half the visible positions be given to the small number of McCain supporters there! Many students resisted, but one of the "handlers" actually shouted that it wasn't about being fair - it was about $$ and keeping management happy - in fact she was being screamed at over her head-phones by the producers, so she felt she had no choice. It was a dramatic lesson in moral decision-making for the young people who witnessed these events.

The Obama supporters started chanting "Yes We Can" until the "handlers" quieted the crowd so that the taping could proceed.

So, this ABC news and entertainment broadcast, as seen by the public gives the impression that the campus is nearly divided in support of Obama and McCain. It was all choreographed and in no way represents the reality on the ground - just like the managers wanted it. This is what the free press does when it is no longer free from corporate manipulation.

It was a stark reminder of why this election is so important. The secrecy and manipulation of information that has escalated so dramatically over the past 8 years has to end and the recovery of our democracy must begin - under our new President, Barak Obama!.

Dr. Charles R. Coble

[gratefultobelib]

1. Unbelievable. Incredibly manipulative.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

50. FASCISTS MUST STICK TOGETHER, YA KNOW

COMES EASILY TO THE SOUTH

[Eric J in MN]

2. That's messed up.

It's one thing if they want to invite one pro-Obama and one pro-McCain pundit for a discussion.

It's another thing for them to twist reality to give the impression that as many college students support McCain as support Obama.

[glowing]

3. Where's that contact page with contact info... .

[zazen]

6. here's a link to a seemingly meaningless blog about the UNC spot on the GMA site

http://blogs.abcnews.com/campuschatter/2008/09/gma-weekend-to.html

Please, someone else find the contact info. I'm going blind from their poor website design.

[glowing]

9. Obama has one on his website.. it was up a couple of days ago.

[zazen]

13. to complain about unfair coverage to Good Morning America

http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=Good%20Morning%20America

[glowing]

16. Thank you, I sent them a complaint.

[beac]

23. I think we should send this to their competitors.

ABC will scramble to CYA--- send it to NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, etc and see what THEY make of it!

[liberal N proud]

39. The other networks would see it as normal

[mcg]

55. So did I. nt

[barbtries]

46. thank you

i sent a link to this thread and wrote:
how dare you choreograph your show to try and represent to your audience that just as many people are in favor of a third bush term as are excited and pleased at the prospect of setting this country right?

this is despicable. dare you to read it on the air.

[Dangerously Amused]

4. I hope some of the people who got kicked out decide to go public with this.

If they can find a forum that cares about truth, that is. At the very least, I hope the story is broadcast in their local media.

[glinda]

5. Where is the media coverage on this?

This is exactly why the media is viewed as a failure. This is a story.

[progressoid]

17. This IS the media!

They rarely want to cover their own failings.

[Raschel]

7. McCain crowds small and arranged

That's why it's so hard to believe the polls are so close.

McCain's convention was embarrassing, nobody of importance attended and the Energy Center was far from full. Businesses suffered in St. Paul.

McCain had to get a captive audience at Sturgis (the crowd was there for a concert)

Other reports have shown stadiums that are half empty.

The only reason I can see for the polls being that close is that alot of people are only voting against Obama, 'cause they sure aren't showing up for McCain.

[Grateful for Hope]

18. I don't believe the polls are accurate

I do know that one of the polling companies (Gallup, I believe) inflated McCain's post-convention "bounce" by using "likely to vote" stats instead of those of registered voters, evenn though they admit that the registered voter stats are more accurate.

I also suspect their sampling. I am convinced it is biased.

[mcg]

54. and there were more "likely to vote" republicans in that poll,

even though there are more registered democrats.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/29/gallups-likely-voters-pol_n_115623.html?show_comment_id=14415532

Gallup chief Frank Newport said "it's important to look at likely voters ... just to see under a scenario where McCain supporters are energized."

---

Let me guess who Newport is voting for.

[zazen]

8. what's the netiquette on cross-posting to state forum; think I may have messed up

I just wanted to get the NC people focused on this, but I don't think I should have created a new thread for it. Please advise and mods please delete my duplicate post as necessary.

Oops

[Judi Lynn]

32. Unless I'm confused, it's perfectly o.k. to post the story in both places. n/t

[bbgrunt]

10. totally shameful and outrageous--but anyone who is surprised or needs further

proof of media bias and manipulation has their head up their bum. Unfortunately there are way too many who still get their info from corporate media. These kinds of travesties need to be spread far and wide.

[smoogatz]

11. The Mouse wants McCain.

No surprise there. It's been obvious since the get-go, pretty much. At this juncture, I'd say ABC is about as poisonously right-wing as Faux Nooze, and has about as much credibility as a news organization.

[babylonsister]

12. Contact info here/Obama's media link also:

ABC News
77 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023
Phone: [phone]
General e-mail: [email protected]

List of contact info for all ABC News programs: http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3068843

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/flowerchild/gGBqLt

[zazen]

14. needless to say, DU-mail me for contact info for witnesses from Carolina

I just don't want to put that in a general post, of course. My friend's a professor/VP emeritus who's been a TV interviewer himself for a while, and so I think a reporter would probably want to interview a student. But I'm sure Charles can get in touch with them or at least provide evidence in support of any commentary from the UNC Dems, Students for Obama, or whatever.

Glad to see this recommended. I really hope it gets picked up by MSNBC as an example of the complicity of the media, and ABC is forced to apologize. (I'm dreaming.)

[Grateful for Hope]

15. This is disgusting

My email to them:

To Whom This May Concern:

I just learned that ABC (GMA) attempted to deceive it's television audience by falsly depicting the support of McCain at UNC-CH. I intend to make sure everyone I know has this information, including my office mates.

When a TV network attempts to sway an election by falsly representing support of a candidate, that network deserves to be boycotted.

[dgibby]

19. Just sent ABC an e-mail

which said in part: As a member of a large, progressive web community, I can guarantee the protest to follow will adversely your bottom line (that was after I told them that corporate greed had killed REAL journalism), and ended with the word ENOUGH!!! Please take the time to e-mail these jerks!:grr:

[felinetta]

20. This is so tbelievable and ypical!

I will spread the word and call ABC.

[D23MIURG23]

21. K&R

[guruoo]

22. Why in hell did they cooperate?

[Kajsa]

56. Excellent question, Guruoo!

I wonder now how the "handlers" handled it?

Intimidation?

[guruoo]

57. I'm not what they used to intimidate, considering that GMA was on public property.

I know! They threatened to call Fox News security!

[Dystopian]

24. KandR.

Thank you for posting this information. I'm outraged....again.


peace~

[wundermaus]

48. Sounded like a perfect opportunity

for some non violent passive resistance. Live and LEARN.

[jeff30997]

25. Boycott Disney.

Good old Walt-The-American-Nazi-Party-Member must be smiling down there in Hell.

[Divine Discontent]

30. I did by going 'seasonal'

a term used to describe workers who can show up once a year and still retain the discounts and free tickets. If you work at the parks/resorts in any capacity you know how skimpy their coverage has gotten, and how little they spend on their 'cast' despite charging 17 bucks for a "squeeze breeze" personal water spray fan that costs them under 2 bucks when they order them in the hundreds of thousands from China, and a similar marked up price for everyone of the other 1000s of products. A night's stay in the cheapest resort "All Star" is still $100, and it's definitely not worth it - you'd be better off staying with friends in the area or paying for an off property motel that actually is nice.

Okay, enough of my Disney rant. The only people I see who are remotely happy there on a continual basis are the characters because they have painted on smiles - but under the makeup or behind the Pluto head are a bunch of sad faces, because of the low pay that Disney gives nearly all of their staff (basically 7 to 9 bucks if you've been with them for a few years).

[lostnotforgotten]

26. Liberal Media - My Ass!

eom

[tom_paine]

27. Wow. The snowball is rolling ever faster dow the hill, isn't it?

The Amerikan Subject Populace is, in so many ways, self-regulating like the 1930s German Populace.

More so, in that the Bushies don't have to beat anyone up to get the same level of compliance.

Astonishing, and yet fully expected.

How long has shit like this been going on? How long has in been since even little things like this WEREN'T lies and frauds.

I have said it before and I will say it again. It was partially true when I first starting saying this in early 2001, long before Our Amerikan Reichstag Fire on 9/11: Imperial Amerika is now fully like Putin's Russia and Commie China. Oh, our brand of Inverted Totalitarianism is kinder and gentler...for the moment. But when push comes to shove, and ignoring the violence aspect, Amerika and Commie China are similar if not identical now.

This is a move right out of the Commie Playbook. Of course, it is right out of the AUTHORITARIAN TYRANT PLAYBOOK.

[zazen]

28. two witnesses have written Rachel Maddow--more requests to RM for coverage would be appreciated

[email protected]
[email protected]

No doubt they're bombarded with lots of e-mail, but maybe they'll notice if enough people write in, referring to the specific event in the subject header, and indicate your outrage and hope for coverage (since no one else will do it--and certainly not our local broadcast media.) Actually, the N&O might address it, and the progressive Independent Weekly certainly will if provided an essay about it, but beyond North Carolina is better, IMO.

[DeeDeeNY]

34. Thanks. I've just sent an email to both Keith and Rachel.

It should also be sent to the NY Times and the Washington Post, but I'm not sure how to search for their email addresses.

[OakCliffDem]

29. The Main Stream Media wants this election to appear close to boost their ratings

Viewership and advertising dollars are on the line. The closer the election, the more viewers, the more money in the pockets of the MSM.

Obama is winning big, but we all still need to get out and vote.

[Divine Discontent]

31. Barak? ha... anyhow, nice letter from him, and why didn't they just say we're not moving

we'll be quiet, but we're not moving... seriously, what are they going to do, get security to move them? And, yes, they possibly would have, but that would have showed how ridiculous they were in doing it and made even BIGGER news out of this.

We know Obama is going to make VA and NC close, so that being fact, either CO+IA+NM or OH - and that means Obama will be president if we can maintain what we've got by continuing our fight for victory!

MORE AT www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[Judi Lynn]

33. Thanks for sharing this event information. Very disturbing about ABC, but good news

regarding the admirable presence of Obama supporters.

[pleah]

35. K&R

:kick:

[mnhtnbb]

36. At the Carolina/V Tech football game yesterday, a brief shot

of the taping showing the Chancellor and band members/cheerleaders was up on the big video screen.
There was no evidence of either Obama or McCain supporters in the shot.

[rucky]

37. They should go on location more often.

The more places they pull shit like this, the more people will realize how the MSM is manipulating the national narrative.

[jamesatemple]

38. Those poor devils are just following orders from "on high".

On first impulse, I'd like to grab 'em around their "swallow-pipe" and proceed to thrash 'em. But, I know that those on-site "handlers" are just workin' a job, maybe even happy to have such a stinkin' job.

I reckon my enmity would be better directed toward the Corporatist-supporting FCC and the conscienceless, profit-oriented media barons who issue the orders. What do you think would result from an act by any number of "handlers" who refused to follow the boss' orders? Anyone that stood up and said, "Hell, no. That ain't fair and I'm not about to be a part of it."?

Anyway, I sent my complaint. The chances of it bein' heard are about the same a hearin' a fart in the middle of hurricane Ike. Here 'tis:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is "crowd stacking", as you did at UNC-CH, a part of "fair and unbalanced" reporting? Are the Corporation's profits the prime consideration in covering newsworthy events?

I don't have enough years left that I can hope to see a genuine FCC, not the Administration's handpicked Corporatists, break up the cabal of media owners who control the reporting of news to reflect a profit-oriented bias. But, I can hope.

[Imagevision]

40. So, do you think the election hacking plan has been put into play yet?

[zazen]

41. OK; so an ABC GMA story, "Will the Youth Rock the Vote?," claims that UNC is solidly for Obama

but that students are notoriously unreliable in turning out to vote. She used the "lower turnout than expected" during 2004 as evidence, although we don't know that this wasn't suppression (and I don't think she was referring to North Carolina, either.)

i'd love someone else's read on this.

Click on "Will the Youth Rock the Vote?,"
http://abcnews.go.com/gma

a story presumably generated during the visit. (I wasn't watching live so I don't know what that looked like--if this is a recording of the live broadcast, or a separately produced story.) In this story, there are clearly more Obama supporters during the live shot . . . with a McCain sign prominently at the front on one side. Now, I don't know if they went back, reedited, and produced this story, which actually _claims_ greater Obama support at Carolina, after people complained about their behavior, or if this was already there.

In any case, I still don't think their final story justifies their stagecrafting behavior yesterday morning. And in the story, they must have found the only three McCain supporters at Duke, which would make about 10? for Durham County, total. (I don't know the actual numbers, but Durham's solidly Dem.)

[NC_Nurse]

42. I just sent this to all my UNC friends. Thanks!

:hi:

[varelse]

43. Can he convince some of the students to write to other networks?

They are the other eyewitnesses to this incident, and from the look of it, there's too many of them to keep this quiet if they decide to speak up about it.

[MasonJar]

44. GMA at UNC

Since I have boycotted ABC since that anti-Clinton/Albright movie just prior to the election, I could not take that response and so I wrote them an e-mail which I hope joins many others from DU.

[Kajsa]

45. I'm not surprised one bit. ABC has been going to hell politically, and

their programing is following suit.

Has this story been written, yet?
Is there any link I can use to spread the word on this?

I would love to, but many websites require that I link my story
to the source.

Thanks.

:)

[dhpgetsit]

47. And so it goes in the Corporate Media today

Under the guise of "fairness", they give equal time to liars, at the expense of those of us who just want to tell the truth.

[LiberalFighter]

49. Best way to fight this is to record what they do and then post online.

It should be more difficult for them to hide the truth when there are cell phones galore.

[antimatter98]

51. Chapel Hill and Raleigh---lets protest at WTVD studios, both locations!

Anyone outraged by this in Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh:

Let's do a LOUD and large protest at both WTVD studios in Durham and in
Raleigh. The Raleigh studios are right on the Fayetteville Mall downtown
Raleigh.

We need to be there in large numbers, both WTVD locations, to get national and
local attention for this ABC travesty.

Let ABC know that you are outraged by their blatant violation of the news by setting
up 'custom' visualizations at UNC as shown in the article here.

We need a loud, boisterous, demonstration of outrage at WTVD to make the point.

Don't let ABC win or hide from this story.

[Obamarulz11]

52. Another email to Keith and Rachel.

[spinbaby]

53. Okay, I saw that broadcast

Admittedly I wasn't paying close attention, but it looked to me lke the crowd was overwhelmingly Obama. I saw one huge McCain sign in the back and a smaller one sticking out of the crowd in the front in a curiously disembodied way, but everything else was wall-to-wall Obama.

[zazen]

58. did you see the actual broadcast in the AM or the video to which I linked?