Before this article is published, this will have already happened, but Obama is not due to begin speaking for another hour and a half. Even though Republicans consider the topic so important that they are threatening impeachment, government shutdown, and sandbox temper tantrums, the big four networks, the so-called liberal media, will be elsewhere.
Early in his first term, President George W. Bush addressed the nation in primetime about allowing for limited stem cell research in America and his approval for limited medical research. During the weeks leading up to the announcement, there had a been regular news coverage of the topic, as the White House let reporters know the president was deeply engaged on the issue and was meeting with an array of experts to guide him.
As Bush appeared from his ranch in Texas to make the announcement, all of the major broadcast networks joined the cable news channels in carrying his message live.
The stem cell speech didn’t address breaking news and it wasn’t about an imminent threat facing the nation. But at the time, network executives said they were happy to air the address. "I don’t think it was a tough call because it’s an issue that’s received so much attention," CBS News spokeswoman Sandy Genelius told the Boston Globe. ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider agreed: "It’s an important issue and one that the country is following closely." He added that Bush was "going to make news" with the speech.
A decade later the rules seem to have shifted. All four networks have announced they won’t carry President Obama’s address to the nation tonight about his long awaited plan to take executive action to deal with the pressing issue of immigration reform. (Two Spanish language networks, Univision and Telemundo, will carry the address live in primetime.) … [emphasis added]
Inserted from <AlterNet>
Admittedly, this won’t be the first time the four networks have ducked covering a Presidential address, but considering the import of the topic, I can’t help but wonder what they would be doing, if a white Republican President were addressing the nation on a highly controversial issue.
For those of you who missed the address, I will try to find the complete video tomorrow and post it shortly after midnight on Saturday.morning.
15 Responses to “Media Black Out Obama”
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Even though his Mom was caucasian, he is the wrong color. We all know it regardless of what the bigots might say to refute this.
This was very disappointing but all in all, I guess not surprising. Of course, this makes it ever so much easier to stream Netflix, watch DVD's, or tune in to other channels. We owe the major channels nothing and that is what they will get from me.
Did watch the speech – MSNBC – and thought it was excellent.
The republian/tea party are so good at propaganda and have no agenda for helping anyone but white old men . So I donot think it would be anything we need to worry about. I think Obama has them in more kaos. I love it. The ball is slipping away(2016 Hope)
I watched on CNN then read it at HuffPost. The major networks no longer give priority to full news coverage nor take that responsibility as we once could expect–might require some new regulations by the FCC to ensure they provide the expected service via their license.
Some local CBS west coast affiliates did (it went up against their local news and not the networks' planned content).
Good grief – in the 1930s it was said that the Press Barons ruled everyone's view of the world through their newspapers, but somehow we seem almost back to the same place nearly a hundred years later.
I saw a blog by Stephen 'Yolly' Yolland today in which he comments how America is alarmingly pre-fascist – and I regretfully think he is right,.
This is what these so-called “news stations” are supposed to be about!! Showing the happenings of D.C. and other government!! Why they wouldn’t show PRESIDENT Obama’s speech is only in their heads! They think by not showing it, they think the word won’t get out that he made a speech on IMMIGRATION?? How stupid does this make them look? VERY, VERY STUPID!
And trying to withhold vital information from the masses!
That shows you how the next two years will be. Unfortunately!
Oh, CNN. Well, that explains it. CNN taking a night off from being "Fox Lite"?
Watched it all on Roku nbc and cbs news channels also watched on PBS local kera ch 13. Loved it glad he showed them what guts mean tbat threats are just hot air and for following Malahi v5 in Bible
Welcome Ann. 🙂
Why Malachi? For Bible references to Republicans, I like Proverbs, focusing on wicked fools.
There really isn't such a thing as "Malachi 5." It could mean the fifth verse of a book with only one chapter, or the fifth chapter of a book with more than one chapter. Malachi has four chapters.
Refer to Malachi v5 bible
I watched it on CNN, turned it off after the President finished talking. I cannot abide the dissections the talking heads do after any speech he gives. I think his proposal makes sense and should be implemented. Since Congress wouldn't do it, he is and he has the authority. No amount of wailing and crying on their part will change that.
Sorry, hit reply too soon. I think it is a disgrace that the networks didn't carry this very important message and I am sure they would have had it on if it had been Dubya giving it.
If a group wants to control the people, first it must control the media, electronic and print. Hitler once said:
And that seems to be what the Republicanus/Teabaggers and their monied masters are doing. My guess is that the Republicanus/Teabagger right wing nut jobs will provide their own spin on Obama's speech which of course they will articulate in detail for the "liberal" media. People will see that lie and believe it as truth.
Very sad state of affairs. The FCC really must clean up the airwaves with stronger licensing provisions, stricter requirements for journalism, and better definitions around what is news and what is opinion.
Thanks all. I won't discuss the speech here, because I'm about to upload an article on it.