Posted on 09/24/2004 2:30:06 PM PDT by timbuck2
Email to NPR Ombudsman Dvorkin 9/24/2004
Dear Mr. Dvorkin, I must say I was stunned that NPR has decided to go ahead with this series of "swing voter" interviews. I listened to Morning Edition's latest installment today and was dumbfounded that the rationale advanced for Ridley's donations to Clarke and Kerry was that Bush was raising more money and Ridley simply acted to level the playing field. This is absurd and is insulting to NPR's listeners. Ridley is presented as a swing voter in THIS year's presidential election. He is purportedly undecided, yet these are the facts: He has given $500 to Kerry, a Democrat. He has given $500 to Clarke, a Democrat. He has given $0 to the RNC, $0 to Bush.
Do you buy Ridley's story? It sounds to me like Ridley got caught in a lie, invented an excuse and now continues to enjoy free publicity (and payment?) from NPR. Obviously, it is not in Ridley interest to declare that he has made a decision because his appearances on NPR will cease.
Mr. Dvorkin, NPR has made a terrible decision to keep airing these segments. One would think the producers would be sensitive to appearances of journalistic fraud given the meltdown at CBS.
You have been terrific in your role as Ombudsman and I hope you will continue to pass along listeners' concerns about the Ridley interviews.
Regards,
Anyone who would have supported McClintock over Arnold, would never have a doubt as to whether he would vote for Kerry. He would not, unless, he were a Democrat voting in the Republican primary in order to have the less electable candidate go up against Cruz Bustamante. You could not get further apart than McClintock and Kerry.
Frank Fan,
It would have been exceptionally easy to present to swing voters: one who has tended to vote GOP in the past and one who has tended to vote Dem in the past. A screeing process to eliminate the frauds would make for interesting listening on NPR. Believ eit or not, NPR does have influence over thousands of middle of the road folks who are not aware of NPR's political activism. My fathe ris very bright, but gave to PBS and NPR until very recently. He just did not pick up on the agenda which is often subtle.
Its impact is significant and needs to be addressed.
-T
Excuse_Me,
Precisely. Ridley is full of it. If he voted for McClintock, Ridley is very conservative. If Arnold, who is well to the left of Kerry (most liberal member of Senate according to National Journal)was too liberal for Ridley, then Ridley has an easy decision to make in the race of Bush v. Kerry. You are exactly right. Ridley is full of it.
-T
He also wants us to believe he voted for Reagan and Bush Sr.
Oops, I meant to write Arnold is to the right of Kerry!
Sorry,
-T
I would challenge Ridley to find a single other MCClintock voter who now is indecisive when it comes to Bush and Kerry. Please! It's ridiculous. I would also like to know who has enough cash to burn to spend $1000 on candidates for whom one will not neceassirly vote.
I guess NPR really does think we are idiots.
-T
Today with Ridley:
Kerry has had a good week. He has laid out a four point plan. It is good that someone has finally laid something out.
George Bush has empty rhetoric. Performs as a world leader but doesn't say anything other countries want to hear.
"Basically ensure that the Republican vote is split. So pick a candidate who has no chance of winning at all (Tom McClintock) and keep him in the race so as to siphon off support from the more moderate Schwarzenegger. They do this by running ads that support him in the hopes of getting a surge in the polls that will keep McClintock in the game. Thus, if the recall fails, Davis is still in office (a good thing for the indian gaming interests) and if the Recall is successful Cruz 'Boostamytaxes' Bustamante wins (a good thing for indian gaming intersts).
It is similar to the strategy that Davis used in his last election. Davis pumped money to support the least electable Republican candidate (Bill Simon) knowing that Simon (since he was quite conservative) would be easier to defeat.
The fact is right now California is a heavily Left/Democrat leaning state. For a Republican to win right now, the candidate has to be a "moderate" (i.e., social libera/fiscal conservative--somebody from the "libertarian wing" of the party). A candidate who is opposed to abortion, gay marriage just isn't going to make it. For this reason McClintock is unelectable for statewide office. By staying in the race he will split the Republican vote ensuring a Democratic win."
While you are their, ask them if Shelley has returned his illegal donations and his diversion of federal funds to signup democratic voters.
their >> there
Perhaps. It just has no real news value, and great potential for propaganda value, even when done "right".
A screeing process to eliminate the frauds would make for interesting listening on NPR.
I question why the opinions of two people out of 280 million chosen who-knows-how makes for "interesting" listening. Their status as "swing voters", even if legitimately screened, does not make people inherently more interesting or important, nor give their opinions added weight.
Believ eit or not, NPR does have influence over thousands of middle of the road folks who are not aware of NPR's political activism.
I believe it. It's a shame. And even more of a shame that they use propaganda techniques such as a series on "Swing Voters".
Its impact is significant and needs to be addressed.
Hey, I'm trying. In particularly I'm trying to explain that the very concept of an "Interview with Swing Voter" show is propagandistic. Not sure what more I can do :-) Best,
I hope that you, like me, called the npr ombudsman and the local affiliate. Thanks.
Pray for W and Our Troops
The only thing that works with NPR is to write a letter-to-the-editor of your local and state newspapers stating the bias, noting that the news section of NPR is consistently of leftist bias, and concluding that NPR is unworthy of public support including individual donations. Send a copy of the printed letter to the stations and NPR. Money is the only thing that gets their attention. Remember the local NPR fund drives - and bring the subject up at that time.
I will - as soon as my 30 days expires (one letter per 30 days).
To opt on or off my *NPR/PBS* Ping list please Freep mail me. Don't be shy! This is a low to moderate activty list.
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