Philadelphia Inquirer TV critic Jonathan Storm (7/1/10) noted that tonight, July 2, the city’s public TV station WHYY is airing a documentary called The Surge: The Untold Story. As he puts it, what’s most interesting about the documentary is who’s behind it:
The film was produced by communications companies that work predominantly for the GOP and was financed by an ambassador who served in the Bush administration.
The station had originally planned a panel event following the broadcast that would have featured far-right punditLiz Cheney, but those plans were apparently derailed by a lack of public interest in the event or the protests ofone stationdonor.
The documentary was also financed by the neo-con Institute for the Study of War. WHYY vice president Christine Dempsey told the Inquirer that the documentary was a “well-produced film with a nontraditional point of view that we don’t really put on frequently.” And it’s also apparently a matter of balance:
To the criticism that PBS‘s overall schedule contains several left-leaning series, she said, “I think it’s important for PBS member stations to show many different views.”
It’s hard to know exactly which “left-leaning” shows this is intended to balance–or how to square the idea that neo-con foreign policy views are going unheard on PBS. Kimberly Kagan of the Institute for the Study of War, for example, was just on the NewsHour on June 24, praising the move to replace Stanley McChrystal with David Petraeus.
It’s not just PBS in Philly; last week after Senate Republicans defeated the bill to extend unemployment benfits for the third and final time the local CBS morning PYT anchor said, “Democrats have let down the unemployed.”
Democrats?!
I called the station and was told that the news copy was written that way because three Democrats voted against the bill (actually two [cowardly] Democrats and a back-stabbing independent by the name of Joe Lieberman – so much for solid journalism). I pointed out that EVERY REPUBLICAN voted aginst the bill all three times it came up for a vote.
Unhappy even hours later I called in the evening and asked to speak with the news director. I was given the assignment editor and I said, “Well, if you’re the best I can do.” That really irked him, but I was in the mood to irk somebody so I was pleased. When I told him about the morning’s blunder he demanded my name and phone number ’cause he was gonna go check to the video, confident that I was wrong, and then I guess he was gonna call me back and give me what fer!
I never heard from him again. (sniff!)
I stopped listening to NPR because I tuned in after Obama’s election thinking that finally I would hear some positive commenting about Democrats; WRONG!! I heard the same old Republican propaganda, over and over and over. I sent them an email complaining and they responded by informing me that NPR was always fair and didn’t have an agenda. Sure.
I stopped listening long before that, genierae. It wasn’t that Republicans and their “ideas” were always featured, but rather the constant bending-over-backwards to please right-wingers, who of course bitch and moan constantly that NPR is some kind of Statist mouthpiece. NPR always works double over-time to make the Right happy, or at least keep them from complaining, which is a big job–something our President is constantly re-discovering.
I have always thought that the great and huge majority of the print ,film and tv media are left leaning.There are any number of egghead studies that prove this.Dont need a study though to prove that.Just zip through the Tv.But anytime a conservative view comes in it is seen as something to boycott?Switch it off before it infects your beliefs.Silly.So NPR or Ms Chainy put out a show with their spin.AL Gore wants ya to believe in Global warming(and that he didn’t assault anyone).All part of the mix of info.Take it all in.
America’s “left-leaning” would be well right-of-center in many parts of the world. Sure, they’re the ones out of step. They don’t have our gun laws. They don’t have the death penalty. Their corporations don’t have the rights of individuals to pump money into elections! Isn’t freedom great?
Des remember Churchills quote along the lines of Democratic governments may be full of wormholes….But whatever is second best is far down the line.Lets not fall into the hate America first trap.I agree with you on death penalty though.For a variety of reasons.
As far as corporations electing a president…..Explain to me how an anti capitalist,anti business- socialist won?Teachers union donated more than the top 12 corporations…COMBINED!Maybe thats it.
Obamas election alone points to a solid look- see of how things are being payed for.He was not qualified for any cabinet position let alone the leader of the free world.I suppose he was qualified as a junior member of a law practice .Still cant figure that one out.
Gun laws?Switzerland is thee most heavily armed country in the world.And among the safest.Facts aside…Our gun laws are cut in stone in our constitution.This week was a huge win for that right.You are stuck with it.I agree with it.
one thing I see is Europe pulling hard away from keynsening economics and her failed socialist ways as we smash blindly left..Still as of now this country is considered center right.While our press and our current government are left/hardleft.Which is why at this time we have an unrepresenting non representitive bunch running the show.Saddly
michael e.
So now the Constitution ranks with Moses’ script?
To Dennis Jones
Hell no.That is the problem with libs. Politics is their faith not ours (and Obama is the chosen one of their immaculate election)Jokes aside , The constitution laid down the rights we have chosen to live under.It is the heartbeat of America.From it’s inception.It is the foundation. and yes The ease with which the left trods it under, does disturb me.And the 2nd amndmnt I think is pretty clear. So If you want to change it.If you disagree -then change it. But People on my side of the coin will not stand by, and let the left steal away our rights by proxy . No Your gonna have to grab this bull by the horns and drag it down.No half measures.So make your case….. or stand aside.