Ripping CNN.com a New One in 500 Characters
Protesting the unfairness of Mr. Moore's detailed criticism, the CNN.com defensiveness has this declaration in the preamble to its supposedly point-by-point ramble: "We have zero vested interest in shading the numbers to tell a certain story," a claim rather amazing on its face, given the corporation's complete dependence on advertising dollars from other corporations that know how to use the power of that money to shape news, and given CNN's long-standing dependence upon the Bush Administration's discriminating willingness to grant or deny access to the halls of administrative power in Washington.
But the kicker comes in the sixth paragraph, where we learn, "CNN has always prided itself on balanced reporting of claims made by special-interest groups."
At the bottom of the article, CNN.com offered a feedback link, which takes the reader to a screen where, along with survey-type features, a person can write a comment, restricted to no more than 500 characters; that is apparently, in the judgment of CNN.com, sufficient latitude for anyone to have a well-formed, substantive say.
I used my 500 characters to the end of getting a few broad points across, and I herewith share with the public that which I just finished roaring at CNN.com:
While I am not a fan of Michael Moore when he holds Cuba up as a positive socio-political model for anything, I am just amazed by the disingenuousness in your claim that, "CNN has always prided itself on balanced reporting of claims made by special-interest groups."
The very use of the term 'special interest groups' serves no purpose other than to degrade and demean those who have strongly opposed the Bush Administration in its systematic prevarications that led to the American-Iraqi War, a war for which CNN served as nothing other than a propaganda outlet for the neo-conservatives, as Michael Moore pointed out in blistering terms to Wolf Blitzer last week.
And by the way, were those 'special interest groups' that pointed out how CNN.com was publishing photos handily provided by the Department of Defense of North Korean 'nuclear facilities' that were the same photographs DoD had also claimed were Iranian nuclear facilities?
Perhaps I am a 'special interest group'; but you are just shills.
The Dark Wraith has thus spoken not Truth to Power, but instead, Hell-Fire and Damnation to Propagandists.
Comments
Wrote Phydeaux Speaks:
Wrote Dark Wraith:
Ah, someone actually noticed one of my link reference title attributes.
The Dark Wraith has always wondered if anyone ever noticed the ones I do for blogroll links.
Wrote Nvisiblewmn:
Go you! Good response. I liked when you called them "a propaganda outlet for the neo-conservatives."
Wrote Phydeaux Speaks:
Oh yes, I first noticed when you added me to your blogroll.
And, after going to the CNN site I had to wipe up the drool that collected at the bottom of my monitor. Unfortunately, I don't have a hazmat disposal unit handy.
Wrote kelley b:
The problem with the shills at CNN is that they do regard anyone with a primary interest in restoring a Constitutional Republic as a member special interest group.
They could care less about the quality of their reporting. If their corporate overlords decreed they show pictures of Iranian WMD that were used to justify the Iraqi invasion but that were really made before the first Gulf War, they would use them. Without batting an eye, they would further assure you of their authenticity and question your Patriotism for your inquiry.
They're worse than shills. They'll reap worse than damnation when Big Brother finally gets around to coming for them, too.
Wrote Dark Wraith:
Good evening, kelly b.
Quite a long while back, a writer at some blog (which I don't recall) indulged a rather delightful rant in which he taunted the Right-wingers by warning them that he could hardly wait until Hillary Clinton got elected President so she could use their self-made jackboot of repressive laws and law enforcement tactics to kick them into a bloody pulp in the dirt. (I'm paraphrasing the writer, but that was the gist of his diatribe, absent some pretty hurtful obscenities.)
It really is kind of delightful that way: it almost makes one hope that, if a Democrat is elected, it will be one every bit as mean, nasty, and hateful as our current President. It would be icing on the cake, of course, were it a woman like Hillary who could tear their man-pants down to give them the good old-fashioned butt-beating they deserve.
Then again, considering what perverts the typical Republican politicians seem to be, I'm afraid they'd start howling, "CANDY BAR!" or some other such sexually aroused mating call.
The Dark Wraith should probably see if there's some literature out there on how to paddle weirdos without doing them a favor.
Wrote Dark Wraith:
Good evening, once again, Phydeaux Speaks.
I wouldn't let those cats of yours near that drool if I were you. For my own part, I have a drain under my monitor to catch the drool that inevitably flows every time I go to a Website where reputable journalists gather to pretend their actually objective (and grammatically literate).
The Dark Wraith is getting so impatient in his old age.
Wrote Dark Wraith:
Good evening, Nvisiblewmn.
What's really galling me is the way these respectable news organs (and I use the term "organs" with intentional duality in meaning) seem to act as if they have all their credibility intact after the way they've aided and abetted the neo-cons.
I've made this point quite strenuously in the past, and I do understand others who do not share my sentiment, but for the life of me I simply cannot stomach reading anything that comes out of The New York Times anymore. That rag was a willing spear point in the propaganda war against the American people and the Congress; and instead of coming clean, apologizing profusely, and publicly firing Judith Miller and everyone who worked with her, we got weak-kneed, half-explanation/half-sorta-maybe we did some boo-boo kind of slurpee from their editorial bowels.
And now that the war has gone as badly as we in Blogosphere Left said it was going to, here comes the good-ol' liberal New York Times pumping out stuff to get everyone to just forget about how it used its good name to act in conspiracy with some of the most malevolent government forces this Republic has ever seen.
God! but the hubris of that paper's editorial board.
The Dark Wraith wonders if there's a special place in Hell for journalists.
[Other than the FOX News Pit of Eternal Torment and Talking Heads.]
Wrote trog69:
Good morning, DW.
Perhaps Phydeaux and you can do a lily bit of e-commerce. I can see it now in your e-store: DW n Dawg's 'MONITOR BIBS'!!1!1! Only $10.99/24.99 for 3! And NEO_CONS, We haven't forgotten you!(Damned libs don't have any money, anyway) For a LIMITED TIME ONLY(til 2009) self-stick EYEBALL RETAINERS!! How many times have you accidentally left Free Republic and glommed onto sites like this one. Well, just put a set of these on over your orbs and you can SCREAM and SPUTTER til the cats come home...your eyeballs won't ever pop out of your skull again. (Not recommended for wife's mouth.) 20 sets/19.99
Wrote Father Tyme:
trog69,
Now if we can just get some of that Bausch & Lomb contact lens germ-filled eyewash included with those Eyeball Retainers...
Wrote trog69:
Father Tyme, now that's just mean! Funny, but mean. I love it.
Wrote SB Gypsy:
Good Afternoon Dark Wraith,
I am overcome with admiration. You actually fit a most thorough slap-down in only 500 words! fantastic
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Well said, DW!
("Go to the drool at CNN.com" - LOL!)