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Maddow: "big portion of" media "continue to miss the obvious": industry-tied DC lobbyists behind town hall protests

August 04, 2009 10:50 pm ET

From the August 4 edition of MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show:

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Previously:

GOP mobs and the press

Kornacki: like Tea Parties, protests are lobbyists "manufacturing, with the help of conservative media outlets, outrage"

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    • Author by phredicles (August 04, 2009 10:52 pm ET)
      5  
      As much as I like Ms. Maddow, I think she is herself mistaken: They're not missing the obvious so much as deliberately ignoring it.
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      • Author by ForTheLoveOfEllipsis... (August 04, 2009 10:54 pm ET)
        1  
        phred, I'll say this much; she's probably taking it as far as Pat Buchanan's employer (i. e, MSNBC) will let her...
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        • Author by dmhack (August 04, 2009 11:04 pm ET)
          6  
          I haven't seen tonight's Maddow show yet, but last night I thought she did a complete and detailed examination of the thugs and the lobbyists pulling the strings.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by ForTheLoveOfEllipsis... (August 04, 2009 11:14 pm ET)
            3  
            I saw that one too, dm; and frankly, I'm coming to believe thay Rachel is the best--possibly the only--real journalist in the broadcast media today...
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            • Author by epkklk851 (August 05, 2009 7:59 am ET)
              2  
              I have been very interested in several of Rachel's reports, like the C Street Family, but I wouldn't say she is the only journalist, they are still around. Check out PBS. Still, Rachel has raised some issues that needed coverage and she does it with humor and very little rancor. As much as I like Keith, he can be over the top sometimes.
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              • Author by nerzog (August 05, 2009 8:45 am ET)
                3  
                I agree about PBS, and I would include NPR. Even though the Republicans have tried real hard to paint them as "Liberally biased", I think public broadcasting does the best job of reporting on these issues.
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                • Author by epkklk851 (August 05, 2009 8:58 am ET)
                  3  
                  I always lump PBS and NPR together in my mind because they were both founded to place education of the people over entertainment and profit. I haven't been listening to NPR recently, but I have always enjoyed the coverage when I did. I used to love some of the essays on "All Things Considered."
                  Report Abuse
          • Author by taliesin (August 05, 2009 12:56 am ET)
            1 4
            Soo when left wing groups organize protests abd target republicans
            its a valid political strategy and they get cheered on by the ACLU, People for the American Way and MMFA. But when the GOP plays the same game, Ms Maddow and her ilk cry foul. Opposing any conservative
            agenda is just fighting the good fight, but when they don't drink they Obama kool-aid they are obstructionist, racist pigs!
            PLEEEESE!
            Report Abuse
            • Author by bilbo_dies (August 05, 2009 1:25 pm ET)
              2  
              Short and sweet.

              Organized protests = good
              (meaning people demonstrating in public to have their voices heard)

              Organized disruptions of town hall meetings = bad
              (meaning people disrupting a public gathering that is meant to allow ALL voices to be heard)


              In other words if you stand out in front of the building, while congress is in session, and stage a protest, that is OK.
              If you go into the building and disrupt congress, they will at least remove you if not arrest you.

              There are many forms of protest, etc use what is appropriate and does not trample on others rights.
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            • Author by epkklk851 (August 05, 2009 3:19 pm ET)
              2  
              I would say that organized protests that cart the same group of people(who are loyal to the cause but not from the area from meeting) to meeting with the expressed purpose of disrupting a public event to prevent information from being distributed by the event organizers are bad, regardless of ideology. It is disingenous to present someone as grassroots if they take their script from a professional lobbying organization.
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      • Author by IRONY 101 (August 04, 2009 11:54 pm ET)
        4  
        They're not missing the obvious so much as deliberately ignoring it.

        Bingo...!
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      • Author by bnurse9786 (August 05, 2009 12:12 am ET)
           
        The MSM doesn’t want a fair discussion of health reform, so why would they expose the fraud of these groups.
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      • Author by mfinn7314 (August 05, 2009 8:02 am ET)
        4  
        For amusement but also frustration, check out the outrage being spewed at "Foxnation" in their "Why is the White House attacking Americans?" blog item. I lose hope of ever having a meaningful honest debate with these folks. Their hate, disrespect, and/or distrust of Obama/liberals/etc. is so intense it's blinding and the organizations working to fuel those feelings know they can add the gasoline and light the match.
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        • Author by nerzog (August 05, 2009 8:48 am ET)
          4  
          You've nailed it. They are not now, nor have they ever been, interested in an honest debate. They live and die by propaganda. Rather than using their think tanks and piles of corporate money to search for real policy solutions, they have spent decades and millions of dollars fine-tuning the art of public opinion manipulation. It's the only thing at which they excel.
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        • Author by Suite16226 (August 05, 2009 1:22 pm ET)
          2  
          I agree completely. The disingenous tact of the Republican Party is making it impossible to have an intelligent debate about health care or any other topic of importance in this Country. I don't mind disagreement, but I have real problems with distortion and flat out lies.

          I've left the Republican Party for exactly these reasons.

          Normally I would say "just ignore the nuts" but they are gaining so much ground. I'm not about to say the average American is stupid, I think they are overwhelmed with life in general and just don't take the time to research anything. They just accept it and repeat it without question. You go into any restaurant, building lobby, airport and normally FOX News is on the TV - but it is NOT news, it's mostly OPINION and definitely ENTERTAINMENT.

          I'm sorry, it may sound corny, but I grew up with Walter Cronkite and I expect more from the Media. I want Uncle Walter back!
          Report Abuse

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