CSPAN--Why Viewers Are Turning It Off

NewsMax ^ | 10/05/2001 | Carl Limbacher & NewsMax.com staff

[Pokey78]

Remember when CSPAN was a program that offered view points heard no where else -- with callers around the country reflecting the views of middle America.

Those days are gone.

Now, 9 out 10 of CSPAN's media guests are establishment, anti-Republican liberals. And CSPAN's morning media discussions are nothing more than a rehash of what's "news" in the left-wing press.

Meanwhile, New York radio host Bob Grant has complained how CSPAN has gone "down hill" as liberal callers get preference to go on air.

You can tune into CSPAN any morning and discover how the callers are nothing more than a shill for the liberal establishment.

Take this morning's program on "Assessing the Media" hosted by CSPAN chief Brian Lamb.

The program was nothing more than a rant against Israel, U.S. policies and Pres. Bush.

One caller who did make it on was able to query Lamb. the caller wondered what was going on with CSPAN, and why so many CSPAN callers that make it on air are anti-Bush callers -- when polls show strong support Bush from 70 to 90 percent of the American public.

The real answer, of course, is that CSPAN puts more of those callers on -- and rejects calls that more adequately reflect the public's view.

But Lamb didn't say that.

When one caller called in to blame U.S. support for Israel, and our policies to go after Saddam Hussein, as the cause of the Sept. 11 disaster, Lamb took a moment to praise the caller for his "original" thinking on his question -- and other questions the caller had asked on previous shows. Apparently, he is a CSPAN regular -- the type that CSPAN likes.

Another caller, a Bahamian woman, wanted to talk about Israel's racism.

Still, another caller said they were a strong supporter of Israel but .... You got it, she went on to blame Israel for our woes.

When so many callers claim the are "pro-Israel" but then blame if for everything including the common cold, and when so-called "Republicans" say they voted for Pres. Bush and then go on to knock him, it has to make a reasonable person wonder.

When another "Independent" caller telephoned Lamb today to criticize Bush -- and then revealed she was a subscriber to the ultra-left Mother Jones magazine -- it didn't seem to faze Lamb.

Lamb agreed with her that the Washington Times was "conservative" but when she asked Lamb how he would label the Washington Post or the New York Times -- Lamb responded they didn't have a label, they were just simply "not conservative."

And that answer means that Brian Lamb is just not honest, or too frightened to call a liberal spade, a liberal spade. Who is he kidding?

Obviously not the many viewers turning off CSPAN.

[OldFriend]

CSPAN is well screened and has no problem putting on callers who identify themselves as republicans but go on an anti republican rant when they get on the air. Prior to screening this might have been possible but now it appears that this is their intention.....CSPAN has become CSPIN, all left leaning commentary all the time. Like CNN and MSNBC, it has become irrelevant.

[LetsRok]

I listen to CSPAN on the radio 90.1Mhz FM while commuting to work in the morning. It is sometimes more entertaining than Howard Stern. Whenever there is a conservative guest or someone from the Bush Adminisitration, the liberal callers sound like a bunch of whining dullards. I laugh so hard at them that I almost rear-end the cars in front of me.

[bobg]

LET US ALSO INCLUDE NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO AND NATIONAL PUBLIC TV IN OUR BAN. EXCEPT FOR JIM LEHRER, WHO IS FAIR 40% OF THE TIME, WE NEED TO QUIT USING TAX MONEY FOR THESE LEFT WING OUTLETS.

[spycatcher]

Looks like liberal seminar callers are in bed with Brian Lamb

[retiredtexan]

CSPAN has become another npr. The only time I watch either of the CSPAN channels is for legislative sessions or committee proceedings. The rest of their time is liberal crapola and a waste of time watching.

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

Good point- I used to think that Brian Lamb was a "fair-minded" Leftist- but I no longer believe that. The "seminar callers" have destroyed the credibility that CSPAN once had- the only thing I ever watch there now is "BOOKNOTES", if there is someone interesting on. At least those interviews are still very well done.

[DLfromthedesert]

I seem to recall some years ago when there were a massive amount of anti-Clinton calls, Lamb changed the classifications from geographic to ideology because he said the calls did not reflect the polls. Hmmmmm

I remember one time I called in, after he just read a piece about Clinton being on the air so much; I made a comment about how tired I was of hearing that voice; there was a split screen; the head of the Iowa Republican Party had a big smile, and Lamb was frowning . LOL!!

[mwl1]

At least you have the sense to laugh at them. I am totally impressed. They make me so damn mad I want to hit the car in front of me.

[jimt]

Liberals are also unscrupulous, adding to the problem. Liberal callers flood the conservative and independent "lines" as well as their own, and never get called on it even when they're "conservatives" shilling for Marx and Mao.

Ever since their change in "lines" their call-ins have been irrelevent, as they're rigged.

[noah]

I remember LONG TIME AGO when there was little or no screening. The # of calls then was an indicator of the public's sentiment. TOO bad we can't go back to NONlabelled, NONscreened calls.

[AntiScumbag]

WE NEED TO QUIT USING TAX MONEY FOR THESE LEFT WING OUTLETS

i agree that not a dime of taxpayer funding should go to any "public" radio or tv, and while you only imply it, c-span doesn't get a dime of taxpayer money

the cable-satellite public affairs network is completely privately funded by the industry

that said, they have gone totally into to the toilet since 1994 -- you could tell from the unscreened calls on their single line (since changed) what was going to happen in the '94 election -- it's become a parade of wimpy hosts taking vapid and tiresome calls, and hasn't been worth watching for many years

[KC_Conspirator]

CSPAN has become CSPIN, all left leaning commentary all the time. Like CNN and MSNBC, it has become irrelevant.

Its kind like those IDIOTIC "Town Hall" meetings that PMSNBC has every few nights. With 90% of the public supporting President Bush, these PMSNBC "Town Hall" meetings always comprise of 50% Arabs and 60% liberals. They anything but representative of the makeup of the American people.

IF this were a focus group or poll paid for by a marketing company or political candidate, they results would be tossed in the garbage because the results are faked.

So of course, these PMSNBC "town hall" meetings breakdown into PC feel good sensitivity sessions.

[Digger]

Was it 1994 when they started screening for Pubbies -Dems - independent? Whenever, it became so common that the public hated Bubba & since ole Bubba could have reduced their funds plus the whole group of libs attached to the outlet had to do something stop the imbarrasment so they skewed it toward their libs & now they are as gone as the packard car. I quit the day they put up that screening & honestly I have not seen one minute of it since. May they share a underground cover with osama.

[jporcus]

Amazing - I thought it was just me! I'm happy to hear that others also think something bad has happened with CSPAN.

[afraidfortherepublic]

CSPAN has become CSPIN, all left leaning commentary all the time.

Well put. I used to watch them all the time while getting ready for work. I noticed that they were gravitating left after the 1994 Republican takeover of the Congress. 1996 election coverage was bad, but the leftward tilt became really noticeable during the 2000 campaign. I cannot bear to watch them any more.

I've written several complaints to Lamb, but I've never received an answer. I figure that either the leftward tilt is deliberate, or he just doesn't care. Susan and Connie are the most biased hosts, and the more I complained about them the higher they were promoted in the organization.

[Harrison Bergeron]

"...and hasn't been worth watching for many years..."

Agreed. Another indicator besides the vapid liberal shill callers is that tapes of conservative events get aired weeks after the fact during off-peak hours (if at all), while liberal events are, more often than not, broadcast live and repeated ad nauseum.

I only watch CSPAN now when I'm channel surfing and happen to see an interesting interview taking place.

[Harrison Bergeron]

"So of course, these PMSNBC "town hall" meetings breakdown into PC feel good sensitivity sessions. "

Did you see that PMSNBC Townhall Meeting lastnight on the airline pilot gun carry issue? One of the panelists asked the rep from the pilot's union if he would "shoot through a flight attendent" to kill a hijacker, and from that point on the issue was framed by the host as "So do you think pilots should be allowed to shoot flight attendants?" ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

[Cautor]

Pokey, thanks for this post. You hit the nail on the head. I heard parts of this rebroadcast on CSPAN radio. Lamb and the show have gone to the far left. I don't think any fair-minded viewers ever get on now. That stuff about the Wash Times vs. Wash ComPost/NY Slimes was really outrageous. This show should be throw off the air.