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?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.