What a difference a political philosophy makes when it comes to funeral coverage. Posted on 08/30/2009 7:46:46 AM PDT by PJ-Comix
What a difference a political philosophy makes when it comes to funeral coverage.
Have you heard a word of complaint from the network anchors that perhaps television is "overcovering" the funeral of Ted Kennedy? Of course not. However, after President Ronald Reagan passed away in 2004, both Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather grumbled aloud about how his funeral was being "overcovered" despite the massive turnout of citizens when he was lain in state in the Capitol Rotunda. The difference between Kennedy and Reagan, of course, was their political philosphies which explains the vastly different reactions to their funeral coverage. So let us take a trip down memory lane to this Philadelphia Inquirer article written by Gail Shister in June 2004:
Television will go overboard on covering Ronald Reagan's funeral events, say Dan Rather of CBS and Tom Brokaw of NBC. ABC's Peter Jennings isn't so sure.
"They will be overcovered," Rather says. "Even though everybody is respectful and wants to pay homage to the president, life goes on. There is other news, like the reality of Iraq. It got very short shrift this weekend."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsbusters.org ...
PING!
I will agree with my ultra conservative mother in law. After about the 7th 21 gun salute for Ronnie that Nancy arranged it seemed a little overkill. But a beautiful tribute to his life no less.
Have you heard a word of complaint from the network anchors that perhaps television is “overcovering” the funeral of Ted Kennedy?
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I actually don’t hear a word that they say, I haven’t watched them in 3 years just because of their hypocrisy so nothing like this surprises me.
Big difference here - Ronald Reagan was our president and an honorable man. Ted Kennedy was a sleazebag of a senator. Oh, and let’s not forget the overkill of the Michael Jackson story done by the networks.
Ronald Reagan was a true loss to this nation.
I have blissfully ignored the entire thing.
Spitter Matthews refering to the crowds waiting for the Kennedy cortege:
“This is a typical Democrat event, running way behind schedule. Unlike Republicans, who are lickety split. Maybe they just lack the soul of this crowd.”
All those Republicans who stood in line for hours in June’s heat and January’s cold for Reagan and Ford, respectively, apparently had no soul.
Those soulless Republicans didn’t have the benefit enjoyed yesterday by the Hill staffers of having chairs put out for them, or flags provided, or the option to step back into the cool comfort of the Capitol.
I had this licked from the get go.
1) I watched not one minute of Kennedy coverage
2) I listened to not one minute of radio coverage.
Problem solved.
Think of how many ‘health’ insurance policies could have been purchased with the amount of $$$$$ that has been spent by US taxpayers, Jon Stewart media, @ etc., to plant old Teddy.
I wonder, did they bury Teddy with his brain? Or has it gone missing, as have other Kennedy brains?
I'm sure you mean, the death of Ronald Reagan was a true loss to this nation.
Barry Goldwater wanted to “lob one” into the Kremlin mensroom. If he were alive today, he might change the target, maybe something closer to Rockefeller Center.
I don't know from what little I have read about Goldwater in his latter days was not the same as in his former years.
Yep. I was thinking of Goldwater version 64.0
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21671-2004Jun7.html
Reagan: The Retake
By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 7, 2004; 8:31 AM
EXCERPT
The media dubbed him the Teflon president, and it was not meant as a compliment.
Reagan was, quite simply, a far more controversial figure in his time than the largely gushing obits on television would suggest.
//
http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=3710
Fade-out
Ronald Reagan’s death brought out the best and the worst of the American news media.
By Thomas Kunkel
EXCERPT
But the initial burst of news coverage would have you believe that Reagan was a cross between Abe Lincoln and Mother Teresa, with an overlay of Mister Rogers. Television, as has become typical in the big stories, was the worst offender, turning Reagan’s life and death into visual wallpaper. But the torrent of worshipful, uncritical newspaper coverage — open page after open page — was scarcely better.
//
http://www.villagevoice.com/2004-06-08/news/das-rongold/
Das Rongold
Reagan’s funeral as a Wagnerian opera. Plus: Eminem as censor
Richard Goldstein
Tuesday, June 8th 2004
EXCERPT
Because the networks had so long to plan for this production, and because Nancy is a master dramaturge, this was the most precisely mounted news event in modern times. Each gesture was minutely choreographed, every tear strategically placed. Bush Sr.’s sniffling eulogy may have belied his frequent references to Reagan’s policies as “voodoo economics,” but it won him top billing on ABC’s evening news, over his son’s remarks. The interment in California fit perfectly into a two-hour prime-time slot. Invisible mics picked up every sigh and whisper, including Nancy’s.
Camelot continues ...
Of course it happened in the heat of the presidential race too which the Dems (and media) feared would aid W - with all the reminders of Reagan principles.
Then I can agree with your post. We can look back to method of operation (rules for radicals) in how the left treated Mr. Goldwater. Nothing new under the sun.
2) I listened to not one minute of radio coverage
I'm right there with ya. I'll not waste one moment of my life watching coverage of that lying pig-faced sack of sh!t or those that mourn him
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