I Could Write "Bias" Without Leaving C-SPAN; Why I Left

C-SPAN ^ | February 3, 2002 | lonestar

[lonestar]

At approximately 9:20 CST, I turned to C-SPAN hoping to catch Jessee Jackson. Susan was taking calls with numbers listed for Democrats, Republicans and Independents.

I listened to four callers. Each and everyone was accusing the Bush Administration of everything from allowing 9/11 to happen for political purposes to the "Republican" caller accusing Bush of trying to kill Social Security and the SEC.

Susan let the "Republican" caller make his speech without challenging his true party affiliation. He would have made Carville proud.

[lonestar]

I was reminded why I don't waste my time watching C-SPAN anymore. They seem to have abandoned any pretense of presenting fair and equal opportunity to air opinions in a public forum.

Bye bye C-SPAN. C-me run.

[JessicaDragonet]

It's usually one sided...especially with democrats calling on the independent line too. But the good news is that most of them sound like they are calling from an asylum.

[WillaJohns]

But you should have heard Rev. Peterson yesterday. He was worth two months of their regular crap. I'm not kidding. I almost cried listening to him speak the truth, it was THAT powerful!

[imintrouble]

With a paucity of good news in the morning (I mean early morning on the west coast) I tune into C-SPAN. I do enjoy the hosts getting wide-eyed and terrified by some of the comments to which they are not allowed response. I have lost many a good breakfast by some of the callers however. If this is our representative population, I fear for our future.

[GoMonster]

yeah I gave up on c-span two years ago when they started doing the "fair" call approach. Also, they used to allow you to call in and just talk about current topics. Then they made you follow the mantra of the Newspapers. Thanks God For Foxnews.

[JessicaDragonet]

I'll never forget one caller...she demanded to know why Bush had not been prosecuted for causing a wreck while driving drunk that resulted in the death of a passenger. Makes me wonder how many of these stories get repeated as fact because they heard it on C-SPAN.

[lonestar]

I'll never forget one caller...she demanded to know why Bush had not been prosecuted for causing a wreck while driving drunk that resulted in the death of a passenger. Makes me wonder how many of these stories get repeated as fact because they heard it on C-SPAN.

When they remember that was a Kennedy who did that, it becomes OK.

[lonestar]

Sorry I missed the Rev. Peterson. I love him!

[thucydides]

The problem is they don't use a call screener like other talk shows. The wackos know this, so they flood all the lines. Since C-Span is a public service operation, they couldn't hire a call screener without being accused of partisanship. Maybe they should just drop the call ins. Few of the callers ever have anything useful to say.

[thucydides]

They also call on the republican line. As you say, they are so insanely partisan that they probably are doing real damage to their own cause.

[jesterhazy]

oh, not like FReepers flooding online polls by voting dozens of times? It's embarrasing.

[The Bolt]

I have heard the same old dim lady (what Rush calls a seminar caller) get to speak on C-Span call-in period so many times, methinks she is calling from the next room. Boy is she DUUMMMBBBB.

[thucydides]

At least I don't have to listen to freeped polls.

[lonestar]

The problem is they don't use a call screener like other talk shows. The wackos know this, so they flood all the lines. Since C-Span is a public service operation, they couldn't hire a call screener without being accused of partisanship. Maybe they should just drop the call ins. Few of the callers ever have anything useful to say.

True. It irks me when they allow a caller to make a speech after it's become quite clear, that they aren't representing the point of view they claim to represent.

Ultimately it is a reflection on C-span. I saw Lucianne recently and she gave Brian Lamb a fit about this very subject. Then a caller called in to say what an evil, mean person Barbara Olson was and Lucianne said, "That is exactly what I'm talking about... " and that the caller had no clue what she was talking about.

[VOA]

But the good news is that most of them sound like they are calling from an asylum.

Yep. Here in Los Angeles, there seems to be an organized call-in program
accussing GWH (Poppa) Bush of all sorts of EVVVVIILLLL due to his serving with
The Carlyle Group, which does have heavy investment in military product, most notably
the "Crusader" artillery unit.

The callers don't seem to realize that their buddies have called so much that most
radio talk-show hosts here just say "Thanks for the info." and flush their calls.

I'm tempted to start calling in some of the more "middle of the road"
shows as the demo/liberal who's gonna' tell everyone about how Dubya, his Dad and
the brains of the operation, Barbara Bush, are set on enslaving the whole world.

[Piquaboy]

They had Jesse Jackson on this morning spouting his garbage. More and more they are showing there true colors. Also the Dem's call in on every line. They have no shame at all.

[imintrouble]

Why don't they just call it C-SPIN and be honest?