Nachman Slams Nets On Bush Speech

TVSPY ~ Shoptalk ^ | 10-OCT-2002 | staff writer

[GirlShortstop]

The "Big Three" networks' decision not to carry President Bush's speech Monday on Iraq drew quick and sharp criticism from one NBC commentator. In fact, MSNBC editor in chief Jerry Nachman was considerably tougher on the decision than the White House, which said it understood why the broadcast networks -- except for Fox -- took a pass on the president's case for an attack on Iraq.

In an MSNBC commentary, Nachman called the possible threat on Iraq "the most important story in the world." For the first time in our history, he said, "possibly attacking a sovereign country that has not yet attacked us or one of our allies." War is a big story, Nachman said, "but this is the month that broadcast networks are rolling out or reprising their prime time schedules -- you want to catch the latest episode of King of Queens, head to CBS; ABC is going with Drew Carey; and on my over-the-air parent, NBC, tonight is the long-awaited episode of Fear Factor in which hundreds of thousands of bees crawl all over the contestants."

Nachman recalled the resignation of CBS News president Fred Friendly when the Senate chose I Love Lucy reruns over live Senate hearings on Vietnam.

"What's changed since then?" he asked. "I think its ambition. At some places, president of the news division became an entry-level job -- their first or maybe second in news. Then it became a stepping stone. Network news presidents keep moving up the corporate ladder. It used to be a terminal position: Hey, this is the job I want. Take me off the career ladder. Not any more."

But White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the president was not disappointed the speech did not get broader carriage. "The White House did not request them to do so, so I think it would be unreasonable for anybody to think they should have," he said. "The White House deliberately did not ask them to do so because, one, given the substantive amount of information that was new in the speech, in good conscience, we did not think we should ask the networks to do so, even though it was an important and newsworthy address."

Fleischer said the White House worried that speculation regarding a request for live coverage could lead people to believe that war was imminent.

[GirlShortstop]

Could it be that somebody at MSNBC has some sense?  With talk like this, Mr. Nachman may show up on FOX in the near future.

[winodog]

For the first time in our history, he said, "possibly attacking a sovereign country that has not yet attacked us or one of our allies."

This clymer has neither sense nor morals. He is lover of the arkansas antichrist and her husband.Why does the media continue to ignore the fact that we murdered innocent men, women and chidren in Kosovo. We have helped and continue to help the same muslims murder christians in other parts of the world as well.

[cynicalman]

This clymer has neither sense nor morals

I find nachman to be very fair and even handed. In fact I think its one of the better shown on cable. I'm upset they moved this time from 7:pm to 5pm.

[winodog]

When I typed those words I thought I was not being fair since I honestly did not know much about the man.
Nonetheless his statement tells me he is either dumb or a liar.

[Gorest Gump]

Nachman? Is that that dish where you serve tortilla chips covered with cheese and jalepenas?

[okiedust]

Actually, reading between the lines, the Whitehouse did not ask for time because the dems would be poised to scream, "politicking in prime time, no fair...screech, screech, screech." You get the picture. The pres does not have a fair press to deal with and handing them the "choice" of whether to carry the speech was a little like giving them enough rope to hang themselves. Now the dems have no accusation. The media look bad, and everyone who wanted to see the speech or hear it got to. Nice job on the media. Finessed again.

regards

[cpdiii]

I know some of the media liberal elite lurk here at times. Perhaps they will pick this up.

They did not think the speech was important enough to follow. My son is a medic and may be asked to bear arms and
or lay down his life for his brothers in arms in the coming battle. I think any speech about this is damned important to me, a few hundred thousand other parents and the rest of our great country. My feelings for the media are not fit to print in a Hustler Magazine much less this site.