A Sad Day for Artistic Freedom (Babs barf alert)

bab's web ^ | Nov 4, 2003 | Babs

[hotpotato]

I am deeply disappointed that CBS, the network that in 1964 gave me complete artistic control in creating television specials, now caved in to right wing Republican pressure to cancel the network broadcast of the movie The Reagans. (And I say MOVIE - because this is NOT a documentary - it's a television drama.) The movie will now be aired on Showtime, where the difference in viewership is in the millions.

One can only imagine the kind of pressure that would compel CBS to take such an extraordinary action. This was an organized Republican spin machine at work. Remember the Dixie Chicks controversy? It wasn't the larger general public that called in to radio stations and burned CDs, it was a small group of right wing activists. In fact, now the band is more popular than ever, with a sold out summer tour.

I don't believe Democrats often, if ever, try to muscle the First Amendment like this. For example, in 1983, no one stopped NBC from airing Kennedy, a biopic that portrayed President Kennedy and other members of his family and administration as deeply flawed, even though the movie could have potentially been hurtful to Jackie Kennedy, who was still alive to see it, as well as to her children.

This is censorship, pure and simple. Well, maybe not all that pure. Censorship never is. Due to their experience with the restrictive English government, the framers of our constitution specifically included a ban on prior restraint in the First Amendment, which is an attempt to stop information from getting out there before the public has a chance to see it at all - exactly what is going on in this case. Of course, CBS as a company has the legal right to make decisions about what they do and do not air. However, these important decisions should be based on artistic integrity rather than an attempt to appease a small group of vocal dissidents. Indeed, today marks a sad day for artistic freedom - one of the most important elements of an open and democratic society.

[hotpotato]

I thought about adding this to political humor but wasn't sure if others would think it was amusing (I do).

[hotpotato]

"I don't believe Democrats often, if ever, try to muscle the First Amendment like this."

uhm.... doesn't she mean "muzzle?"

[squidly]

I don't believe Democrats often, if ever, try to muscle the First Amendment like this.

Never heard of Dr. Laura, obviously.

[pdjplano]

i see CBS making the decision, and they claim that the decision was based on their viewing of the final product and that the product sucked. so, she is calling CBS liars in her statement.

no one is censoring anything, CBS was still free to put on the program, no law was passed restricting the airing of said program, and no government action of any kind was taken in any way, shape or form to prevent airing of said program.

Ms. Streisand is full of shit, basically...

[IrishRainy]

Yeah, and remember the real story about Marilyn and JFK/RFK that was going to be on 20/20 about 10 years ago? It never aired, it was shelved, because at the last minute ABC decided it would be too offensive to Mrs. Kennedy, both of them. I'm guessing Roone Arledge helped his special friends out here, but what do I know.

Babs and her liberal cronies are seriously out of touch with America...maybe they should move to France after all.

[moodyskeptic]

If my seventh grader daughter wrote this, I would send her back to "make it more intelligent".

Does Babs have anyone to tell her the truth, or does she intimidate her entire staff?

[Greenpees]

""Due to their experience with the restrictive English government, the framers of our constitution specifically included a ban on prior restraint in the First Amendment, which is an attempt to stop information from getting out there before the public has a chance to see it at all - exactly what is going on in this case. ""

Umm, Sorry BABs. The government had nothing to do with killing your little sissy husband's garbage tripe.

Fortunately, prior restraint was unaffected, but I believe Adam Smith would be proud of the invisible hand used to backhand the likes of you.

By the way. Instead of blaming "right wingers", just go ahead and blame me.

[hotpotato]

That would be Ms. Streisand = BS

[opus86]

Babs seems to think it's okay to lie about someone if you call it a MOVIE instead of a DOCUMENTARY (of course, that didn't stop Michael Moore)....Tell ya what, Babs...I'll make a MOVIE about your life, and portray you as a crack-smoking, lying, promiscuous hoe-bag...Then we'll see how much you preach about "artistic freedom".

[Michael.SF.]

This was an organized Republican spin machine at work.

Ah, blow it out of your ass , Bitch

OK, I feel better now. go ahead and delete it, Jim.

[Smokin' Joe]

I don't believe Democrats often, if ever, try to muscle the First Amendment like this.

Bwahaahaaahaaahaaaa ROTFLMAO!

[america-rules]

We all feel that way :)

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..CBS, the network that in 1964 gave me complete artistic control in creating television specials...

That's a long time ago.

You're no longer Funny Girl, Barbra. You're a mean and manipulative liberal who thought you could pull the strings on this hateful production, by putting your husband in the lead role and a couple of friends on the writing team. But the project has blown up in your face- not because of any right-wing conspiracy, but because consumers no longer want what you're selling, or like what you represent.

[kenth]

I imagine this will be the biggest load of Barbra Streisand I'll see all day...

[hotpotato]

Upon hearing about the cancellation of "The Reagans" Babs pees her pants.

[kcvl]

Hey Babs,

I can't find "The Dixie Chicks" here...

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/music/article/0,1651,TCP_1163_2398828,00.html


Men stealing country spotlight at this year's CMAs

By JOHN GEROME The Associated Press
November 5, 2003

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The nominees for tonight's country music awards are a bit more old school than some predecessors -- and a lot more brawny.

For the first time in some 20 years, male singers took all five slots in both the entertainer of the year and newcomer categories.

Some say the nominations reflect a shift from pop-leaning, crossover acts such as Faith Hill and Shania Twain to the more male-dominated, traditional sounds of Joe Nichols and Buddy Jewell.

SNIP


This year's nominees -- chosen by 5,000 industry insiders who belong to the CMA -- include a few classic country artists and several others who continue that tradition. Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Patty Loveless, Randy Travis, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley and Johnny Cash are up for awards, as well as newcomers Jewell, Nichols and Gary Allan.

Toby Keith, who's had a string of testosterone-charged hits with "Who's Your Daddy," "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue" and "Beer For My Horses," leads all artists this year with seven nominations.

[RichInOC]

I am deeply disappointed that CBS, the network that in 1964 gave me complete artistic control in creating television specials, now caved in to right wing Republican pressure to cancel the network broadcast of the movie The Reagans.

Barbra, they did that because forty years ago, and even more recently than that, you were a pretty decent singer and comedic actress. Now you've pretty much bagged the singing and comedy (the intentional kind, anyway) and turned into a crap producer, a crap political commentator (opinions are indeed like rectal orifices, but trust me, Babs, your particular nether pipes aren't nearly as musically talented as your other ones) and, from what I can tell, an all-around crappy human being. Do what you know how to do. Get your throat back in gear, find some maniacally funny scripts, let somebody else produce, and for the love of the Almighty, no more blogging.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

CBS, the network that gave the world "Playing for Time," a WWII drama about Jewish musicians in a concentration camp which starred that Pali-pleasing commie, Vanessa Redgrave.

"Art is superior to politics," insist the fat-cat hypocrites.

Unlike politics, art does not feed people. Art is not life and death.

Art is playing, done well.

[RandallFlagg]

This is censorship, pure and simple. Well, maybe not all that pure. Censorship never is.

Umm, babs, how is it censorship when the government had nothing to do with it? The people cannot censor one single thing; only the government has that ability....MORON!