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Shocking Primetime Balance on CBS
Townhall.com ^ | April 10, 2015 | Brent Bozell

Posted on 04/10/2015 4:47:50 AM PDT by Kaslin

Conservatives know what to expect when the networks create shows about lawyers. From "L.A. Law" to "Ally McBeal," we've observed countless crusading liberal protagonists confront and defeat conniving corporate executives and other corrupt establishment villains.

This seemed to describe "The Good Wife" on CBS over the past five years. But something interesting has happened over the past few weeks. Producers have introduced a wealthy conservative character named Reese Dipple, who engages seasoned liberal lawyer Diane Lockhart on the hot-button social issues of the day.

As they say on cable TV, you won't believe what happens next.

This debate began because Lockhart would like to attract Dipple, the "fourth richest man in America," as a client, despite their political differences.

On the March 22 episode, she arranged to run into him at a hunting lodge in Wyoming. Out in the woods, sitting in the snow, they chatted about abortion. She led with the vision of women dead from backstreet abortions.

Dipple replied: "I also know that science gives that fetus a 20- to 35-percent survival rate at five months, all right? ... In other words, at the same moment that any woman in America, and the world, can get an abortion, science gives that infant a 30-percent chance of survival." At six months, he pressed on, a baby's chances improve to a 50-percent survival rate.

"So what?" the feminist replied. "Abortion is murder?"

He gently continued: "Don't look away from the aborted fetus. Look at it. Why is it not a baby? And why are we kitsch-ifying these babies, and turning 'em into these cute little Raphael cherubs, and at the same time we're aborting 1.2 million of them a year?"

It's beyond amazing that a character on prime-time TV is preaching a pro-life message, complete with statistics, and isn't made to look like Satan incarnate. This conservative character generously debates his liberal friend, telling her he's pro-life because he likes people, and he likes her, and wonders out loud whether an aborted fetus could turn out like her, or like him.

Kudos to "The Good Wife" creators Robert and Michelle King for avoiding stick-figure debates designed not only to make conservatives lose, but also look terrible in the process. Robert King told Entertainment Weekly magazine that they have a diverse writing staff, both politically and religiously. That seems accurate when you watch these debates.

On April 5, the subject was the battle over religious-freedom protections for bakers and wedding planners who object to same-sex weddings based on their faith. Dipple wanted to donate to support Christians who were fighting for their rights. Lockhart advised him that wouldn't work in California with its laws, and so Dipple funded a battle for a wedding planner in Idaho with better chances. He used Lockhart as a liberal counsel in mock trials to see how it would work.

Again, "The Good Wife" writers allowed their Dipple character to project sound conservative arguments on CBS: "Three years ago, Barack Obama was against gay marriage. So was Bill Clinton, so was Hillary. Basically, every Democratic icon was lined up against gay marriage," he began. "Now they're not. Because it's politically expedient for them not to be. Who knows what they're gonna be for or against in another three years, right?"

He concluded: "I like people who stand by their opinions; I like people who stand by their beliefs. And I think religious accommodation must be made for people who do that. It's the right thing to do."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: abortion; media; primetime; religiousfreedom; television

1 posted on 04/10/2015 4:47:50 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Interesting, but this is CBS, so I predict in the final episode he will undergo a sexual reasignment.


2 posted on 04/10/2015 5:04:34 AM PDT by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything.)
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To: Kaslin
Not to be a pessimist but I have seen this before even in shows such as LA Law, The West Wing, etc. Within a season new conservative stereotypes will emerge and be presented as the real face of conservatives that of course will be rooted in bigotry and stupidity.

I have no faith that Hollywood will ever present both sides of an issue fairly and ad adhere to the "we report, you decide" philosophy. Sure this may have happened on rare occasions in the past but it hasn't happened recently as the writers have become more left wing. Hell, Hollywood no longer hires writers who aren't left wing. If by accident, they do, they won't last long.

3 posted on 04/10/2015 5:10:34 AM PDT by Sir_Humphrey (Is it too late to save the country?)
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To: Kaslin
He concluded: "I like people who stand by their opinions; I like people who stand by their beliefs. And I think religious accommodation must be made for people who do that. It's the right thing to do."

Doesn't sound 'hollywood' to me... (which is a good thing)

4 posted on 04/10/2015 5:38:44 AM PDT by GOPJ (Climatology is a science?? Kinda like Lesbian Dance Theory is a sport... freeper eyeamok)
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To: Kaslin

SeeBS must be getting desperate.


5 posted on 04/10/2015 5:53:10 AM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: outofsalt

After they sleep together.


6 posted on 04/10/2015 5:53:39 AM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: Sir_Humphrey

I’ll go way out on a limb and guess they will find out their new client, the 4th richest man in America, is funding the bombings of abortion clinics and they will then put principle above money and find some way to stop him with shrewd legal tactics.


7 posted on 04/10/2015 6:00:39 AM PDT by IMR 4350
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To: Kaslin

Impressive, but HERE everyone deep down should understand this is a shrewd and very patient TRICK.


8 posted on 04/10/2015 6:11:28 AM PDT by gaijin
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To: Kaslin
"So what?" the feminist replied. "Abortion is murder?"

Of course it's murder. When prime time calls abortion what it is, then we can talk about acceptance of pro-life views.

9 posted on 04/10/2015 6:14:03 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("Politics is downstream from culture." -- Andrew Breitbart)
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To: Kaslin

Denny Crain


10 posted on 04/10/2015 6:35:18 AM PDT by Sgt_Schultze (If a border fence isn't effective, why is there a border fence around the White House?)
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To: Sgt_Schultze
Denny Crain

I thought the same thing. Except Denny was made out to be a bit of a lovable loon.

I never watched this show, probably never will. But maybe there's cause for a bit of optimism in this.
11 posted on 04/10/2015 6:51:17 AM PDT by mmichaels1970
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To: Kaslin

The Last Man Standing” on ABC has an overall conservative message while allowing thoughtful expression of liberal views. Interesting juxtaposition.


12 posted on 04/10/2015 7:07:52 AM PDT by CMAC51
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To: Kaslin

He will turn out to be a closet wife beater, into S&M, with a child slave locked in a sexual perverted dungeon. To the left, there simply is not a moral person out there.


13 posted on 04/10/2015 7:54:09 AM PDT by vpintheak (Call the left what they are - regressive control-freaks)
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To: Sir_Humphrey

It only took one episode. I saw the episode where Diane wins Dipple’s business.

Next episode they stage a mock trial, where a homosexual is turned away from a Christian baker. They stack the deck against the conservatives in the trial, on purpose, by putting a liberal judge as the presider - all this they admit to prior to it going off.

Then they have the trial. A first year law student could have argued a better case on the conservative side of the court, and the word ‘Muslim’ never came up. They hire Dipple’s nephew, who is gay, to play the plaintiff - a fact that angers Dipple.

They pulled all kinds of punches, but they are looking for the kind of credit that other posters have given these lot.

They are just going for the low information voter, 30 - 54, who makes a lot of money.

What struck me was how fast they spun this episode out. In fact, the timing of it is impressive. Leads me to think it is coordinated.

That may also be because the guest preacher at my ELCA church is going to talk about the ‘Open Door’ project. I’ll give you three guesses as to what that is, but I doubt you’ll need more than one.

Yep, Same sex marriage and HIV outreach. Glad I’m taking my Troop out camping this weekend. It may snow too. I’ll still be less miserable than contemplating having to go to church this Sunday.


14 posted on 04/10/2015 8:07:21 AM PDT by RinaseaofDs
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To: Kaslin
The same abortion "rights" activists who yell at a pregnant woman who is smoking have no problem if that same woman decides to abort/kill her child. Maybe they can explain that circuitous "reasoning" to me.

If a woman who is pregnant is not supposed to harm the growing human inside her by smoking or other risky behavior, how then can it be justified to slice up that growing human? Sorry activists...can't have it both ways.

15 posted on 04/10/2015 8:09:50 AM PDT by driftless2 (For long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
IOW, SeeBS is trying to cut itself in, probably due to declining ratings, sea change, and -- best of all from their perspective -- as part of the buildup to the series finale, the rich conservative will be arrested for servicing strange men at rest stop toilets, be bailed out by the black (probably former lesbian) mother of his biracial children, because he didn't want his wife to find out about the bust. Oh, and he's already paid a number of former flings to get abortions.

16 posted on 04/10/2015 12:30:02 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW!)
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To: Kaslin

I didn’t know anyone watched American TV any more.


17 posted on 04/10/2015 7:06:40 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: kaehurowing

I prefer watching KDramas on viki.com.


18 posted on 04/10/2015 7:08:50 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

“I prefer watching KDramas on viki.com.”

Ahh, you and my wife! I refuse to become addicted so I won’t watch them.


19 posted on 04/10/2015 7:57:10 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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