Send a message to CNN about the cable network’s partnership with the Tea Party Express, a far-right group with a history of virulent racism, to produce a Republican presidential debate: See “CNN Throws a Tea Party,” FAIR’s latest Action Alert.
Please post copies of your messages to CNN, or comments on this Action Alert, in the comments thread below.
This is the message I sent to CNN:
I strongly object to your giving the Tea Party candidates a platform. Their speech is inflammatory, racist, bigoted, and dangerous.
I believe that you are damaging journalistic standards, bringing down the already low level of media coverage of politics, and encouraging enmity among Americans by seeming to give credence to these hate-filled reactionaries.
To CNN: Your ‘fascination’ and alignment with the Tea Party is disgustingly repulsive. We don’t need anymore push to the right by major “news” organizations.
If CNN believes the tea party movement is a legitimate and important story, why not employ some well-informed intelligent reporters who can use actual content to ask real questions of its leaders instead of your current staff which clearly and unquestioningly panders to their ideology?
To CNN: I used to look to CNN for unbiased reporting, but am deeply disappointed to see that the station has now paired up with the Tea Party Express, a far right-wing group. When I saw promotions of tonight’s debate, it seemed I was watching an ultra-conservative station.
Has CNN decided to no longer promote impartial journalism and become another Fox News?
Why are you damaging your credibility and professional neutrality by aligning yourself in the manner you
have done with the Tea Party. We will no longer be watching CNN
Why has CNN damaged it’s creditability by partnering with the Tea Party Express for tonight’s Republican debate?
This fridge group is NOT a political party is just an extension of the Republican Party. FOX News has them covered them 24×7 and they are the ONLY network giving them air time to express their extreme right wing views. Please reconsider this poor decision and not give them additional air time to vent their highly divisive and offensive views.
I am distressed and confused by CNN’s partnership with the Tea Party Express. How is this justified?
The Tea Party denies that it is a “political party”, yet is performing all of the functions of a political party including officer structure, chapters, and donation recipient. Why is it not registered in any states and subject to the regulations of all other political parties? Yet, CNN provided access to a national forum denied to any other party outside of the Two Party System, Republican and Democrat. Will the Democratic Socialists of America be granted the same national exposure? Will any other “third” party be given the same exposure as this non-party? It appears that CNN is sponsoring a national convention for the Tea Party with only Tea Party participants allowed on the dais and in the audience. Will all participants be following party convention regulations? The biggest question of all is: Who is paying for it all?
Regarding CNN and the Tea Party Express teaming up tonight, how far will CNN go to distort the political message? Where is your responsibility for balance to ALL who watch your network “news”?
I sent CNN the following:
CNN’s decision to partner with the Tea Party Express is staggeringly bewildering and deplorable. With this act, CNN has belied any remaining claims to journalistic integrity, and it has severed the last shreds of connection to the Fourth Estate. CNN clearly does not serve the electorate of the United States, but rather narrow, pro-Corporate, anti-electorate, and anti-democratic interests.
CNN has disgraced journalism and bankrupted its credibility. Why? To what end?
I am astonished that CNN has chosen to partner with extremist political group the Tea Party Express to produce tonight’s Republican debate. Given this particular organization’s history of racist and inflammatory rhetoric (including calling the President an “Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug” and describing the planned Islamic center near Ground Zero as a place to worship “the terrorists’ monkey god”), CNN’s decision raises serious questions about the network’s impartiality and credibility. Perhaps even more troubling is CNN’s promotion of the Tea Party Express as a “grassroots” political organization; in fact the group’s leadership has a number of links to GOP operatives and has received the bulk of its funding from Our Country Deserves Better, a PAC devoted to opposing President Obama’s bid for election in 2008, and Americans for Prosperity, an organization founded by the Koch billionaires and devoted to advancing radically libertarian policy.
In the past I’ve often turned to CNN’s website for an unbiased take on the news of the day. This sickening partisan pandering tells me I need to look elsewhere for independent news and analysis in the future. Shame on CNN.
To CNN:
http://teapartynationalism.com/the-reportbriall-of-tea-party-nationalismi/tea-party-express
This is one of the websites I was led to by imbedded links in an article on CNN’s upcoming collaboration with the Tea Party Express. I hope you all will read and study this article, and, in the parlance of the day, “vet it.” If the charges and allegations in this article are accurate, and if the assertions are accurate and have merit, then a worrisome picture emerges of this group.
I am deeply disturbed by CNN’s decision to lend credibility to an irrational and nonsensical political movement by partnering with the Tea Party for tonight’s Republican primary debate. Please know this maneuver will damage your credibility as a serious and centrist news organization amongst your viewers. As a long-time loyal viewer of CNN myself, I am considering going elsewhere for my news. However, if you were to then balance out the blatant Koch-funded ideology of the Tea Party by partnering with the Progressive movement for the next Republican primary debate, you could perhaps redeem yourself in my (and much of your viewership’s) eyes. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Your decision to promote and celebrate the corporate-funded fringe group known as the Tea Party Express, wholly organized to destroy the Federal government and privatize every program working toward the common good, is shocking to the core.
I might have believed this of the Fox network, but never of CNN. You seem completely oblivious to the dangers inherent in promoting and thus giving credence to what is essentially a hate group. They hate the idea of democracy and a constitutionally formed national government. They hate the idea of government-funded social safety nets, even those that already benefit many of them. The leaders of this fringe group know exactly which buttons to push and depend on a profound ignorance of history, of science, of the reasons for a separation of church and state. Their expressed purpose is to bring this government down, and CNN has now joined forces with them to spread their destructive message.
I’m stunned by your actions, and will be contacting advertisers to express my outrage over this latest attempt at undermining our constitution-based government.
After watching for years, your catering to the Tea Party is pushing me
to nolonger watch CNN. Your supposed to be nonbasis. I’m very disappointed
in your coverage. You appear desperate for viewers, shame on you.
I asked CNN if it plans to give similar air time to progressive/liberal organizations.
Sent to CNN:
Robert McChesney recently wrote: â┚¬Ã…“A money-and-media election complex has transformed US politics, and taken it further and further away from a democracy functioning for the benefit of all. It is set to overwhelm the 2012 election.â┚¬Ã‚ CNN’s teaming with the Tea Party Express, along with more than 100 local Tea Party groups from every state across the country, to present a first-of-its-kind debate from the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention today, September 12th, proves his point, since we hardly need another national cable news channel devoted to promoting far-right elements within the Republican Party. CNN’s behavior disgraces the principle of objective journalism.
Why is CNN representing this lot as “eight Republican presidential contenders???” These are Tea Party candidates. Manyof them can be differentiated from traditional Republicans by their lack of ethics, disdain for their district constituency and a propensity to sell their office to corporate bidders. Google “Perry pay to play” (no quotes) for a small sample.
Following is my response to CNN. CNN has lost much of my respect and desire to tune and use it as a creditable source. And it is because of your willingness to air this lopsided debate. The Tea Party does not deserve this amount of exposure since they represent less than one fifth of the population. In your silly effort to appear to be neutral you have degraded yourselves and harmed your integrity. I served my country in WWII to protect my country from just those like the Tea Party. You have given them a platform to spread their selfishness and hate messages. Shame shame on CNN.
Looks like I’ll have to try harder to keep the Wolf from my door. Is CNN planning to merge with Fox or have they bought you and we just haven’t heard about it yet. Some would consider this “debate” a soft opening.
I can understand why the Tea Party gets a lot of media attention, anything controversial sells. The controversy is not legitimate, their ideas are right-fringe, and laughable, if they were real. The party is “astroturf”, artificial grassroots, a creation of right wing ideologues, and big spending corporate power brokers, throw in a few religious right, “our way or the highway” types, and some racists, and you’ve got the Tea Party. Why would a formerly world class network take on sponsorship of the debate with these folks?
My response:
CNN’s Repub. debate event, which is actually a co-production of sorts with the far-right Tea Party Express, raises serious questions about a journalistic outlet’s decision to formally partner with a controversial political group. No, I’ll be less kind and say “an extremist, irrational, fringe political group”!!
The current TPE director of grassroots & coalitions Amy Kremer has a problem with racism. Kremer is a birther. Her blog, Southern Belle Politics, is filled with calumny for the president, including repetition of the (false) charge that he is not a natural-born American. She’s also gone out of her way to defend a fellow Tea Partier after he sent out racist emails depicting President Obama as a witch doctor.
So . . is there anyone with an ounce of sanity and political acumen running things at CNN? The majority of Americans have said in recent polls and surveys that WE DON’T LIKE THE TEA PARTY, WE DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THEM, WE THINK THEY’RE RACIST AND DOWNRIGHT CRAZY. The Tea Party gets approval of around 20% when asked in major polling. They’re as fringe as they can get. So what’s going on at CNN? Why are you chasing the extreme, racist, ignorant fringe?
Dear CNN:
If you’re going to promote a debate of teaparty far-right wingnuts, why not at least allow a forum (of equal length and same time period) for the discussion of ideas from left-wing, pro-public, and anti-war activists… citizens who have just as much, if not more, to say about our future policies, but who are never allowed a forum on CNN??? Or is CNN now totally in the pocket of the multi-national corporations, as is FOX?
I notice nobody from the progressive groups are getting any face time. Oh, that’s right–we don’t have a bag man.
CNN’ made its bed and will sleep in it.. thats the way the expression goes!!
To CNN: Your network’s partnership with the far-right Tea Party Express in presenting tonight’s Republican debate is a clear and shameful case of pandering at best. At worst it’s an embarrassing attempt to woo viewers away from your arch-rival, Fox News. It’s bad enough that your TPE partners can’t engage in political discussion with concertedly distorting the facts and issues to suit their austerity agenda, but is CNN really prepared to stand behind the racist rhetoric issued by this group’s leadership, in fact if not in deed? If you’re prepared to handover network time to marginal political groups then I eagerly await the next Republican debate when CNN will hopefully see fit to invite Alex Jones’ Infowarriors, 9/11 Truthers, and other “insurgent” political groups to enlighten America’s body politic.
It seems that CNN is illustrating Noam Chomsky’s thesis that mainstream media
attempts to narrow debate such that elite assumptions are never challenged.
My comment to CNN:
Thanks to CNN’s partnership with the Tea Party Express, I plan to boycott all CNN programs, even its storm coverage. Why are you joining the unfair and unbalanced Fox News’s lead in polluting real journalism? This is not journalism. It’s pandering. You should be ashamed!!
CNN has lost it’s good reputation by aligning with the tea party racists and haters. This will be the final nail in CNN’s coffin. What a shame that you have fallen so low by sinking to the lowest common denominator. I’ll never watch again. And I was a loyal viewer.
My missive:
Hello
By now you’re no doubt aware that Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting is asking why you’ve decided to damage your credibility by partnering with a bunch of bigots posing as “patriots” to present tonight’s debate.
But according to my admittedly limited understanding of the principles of physics, a thing has to first exist before it can sustain damage.
So while I agree with the general thrust of their question, I also consider it something of a non sequitur.
In that, it’s analogous to your slogan, “The Most Trusted Name in News”.
Regards
My CNN post:
It makes perfect sense for CNN to sponsor a debate among Republican presidential candidates. Ordinarily I’d look forward to watching it. But that you’re partnering with a political splinter group and thus skewing away from serious discussion and into the narrow swing of a small segment within a quadrant of political opinion — well, that is unfortunate and seems highly likely to waste my time.
Shouldn’t the positions and ideas of the Tea Party Express be on the agenda for discussion, rather than be the debate’s platform? If I were a news organization, the answer would be an emphatic “yes.” That the answer is “no” strongly suggests CNN is not a news organization but rather a political organ itself. How deeply disappointing.
It has been brought to my attention that the GOP debate was being sponsored by a company that rather make fun of people saying they are racist other than dealing with the issue.
It’s unusual for a centrist news outlet to take an openly partisan group as a partner in producing a political event; we can’t recall progressive groups being granted any similar opportunities in recent years.
But the Tea Party Express has been criticized by actual grassroots conservative activists, who liken it to “a GOP-linked slush fund,” as a Politico report (12/20/10) noted. The group is connected to a political action committee called Our Country Deserves Better, run by a California-based Republican strategist (New York Times, 9/19/10).
And there’s much more. Tea Party Express chairman Mark Williams made a number of bigoted statements before moving from chair to spokesperson in June 2010–including calling Barack Obama an “Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug and a racist-in-chief” (CNN, 11/14/09). Williams, unsurprisingly, was also a “birther” who doubted the legitimacy of Obama’s birth certificate (Boston Globe, 4/22/10). And he was active in the campaign against efforts to build an Islamic center near Ground Zero, calling it a place to worship “the terrorists’ monkey god” (Daily News, 5/19/10).
After Williams, apparently responding to NAACP criticism of Tea Party racism, posted a “satirical” letter from “We Colored People” to Abraham Lincoln (sample “joke”: “How will we coloreds ever get a wide screen TV in every room if non-coloreds get to keep what they earn?”), the Express was booted from the National Tea Party Federation, an umbrella group for the conservative protest movement, over its failure to repudiate its spokesperson (Think Progress, 7/19/10).
His successor has a similar record, as the Institute for Research & Education on Human Rights (1/25/11) points out:
Williams was replaced by TPE director of grassroots & coalitions Amy Kremer. But just like Williams, Kremer has a problem with racism. Like Williams, Kremer is a birther. Her blog, Southern Belle Politics, is filled with calumny for the president, including repetition of the (false) charge that he is not a natural-born American. She’s also gone out of her way to defend a fellow Tea Partier after he sent out racist emails depicting President Obama as a witch doctor.
Why as a fair news channel would you align yourself with a group that I would see on Fox News not on something professional like CNN.
Thank you
Michele Lawrence
Austin, TX
CNN should be reporting news, not trying to make news in favor of a particular faction of a political party. CNN has no busines co-sponsoring a political debate with the Tea Party Express, which is a faction of the Tea Party movement, which is a vocal but minor faction of the Republican Party.
CNN does not sponsor debates with other factions of the Republican Party, nor does it sponsor debates among Democrats. It ignores independent progressive groups. There is no justification for selling out to the Tea Party Express.
Dear Sir/ Madam:
I thought the news media is supposed to be unbiased. If this is true, How can you cater not only to a particular party but to one small wing of that party (Tea Party)? How can the public learn what the candidates really think about issues if they are thrown “soft balls”? You need hosts and people in the audience who disagree with this point of view so that issues, jobs, taxes, medicare, medicaid, soc. security, environment , transportation, can be throroughly discussed from opposing points of view. What you are doing is pandering to one group and using this valuable and expensive time slot as a slush fund or PAC. I have little respect for you doing this and will find it hard to believe anything you publish from now on.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Munnell
My comments to CNN:
Is CNN competing with unfair and unbalanced Faux “News” to see which one can tilt furthest to the right and deepen the divide in this country? By selling out as you are doing in “co-sponsoring” tonight’s so-called Republican debate with the Tea Party, you are just another example of the compromised media. I, for one, will not be tuning into CNN anytime soon.
My message:
Thanks for promoting the myth that the Tea Party is a grassroots movement. Thanks for promoting the anti-government, anti-science, anti-union, anti-black, anti-immigrant, anti-everything-but-vested-elite-interests memes of the “GOP-linked slush fund” Tea Party Express. Thanks for picking sides and showing favoritism; way to prove what an objective news source you are. Thanks for outfoxing Fox, I guess. Way to go, CNN.
My comment to CNN:
It was with great disappointment that I read CNN is partnering with the Tea Party Express to produce tonight’s “debate”.
A news organization as a whole should not align with any political party, and in this case it is more concerning considering the leaders of the Tea Party Express and their documented comments with racist language, and tasteless depictions of President Obama.
I have watched CNN and MSNBC, as well as PBS, but this debate has led me to decide that CNN is no longer a source of news but a corporation that will align itself with a questionable political group to get ratings or increase advertising revenue, and that your debate may indicate a political leaning for CNN that guarantees I will no longer be watching your network.
Sincerely,
Barbara Turner
Lynnwood, WA
Your Tea Party debate is a total abandonment of the traditions of CNN and the standards set by Ted Turner. Do not take any pride in this shameful programing.
To CNN, I said; It seems that CNN has now joined the ranks of FOX “News” in the race to the bottom of both media and journalistic integrity by legitimitizing a GOP/Koch brothers funded group of fringe, far right-wing extremists who are hell bent on destroying this country in order to “save it”.
The tea party is just another name for the John Birch Society, same old scare tactics, but based this time on racism. A quote from the Anti-Amercan Bircher’s
“For the civil rights movement in the United States, with all of its growing agitation and riots and bitterness, and insidious steps towards the appearance of a civil war, has not been infiltrated by the Communists, as you now frequently hear. It has been
deliberately and almost wholly created by the Communists patiently building up to this present stage for more than forty years.â┚¬Ã‚ Good By Birchers, Hello Tea Baggers. CNN You are an embarrassment to journalism, Tea Party and it’s racism comments, and also look at the racist flags and posters, you are supporting racism. Totally disgusting
Julia Abn Byrd- Native American Says:
September 12th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
The tea party is just another name for the John Birch Society, same old scare tactics, but based this time on racism. A quote from the Anti-Amercan Bircher’s
“For the civil rights movement in the United States, with all of its growing agitation and riots and bitterness, and insidious steps towards the appearance of a civil war, has not been infiltrated by the Communists, as you now frequently hear. It has been deliberately and almost wholly created by the Communists patiently building up to this present stage for more than forty years.â┚¬Ã‚ Good Bye Birchers, Hello Tea Baggers. CNN You are an embarrassment to journalism, Tea Party and it’s racism comments, and also look at the racist flags and posters, you are supporting racism. Totally disgusting. corretions made
This is the message I left at CNN:
CNN is free to partner with any group it deems worthy. Free speech, 1st Amendment, etc. But as a news organization that at least pretends to aspire to something similar to neutrality, partnering with the Tea Party Express for a presidential debate seems like a mistake if it isn’t balanced by some equally high-profile partnership with a group that is as far to the left as the TPE is to the right–perhaps the Communist Party USA.
I had long looked forward to having the possibility of being connected to CNN, whose news department was widely acclaimed. With the enrollment in DirecTV some years ago, I have been a CNN viewer with increasing disappointment starting with the loss of CNN International. However, CNN’s partnering with the Tea Party Express is an unexpected low. Has CNN really concluded that there is a need for another national cable news station providing a voice for the extreme right of the country? Is CNN unaware of the Amy Kremer as expressed on her blog? (e.g. Her repetition of the charge that President Obama is not a natural-born American and her defense of a fellow Tea Partier after he sent out racist emails him as a witch doctor). As it is, with the relentless assistance of corporate media, the Tea Party has been given greater credibility than their actual representation or support in the country justifies. I might consider Tea Party Express participation acceptable if in conjunction with some sadly overlooked progressive voices. (Glad to provide suggestions if requested!)
I think the diverse audience that here-to-fore has been loyal viewers of CNN deserves an explanation as to why it jeopardizes its reputation by partnering with the Tea Party Express at tonight’s GOP candidate debate.
I sent the following comment to CNN:
It looks like CNN has come out on the side of the Tea Party reactionaries who would steal our Social Security and our Medicare as well as what’s left of our freedoms. Please detach yourselves from this fascistic organization.
This is the message I sent to CNN.
I have been a CNN viewer since 1986 but have become increasingly disconcerted by your news coverage. I am particularly upset by your choice to partner with the Tea Party for the Republican presidential candidate debate.
The Tea Party represents an extremely small number of Americans, yet receives a disproportionate amount of coverage by your network. This is a group of people who seek to radically reform the United States government, who do not believe in science or educational standards, and who prioritize Christian fundamentalism in government in a very unsettling manner.
If you continue your close association with the Tea Party, I will no longer watch CNN.
I am very disturbed that CNN has partnered with the Tea Party Express to host what can be little more than a propaganda event tonight. When the country is more in need than ever of a legitimate, unbiased, news reporting organization, which I recall CNN was at one time, this abandonment of journalistic principles and ethics is disheartening and irresponsible. While surely the credibility of CNN will be further endangered, it is the extreme damage to the body politic that I find most troublesome.
Is anybody at CNN thinking about issues wider than ratings? Your alliance with TEA Party for this Republican debate shouts desperation if not favoritism. Anybody remember those high school journalism classes where you (should have) learned about keeping an arm’s length between the reporter and the reported?
I doubt I will be ever again able to consider CNN a dispassionate source in campaign coverage.
Isn’t ONE Fox News enough?
Time to pull your head out of your etc,
James Manista
I am ashamed for you. The few honest and real journalists remaining on your staff will soon be gone, and you will be left with the likes of Wolf Blitzer and Rivera. You should be ashamed. I was a life long viewer, from the time I was very youngh I watched CNN and CSPAN constantly. Especially during election seasons, my TV remained on your station if I was awake. You have lost me as a viewer and I will never return. I am ashamed of you and for you.
What I have thought for months is now in evidence for all to see.
CNN has morphed into a subsidiary of FOX(FALSE)News.
Clearly you are little more than journalists stenographers for the Billionaire Class
who is waging class warfare against the middle and poor classes.
The T-Party was conceived and financed by the BIG-OIL-POLLUTERS KOCH Brothers for
the sole purpose of destroying any federal protections for the population such as
Anti-Trust, Environmental Protections, Glass-Stegall and others implemented at great
cost by Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, Ralph Nader and Unions. This uproar effectively
over shadows the far more significant story of the Banksters and Trans-National CEOs
blatant destruction of our economy where more job have been lost than since the 1930s, 47 millions people are living at the poverty line and these scoundrels go unpunished.
Clearly your policy is guided by people who have not one once of empathy for anyone
who is not in your “Fat-Cat” class. Your organization and (False)News major in disseminating propaganda flowing from the CORRUPT-Capitalist Monopolists and Oligopolists who funnel massive funds for your mindless and dumb-down advertising which now exceeds the minutes allotted for propaganda-news.
“Why have you decided to damage your credibility by partnering with the Tea Party Express for tonight’s Republican debate?
I normally watch every morning, but will consider not if you continue partnerships like this that undermines your journalistic integrity! “
So, CNN is showing its political stripes by partnering with the radical right Tea Party. I assume you will become a completely privatized organization and will stop accepting any public monies to support your network, as (as far as I understand the law) what you have done is illegal.
Holding the Tea Party debate shows without giving equal time to the hundreds of other groups of equal consequence to the politics of the U.S. shows you are simply one-side and do not understand fair media practice. I notice the same prejedice in a very favorable piece on Rick Perry this morning. Are you fighting to be in Fox’s place?
Why partner with Tea Party Express? They aren’t exactly the League of Women Voters.
I thought CNN was truly fair and balanced, not like Fox News. Why would a network like CNN partner with the Tea Party Express for the Republican debate on Sept 12? Are you telling your viewers you are lining up behind the Tea Party Express and their views? I can’t think of any other reason you would take this action.
wolf blitzer & co see American politics as a blood sport about who is up and who is down what’s in and what’s out that will be controversial and attention getting … they do not see the need to provide information to Americans trying help manage what’s left of our Democratic ideals
The answer is to turn the channel to Lawrence O’Donnell or read Krugman of the NYTimes and understand the Know Nothings have always been with us and Black Journalism is American as apple pie.
As a long-time CNN viewer, I remember when Wolf Blitzer had some cred as a journalist, but those days are long gone, seemingly. Since the early Nineties I have detected a swing in CNN’s slant, making me suspect management is steering it toward being a Fox News wannabe. That
perception is only confirmed by your recent announcement that you would cosponsor a Tea Baggers’ debate on Sept. 12.
It is unconscionable for a reputable network like CNN to partner with an extremist, Astroturf political pressure group like Tea Party Express, in my opinion. By so doing, you lend a mantle of credibility to a paid mouthpiece of far, FAR right interests — and very moneyed interests at that –, presenting TPX as a legitimate grass-roots political movement on the level of, say, the NAAACP, United Mine Workers, or Amnesty International. That it is not. It is rather a stalking horse for the Koch Brothers and their ilk: a paid Astroturf organization that will say whatever its puppeteers tell it to say.
Worse, by allying with these dirty shills, CNN damages its own credibility. How can we believe in CNN as an objective news source when it shows such flagrant favoritism to lunatic-fringe right-wing pressure groups? I suppose it may be a cheaper way to pay the bills than the old-fashioned way, by selling advertising; but it can hardly be characterized as genuine news any more, can it? My suggestion: Change the network’s name to CFPN, ‘Christian’ Fascist Propaganda Network, to more accurately express your organization’s mission, should you choose to pursue this avenue.
I’m surprised that people are surprised at your decision to partner with the Tea Party and its racist extremists who hate American workers and American government. I don’t know why anyone considers you a “serious news organization”.
I wrote: I am surprised that all media outlets endlessly focus on the tea party. The most anyone writes about the left consists of comments about the “professional left”. Rarely are sensible ideas from the left given much credence by CNN. For example, the Downing Street Memo, the Valerie Plame info, the WMD information – issues thought too fringe to cover back in the day – have proved to be central to squandering our blood and treasure in the middle east. Yet the media focused elsewhere – generally on Republican figures. Now the Tea Party has superceded even the lopsided GOP coverage. I ask you to be responsible in covering “the News”. Many sensible solutions to our nations problems have been overlooked due to sensationalism and the next story about Palin or Perry. Let’s cover the full range of solutions to the nation’s problems…including global warming, wealth inequality, and globalization as a challenge to meaningful American employment. You tend to fiddle while the Titanic is sinking.
This is what I sent to CNN.
When I first heard CNN was teaming up with the Tea Party I thought it was a joke. When I realized it wasn’t I went ashen. This is such an outrageous departure from journalism….from anything fair or unbiased that it stuns even cynical me. Shame is not strong enough a word. So, I will waited, I’m sure not too long, for all y’all to do a Democratic Presidential Debate with, hmmm, let me think….shoot…there isn’t anyone extreme or vile enough on the “Left”.
It’s all good. I don’t watch CNN anyway so, you don’t care what I think. How ’bout you just care about being responsible?
Nah, that went out with the top hat and high button shoes, right?
Sent to CNN:
The Tea Party should not be confused with the League of Women Voters and CNN, if it does not want to be confused with Fox News, should not be “co-sponsoring” a GOP presidential debate with a political organization whose agenda is to the right of many Republican voters across the country.
The Tea Party already has a corporate news sponsor, Fox News. They don’t need another one, considering the illigimacy of this group of ‘grass roots’ gang bought and paid for by billionaires out to destroy our way of life and make sure the economy stays in the tank so Obama won’t be re-elected, and all the money flows upward, which of course, is unnatural…. just like the Tea Party!
Why have you decided to damage your credibility by partnering with the Tea Party Express for tonight’s Republican debate? I guess you’re not objective journalists anymore. Too bad. This is one of the reasons we’re in such trouble right now. If the media don’t ask questions of the powers-that-be, then we’re all finished.
Thank you.
Why are you partnering on the GOP debate with Tea Party Express? It’s one thing to partner with another news or media outlet, but to partner with a political movement/organization inevitably compromises journalistic integrity and certainly conveys the appearance of working in tandem with that organization’s purposes. The MSNBC debate at the Reagan Library had Brian Williams and John Harris asking pointed questions. Same even with the Fox News crew at the previous debate with Chris Wallace, drawing the ire of Newt Gingrich. Aren’t CNN questioners compromised before they ever start and immediately open to fault? This was a huge mistake. Hopefully you will realize what a colossal error you’ve made. This is appallingly poor journalism.
In Support: Why Is CNN Partnering With Tea Party Express?
http://www.care2.com/news/member/640348900/2941973
My comment to CNN:
I am appalled that CNN is partnering with the Tea Party Express to hold a debate tonight. Why would you damage your image as reputable news organization by behaving like Fox News? The Tea Party Express is anything but a grassroots organization. It reeks of right wing money and racism.
I am a Tea Party member.
Last year, I used up a vacation day to attend the Tax Day Tea Party rally at Daley Plaza (downtown Chicago ).
What I experienced at the Tea Party was the silent majority en masse, not the propagandized stereotypes. These were not mobsters, racists, birthers, or part of the conservative fringe. These were Americans who love Chicago, the USA and do not believe in “Entitlements”.
Walking the crowd I noticed bankers, lawyers, businessmen, suits, shorts, vets, doctors, clerks, accountants (everyday taxpaying & voting citizens). There was a mixed bag from the curious to the serious.
Not once did I witness the guerrilla street theater of Abbie Hoffman’s “Yippies” or â┚¬Ã…“Children of the Woodstock Nationâ┚¬Ã‚ that many of today’s young generation try to emulate (i.e.; Madison, WI). In fact, I would say the Tea Party was a bit shy when it came to chanting slogans or singing chorus lines. They were, for lack of a better word, conservative.
The Tea Party attendees were not flamboyant (the “rainbow” movement of gay protesters that stormed the party were boisterous and obnoxious). Though I’m not really sure why the gay rights activists were representing themselves; maybe they just can’t resist a parade? I actually welcome gay marriage, as a majority of them are hardworking individuals, they might be able to help carry the burden of taxes that Obamacare will impose on the combined incomes of “middle class millionaires”. Perhaps they will help turn the tide in and defeat Obamacare. Maybe they will become closet fiscal conservatives?
Unlike the piles of garbage and mess left in the wake of the gay pride parade, Daley Plaza was exceptionally clean after the Tea Party rally.
As for being racist toward blacks due to the ethnicity of President Obama, I found many fellow Tea Party members to be strong supporters of Reagan’s 1977 concept of the “New Republican Party” which states, “The time has come for Republicans to say to black voters: â┚¬Ã…“Look, we offer principles that black Americans can, and do, support.â┚¬Ã‚ We believe in jobs, real jobs; we believe in education that is really education; we believe in treating all Americans as individuals and not as stereotypes or voting blocsâ┚¬”Âand we believe that the long-range interest of black Americans lies in looking at what each major party has to offer, and then deciding on the merits. The Democratic Party takes the black vote for granted. Well, it’s time black America and the New Republican Party move toward each other and create a situation in which no black vote can be taken for granted.”
I would say the mood was somber as if the silent majority let out a deep sigh that expelled frustration and “just another thing to put on the to-do list, because nobody else will do it”. Committed, and with the strength in numbers, there was that feeling of looking from side to side and nodding your head as if to say, “OK, what’s on the list, what’s next? Where do we start?”
Perhaps this is redundant, but another way to describe the gathering (and my mood) was a shaking our heads saying, “Has it gotten this far? Really?!? Do we need to be here? Well, we’re the working people; the tax payers not the tax takers; let’s get to work.”
Those attending were not racist thugs or anything close to white trailer trash redneck McVeigh militia that the media and opposing politicians fear mongered. People talked with one another, found common ground, supported opinions and cheered & applauded the speakers. They were very polite and respectful. They helped crippled veterans, shook their hands, and embraced them. Most were common folk that want to live in peace; LEGAL citizens who believe that the taxes they pay are meant only for infrastructure, protection, and conservation… the basics.
People stood together to be recognized, which speaks volumes for the silent majority, who are finally being heard. Thank you CNN for reaching out to the Tea Party members and giving us a voice!!
What I wrote:
With regard to the planned Tea Party ‘debate’:
The Associated Press (6/14/11) reported that, according to CNN, *”topics for the debate will be tailored for the interests of this political insurgent movement.”*
Political parties coalesce because groups of people believe that the country should be run according to certain principles and beliefs. I hope CNN is not tailoring questions to suit Tea Party operatives, in light of the fact that if they take charge of the country, they govern everybody – ergo – questions across the political spectrum ought to be posed to afford the opportunity of illuminating for the broader community the party’s political philosophy, so that the people can then choose wisely for whom to vote. That, I always believed, was the primary purpose of open political debate.
Respectfully, Diane V. McLoughlin, mcloughlinpost.com
I’ve posted the News of CNN aligning with the Tea Party to my Facebook account and am reporting it on my blog. You have completely corrupted your news organization’s reputation in aligning with this fake-roots right wing fringe group which is backed by corporate entities who seek to undermine our democracy.
I will not be watching your programs anymore and I will be an outspoken advocate that others do not either. I will however make an exception for the tea party debate which I will watch so I can make note of the companies that sponsor such garbage and then report on them to my readers as a follow up.
This is more than disappointing, it’s defining.
That CNN would turn a political debate between presidential candidates into a partisan bully pulpit for a right-wing fringe group (the Tea Party Express) is symptomatic of the declining role of mainstream news media as the principal organ of an informed polity. Doing so is to be actively engaged in the vitiating stupefaction of a nation already in steep decline.
“We are the best entertained, least informed society in the world.”
–Neil Postman
For some time I have wondered if I should regard CNN as a credible news outlet. CNN’s decision to partner with the Tea Party Express for tonight’s Republican debate makes it obvious that I shouldn’t.
I forgot to copy my message to CNN before clicking the “send” button, but my main message was:
Why not partner with the John Birch Society? How about the Neo-Nazis? The KKK? They’ve all had an influence on political culture as well but were considered offensive, extremist, and unworthy of the perceived prominence and credibility being given to the Tea Party Express by CNN.
Why have you decided to damage your credibility by partnering with the Tea Party Express for tonight’s Republican debate? Guess they can’t accuse you of a liberal bias anymore!
Apparently your coverage of the recent Republican debate was very closely coordinated with a political group. You lost a lot of credibility doing that, which will take you a long time to recover. If you do.
Unless CNN points out the Tea Party’s organization is nebulous and suspicious, stoked two years ago by Dick Armey and the Koch Brothers as not a grassroots but an “astro-turf” movement, then this debate’s partnership with the “Tea Party Express” is inconsistent with journalistic principles and the historical precedent of televised Presidential candidate debates. –Or maybe CNN is planning to host another televised debate in partnership with MoveOn.org?
Great idea with the “Tea Party” debate. I remember in the 2004 campaign, when you invited representatives of United for Peace and Justice and the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition to c-sponsor a Democratic candidates’ debate… wait a minute, NO I DON’T.
There’s a difference between covering the Corporate-sponsored Tea Party as a “legitimate and important story” and totally getting into bed with them. I remember the “Underground Press” of the 1960s, and their journalistic standards are better than yours are now, with this event on your record.
The CNN I used to respect did not behave this way.
Here’s the letter I just sent:
“Re: CNN’s partnership with the discredited Tea Party Express for tonight’s Republican debate. I do not understand why a so-called “news” network that wishes to be taken seriously would stoop so low and continue to provide a platform to the bigoted and unpopular tea party movement. Elements in this “movement” in general and the Tea Party Express in particular are well known for their racist smears about President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Americans of color. In addition, this “movement” is a front group for corporate interests who hate average working people, and want to impoverish and take away the civil rights of Americans. Your network’s continuing courtship of unsavory individuals in a attempt to rival the ratings of an illegitimate organization called FOX News is pathetic and unworthy of an outfit that supposedly strives for journalistic excellence. Giving a platform and trying to legitimize bigots is NOT journalism. Rather than being FOX-lite, CNN should be more like the BBC, Al Jazeera English and France 24 – networks I much prefer to CNN and tell my friends to watch.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Moore
Los Angeles”
It does seem odd and disturbing that CNN would partner up with the Tea Party Express and other tea party groups to present the Republican Debate tonight. It is almost an endorsement of this far-right group and its affiliates. I would expect this from Fox News, but I am disappointed to see CNN getting on the tea party bandwagon.
I wrote this to CNN:
Is competing with FOX news so important to you that you are willing to lower your standards and join in the ignorance express?
I did not save a copy, but basically my message to CNN was: I tuned in as Herman Cain was responding to a question. I listened for a little over a minute when I checked to make sure I was not on Comedy Central.
Stop degrading the office of the presidency with this nonsense. Stop wasting 70%+ of your viewers’ time and stop insulting their intelligence.
This was my comment to CNN:
CNN has just lost it’s last shred of creditability. What’s next? Partnering with the International House of Prayer to cast out the demons in control of the Democratic party?
There is simply no longer any possibility of calling yourselves a news organization without getting laughed right out of the room.
Ah, the sweetly rank smell of filthy lucre rears its ugly head and the weeping willies scream foul. Get use to it pal, the supremes say it’s just alright for our mega-corporations to buy the government, and this is just the beginning.
Why are you, CNN, a national news organization, serving as a willing partner for a far-far-right wing group (the Tea Party Express) known for racist rhetoric (their former chairman, now spokesperson, Mark Williams, posting in one instance a “satirical” letter from “We Colored People” to Abraham Lincoln with this sample “joke”: “How will we coloreds ever get a wide screen TV in every room if non-coloreds get to keep what they earn?”) and known for religious hate rhetoric (the same individual, talking about the effort to build Islamic center near Ground Zero, called it a place to worship “the terrorists’ monkey god”)? What your doing isn’t “reporting” so much as co-hosting. What, what, what are you doing?
I had respect for CNN for many, many years, and even interviewed with Ed (yes) Turner in 1981… but your organization bears little resemblance to that one anymore. Shame on you.
What I sent to CNN: Co-hosting the Republican debate with the Tea Party Express, and designing the event so as to highlight its agenda and priorities, breaks with the tenets of responsible journalism and does an enormous, society-wide disservice to Americans as we move through this campaign period. Both former Tea Party Express chairman Mark Williams and his successor Amy Kremer are on record with the most blatant instances of flat-out racism imaginable, far beyond acceptable political rhetoric. Grassroots conservative movements have labeled the TPE a “GOP slush fund” and even the National Tea Party federation has seen fit to distance itself from them. CNN has let down the viewing and voting public very egregiously with this mishandled event, distorting the public debate on very serious matters just to try to bring in extra viewers. You should seek ways to make things right, now, if you can. This was a misstep.
My message to CNN:
Indeed, I too found it odd that CNN and the TPExpress co-sponsored a “debate”. That little set-up wouldn’t be called a debate. Ah, well we did find out, supposedly, that Mr. Perry could not be bought for a mere 5K. Praytell, what was CNN bought for? Hmmm?
I am extremely disappointed that CNN has decided to partner with any policital party especially the “Tea Party Express”. I thought of CNN as an unbiased organization that one could truely count on to deliver both sides of the political climate and not just a one sided view such as Fox News and MSNBC. I have held Anderson Cooper in particular, in the highest regard and hope that in light of this new circumstance that he will continue to hold himself up to the highest journalistic standards. In other words, I hope he quits. This is such a disappointment to not only myself but many independants that I talk to. This type of practice where a “news organization” partners with any polical party should be against the law. The american people seek out unadulterated news, not more propoganda. What a huge disappointment. Well, you will be minus one viewer, and from the looks of the amount of posts here, it appers I have alot of company.
I told CNN:
Sucking up to the Tea Party Express by staging a so-called presidential debate with them makes CNN ex-press as far as I’m concerned. This sort of group-think is just what the far-right talk shows and blogosphere constantly reenforce, and now CNN is at it too. Why the network submitted to their pressure I’ll never know and forever lament.
So, will you organize a debate in concert with progressive organizations and labor unions now? Or would that be too “out of the mainstream” of American politics to bother with?
I cannot consider CNN as a trustworthy source of news about US politics until you provide a lot more balance and report on substantive efforts that progressives are making across the land to reclaim America from ignorance, racism, and greed.
I called CNN and asked to speak with a new editor about when they’ll be broadcasting a presidential debate with a far-left radical political group to counter the Tea Bagger debate and I was told:
“The editors don’t accept calls. They don’t wanna speak with no one.”
Nuff said.
Let’s start our own left-wing progressive “non-party” group. First item on the agenda: Boycott all of CNN sponsors!
(I’d say boycott Fox News sponsors but that’s sort of a given.)
I read this in your release -“CNN and the Tea Party Express, along with more than 100 local Tea Party groups from every state across the country, will team up Monday, September 12, to present a first-of-its-kind debate from the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention” and then I read this “In addition to questions from [CNN’s Wolf] Blitzer, audience members inside the debate hall, made up in part by members from Tea Party groups in 31 states and the District of Columbia, will be invited to ask questions directly to the candidates. Questions will also be taken live from Tea Party members at debate watch parties in Phoenix, Arizona; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Portsmouth, Virginia.”
I am so disturbed – you are a news organization, not a political party, and your Republican Presidential debate questions should come from all Americans, not just Tea Party voters! Your job is to report, that’s it!
The Presidential debates are of concern for all Americans, as they are one of the ways we choose our President, who is elected to serve the entire country, not just their tea party constituents. What in the world are you becoming as an organization? I am losing respect for you.
with all due respect
Wow, bummer, I forgot to save my comments to CNN, but essentially I made these points. When Lou Dobbs was on CNN ranting about “illegals,” I thought, how long is CNN going to put up with this xenophobic slob? Than he was gone, good riddance I said.
Then CNN decides to hire a commenter from Red State, Erick Erickson, who once said that he would get a relative’s shot gun after a census worker if one came to his door, yet CNN gives this rigthtwing nutjob jerk a forum.
Then, and this almost broke the camel’s back for me, they put on TV Bachmann as a legitimate rebuttal to President Obama’s State of the Union address, in spite of Paul Ryan giving the so called “other side’s” viewpoint. That did it for me, but I still watched Anderson Cooper. But now with this latest debacle, teaming up with a fringe group The Tea Party Express, created by Faux news and the Koch Brothers, in order to espouse and resurrect the fringe ideas dismissed years ago, but now presented and promoted for decades, through gobs of money from the Koch’s created astroturf groups and think tanks, as mainstream, Koch’s father’s ideas from the John Birch Society and the dysfunctional and wayward 1930s Liberty League.
Where have you gone CNN? You are a shadow of your former self, with lagging credibilty being lost and you have aligned with the know nothings like a previous commenter Mike Stangel, who lies about the makeup of the Tea Party trying to legitemize(sp) a bunch of ultra conservative wingnuts. Stangel is putting lipstick on a pig, and calling it beautigul(I’m sorry to insult the pig here). And so is CNN, and you can’t sober up a drunk who is on a binge.
CNN, when is Public Citiczen going to have their debates? How about Rootsaction? Progressives United? The AFL-CIO?
Just sent to CNN:
CNN was once a ground-breaking international news organization. It is now a propaganda factory for the super-rich, slavishly covering the antics of sociopathic, nihilistic fools rather than reporting on the mismanagement of the American economy, the untenable costs and sheer futility of America’s current wars, and the steadily increasing deprivations of the American people.
I have two questions for you:
1. Knowing, as you must, what you are doing, can you sleep at night?
2. What do you tell your children about what you do for a living?
Just sent in:
I am not pleased that CNN has joined forces with the Tea Party in the presentation of their “debates” which obviously have a conservative bias. The explanation is offered that they represent grass roots groups from around the country I am sure there are other groups with at least as large a representation which should be offered “equal time . The suspicion among many is that the choice is affected by the availability of money, more of which is available from conservative sympathizers than from the majority of the public, CNN is granted air time on the basis of serving the public in general, not just a moneyed group that it has had to depend on for support in the absence of support from less biased sources. The media has not served the public well in assuming its responsibility to be a â┚¬Ã…“fair and balancedâ┚¬Ã‚ source of information. I would hope that CNN would exhibit better behavior.
Growing up, I always idolized CNN. It didn’t happen overnight. Like most pre-teen kids I cared not one whit for regular everyday and local news. But gradually, as I aged with you, your system of providing in-depth, detailed and insightful editorials struck a nerve and I began to really listen to what you had to say. Now I must ask, “What the hell has happened to you?” Why in the world you would align yourselves with the smug, ranting, racist and one-dimensional characters of the tea party? In what way can anything they do be helpful to our country? I can understand that a story is a story, but what does that have to do with a “public partnership” with these people who seek to undermine and redefine democracy in ways beneficial to only them?
I sent them a message about how I do not see any progressive being pushed, only Tea party nutters and loonies.
I do not see Buddy Roemer up there who is a republican who is for Campaign Finance reform.
Though I’m progressive and would like to see a progressive primary against Obama.
Though candidates are in short supply.
Bernie Sanders, (Heck even Jon Stewart if he’d ever run I’d vote for him).
But yeah no progressive to which I would like to vote for instead of these Bought out candidates like Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, and yes even Obama.
All are to busy worrying about how to finance their campaigns through Corporations money, that they’ve given up on their ideals.
Or straight out sold out.
This Campaign system must be reformed if we are ever to have an election for the people by the people, instead of For the rich 1% by the rich 1%.
Your sell out of credibility to wacos agenda is as fake any of the fake republican debates that highlight only their promoted candidates, & eliminate Gary Johnson – appears you have joined Fox
Partnering with the Tea Party Express for the Republican debate is another reason not to watch CNN … ever.
My husband and I were shocked by the CNN/Tea Party partnership prevented last night. We’ve always believed you attempt to be fairly centrist in your news coverage. Are you leaning toward the far right, or does mean you intend to present coverage of the Progressives in a different presentation?
I have been a fan of CNN for many years but am disgusted by your decision to team up with Tea Party Express in hosting the GOP Presidential debate. As I believe you know, the leader of Tea Party Express has said that President Obama is an “Indonesian Muslim turned welfare thug and a racist-in-chief.” Do you really think that this is the kind of person you want on your team? Setting this kind of standard, perhaps you will rotate your partners in the future to include Qadaffi, Mugabe, LePen, and other similar humanitarians.
In these dire times in our country, it has never been more important to have an objective, non-partisan press corps. In order for our nation to come together and weather this storm, we need to have accurate, information without any political or ideological slant. Unfortunately, with CNN’s marriage to the lunatic fringe Tea Party, it has chosen to abandon its journalistic principles and ethics and join the ranks of the propaganda movement with Fox News.
CNN has decided that news is not relevant anymore and sold Out!- Just that simple.
The Tea Party Express “company” does not represent the Tea Party. It is solely a business enterprise of Sol Russo that bilks Tea Party members out of their hard earned money. According to CBS, Russo took $4+ million as commission off the top of $8+ million raised by the Tea Party last year. It is a for-profit company and the profit is for Russo. At the kickoff they got 600 people, in Elko only 30, in Utah less than 300, in Mass. (with Romney’s speech) about 1000. That was their largest crowd. Those who did show up were made sure the local news knew that they in no way supported the Tea Party Express but wanted to see the carnival workers. The Express’s biggest scam was what they did to CNN’s reputation. Buyer Beware.
This was my response to CNN:
I find it offensive that CNN, a supposed neutral news organization, would be involved in partnering with a Tea Party group in televising Monday night’s Republican candidates’ debate. The Tea Party Express has been shown not to be a “grass-roots” group, but one of the “astroturf” organizations. You at CNN sacrifice your objectivity as journalists by partnering with them in this endeavor. Will you also partner with a progressive group to televise an event promoting their point of view?
Sir/Madam,
Why have you decided to mimic Fox News and become a megaphone for extreme conservatism? By aligning yourself with a political action committee you have relinquished any claim to being a fair and reliable news organization. So go ahead and join the hackocracy. It won’t save you. Not only will your ratings continue to deteriorate as people discover what you’ve become, you will also be pitied as they remember what you once were.
I used to believe that CNN was a “fair and balanced” news organization. Why did you decide to damage your reputation and credibility by partnering with the Tea Party Express for this week’s Republican debate? Many Tea Party members have extreme views including a basic nonbelief in science and many are downright racist. Certainly a Republican debate can take place so that all questions, answers, facts and opinions are heard.
By having a very strong collaboration with one of the more radical right wing (and racist) branches of the Tea Party movement you are doing a great disservice to those of us who have formerly regarded CNN as a fairly decent news source.
DON’T DO IT. It’s one thing to report (or mis-report) Tea Party bullshit and shenanigans as “news”, even while you ignore much larger group actions from groups who are more centrist politically. It’s quite a different thing to be making moves to become the same sort of propaganda outlet as Fox “News”.
This is the sort of creeping social revisionism that allowed the Nazi Party in Germany to gain so much ground in the 30’s, because there was not enough concentrated opposition to their message of racism, disinformation and hatred.
Had to send another message to CNN after receiving FAIR’s response to CNN’s response:
If the powers at CNN care at all about their journalistic credibility, the most recent statement from FAIR answering your defensive response(9/16/11) regarding your Tea Party Express relationship clearly defines your deliberate move towards actual endorsement in your co-sponsorship of the debate.
The day after I was even more sickened by watching/listening to your pundits slap each other on the back all day for a job well done – including Wolf Blitzer whose show I’ve long intentionally avoided, but who managed to pop in all too frequently for peer applause during your day long celebration.
I’ve been a long time viewer, but I’m finally done with CNN except to occasionally tune in to take your temperature. Your gradual shift in focus from reporting on real issues to now endlessly inflicting your audience with the hysterically voiced gossipy political infighting drama of the day, (Wolf in a nutshell) is becoming far too persistent, pointless, and irritating for anyone with functioning synapses.
Lack of critical thinking skills really is increasingly sweeping our nation – particularly due to our fourth estate decreasingly modeling their use. PLEASE don’t continue your slide into becoming Fox Lite
Really?? So wanted to protect ourselves and families, cutting wasteful spending, cutting taxes, etc is extremely right and disgusting?? You all are the problem with this country now a days with your entitlement society. Whatever happened to working everyday? Libs are disgusting.