My email to MSNBC re: Gregory/Olbermann

[marylanddem]

David Gregory is a partisan hack, as evident from his dancing with Karl Rove and
his pretzel-twisting commentary designed not to offend the Republicans in whose
backpocket (or other rear orifice) he so obviously sits.

Keith Olbermann is a real journalist, and should be in the anchor role on election
night. I will not be watching election night MSNBC coverage for that reason.

Sorry you caved to Republican pressure. You have been our last resort and it
looks like you, too, are selling out, MSNBC.


(emailed to [email protected] and [email protected])

[W_HAMILTON]

1. What happened?

I saw someone else say we should boycott MSNBC last night, but their post didn't elaborate at all.

What happened?

[bdamomma]

3. read here and then respond with an e-mail

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3947487

[marylanddem]

4. Gregory will anchor on election night, Olbermann and Matthews

will be commentators. This effectively minimizes them.

[TheZug]

2. Sure, he's a hack, but shouldn't our energy be focused elsewhere?

[marylanddem]

6. This didn't take much energy.

And I don't plan to spend the day obsessing about it. But I do hope others on DU, where Olbermann has enjoyed immense respect, will take the time to share their views with MSNBC. I am sickened by what has happened to the American press & this is just one more example of caving to corporate pressure.

[ellacott]

13. I wish our energy could be focused writing the networks about unfair coverage

This is what is so frustrating to me. I don't care whether KO is an anchor. He will be an analyst and his voice would still be heard.

What needs to stressed is the unfair media coverage. McCain and Palin have been given a pass and we are being sidetracked by 2 people on TV.

[The Traveler]

5. Draft of my email ... tell me what you think

Still working on this ... comments welcom

============================================


Once again, I have seen "She sold the airplane on e-bay for a profit!" myth promoted on both MSNBC and CNN by a Republican aligned pundit. Once again, I saw a "journalist" allow that to slide right on by without refutation, despite the fact that all major news organizations have reported days ago that this is a falsehood. The plane was sold, but not on e-bay and not for a profit. So this is a lie. Pure and simple. And the press does not call the Republicans on this. You guys let it slide, again and again. How can this not be construed as enabling behavior on your part?

For weeks, Obama was hammered over certain extreme comments made by his Pastor. Good reporting has revealed that equally outrageous statements have been issued by Sarah Palin's Pastor ... but this must be OK since we are certainly not getting hammered by it like we were with the Reverend Wright story. As a white southerner, well acquainted with the subtle approach to discrimination, it is difficult to see how there is not a racial component to the editorial decisions regarding content and frequency of the related coverage.

Michele Obama makes a foolish comment, and it becomes an issue projected over a series of months. Sarah Palin and her husband have long association with a political movement advocating secession. But her patriotism is never questioned. Forgive me if I find that inexplicable in the context of a reasoned and fair discourse.

I could go on, but what is the point? We both know the pattern and what it represents. But there are consequences to this enabling behavior, my friends. And neither you nor I can put that genie back in the bottle once it is released.

Overseas, the people of our allies are shaking their heads in amusement and dismay. A grass roots consensus seems to be emerging from many of our most vital allies that the American people are foolish and irresponsible. My view is that the American people have for so long been so poorly served by news media and its government that it is difficult to imagine a different response.

But that grass roots reaction overseas will have implications to our economic and strategic posture in the near future. If a majority of European citizens believe America has become foolish and irresesponsible, how can we expect support from the governments of these people? And if our press facilitates a campaign that routinely engages in falsehood and intimidation, how can these people not conclude that freedom and democracy in America is in a deeply endangered state? And if that is the case, then how can we as a nation be trusted?

Your enabling behavior has far reaching implications promising serious harm to the American people, and I have but lightly touched on only a few of them. Many of us out here are wondering if you care, or if you are simply that unaware.

[marylanddem]

7. Great email. Thanks for posting it.

[BlueIdaho]

8. MSNBC = FOX

Olbermann + Maddow = Tokens.

[AllieB]

9. My letter

Dear Sir/Madam,

It was with much distress and disappointment that I read about your decision to replace Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews with David Gregory. Gregory has demonstrated extreme partisanship during his tenure at MSNBC, to the point where I shut off my TV at the 6 PM hour just to avoid his egregious display of Republican talking points.

Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews are real journalists, and should be in the anchor roles on election night. I will not be watching election night MSNBC coverage for that reason, nor buying from any of your sponsors. Your network has shown great cowardice by caving into Republican pressure, rather than trying to balance the news with a liberal (Olbermann) and a moderate (Matthews) in addition to right-wing hacks like Scarborough and Gregory.

Sincerely,
AllieB

[marylanddem]

10. Excellent letter - glad you're sending it.

Good that your brought up the sponsors.

[wvbygod]

11. Can we be realistic about what a journalist actually is?

We may like it when KO slams the repubs and sides with us on the Democrats but
is that what a real journalist would do? I think neutrality is required for
journalistic integrity.

[asjr]

12. MSNBC has just kicked itself

in the rear end. If they truly want ratings they would leave Keith and Chris as anchors. So I can only surmise they have been "corporated." Gregory stopped being a journalist/reporter years ago.