Posted on 06/28/2007 3:15:39 AM PDT by L.N. Smithee
I was just about to flip off my TV set when I did a cursory spin around the channels to see if there was something happening I would want to TiVo for tomorrow when I came across ABC's World News Now broadcast, a hodgepodge of previously aired ABC News stories read by minor league anchors getting their first taste of national network exposure (Anderson Cooper began his career on this show).
The anchors had just finished a replay of Salon.com refugee Jake Tapper's story on the Coulter-Edwards kerfuffle, which contained Tapper's trademark leftward spin. After it was finished, the male anchor said to the female anchor (I'll fill in those details later if you care) something in the realm of "You know how we have a Paris Hilton blackout? Why don't we also have an Ann Coulter blackout?" As the female anchor proposed that Mrs. Edwards and Coulter somehow have it out on television, someone in the control room played in the background Elton John's "The Bitch Is Back." The song's volume rose as the show went to a commercial break.
Personally, I have soured on Coulter after she suddenly became needlessly strident and gratutitous in issuing insults. She's become a conservative enfant terrible, and doesn't seem to care that while she gets all the credit for stirring up outrage, it reflects badly on people who share her concerns but not her penchant for inflammatory rhetoric.
But this thread is not about what I think of her, it's about what is acceptable behavior for a news program. Essentially calling a best-selling author a "bitch" on a newscast? There is absolutely NO excuse for this.
While the BBC recently openly admitted that there is rampant leftist bias within its reports, there has been no similar self-reflection on the part of American news outlets. I propose a good place to start such a discussion would be right at this point: Who is it at ABC News who decided that it would be journalistically acceptable to play "The Bitch Is Back" after a story about Ann Coulter? Someone in that dark room with all the monitors, switches and levers set it up and said, "Do it." What was in his/her mind? What does David Westin have to say about it? Did the decision-maker figure Westin would be proud?
What else would you expect from the liberals? ABC is just doing their part. Frankly, I’m not surprised. The depth to which the libs will sink is bottomless.
In England, Communist functionaries or spies are always advised to confess to their Communist beliefs, but in America they're always told to deny them; e.g., Alger Hiss.
The leftwing media is merely aping the behavior of their Communist inspiration in both countries: confession in England and denial of their unsavory philosophy in America.
The fairness doctrine, whatever that is, will fix this.
Please tell me you're being sarcastic.
Truth is an absolute defense. If Ann Coulter showed even a little class, she wouldn't be open to the charges of being a "bitch." But with the little verbal grenades she lobs, she is essentially the Right's version of Michael Moore.
gee, what an example of good manners.
Increasingly, she is appearing to be America’s Cassandra in the face of the treachery of the current Administration and its acolytes in the House of Lords.
Of course I’m being sarcastic. Couldn’t resist a chance to take a poke at that idiot Voinovich.
The ABC News idiots are following a trend started by Coulter against the needless pretenses of hypersensitivities in offices everywhere. Such pretended hypersensitivities are now commonly used for frivolous accusations to fire conservatives from jobs and to oust us from organizations. ...good work, Ann!
I like Ann, although at times she can be somewhat over the top...but that is Ann. This whole event was a set-up between NBC/MSNBC and the Edwards campaign, which is so obvious. They completely quote out of context to make an issue and give John and Beth Edwards a platform to “take on the right”! What a joke.
The spitter has no journalistic qualities, he is a liar and is completely unethical. Unfortunately, to work at MSNBC you have to participate in hate speech and lies, it is what they are all about, from morning to night. Propagandists all.
An Elton John song... therapy for using the word “faggot,” maybe?
Elton John is overrated. Always thought he sucked.
But that didn't stop you from getting in your little digs, did it?
I believe most any fool could see that Ann Coulter was set up. The idiot who set her up caught her totally unawares and unprepared for Mrs. Edwards. It was a shitty trick to pull,but thats Mathews. John Edwards himself spoke up the next day to pretend to defend his wife, like he didnt know about the set-up. Come on.
I thought Ann did well for someone caught unawares. Certainly she may have gone over the top,but wasnt mathews over the top with the whole set-up?
I am not a great fan of Ann Coulter,but she does get her point across and has the balls to face opposition ,which is more than can be said for the democrats running for the Presidency who wont debate on Fox news.
As for the fairness act , they are trying to shut down Conservatives on the radio ,but dont mention fairness in the Alphabet channels on TV which are owned and operated by the DNC. To liberals fairness is getting out their message while suppressing ours.
Personally I hope Ann will get treatment for her anorexia, because we need her. She has an unhealthy look to her and I say this because I genuinely want her healthy not to make a nasty remark.
In only 17 posts, 4 posters have taken shots at Ann coulter, and this on a CONSERVATIVE website? Please! No wonder the left feels she is fair game. They know that her so-called allies are to cowardly to defend her. I am at the point where I will disown and show no support to any conservative who takes shots at ANN. We need to be thankful for her, people.
I think AC has done all of us a big favor. Her style certainly tends to smoke out the spittle-flecked MSM/Socialist/Leftist and that is a good thing for all to see. As for the sensitivities of the Conservative and Repubs...get over it...stand up and be counted or spend the next few decades with no voice. It’s pitiful that the Right attacks Ann Coulter and tries to be civil with the likes of Harry Read, Teddy and Pelosi, someone needs to grow a pair!
As if someone who goes around 'loaded for bear' needs defending?
“Of course I’m being sarcastic. Couldn’t resist a chance to take a poke at that idiot Voinovich.”
LOL. I was thinking Voinovich, when I read your post. What a dufus he is and an embarassment for Ohio.
Love that Phil Hendrie & Ann photo!
FWIW, Ann Coulter was not blindsided on this interview. She was asked before the show if it would be okay for Mrs. Edwards to call in and talk to her, and she agreed to it. That’s why you’ve never heard Ann complain that she was caught unawares by the call - she knew it was coming. The Hardball producer was discussing this yesterday on air.
I was watching my local news yesterday (CBS affilate) when they aired a national story covered by a CBS reporter.
This reporter referred to the President as MISTER Bush rather than President Bush.
Yet they still refer to Carter and Clinton as President Carter and President Clinton.
That is so wrong
Believe me, the only people who really care are you and the other 5 people that were watching.
Coulter, I believe, has turned from being a spokesperson for conservative ideals to a marketing expert on herself. It’s all about the money anymore.
I’ve rarely seen World News Now since it’s on so late, but what I saw was the worst “news” broadcasting I’ve ever seen. Unprofessional back-benchers, worse than CNN.
LOL... the DBM version of talk-radio.
“Coulter, I believe, has turned from being a spokesperson for conservative ideals to a marketing expert on herself. It’s all about the money anymore.”
Bingo.
Ann Coulter is laughing to the bank.
At the end of the day, she wins and John Edwards looks like a little Girlie-man.
To tell the truth in this world is to set its majority against you.
Moore intentionally and maliciously lies, deceives and misrepresents. Please offer evidence that Coulter does the same with the same frequency as Moore.
They both won. Her book sales took off and his campaign contributions sky-rocketed.
None will be offered. Propagandists are laughing all the way to the tar pits.
She lobs verbal grenades, but she is accurate and truthful. Michael Moore is, at best, inaccurate. He is also just plain dishonest and presents as factual things he KNOWS are not true. He is a pig.
When you catch Ann misrepresenting or just plain lying, then you can call her the right's version of Michael Moore. Until then you are just plain wrong.
They’re just trying to get their digs in, but what they’re really doing is showing their immaturity and hatred for Bush.
Would you rather have a spokesperson for conservative ideals that noone ever heard of?
I agree. And to say you agree with Ann’s stand on things but she is “over the top” (whatever that is) is like saying you support our troops but not what they’re doing.
Ann is Ann - take the whole package or leave it.
Just a thought here. As you say JUST before the show she was told mrs. Edwards would call.
Now what would have happened if she had refused that call. Do you think that would have gone unnoticed or unreported?
What real choice did she have>
I disagree with you, she was trapped, no two ways about it.
” “The fairness doctrine, whatever that is, will fix this.”
Please tell me you’re being sarcastic. “
I’ve been wondering if we should try the tack of making it clear that if the “ShutUpTheOppositionIfWeCan’tWinInTheCourtOfPublicOpinion” Doctrine passes, we WILL be demanding equal time for each and every slanted newscast that project the editorial bias and left-wiong propaganda the slimeballs at the MSM networks call “news”.
I agree, it was classic Matthews. He's so far gone in the ratings, sinking to an all time viewer less low, even for him, this was a last ditch desperate attempt to be relevant for a couple of days.
Yeah that’s a good one!
I think until and unless you hear Ann herself complain that she was trapped, you can’t arrive at that conclusion. This confrontation has made Ann lots of money. I’m sure Ann knew that it would, and she quickly agreed to the call.
Ann’s a big girl. She has enough cojones to tell this producer “no” if she didn’t want to take the call and get into a confrontation with Mrs. Edwards.
Again, ANN HASN’T SAID she was blindsided or caught by surprise, which is very telling.
As for the charge of being an opportunist, Matthews and Edwards make Coulter look like an amateur.
BUMP
You are so WRONG!
Ann exposed how Godless the Democratic Psrty has
become similar to Marxist-Lenin-Stalin revolutionary communist.
So they attack her as seen below:
Hillary now has found religion.
I'll stick with Ann. I know Ann's style of logic and humor is working because George Soros is spending millions for Clinton's new communist party. Talk Radio along with Ann Coulter are attacked daily because they are the communists way.
Perhaps Ann will have something to say about the Anti-american Broadcasting Company.
Little Johnni IS A GIRLIE-SOMETHING.
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