CNN's Asimov Effect (CNN Throws Cuba's Varela Project Down Memory Tube)

Self | June 30, 2002 | PJ-Comix

[PJ-Comix]

Please excuse the Vanity post but the fact that there is NO CNN source for this story is the very reason for this post.

I once made note of something that I have called the Asimov Effect. This is named after an observation that young Isaac Asimov made during WWII. When he checked the Periodical Guides at his local library, he noticed that right after the war began, all references to Atomic Energy suddenly ceased since nothing about this was written up in periodicals. Asimov then came to the conclusiion that there was a top secret government project involving atomic energy since it was obvious that the government had halted all articles about the topic of atomic energy.

Often the LACK of a story can tell you quite a bit. Such a glaring lack of a story is now taking place at CNN. Out of curiousity I went to the CNN website to see what their spin is on the Varela Project in Cuba to promote democracy. Well, folks, despite the fact that the Varela Project has dozens of recent mentions this month alone on AP, the most recent mention of the Varela Project on the CNN website is May 15 when Jimmy Carter talked about this project in his speech. So why no mention (despite it being the most important story out of Cuba this year) of the Varela Project on CNN since May 15? Simple. Because Castro was so afraid of the Varela Project that he had his rubberstamp National Assembly of over 500 members vote UNANIMOUSLY to make "Socialism" untouchable.

CNN couldn't report on this or the Varela Project because it is very obvious there is NO WAY for CNN to put a positive spin on the actions by the rubberstamp National Assembly which is about as democratic as Stalin's Politburo. Merely to report the event factually is to condemn Castro. So what does CNN do? ---They AVOID the issue altogether despite the importance of the Varela Project in the news.

This avoidance of the Varela Project and the National Assembly's pathetic rubberstamping of Castro's wishes, is even more glaring because CNN is the only American network allowed in Cuba. In order to remain in Cuba, CNN, and its suckup "journalist there, Lucia Newman, have to willingly appease Castro in its reporting. In this case it is appeasement by non-reporting.

So, Lucia, how does it feel to do Castro's bidding by not reporting (which means merely giving the facts) about the Varela Project or the unanimous rubberstamp vote by the National Assembly?

[PJ-Comix]

I'm surprised nobody noticed this very obvious LACK of reporting by CNN. Please forward this around to responsible journalists so CNN's LACK of honest (or, in this case, ANY) reporting can be brought to light. If you want to see the result of the CNN search engine for "Varela Project," click HERE.

[Notforprophet]

You over and over again label the National Assembly as a "rubberstamp" assembly.

Psst... your bias is showing. Can you document that all the decisions of said assembly are automatic endorsements (read "Rubberstamping") of Castro's policies?

[PJ-Comix]

The vote was so ridiculous that EVEN the Associated Pressed called it a "Rubberstamp" National Assembly. The vote to make Socialism (Communism) "Untouchable" was 559 to 0. What else is that vote except a RUBBERSTAMP for Castro?

You can read the AP story on this HERE.

p.s. Please forgive me for not providing a link to this story on the CNN website. My only excuse is that none exists there.

[PJ-Comix]

Any chance of getting a CNN representative/apologist to talk about this on your radio show? Most likely not.

[PJ-Comix]

FYI

[JCG]

Psst... your bias is showing. Can you document that all the decisions of said assembly are automatic endorsements (read "Rubberstamping") of Castro's policies?

Psst...your stupidity is showing. After 43 years the words "Castro" and "police state" should mean something. I assure you they do to the National Assembly -- all 559 of 'em.

[PJ-Comix]

I wonder if Notforprophet would accuse somebody of displaying bias for claiming that Stalin's Polituro was a rubberstamp because it voted his way every time. Anybody who didn't was quickly dead but nobody ever took that chance---Just like in Cuba's National Assembly.

The problem for CNN is that they can't report that vote because merely to report it is to condemn the National Assembly.

[TomB]

So what are you saying?

[PJ-Comix]

He's saying I am biased for saying that Cuba's National Assembly is nothing but a rubberstamp legislature. Please forgive me, Notforprophet. That 559 to 0 vote to make "Socialism" untouchable was actually the result of a completely democratic legislature.

[Notforprophet]

What I'm saying (regardless of JCG's full-speed drive to derision) is that the author is this post ought to get the beam out of his own eye before he tries to get the sliver out of CNN's.

Notforprophet

[PJ-Comix]

So where was I wrong? Am I wrong for calling the Cuban National Assembly a rubberstamp? Let's see, the vote was 559 to 0 on this very important matter. You call that a democratic vote? Even CNN was too embarrassed to even report on it, even though the Varela Project is the most important story out of Cuba for the past year.

[San Jacinto]

If I understand you correctly, you are saying PJ is biased in asserting the Cuban general assembly is a rubber stamp for Castro, and that the unanamous vote for socialism is not prima facie proof of the assembly's character. I therefore assume you believe it not to be a rubber stamp.

Could you please highlight for us some of the most major areas where the assembly opposes, blocks, or disagrees with Castro policy.

[PJ-Comix]

Could you please highlight for us some of the most major areas where the assembly opposes, blocks, or disagrees with Castro policy.

Yeah, I'm still waiting for Notforprophet to come up with that tidbit. As I stated, the vote was such an obvious example of rubberstamping that even the Castro-friendly CNN was too embarrassed to report on it.

[Notforprophet]

Look, while I wholeheartedly agree that Cuba is under the yoke of a totalitarian Communist dictator, I disagree that their assembly is equivalent to Stalin's Politburo. A good degree of the membership of the Assembly ARE democratically elected.

Cuba is under a spotlight quite unlike any Stalin's USSR ever was. The consequences of 40+ years as a Marxist state in the shadow of the greatest Capitalist Experiment in history gives Cuba a certain uniqueness.

It was precisely because of the USSR's engagement with the West that the collapse of their Union came about. Ostracising Cuba and maintaining the embargo as the USA does only serves Castro's interest.

While you condemn CNN for their slanted coverage from Cuba, your own rant contains numerous slanted references to Cuba's National Assembly as a 'rubberstamp' Yes-Man to Castro's every whim. I'm merely asking whether you need to take your blinders off and see how ones own beliefs can color ones commentary on any number of things.

[San Jacinto]

even the Castro-friendly CNN was too embarrassed to report on it.

Then I guess we will just have to get the story from the other networks. Maybe the Today Show or Bryant Gumbol will have a big feature on it. If not, then Dan Rather wiil for sure.

[JCG]

What I'm saying (regardless of JCG's full-speed drive to derision) is that the author is this post ought to get the beam out of his own eye before he tries to get the sliver out of CNN's.

No, what you're saying is bull puckey. We have 43 years of Castro's Caribbean Paradise to inform us. CNN and Lucia Newman are left-loving sellouts. What's your excuse?

America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)

[PJ-Comix]

You mean a 559 to 0 vote ISN'T an example of rubberstamping? What's next? Will you proclaim that water isn't wet?

Ostracising Cuba and maintaining the embargo as the USA does only serves Castro's interest.

So why is Castro contstantly bitching about something that only serves his purpose?

[PJ-Comix]

A good degree of the membership of the Assembly ARE democratically elected.

With only one party in power? Sure, almost EVERY voter in Cuba just loves Communism and supported that 559 to 0 vote to keep Cuba Commie. Do you have any more laughs for us tonight? BTW, how do you explain CNN's failure to even report on that vote? Please make your answer as funny as your other observations. I need more chuckles.

[summer]

PJ, You are very observant, and I knew exactly what you were talking about by the "lack" of that story, which I too have seen elsewhere. And, your conclusion is one I agree with: there is no way for CNN to put a positive spin on that story. I wonder what Jimmy Carter thinks now of the effect of his big speech.... BTTT. And, FYI to others...

[stylin19a]

just curious....why the beef with just CNN ?
I don't find much on this anywhere mainstream, anywhere world wide. Had Carter not visited Cuba recently, we'd find even less.