BBC Bringing 'Sophisticated' News to America

real clear politics ^ | June 06, 2006 | Gerard Baker

[Nathan Zachary]

So how is the BBC going to be any different than the canadian version- the CBC? It's all the same leftist liberal crap, paid for by the taxpayers of the country of origin.

[Jameison]

"With more and more newspaper and magazine readership moving online the BBC is well placed to knock lumps out of large numbers of local and national newspapers -"


Not in America they won't.
And not on conservative newspapers or web publications.

[Jameison]

"I don't see pimping Socialism and trashing America as being "sophisticated." Then again, I'm not a liberal DemocRAT."


Correct.
Quote from Justin Webb of the BBC:


"America is often portrayed as an ignorant, unsophisticated sort of place, full of bible bashers and ruled to a dangerous extent by trashy television, superstition and religious bigotry, a place lacking in respect for evidence based knowledge. I know that is how it is portrayed because I have done my bit to paint that picture..." BBC's Washington correspondent Justin Webb


http://ussneverdock.blogspot.com/

[caveat emptor]

I don't see pimping Socialism and trashing America as being "sophisticated."

See sophisticated .

1. worldly. wink wink nudge nudge say no more say no more.
2. impure, adulterated.

[ozzymandus]

The BBC ceased to be relevant on May 8, 1945.

[Pelayo]

Well as cliche as the image of the provincial and myopic ugly American is. There is at least a kernel of truth to it. But half the time I don't think it's born of any real ignorance of the world, but mostly misunderstandings. Many Americans, and I KNOW because I've done it, (and there is a perception that most of them are on the right, but obviously they are not counting the poorer constituents of the left), tend to react very churlishly to any suggestion that they are well, churlish.

This of course only reinforces others belief that we don't care about the rest of the world. Who then treat us with a condescension that is humiliating when it isn't merely annoying. I've had foreigners assume I'll not be able to pronounce the name of the country they come from, (once an eastern European I met was shocked that he didn't have to explain where Moldova was to me). Needless to say I was miffed at his surprise.

So of course this attitude about Americans just gets our hackles up and tends to make one act like we actually don't care. I think those who are the most hurt by this attitude even believe they have stopped caring.

But I'm only hoping this is the perception of your average Joe Six-Pack or Pierre Cheeseater. Add a healthy dose of revolutionary agitator's rhetoric in this or that foreign media, and, not a small amount of a superiority complex and you get modern Anti-Americanism, and the American reaction which feed each other in a reciprocal relationship. What with the populism which drives and empowers the respective governments, it must be a diplomatic nightmare. Nothing like the almost genteel regard for one's enemies, let alone allies, which was common enough 200 years ago.

[Quix]

sophisticated?

Ahhh . . . a BBC word meaning Marxist, liberal, USA hating, globalist clap-trap.

[Jameison]

" tends to make one act like we actually don't care. "

No acting.
I honestly don't care what the Euro-trash think.
Lived there long enough to develop a healthy contempt for the suckers.

Most Euro's I know are ignorant, arrogant, insufferable idiots, with the French and the Germans leading in that department.

[radiohead]

I think Fox news needs to do a program in the evening covering international news. It probably would have very decent ratings.

Good idea. I'd watch - and, I'd rather watch FOX then listen to the BBC, just in terms of supporting our own. But then, what would I use to fall asleep? Coast to coast am? : )

[radiohead]

Of course there's information on the Internet. I mentioned the foreign websites my coworkers look at. As do I at times.

However, I enjoy listening to radio (hence the FReeper handle) because I can do several things at the same time.

[Vectorian]

This is the funniest thread I've read in a long time - an anti-BBC rant written by a Murdoch lackie who works for The Times and Fox, both direct competitors to the BBC. The fact that it has had to be published in what amounts to a glorified blog, rather than a real media source just underlines how clearly Gerard Baker is attempting a hatchet job at the behest of his master, Murdoch.

I'm disappointed the sophisticated consumers of this board fell for such a transparent tactic by Rupert Murdoch!

There's a hell of a lot wrong with the BBC, but you sure as hell aren't going to get a fair viewpoint from Rupert! :D

[Pelayo]

No acting. I honestly don't care what the Euro-trash think. Lived there long enough to develop a healthy contempt for the suckers.

If you didn't care you wouldn't be angry.

[monkapotamus]

[Jameison]

"If I am not mistaken, every time the overall knowledge of US citizens has been analyzed concerning geography and geopolitics, the results have been appalling. Therefore where do Americans get the legitimacy to call foreigners "ignorants" ?"

The Euro-trash are pretty ignorant about America to start off with. I dismiss out of hand, the typically ridiculous stereotypes of America you get from the moronic Euro-media like the BBC like this gem from this BBC fella:

"America is often portrayed as an ignorant, unsophisticated sort of place, full of bible bashers and ruled to a dangerous extent by trashy television, superstition and religious bigotry, a place lacking in respect for evidence based knowledge. I know that is how it is portrayed because I have done my bit to paint that picture..." BBC's Washington correspondent Justin Webb"

I get my legitimacy to call Europeans ignorant on the basis of knowing more about practically anywhere on the planet, outside Europe, than most Europeans do, by a considerable distance.
I was amazed for example, by how super-ignorant Europeans were about Africa when I lived there, especially since it's these same Europeans who colonized, raped and pillaged most of Africa up to the late 20th century. You'd think most Europeans would know where they stole all that wealth from.

[Jameison]

"This is the funniest thread I've read in a long time - an anti-BBC rant written by a Murdoch lackie who works for The Times and Fox, both direct competitors to the BBC"

Fox competes with the BBC?
In what country is that at?
BBC news doesn't even appear on the radar screen in this country.
The BBC doesn't need a rant from anyone to prove how biased and nasty they are.
Their craven acts speak for themselves.

"The fact that it has had to be published in what amounts to a glorified blog, rather than a real media source just underlines how clearly Gerard Baker is attempting a hatchet job at the behest of his master, Murdoch"

Rubbish.
Realclearpolirics has an excellent reputation, and far more credibility than the BBC Al Quaeda propaganda machine.
After all, it was the BBC that claimed Americans troops were not at Baghdad Airport during the Iraq War, long after American troops had captured the place.
Turns out the BBC "journalist" who was filing that report, one fiber named Andrew Gilligan, was not even at the Baghdad Airport at all, when he claimed he was, on air.

I'm disappointed the sophisticated consumers of this board fell for such a transparent tactic by Rupert Murdoch!

That word "sophisticated" again. You mean "sophisticated like the BBC that pimps socialism and trashes America?

[Jameison]

"If you didn't care you wouldn't be angry"

Angry about what?
A bunch of Euro-pansies?
Not on your life.

[cowtowney]

BBC - a cure for insomnia

[Jameison]

"Instead the BBC now says in its publicity, it will offer "both sides of the story". "

BBC's definition of "both sides of the story" : Far Left, and Loony Left.

[Vectorian]

'Fox competes with the BBC?
In what country is that at?
BBC news doesn't even appear on the radar screen in this country.
The BBC doesn't need a rant from anyone to prove how biased and nasty they are.
Their craven acts speak for themselves.'

Yes Fox competes with the BBC - Rupert Murdochs news international owns fox and they compete worldwide with the BBC. Obviously RM wants to stop the BBC before it appears on your radar.

'After all, it was the BBC that claimed Americans troops were not at Baghdad Airport during the Iraq War, long after American troops had captured the place.
Turns out the BBC "journalist" who was filing that report, one fiber named Andrew Gilligan, was not even at the Baghdad Airport at all, when he claimed he was, on air.'

You don't even chew before you swallow Murdochs nonsense do you? Here's a link from an independent investigation of how Fox lied about what Andrew Gilligan said and refused to correct their lies:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/pcb_11/upheld_cases

'That word "sophisticated" again. You mean "sophisticated like the BBC that pimps socialism and trashes America?'

No, I mean sophisticated like people who may not like the BBC, but are smart enough to know when Rupert Murdoch has told one of his lackies to put the boot in to further his own empire.