Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Message to Bush: Just say no to MTV
WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Saturday, April 03, 2004 | Kyle Williams

Posted on 04/05/2004 11:34:11 PM PDT by JohnHuang2

Red, white and blue colors cover the screen on MTV's website as the words appear, "The last election was decided by 500,000 votes nationwide. In some states it was decided by 50,000 or 5,000 or 500. In the last election, 18 million young people voted. What if that were 20 million? Who's swing voting now?"

The same network that has given us "The Osbournes," "Punk'd," and "Total Request Live" also contributes to the seriousness of politics by delivering "Choose or Lose," the current MTV campaign to mobilize 20 million young voters in November.

"Choose or Lose," launched in 1992, brought the infamous "boxers or briefs" question to Bill Clinton, and its mission statement just as well might be "Putting presidential candidates in un-presidential situations."

Yet, since its founding, the campaign has gotten the big names and has delivered news-making interviews. This year is no exception, as Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie and his "Reggie" the Registration Rig appeared on "TRL" on March 26.

Additionally, a taped interview with Sen. John Kerry ran on Tuesday, offering another controversial statement on gay "marriage" from the presidential candidate. Kerry played well with the MTV crowd and received a warm welcome from the MTV News "reporter."

The lingering question in many minds is this: Will President Bush appear on "Choose or Lose"? But the more pressing question is what President Bush would gain through such an appearance.

The nature of Music Television is to push the boundaries and challenge the standards. That's the path they have taken since the beginning in their constant pursuit of the young demographic. MTV would love nothing more than to defy the president of the United States. It would bring ratings, hype and controversy – the very core of the network.

Furthermore, MTV is a sister network to CBS – both companies have been targets of a Federal Communications Commission crusade for broadcast decency. Moreover, another sister network is Infinity Radio, which airs the Howard Stern show – another target of FCC fines. The Viacom-owned MTV may have ulterior motives in such an interview and undoubtedly could seek to embarrass the president.

Lastly, if Republicans and conservatives stand for anything, their antithesis would be MTV and its parent network. Viacom is the figurehead of the entertainment industry, pushing its liberal biases through CBS News, selling its vulgar immorality as entertainment on channels like MTV, and filling our theaters with trash every year.

If George W. Bush were to come on the network, MTV has everything going to set him up for failure. The host, the producers and the audience, filled with teenagers seeking their 15 minutes of fame, would desire to see a PR disaster.

Even if President Bush were to pull off a first-rate performance, the likelihood of the GOP energizing the teen base through such an appearance is slim. The same high school and college students who watch "Pimp My Ride" are not going to be inspired by seeing Bush on MTV. Politically, the Bush campaign desires to reach out to the young adult crowd, but reality proves how that demographic prefers apathy over concern.

The 18-30 year old demographic, which is 30 million strong, accounted for less than 4 percent of the entire voting population in 2000. Despite efforts from questionable organizations like Rock the Vote, the voter turnout from young people is not expected to radically change this coming November.

Many point to this election year as being a mirror to the 1992 presidential campaigns of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. That year, both candidates appeared on "Choose or Lose," and we could see the same this year. In '92, Clinton was exalted on the network and many pundits noted as much, but the same writers observed a PR disaster on the part of the Bush campaign – a likely plan from MTV.

Past all the politics and hype, the reality is this: Whatever the motives of MTV, a Bush crash and burn would equal success to them. No matter how much Republicans might wow the youthful viewers on "Choose or Lose," it's unlikely to translate into anything substantial in November. Nothing good could come of a Bush campaign appearance on MTV, but everything could go wrong.

Politically, when it comes to MTV, President Bush should just stay away from Music Television to avoid a replay of '92. Moreover, when it comes to morality and principles, President Bush should send a message and energize sincere young people by holding a higher standard.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2004election; 2004electionbias; 4percentofthevote; boxersorbriefs; boycott; boycottviacom; bushhaters; chooseorlose; clintonlegacy; comedycentral; culturewar; democrats; election2004; equaltime; generationx; ignoredvotinggroup; infinitybroadcasting; kerrycampaign; ketchupboy; liberalelites; loose; mediabias; mtv; nick; nickelodeon; paramount; presidentbush; seebs; seebsviacom; spike; tvland; vh1; viacom; viacommie; viacomradio; youngconservatives; youthvote
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last
Tuesday, March 6, 2004

Quote of the Day by Dr. Frank fan

1 posted on 04/05/2004 11:34:11 PM PDT by JohnHuang2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: All

Somewhere...there is another young liberal couple just waiting for THEIR chance.
Support Free Republic and dash their hopes!


Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794

or you can use

PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com

STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD-
It is in the breaking news sidebar!


2 posted on 04/05/2004 11:35:01 PM PDT by Support Free Republic (I'd rather be sleeping. Let's get this over with so I can go back to sleep!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Support Free Republic
I saw a Choose or Lose ad earlier, tonight. Wow, talk about your unbiased ads. You could tell that they were only interested in getting young people out to vote, rather then pushing any platforms or specific issues, such as the War in Iraq or Gay Marriage. /sarcasm
3 posted on 04/05/2004 11:38:31 PM PDT by Green Knight (Looking forward to seeing Jeb stepping over Hillary's rotting political corpse in 2008.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: JohnHuang2
President Bush should appear on MTV. Of course, he should demand all of the same control in picking the audience and the questions that Bill Clinton was granted. He should also not be harassed in the media for requesting such control since Big Media gave Bubba a pass.

To show how incestous the media was with regards to Clinton's MTV town hall meeting, let's look at the "Boxers or Briefs" question. The girl who asked that was a daughter of a liberal journalist. She sat with her mom to come up with a "good" question. They settled on the legalization of recreational drugs. President Clinton's staff nixed that question and asked her to offer something lighter.

It's like when Hillary Clinton asks interviewers to provide her with a list of the questions they will be asking.

So by all means President Bush should be permitted to speak on the air with young conservatives about America. Read the MTV forums some time. There are young conservatives who reject SeeBS-Viacom-MTV's partisan propaganda.

4 posted on 04/06/2004 12:54:54 AM PDT by weegee (No blood for ratings-CNN suppressed reports of torture & murder in Iraq to keep their Baghdad bureau)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: weegee
I agree. I don't want Bush on MTV. Let's have at least one grown-up in this race.
5 posted on 04/06/2004 1:03:57 AM PDT by Texasforever (I can’t kill enough brain cells to become a democrat just by drinking.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: JohnHuang2
My respect for President Bush would increase if he decided to not appear on MTV. Trash is not worth wading through.
6 posted on 04/06/2004 1:04:37 AM PDT by k2blader (Some folks should worry less about how conservatives vote and more about how to advance conservatism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JohnHuang2
The 18-30 year old demographic, which is 30 million strong, accounted for less than 4 percent of the entire voting population in 2000.

In the official (if flawed) final tally, Albert Gore Junior got 0.52% more of the popular vote. 4% can sway an election (or at least the bragging rights).

7 posted on 04/06/2004 1:17:03 AM PDT by weegee (No blood for ratings-CNN suppressed reports of torture & murder in Iraq to keep their Baghdad bureau)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JohnHuang2
"MTV Get Off the Air!"--- Jello Biafra
8 posted on 04/06/2004 2:11:23 AM PDT by Clemenza ("Knowledge is Good" --- Emil Faber, Founder of Faber College)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JohnHuang2; StriperSniper; Mo1
MTV campaign to mobilize 20 million young voters in November.

In a concerted effort to Vote Democrat, IMO.

9 posted on 04/06/2004 5:30:02 AM PDT by OXENinFLA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Support Free Republic
I saw the choose or lose program over the weekend and it was really bad. They want to encourage the youth to vote right, but why make the program only sway to the left why not do it in a way to show what each party is about rather then just showing a liberal p.o.v. Why not teach people to make there own decisions instead of making them for them. Socialistic programs like that is what should really be censored. why can't the media just tell the truth and let people make up there own mind.
10 posted on 04/06/2004 5:38:53 AM PDT by shicky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Clemenza
""MTV Get Off the Air!"--- Jello Biafra"

My god. Thought I would be the only Dead Kennedy fan here.

11 posted on 04/06/2004 5:41:00 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: EQAndyBuzz; Clemenza
My god. Thought I would be the only Dead Kennedy fan here.

That's just a side effect of DMSO. ;-)

12 posted on 04/06/2004 8:00:39 AM PDT by StriperSniper (Ernest Strada Fanclub)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: OXENinFLA
Many point to this election year as being a mirror to the 1992 presidential campaigns of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Yup, especially with the "worst economy in 50 years" rhetoric.

14 posted on 04/06/2004 8:16:17 AM PDT by StriperSniper (Ernest Strada Fanclub)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: JohnHuang2; All
IMHO, no person either in or seeking the Presidency should subject himself to this nonsensical foolishness. There must be dignity at that level.

Of what possible use are questions like, "boxers or briefs?", except to mark the questioner as hopelessly stupid? The proper response, BTW, would have been to say, "Young lady, you had the chance to pose a question to the President of the United States. You asked THAT? Please, gain some maturity and dignity before trying again."

We're talking here about a crowd of kids that want to ask the candidates what they thinkk of Britney Spears. Such detached-from-the-real-world morons deserve no respect or response. Simply appearing on such a show demeans the man who does.

15 posted on 04/06/2004 8:46:37 AM PDT by Long Cut (Hell of a thing, killin' a man. You take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: weegee
There are young conservatives who reject SeeBS-Viacom-MTV's partisan propaganda.
Believe it or not there was actually a report on MTV about the young conservatives (or crashers, as they called them, since they freep protests). I wondered how many of those interviewed were Freepers as well. Just a note, I do NOT watch MTV. Just that my husband was flipping channels and thought the report looked like something interesting to stop on.
16 posted on 04/06/2004 8:54:04 AM PDT by HungarianGypsy (True wisdom is a million times more valuable than liberal intellect.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: CecilRhodesRidesAgain
The precedent is certainly there for the President to get to define the audience and nature of the questions.
17 posted on 04/06/2004 11:40:54 AM PDT by weegee (No blood for ratings-CNN suppressed reports of torture & murder in Iraq to keep their Baghdad bureau)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Long Cut
IMHO, no person either in or seeking the Presidency should subject himself to this nonsensical foolishness. There must be dignity at that level.

"Sock it to me???"

18 posted on 04/06/2004 11:48:04 AM PDT by weegee (No blood for ratings-CNN suppressed reports of torture & murder in Iraq to keep their Baghdad bureau)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Long Cut; Miss Marple; Poohbah; PJ-Comix; E Rocc; Howlin; PhiKapMom; Catspaw; Dog; Dog Gone; ...
Can't win either way.

Bush can either walk into a known land mine, or cede the entire audience to the Dems without a fight.

Which is the lesser of the evils? I'd say the President ought to go, but he ought to be ready for trick questions. Imagine and plan for the worst, and hope for the best.
19 posted on 04/06/2004 12:02:08 PM PDT by hchutch (Why did the Nazgul bother running from Arwen's flash flood? They only managed to die tired.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: hchutch
You are more optimistic about MTV than I. I don't think he should go, unless he has control of the guest list and there are no edits.
20 posted on 04/06/2004 12:07:44 PM PDT by Miss Marple
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson