I was just watching Wolf Blitzer's the Situation Room. They were discussing the poll that suggested that a certain number of Clinton supporters (28 percent) might vote for McCain if Obama won the nomination, while 19 percent of Obama supporters might do the same if Hillary were the nominee. During the entire five minute segment discussing this poll -- which clearly applied to both candidates and their supporters, the caption on CNN underneath the picture said "Obama Nod Helps McCain". This caption remained the same for the entire story -- never did it show that the same applied if Clinton won.
I have noticed this disturbing pattern in CNN coverage lately -- to the point where I am really disgusted and disturbed by this. This comes on the heels of the 24/7 endless loop replay of the Wright tape, etc. My complaint is not that they focus on these issues, which I imagine no network would ignore, but that they do so without ever showing the other side of the picture. For example, we got 24/7 Obama and Wright, without a single picture of, for example, Falwell and Robertson (still Republican heroes embraced by this White House and McCain) saying their equally disturbing rants about 911 being God's punishment on America for the sins of tolerance of homosexuality and choice. Nor do we hear about Senator Clinton's "church" "The Family". Again -- I'm not suggesting that the media should focus on these issues -- I'm the first to want the focus on the issues that really matter. But when they choose to explore and exploit these issues ONLY for one candidate -- Obama -- without subjecting all the other candidates to the SAME standard, then I've had enough.
I know many of us spend a lot of time on dK posting our thoughts and expressing our feelings, and that's wonderful and gives us a sense of community and participation. I know many of us also spend a lot of time supporting our chosen candidate with both money and time. I don't want to add to anyone's burden, but I truly believe that we MUST start to hold the media accountable for their lack of fairness and objectivity. I don't know if the MSM is pro-Clinton, anti-Obama, pro-McCain or what -- I only know that they are not doing their job, and WE must hold them accountable.
Obama was not my first choice as a candidate, but the longer I see him the more I feel that he really offers the CHANCE for something different. And part of what he has repeated over and over again is that HE cannot make the changes alone. WE must help. WE must get involved. I agree, despite the fact that I am tired and stressed and have more than I can handle as is, just dealing with the issues in my own life. I UNDERSTAND that responsibility for our country rests with all of US.
Obama is very clear --- he doesn't say HE is the change that we have been waiting for, he says "WE ARE the change we have been waiting for" If WE don't start to make the effort to hold the media accountable, to hold the politicians accountable, to hold our institutions accountable, then we can't really complain when they fail to do their jobs, when they sell themselves to the highest bidder, when they fail in their obligations to uphold the public trust. WE must act, even if it is something as simple and seemingly unimportant as a single email or letter to the editor, or to CNN, or to Meet the Press, or EVEN to Fox (though I don't think they would care).
Media consolidation means that, instead of 50-60 media powers, we now have almost all the media owned by approximately 5 or 6 media giants. UNLESS we let them know, in sufficient numbers, that WE demand a certain standard, our individual voices may not be heard. But together, we can speak and be heard.
I just wrote CNN twice in the last week -- just a few minutes ago I wrote this:
For almost five continuous minutes this afternoon, your caption during Wolf Blitzer's Situation Room read "Obama Nod Helps McCain" while various people discussed the poll showing that Clinton supporters might vote for McCain if Clinton did not become the nominee. The poll equally showed that some Obama supporters would also do the same. Nevertheless, DURING THE ENTIRE five minute segment, your caption continued to state ONLY that "Obama Nod Helps McCain" -- this type of almost subliminal message is disturbing in that it makes a statement that is incomplete and inaccurate, and misleads viewers who may only read the captions without hearing the full story. The actual story showed supporters of BOTH candidates unhappy if their preferred candidate failed to prevail. WHY did your caption not show this in a balanced manner? Your caption should have read "Democratic divisions help McCain" without making it seem as if a vote for Obama would hurt the Democratic party. I am increasingly disturbed by what I see as a continuing pattern in CNN coverage -- especially Wolf Blitzer's coverage of the Democratic race -- to slant the stories to support the inaccurate narrative that Clinton and Obama are still "neck and neck" and that Obama's candidacy is not somehow as strong as Clinton's. I am more and more inclined to turn off CNN, which no longer appears to value objectivity and fairness. I am disgusted with the endless replaying of the Rev. Wright tape, without equal attention being paid to Sen. Clinton's cultish church, or the Republican's hate-filled religious bigotry as expressed by Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. You used to be the most trusted name in news. Now you are just another main stream media outlet peddling the same tired cliches by the same repetitive talking heads. I'm finding more trustworthy news online these days, and less and less use for your so-called "best political team on television."
A few days ago, I wrote this to Tim Russert:
Dear Mr. Russert,
I am deeply dismayed by the lack of balance and fairness in the coverage of Senator Obama's connection to his former pastor Rev. Wright. Yes, the Rev. Wright's comments were inflammatory and offensive. But where is the EQUAL coverage of the equally offensive comments made by pastors on the far right -- such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who claimed 911 was God's punishment on America for its tolerance of abortion and homosexuality? Falwell and Robertson's views were and are still embraced by many on the far right. Why, in your ENDLESS repetition of Wright's angry rants don't you equally include coverage of the anger and hate that spews from the right? Isn't your endless repetition of the tapes of Rev. Wright playing into the fear of the angry black man stereotype, without any equal condemnation or coverage of the sick intolerance of the angry white right? If you hold Senator Obama responsible for Rev. Wright's views (which he has clearly and unequivocally denounced and rejected), how can you fail to hold Republican politicians responsible for the views of the right-wing pastors like Falwell and Robertson, who are still embraced by Republican presidents and nominees. I am disgusted by the coverage I have seen -- not just on Fox, where I expect that sort of bias, but also on NBC, where I do not.
I know that, alone, my voice is not strong enough. I also know that dKos is a strong and powerful community, and though a majority of us support Obama, the issue I am raising -- fairness -- is one that supporters of ANY candidate should find important.
I am asking my fellow Kossacks -- regardless of who you support -- to make an effort to hold the media accountable. Take a few minutes each day or twice a week or whenever you can to write or email one of the media outlets to let them know if the coverage is not fair. (You can also let them know if they do something right!) I don't have all the links to the various networks etc., and I hope someone who has that info will post it and I'll try and update the diary. Meanwhile, I hope enough readers will make the commitment to let our voices be heard. Obama needs OUR help as much as we need HIS. Together, we can make a difference.
To write CNN: www.cnn.com/feedback
What say you fellow Kossacks -- are we just here to whine and moan about what has been happening to our candidate, or are we willing to put our hearts and minds to helping him take on the media establishment?
UPDATE Thanks to the posters who provided some contact information on both sponsors as well as media contacts. Felt it would be useful to update to put the contacts in the diary.
Thank you to bink's previous diary, for the media connections, and to Kyman for the list of corporate sponsors.
Kyman posted these for CNN:
CNN:
GMAC
Priceline
Wastemanagement Inc
Ameriprise
Meineke Muffler
RICHO
Coldwell Banker
Pillsbury**** They are a good one to target. I have called them and they seemed concerned about my feedback
Lexmark.com
Quickbooks.com
Americanchemsitry
UPS
E-trade
Spint.com
Delta.com
Wachovia
Scottrade.com
ATT
Bank of America
Toro.com
DaysInn family of inns
JosABank.com
These are a few of their sponsors...I suggest keeping a pad by the TV and getting more as you watch.
Barack Obama Can...John McCain't...Forget about Hillary.
by Kyman on Wed Mar 26, 2008 at 05:00:13 PM PDT
and here's the link to a previous diary by bink with the CNN contacts:
www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/24/154431/668
Thanks to everyone who is taking action -- every little bit helps.