Pelosi says no to C-SPAN request on floor proceedings

Associated Press ^ | 22 Dec/ 2006 | Staff Reporter

[txradioguy]

Article Launched: 12/22/2006 04:38:28 PM MST

WASHINGTON -- Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi cited the need to preserve the ''dignity and decorum'' of the House as she rejected a request Friday that C-SPAN operate its own cameras in covering the chamber.

The public service network has provided gavel-to-gavel television coverage of House proceedings since 1979. But the House leader has kept control of the cameras, with coverage generally limited to tight shots of the speaker or the podium.

The situation is similar in the Senate, which C-SPAN has televised since 1986.

C-SPAN's chairman and chief executive told Pelosi, D-Calif., that under this arrangement, cameras are prevented ''from taking individual reaction shots or from panning the chamber, leaving viewers with an incomplete picture of what's happening in the House of Representatives.''

http://www.elpasotimes.com/election/ci_4887745

[txradioguy]

Something is amiss here.

[onyx]

HAR! Mrs. Control Freak versus full public view of the proceedings?

[Mo1]

FYI Ping

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Since when have Democrats been concerned about dignity and decorum?

[sissyjane]

I guess she doesn't want us to see her breaking arms.

[onyx]

I am not surprised, are you?

[Mo1]

I was wondering the same thing

[onyx]

LOL!

[Mo1]

Nope .. remember how Hellary reacted to the Press when the Clinton's were first in the WH

[Redbob]

Except for the laughable "digntiy and decorum" part, she has a point.

I could see the CSPAN types panning around trying to find a member snoozing, or making a face as Pelosi - or Hastert - speaks.
It would become a circus.

More of a circus, that is.

[txradioguy]

Since they decided they don't want the viewing public to wittness their full moonbattery on siaplay before the '08 Election.

I mean seriously...if all their open floor debates about MIHOP/LIHOP...The Downing Street Memo...Impeachnment and how they will consipire to confiscate more of our money isn't helpful to their chances two years from now.

[Sun]

What is she trying to hide?

[kinoxi]

But the House leader has kept control of the cameras, with coverage generally limited to tight shots of the speaker or the podium.

Damn, sandy berger's gonna need bigger pants...

[Mo1]

I agree .. though I am enjoying all this hypocrisy from the Dems

Whatever happen to "Truth To Power" and all that

[onyx]

You'd think the press would wise up and realize that they're only useful idiots. democrats NEVER want to conduct their "bidness" in full public view.

[soupcon]

As I read it, nothing changes. Pelosi keeps the same control as Hastert did, and for the same reason...no-one wants to see their House member sleeping during the proceedings.

[Txsleuth]

They don't really have to pan the crowd to make it a circus...

For some reason, there are groups of Congresscritters that will boo and hiss if they don't like what is being said...you can hear it...even if you don't know who is doing it..

I watch the House quite often...and I haven't ever felt that I haven't seen anything that important.

I WOULD like them to show the votes though..who voted how, on the screen so that we will know at the vote is going on.

In the Senate, we are told who is voting which way...but in the House we have to wait until it is posted on the internet sometimes hours later...

[onyx]

no-one wants to see their House member sleeping during the proceedings

Really? I do.

[Torie]

Pelosi is doing what the Pubbies did, I think. I don't think this represents a change. But I could be wrong.

[Mo1]

Many in the press are WILLING useful idiots