Mainstream Media spawned the new American tea party. Wash Post on how big media scared people shitless: "These perceptions are reinforced by the blare of the news media. When network news anchors Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson lead their broadcasts with bleak news about the economy and consumers clamming up, people who don't necessarily need to cut back decide to anyway. In August, the three major TV network newscasts spent a total of 85 minutes covering economic news, according to the Tyndall Report, which monitors newscast content. In September, when the banking crisis began and layoffs spiked, the coverage totaled 403 minutes. In the same month, Gallup's polling shows upper-income consumers dropped their total daily spending to about $160, from a high of $185 in May."
Former Keith Olbermann talking head Wash Post columnist Dana Milbank stakes out the WH protest: "Fox News, though actively promoting the "tea party" protests for tax day, tried to argue that it was not behind yesterday's coast-to-coast events. But Fox News analyst Tobin Smith, who took the stage in Lafayette Square yesterday, evidently didn't get the memo. "On behalf of Fox News Channel," he told more than 500 mud-spattered demonstrators, "I want to say: Welcome to the Comedy Channel of America, Washington, D.C." After a few preliminaries, he went into a Fox News commercial for anchor Glenn Beck. "Anybody watching Glenn?" he asked to cheers. "That was a shameless plug, wasn't it? Glenn says hello as well. He's out at another tea party." Indeed he was, as were Sean Hannity and Neil Cavuto. A small group of counterdemonstrators, wearing ballgowns, tuxedoes and pig snouts, interrupted and were stripped of their signs. Smith seized the display as an opportunity to highlight the Fox News slogan. "You know what 'Fair and Balanced' means?" he asked. " 'Fair and Balanced' means we take our message and try to overcompensate for their lack of message." Smith left with instructions: "Keep watching Fox, will you?" The theme was echoed in some of the homemade signs the demonstrators carried, including "Watch Fox News," "Thank You Fox News," and even a recommendation: "Move Glenn Beck to 7 PM."
NYT "Tax Day Is Met With Tea Parties": "Although organizers insisted they had created a nonpartisan grass-roots movement, others argued that these parties were more of the Astroturf variety: an occasion largely created by the clamor of cable news and fueled by the financial and political support of current and former Republican leaders."
"Fox News covered the events all day with reporters and hosts at the scenes. Neil Cavuto, a Fox host, and Michelle Malkin, a conservative contributor, headlined the protests in Sacramento while Sean Hannity broadcast his show from the protests in Atlanta."
CNN reporter Susan Somebody steeped in unprofessional anger over Chicago tea party protestors fucking up her live report accuses the crowd of being "anti-CNN since this is highly promoted by the right-wing conservative network Fox."
Johnny Dollar's Place nabs Shep Smith advising the rattled reporter to "relax" and not get her "hate on":
Incredibly ABC News reported that President Obama "was unaware" of the tea parties yesterday. Funny, since his WH senior staff made a big deal this week claiming they watch Fox's "Special Report" anchored by Bret Baier every night at 6p.
Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil..... The major news outlets have just hidden under the covers and are hoping it all will go away. No wonder many newspapers and CNN are tanking. They only cover what they want.
ReplyDeleteDaily Show and Cobert Report was allover Fox News for FNC's "sponsorship" of the Tea Parties.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=224258&title=tempest-in-a-tea-party
Regardless of who backed it or who sponsored it, you don't turnout like the tea parties got without having touched a nerve. The idea that this isn't grassroots is whistling in the dark by people who ignore George Soros bankrolling the antiwar movement.
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