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CBS's Bill Plante: Obama Administration 'Undercutting First Amendment,' 'It's State-Run Media'
Newsbusters ^

Posted on 02/24/2013 5:02:49 PM PST by Sub-Driver

CBS's Bill Plante: Obama Administration 'Undercutting First Amendment,' 'It's State-Run Media' By Noel Sheppard Created 02/24/2013 - 4:01pm

Bill Plante, CBS News Senior White House Correspondent, made a rather shocking statement Sunday about the Obama administration's media strategy.

Appearing on CNN's Reliable Sources, Plante said that to the extent the White House is able to "put out their own material" without the Washington press corps, "they're undercutting the First Amendment...it's state-run media" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

HOWARD KURTZ, HOST: Bill Plante, you've been patrolling that building since Ronald Reagan. Does the White House press look a little self-involved, a little whiny as I said earlier, complaining about this Tiger incident?

BILL PLANTE, CBS NEWS SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We've gotten used to being called whiny lapdogs. I've heard it for 30 years. But this is not about a picture of Tiger Woods. This is about access to the president. And access to the president has been cut and pushed and curtailed over every administration I've covered.

And here's the nub of it, Howie: this administration has the tools to reach people on their own. They don't need us as much. And to the extent that they're able to do that, they're undercutting the First Amendment, which guarantees a free press through many voices. If they put out their own material, it's state-run media.

Conservative radio hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin have been talking about state-run media since Obama was elected. It's nevertheless extraordinary to hear this from someone at CBS News.

Of course, it would have been nice for Plante to say this before Election Day.

Regardless, it's going to be interesting to see whether more in the media begin making this case or if the lapdogs will just continue lapping.

Stay tuned.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: barnicles; cbs; cnn; demagogicparty; firstamendment; mediatraitors; msm; partisanmediashills
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To: Sub-Driver
How's it feel when you're the object, Billy Boy? Late to the game, are we? Just finding out your hero has his own Propaganda Ministry? We riff-raff have known this from the start.

I hope he keeps ignoring and bypassing you clowns completely. It's cosmic justice, and altogether fitting after all the prostrate kneeling and a$$ kissing you and your pals have done to help this "pres--ent" somehow get elected twice.

21 posted on 02/24/2013 5:18:24 PM PST by Emile (Leftists are so 'open-minded', their brains have fallen out. -- (HT to GOPJ))
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To: Sub-Driver

No. They ALL know full what they have done. They have lied for and excused Obama for at least five years, to the extent they have made asses of themselves and endangered our very freedom.. So after the fact, they throw a few crumbs in a feeble attempt to appear unbiased to salvage their non-existent morality and professionalism. Screw them.


22 posted on 02/24/2013 5:21:22 PM PST by Toespi
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To: Sub-Driver
Useful Idiots, as the communist used to call them.

When the media catches on, they will lose credibility with the government, as well as educators who speak out.

The left wing intelligentsia played the game as long as they could, but even some of them can,t stomache it anymore.

Some things just don't pass the smell test, and honest people will speak out.
I hope we don't (and the honest journalist and educators)go the way of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.

Nothing would shock me now.

23 posted on 02/24/2013 5:22:45 PM PST by GrouchoTex (...and ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free....)
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To: Sub-Driver

And still the nets uncritically cover the emperor’s pronouncements. Why not just ignore anything he says unless it is in reply to one of their questions? Don’t report on him, at all, for an entire week.


24 posted on 02/24/2013 5:23:37 PM PST by Sgt_Schultze (A half-truth is a complete lie)
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To: Sub-Driver

We have free speech for everyone, including the government.

It is up to CBS to say that what the government says is full of it, if they wish to do so.


25 posted on 02/24/2013 5:25:23 PM PST by proxy_user
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To: Sub-Driver
this administration has the tools to reach people on their own. They don't need us as much. And to the extent that they're able to do that, they're undercutting the First Amendment, which guarantees a free press through many voices. If they put out their own material, it's state-run media.

Nonsense.

If the press doesn't have access to Obama, that doesn't stop them from writing critical stories of Obama.

They just choose not to do so.

-PJ

26 posted on 02/24/2013 5:26:06 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
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To: Sub-Driver

If Obama doesn’t need the existing “media” complex, neither do we in the citizen media. Not at all. No more than MacArthur needed Toyko Rose, or Eisenhower needed Berlin Betty.

The founders won our liberty with handwritten letters delivered by men on horseback. Certainly we can find a way to preserve that liberty for our posterity with the plethora of communications tools we now have at our fingertips.


27 posted on 02/24/2013 5:26:51 PM PST by EternalVigilance (Go to Basic Training. Read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Then follow them.)
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To: MasterGunner01

“Well, like duh, Bill Plante of CBS. What a grasp of the obvious.”

Well, Thank you,
Bill “NSS” Plante


28 posted on 02/24/2013 5:27:55 PM PST by Texaspeptoman (Even cannibals get fed-up with people sometimes...!)
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To: Sub-Driver

Yeah, Mr Plante. It was fun cuddling with him, til he raped you.

It’s hard to have sympathy for a fawning press.


29 posted on 02/24/2013 5:30:08 PM PST by lurk
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To: Sub-Driver

“Howie: this administration has the tools to reach people on their own. They don’t need us as much.”
I’m not buying into this. If the press wanted to be relevant they would put pressure on the president by asking tough questions and asking tough questions etc.and if he fails to answer, let the world know.
This guy has has the ability to do that right now. Quit whining.


30 posted on 02/24/2013 5:31:41 PM PST by Hurricane
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To: Sub-Driver

No excrement, Mr. Holmes.


31 posted on 02/24/2013 5:35:46 PM PST by sauropod (I will not comply)
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To: Sub-Driver
"And here's the nub of it, Howie: this administration has the tools to reach people on their own. They don't need us as much. And to the extent that they're able to do that, they're undercutting the First Amendment, which guarantees a free press through many voices. If they put out their own material, it's state-run media."

They're pissed because they didn't get a photo op with Tiger Woods.

They're pissed because the President and his minions can conduct an internet campaign without benefit of giving them schmooz time.

They are pissed because it is their prerogatives that are being abused.

They are NOT pissed because the President is suborning the First Amendment. Or because he is governing against the will of the people. Or that he lies every time he opens his mouth.

They are pissed because they aren't allowed to report and broadcast all of the lies on an exclusive basis.

What a self-engrossed little prick...

32 posted on 02/24/2013 5:42:14 PM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: Sub-Driver

I’ve watched Bill Plante for years. He’s been one of the most even-handed reporters in Washington. That doesn’t mean he’s conservative: he tries hard to report objectively, without bias either way.


33 posted on 02/24/2013 5:42:25 PM PST by Bernard Marx
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To: Sub-Driver
Of course, it would have been nice for Plante to say this before Election Day.

Before the election, they were useful idiots. Now, they're just idiots.

34 posted on 02/24/2013 5:49:46 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Sub-Driver

This is a joke right?

If the State runs the Media it is because the Media has allowed it. They have been kissing Obama’s buttocks from day one. Not one investigation into his background and they hide or ridicule anyone who dares to take a stand.

The Media is no Media at all it is political propaganda for Obama and if this guy is mad it’s because he miised out on kissing Obama’s butt while he and Reggie were in Fla.


35 posted on 02/24/2013 5:52:20 PM PST by Venturer
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To: All

his step-son, Chris Plante might be finally getting to him. Chris has a great local show on WMAL.


36 posted on 02/24/2013 5:52:57 PM PST by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
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To: Fightin Whitey
Well said.

He's actually complaining because he doesn't get to be Obama's megaphone.

37 posted on 02/24/2013 5:55:19 PM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Sub-Driver
you voted for him you stoopid sh!t you... buyers remorse?
38 posted on 02/24/2013 5:59:46 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Sub-Driver

Stealing Limbaugh’s line.


39 posted on 02/24/2013 6:00:03 PM PST by popdonnelly (The right to self-defense is older than the Constitution.)
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To: Vigilanteman

Too funny. All the MSM has to do is put one headline above the fold of the NY Times and Obama will fold like a cheap suit..

“Is Obama a US citizen?”

Game, set and match.


40 posted on 02/24/2013 6:01:08 PM PST by EQAndyBuzz (Got a problem? Nothing a drone strike can't fix.)
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