ABC's "The Note" - Now That ABC Admits to Campaigning for Dems, do FEC Regs Apply to Them?

ABC The Note ^ | 2-12-04 | jstein7

[jmstein7]

Question for you...

ABC News has admitted its bias, writing in "The Note":

Like every other institution, the Washington and political press corps operate with a good number of biases and predilections.

They include, but are not limited to, a near-universal shared sense that liberal political positions on social issues like gun control, homosexuality, abortion, and religion are the default, while more conservative positions are "conservative positions."

They include a belief that government is a mechanism to solve the nation's problems; that more taxes on corporations and the wealthy are good ways to cut the deficit and raise money for social spending and don't have a negative affect on economic growth; and that emotional examples of suffering (provided by unions or consumer groups) are good ways to illustrate economic statistic stories.

More systematically, the press believes that fluid narratives in coverage are better than static storylines; that new things are more interesting than old things; that close races are preferable to loose ones; and that incumbents are destined for dethroning, somehow.

The press, by and large, does not accept President Bush's justifications for the Iraq war -- in any of its WMD, imminent threat, or evil-doer formulations. It does not understand how educated, sensible people could possibly be wary of multilateral institutions or friendly, sophisticated European allies.

It does not accept the proposition that the Bush tax cuts helped the economy by stimulating summer spending.

It remains fixated on the unemployment rate.

It believes President Bush is "walking a fine line" with regards to the gay marriage issue, choosing between "tolerance" and his "right-wing base."

It still has a hard time understanding how, despite the drumbeat of conservative grass-top complaints about overspending and deficits, President Bush's base remains extremely and loyally devoted to him -- and it looks for every opportunity to find cracks in that base.

Of course, the swirling Joe Wilson and National Guard stories play right to the press's scandal bias -- not to mention the bias towards process stories (grand juries produce ENDLESS process!).

The worldview of the dominant media can be seen in every frame of video and every print word choice that is currently being produced about the presidential race.

That means the President's communications advisers have a choice:

Try to change the storyline and the press' attitude, or try to win this election without changing them.

Okay. So, now that ABC News admits that it is a political interest group with a liberal agenda -- threatening the President to change or be hit with political attacks from ABC -- does/should ABC News now be forced to comply with FEC (Federal Election Commission) Regulations and McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance "Reform" Laws?

Interesting.

[jmstein7]

Any comments?

[diotima]

I read the note everyday, it is quite useful for somethings.

But some animals are more equal than others.

[Ethyl]

Okay. So, now that ABC News admits that it is a political interest group with a liberal agenda -- threatening the President to change or be hit with political attacks from ABC -- does/should ABC News now be forced to comply with FEC (Federal Election Commission) Regulations and McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance "Reform" Laws?

Interesting.


Yes, they and all the networks should, please contact the FEC.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Liberals have shown to never follow the rules, what makes you think they would even if they had to comply?

[jmstein7]

Lol!

If I had the $, I would run attack ads about ABC's news bias on NBC, NBC's bias on CBS, and CBS's bias on ABC.

[harpo11]

Your post jogged something that has been bothering me about the advertisers who pay top dollars to have an ad aired while the Academy Awards are televised.

What bothers me is that the majority of actors are leftists, socialists, democrat and that they think it is their place and the right place to spew anti-Bush, anti-conservative rhetoric while accepting or presenting an Oscar.

I should like to think that advertisers know that republicans, and conservatives, and even the Bush's buy products, so why would they be so debased and/or stupid to allow the actors to show disrespect to their customers?

I think that the FCC should look into that, and the network that has the dubious pleasure of airing the Academy Awards would put the bleeper on any political comments.

[JohnnyZ]

So, now that ABC News admits that it is a political interest group with a liberal agenda -- threatening the President to change or be hit with political attacks from ABC -- does/should ABC News now be forced to comply with FEC (Federal Election Commission) Regulations and McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance "Reform" Laws?

Why does ABC News get attacked when they're the only one of the alphabets actually being honest about the bias in the press?

[PattonReincarnated]

>> If I had the $, I would run attack ads about ABC's news bias on NBC, NBC's bias on CBS, and CBS's bias on ABC.

Maybe we can convince George Soros that two of the three networks are too *conservative* and he will run attack ads for us. It would be nice to see him waste more of his money.

[expatpat]

Liberals have shown to never follow the rules, what makes you think they would even if they had to comply?

As diotima (per G. Orwell) points out above, elite liberals are more equal than the rest of us.

[billhilly]

"Any comments?"

Sure! After a long overdue outbreak of honesty, lets reward it with a public hanging. That will teach the bastards to open their mouths.Not!

There has been a long evolution and realignment of political forces in America, and the rest of the industrial world. Dominant ideas and ideals eventually triumph over worn out notions and fads. What , for instance, does the left have to offer. Indeed, what have they ever offered that has endured the test of time.I would go on, but would be more pleased with your thoughts on this subject.

[mlo]

I must have missed something. What's the story on this note?

[Libertina]

Our local radio station talked about this yesterday. It is despicable... but atleast out in the open. Good one for your media bias chapter, Bert!

[diotima]

The Note is put out bu ABC news, it comes everyday. If you remove the editorial crap in it, it is very good. It lists all the political events of the day and other schedules. Here is todays:

—8:30 am: Sen. John Edwards appears on MSNBC's "Imus in the Morning"
—8:30 am: The Commerce Department announces January retail sales
—10:00 am: Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan testifies before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
—10:00 am: Elizabeth Edwards has coffee with campaign supporters at Bentley's American Grille, Racine, Wis.
—10:05 am: Gov. Dean tours the Living Healthy Community Center, Oshkosh, Wis.
—10:55 am: President Bush participates in a conversation on Education and the 21st Century Jobs Initiative, Harrisburg, Pa.
—11:15 am: Sen. John Edwards meets with voters at the Bray Center, Racine, Wis.
—11:15 am: Gov. Howard Dean attends a town hall at the Grand Opera House, Oshkosh, Wis.
—11:30 am: Rev. Al Sharpton speaks at the University of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C.
—12:00 pm: Massachusetts legislature reconvenes its constitutional convention, Boston, Mass.
—12:45 pm: Rev. Sharpton visits the Greenleaf Senior Citizens Home, Washington, D.C.
—12:55 pm: President Bush returns to the White House
—1:15 pm: Mrs. Edwards meets with supporters at Bombay Louie's, Kenosha, Wis.
—2:20 pm: Gov. Dean tours Northeast Family Medical Center, Madison, Wis.
—4:00 pm: Gov. Dean attends a town hall at the Wisconsin Union Hall Theater, Madison, Wis.
—5:00 pm: Mrs. Edwards attends a house party in Sheboygan, Wis.
—7:15 pm: Mrs. Edwards attends the Brown County Democrats' "Bye-Bye Bush Bash" at the Riverside Ballroom, Green Bay, Wis.
—7:30 pm: Sen. Edwards meets with voters at Culver City Senior Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
—8:15 pm: Gov. Dean attends a grassroots fundraiser at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minn.
—11:00 pm: Gen. Wesley Clark appears on PBS' "The Charlie Rose Show"
—11:35 pm: Rep. Dennis Kucinich appears on NBC's "Tonight Show," Los Angeles, Calif.

And it has other information. Check out the link Jonathan posted, they all pretty much look like that format.

[diotima]

It also lists news stories from major publications and links them. I usually follow the links and and filter out the bias. Most seasoned freepers know that the mainstream media is extrememly bias, you just need to read everything with your FRDecoderRing/BiasRemover.

[Doc-Joe]

bump for later reading

[jmstein7]

"Sure! After a long overdue outbreak of honesty, lets reward it with a public hanging. That will teach the bastards to open their mouths.Not!"

This is not honesty; running a primetime story on their bias ON AIR is honesty.

Posting it in "The Note" is a taunt and jab at conservatives; it's says,"ha, ha!!! We know that nobody but you will read this, and nobody will ever call us on this, but all your fears about bias are true! We're going to PURPOSEFULLY destroy your candidate, but nobody but you will know that we are doing it on purpose! Everyone else will think we are still objective."

Got it?

[Defender2]

Very well stated. So now if ABC is not an objective news station(we all know it has not been for at least three decades now) Do they not have to obey campaign finance laws? I'm asking an educational lesson here? anybody? don't
they now have to disclose what donations they are making to the demoCommiecRATS? For ALL of U.S. Americans to see?

[JoeSixPack1]

More than a little naive.

The alphabet channels stand united to thwart any FCC or grass roots crackdown.

The current lock on the system via grandfathered FCC rights allows them free rein to continue their bias untouched by scandal because of the power to suppress or spin. Any attempt to purchase time to air charges of bias across channels would be nixed faster than JJ's breast cup!

The only successful jabs at the alphabets have been through the printed word, billboards and Algore's Internet. :-)

[BigSkyFreeper]

Considering that CBS head Mel Karmizan has said that none of their programming gives the nod to advocacy ads, but your post raised an interesting concern that such things as award shows are just advocacy ads that run for 3+ hours.

Whether we like it or not, Hollyweird types will scream first amendment rights being infringed upon if the networks pulled the plug on their acceptance speech and cut to commercial, or perhaps they'll scream censorship if they're told to cut all that extra crap out of their acceptance speech, and just thank their lucky stars they got the damned award and get the hell off the staged.

[Defender2]

I Hate to say this, but, we should boycott ALL of them!!!!
If the number of viewers dramatically declines it will hurt
their advertisers who will lose money by ads not being watched in turn products not being sold and they will ask the networks whats happening! The networks will in turn have to ask U.S. why we are not watching them and in turn buying their advertisers products! That's when we hit 'em right between the eyes and tell them we do not like our news networks being turned into TASS and Pravda by the demoCommiecRAT Party!