Posted on 01/07/2009 8:28:54 AM PST by Sub-Driver
Obama's Inauguration Sold to Highest Bidder, TV Not This Excited Since Clinton in '93 By Warner Todd Huston Created 2009-01-07 11:21
Reuters has a January 7 Hollywood Reporter story informing the world that "HBO lands rights to inaugural ceremony, [1]" but this raises the question; why are parts of the inauguration being auctioned to the highest bidder for exclusive coverage? Shouldn't all of the inauguration be something for every American and not relegated just for the TV station that has the most cash? Why is this vaunted man of the people allowing exclusive coverage of his big day to go to a station not available to all Americans equally?
It makes one wonder if the Democrat's claims of being interested in equality and fairness is all but hot air when the money is hitting the table?
HBO is claiming that they will offer the program for free, not pay-per-view, and that it will be broadcast to folks without the HBO channel on their cable service. But it will still be just on cable. Naturally, for those without cable at all, well, these people are out of luck. So much for Obama's big day being for ALL the people. I guess it's only for those with cable.
The story informs us that in 1993, HBO paid out $1.5 million for the rights to the exclusive coverage of Bill Clinton's kickoff from the Lincoln Memorial. HBO did not disclose how much they are paying for the Obama inaugural, but the money will go to the Obama Inaugural Committee. Apparently, even though Barack Obama raised millions upon millions for his campaign and had millions left over, he has found he needs more for his big party day and HBO comes to the rescue.
His avarice for campaign contributions makes one fear for one's wallet re taxes, doesn't it?
The Hollywood Reporter story goes on to detail all the TV coverage that Obama will receive for his inauguration and it is definitely extensive. It seems every channel is planning all sorts of coverage of the parts of the inauguration that HBO is not freezing them out of.
I know you will all be shocked, but the TV folks haven't scheduled this much TV coverage for an inauguration since Clinton was Inaugurated in 1993. I know, shocking, isn't it? Imagine that? TV hasn't been this excited about a presidential inauguration since Bill Clinton!
In case you wondered, I am rolling my eyes as I type.
How much is this inauguration costing?
In 2004, the Leftists at Salon and in the print MSM decried the Bush administration spending so much money (even privately raised funds) on an inuaguration when we have troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan and people who’ve lost homes through natural disaster and people out of work etc etc...
I don’t have HBO and therefore won’t be able to watch..
That being said, I have other, more important plans for that day including watching grass grow, paint dry and cleaning my motorcycle (which, by the way, if you own one and your wife/girlfriend tells you you love that bike more than her, PLEASE don’t respond, “Why not? I ride it more” (it’s a 30 day shutoff, from personal experience)..
Sounds painful.
Protest the inauguration. Back in 2004, “thousands” protested the inuaguration and they got press (out of millions of people who supported Bush).
The fence post turtle gets no pass.
So there will be gratuitous nudity and f-bombs?
I hope there’s a blizzard.........
Seems to me that if HBO is paying big bucks for BHO’s inauguration, then the expenses for the inauguration might be offset. I have to wonder, though, why wouldn’t this event, given its importance, be simulcast to all TV sets, digital, analog, cable, satellite, or otherwise? This seems to be playing into more of a Hollywood-type event, rather than a constitutional event.
Proving that it's not news; it's entertainment.
“That being said, I have other, more important plans for that day including watching grass grow, paint dry and cleaning my motorcycle (which, by the way, if you own one and your wife/girlfriend tells you you love that bike more than her, PLEASE don’t respond, “Why not? I ride it more” (it’s a 30 day shutoff, from personal experience)..”
For the wife or the motorcycle... which one would be worse??
you probably shouldn’t answert that one either
heh..
So what are the “ethics” of having one corporation pay this?
Hillary Clinton avoided an “ethics” charge for getting $8million for her autobiography by securing it in the window between winning her senate race and being sworn in. Since this is FOR the swearing in, Obama should be questioned over this money.
The ex-CEO of HBO just left and HBO gets exclusive rights for pre-events?
Geez, what a shock.
That’s change you can believe in, Chicago style.
Pointedly NOT watching the public execution of my country.
Definitely not watching, but otherwise, I don’t know. Probably at work.
Me too. Or freezing rain.
Either way I’ll be too busy to watch. I know I’ve got housecleaning to do, walk the dog, paint a room, drink a few shots, or a dozen other things...
Why is this vaunted man of the people allowing exclusive coverage of his big day to go to a station not available to all Americans equally?....
No problem!...wasn’t going to watch the fraudulent happy crap anyway!
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