Posted on 11/07/2005 7:39:08 AM PST by RatherBiased.com
A CBS producer who led the network's coverage of the recent Michael Jackson trial has been marketing a brand of wine under the label "Jesus Juice," complete with a logo of a Christ figure sporting a Jacksonesque red glove, fedora hat, white socks, and penny loafers
NewsBusters.org has learned that Bruce Rheins, a high-level producer for such shows as the "CBS Evening News", and his wife, Dawn Westlake, began preparations for their marketing campaign while the Jackson case was still in court, registering a U.S. trademark for the words "Jesus Juice"
in January of 2004, days after word got out that Jackson allegedly referred to wine by that term in attempting to seduce young boys.
A year later, the couple registered (under Westlake's name) the web domain JesusJuice.biz, apparently with the intent of partnering with a wine maker to create a product line bearing the Jesus Juice name, in a partnership or by purchasing the trademark.
"Should you want to start something with us (i.e. you're a vintner with a sense of humor, but a seriously good line of wines, visit us here and drop a note…In the meantime, we'll be moonwalking over our own grapes.)"
Westlake wrote in an online diary entry on her personal web site.
The trial ended June 13, 2005 when Jackson was acquitted of all charges.
Rheins's marketing of Jesus Juice wine (and apparel) raises some troubling journalistic issues since he was attempting to profit from a story which he was personally covering for the "CBS Evening News."
"You can't be the lead producer on the West Coast by day and then turn around and sell t-shirts and wine by night," says a CBS insider.
Jennifer Siebens, the network's L.A. bureau chief, had to have known about his extracurricular activities, the insider says.
"It's a very small bureau. There's no way Siebens and others wouldn't have known he was doing this. He and his wife hang out with them all the time. Now, had the people in New York known, that's another story. He'd probably have been fired."
That a CBS News producer saw it as appropriate to put his name on something that many would consider to be offensive is also problematic. How can viewers trust CBS's reports on religious or cultural issues when one of its top producers is creating anti-Christian spoofs and attempting to profit from them?
Rheins is well aware of accusations of bias. On his personal site, the producer seems to take pleasure in seeing others accuse him of being unfair.
"Everyone thinks I am purposely biased against them. Yet they sure watch my work closely, to make sure I don't upset their world view. I take comfort in this inadvertent power I seem to have in their lives."
Christians need to consider their version of the Fatwah on CBS.
There is only one critic he'll have to face and be worried about. And that comes after death...
I usually drink beer and Red Death.
It is in very poor taste.
wine probably tastes poor, too.
stick to vodka.
In this multiculti age, coming up with something that isn't blasphemy to somebody would be difficult.
This stuff is a turkey. Don't feed it with attention. Let it die.
It would be funny but... well it's funny. There's that painting of Michael at the last supper, so why not this?
I like Captain Morgans as well. I forgot to list that earlier.
Now that I think about it, crucifixion might be a fitting punishment for what Jacko has done to untold little boys.
It's probably like boones farm or something -- sweet and bubbly and nasty.
and will give you a killer of a hangover.
i'll stay with my vodka.
The "lovely" couple...
http://tinyurl.com/9mtnm
Just felt it was my duty to say my piece.
and that is why I did not ping the list. This is just sick!
Black, dark, french roast coffee is the strongest thing I drink!
Jesus Juice just doesn't sound right ~ I doubt if there will be much of a market for it.
This guy probably thinks he has another Mariani. Mariani wine had a picture of the Pope on the label and it sold like hotcakes. I don't think he'll do as well with Jesus Juice.
Especially since one of the ingredients in Mariani was coca leaf!
Apparently not so powerful. I never heard of him before but, then again, I don't have very much to do with network television with the exception of a live sporting event once in awhile. Quite an arrogant statement however.
Conflict of interest (not to mention exceedingly poor taste) is not "troubling" to Liberal news organizations such as CBS...but it hardly matters, almost no one watches that trash channel anyway...this is simply confirmation of why.
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