Media Matters for America Applauds CNN Decision to Drop Robert Novak
Media Matters delivered nearly 5,000 letters from concerned viewers to CNN urging Novak's permanent suspension
December 16, 2005 (Washington, DC) - Media Matters for America applauds CNN's official announcement today that it will not renew its contract with controversial conservative commentator and syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak after 25 years of serving as a CNN commentator and program host.
Novak's contract with CNN was reportedly set to expire in early 2006, but he has not appeared on the channel since August 2005 after being suspended for uttering an obscenity and storming off the set. On December 7th, Media Matters delivered nearly 5,000 letters from concerned viewers to CNN's Washington Bureau urging them not to renew Novak's contract.
"We applaud CNN for taking the appropriate step of not renewing Robert Novak's contract," said David Brock, President and CEO of Media Matters for America. "CNN's overall news programming will benefit from not having a commentator known to spread conservative misinformation to the American public."
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He has been deceitful, dishonest and ingenuous when it comes to discussing his involvement with contributing to the outing of a covert CIA agent.
Valerie Plame retired a few days ago. She had no future. That is a result of the story that Novak wrote. That is a result of the Bush White House pushing her name out to whoever would listen, hoping that someone would do their dirty work for them in a ridiculous attempt to attack the messenger, her husband, Ambassador Joe Wilson.
They should all rot in hades for what they did.
I think it's time for the "douchebag of liberty" to join the Beltway Boys over at FOXNews.
FOXNews, concerned with its image, decided to hire someone whose views were "more in the mainstream."
"I think it's time for the "douchebag of liberty" to join the Beltway Boys over at FOXNews."...bymikeinnyc
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Already done.
" Bob Novak Becoming Fox News Channel "Contributor" This story suddenly becomes more interesting: As soon as Bob Novak's contract with CNN runs out on Dec. 31, he will become a contributor to the Fox News Channel, the AP scoops. FNC spokesman Brian Lewis confirmed his signing with the network to David Bauder. "Novak said the switch to Fox had nothing to do with finding a more comfortable home for his views."
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/
"Media Matters delivered nearly 5,000 letters ..."
Does this not clearly illustrate that the left (for the most part) is simply intolerant of different points of view and wish to silence those with whom they disagree?
Is this the kind of country that Media Matters wants? Where only their point of view is expressed?
Does Media Matters only want ONE point of view expressed in this country?: Their own left-wing ideology? So much for "tolerance" and "inclusiveness." Apparently, these ideas only apply to those with whom Media Matters agrees.
"Conservative misinformation" is one thing, but this sure looks like censorship. I'm disappointed.
expose a CIA agent for political gain to continue to present his rightwing spin is another. CNN is in no way required to allow misleading and inaccurate spin. (Conservative or liberal)
You are right about one thing. It should not have taken 5000 letters from MMFA for CNN to decide to dismiss him. CNN should have reached this conclusion on their own long ago.
"It should not have taken 5000 letters from MMFA for CNN to decide to dismiss him. CNN should have reached this conclusion on their own long ago."...by octavio
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Oh please, do YOU really believe 5,000 letters from MMFA caused CNN to make any such decision? According to Novak the decision was mutual (not sure I believe that)...I'm gonna guess that CNN wasn't planning on renewing Novak's contract long before any 5,000 letters from MMFA arrived. IF MMFA is TRYING to take credit for Novak's departure I think they're ASSUMING too much...
I love it. Can't wait to send MMFA more $$$ to get rid of these liars.
You say, "IF MMFA is TRYING to take credit for Novak's departure I think they're ASSUMING too much..". But I don't see any evidence of MM trying to take credit. MM simply states that they sent letters, and they applaud the dismissal. The reader is free to judge or assume the letters had much, little, or zero effect. The only people who know for sure are at CNN. It would be silly for Media Matters to applaud the dismissal without mentioning the letters whatsoever.
You're probalby right. I was just addressing Lefto45's implication that the 5000 letters did make a difference. However, I do encourage writing letters when a obvious problem like Novak exists.
Sorry octavio, Re-reading my post I think I came across rather harshly in replying to your post...didn't mean too. I apologize.
I'm not sure WHY left045 defined the letter writing campaign as a sign of "intolerance"...we all should be able to express our opinions about people or their viewpoints. While I don't believe the 5,000 letters had ANYTHING to do with Novak leaving CNN, those who wrote were more than entitled to EXPRESS their disgust with Novak to that network.
Novak is an embarrassment to many Conservatives...I for one wish he'd just RETIRE.
How do you know these letters had nothing to do with Novak's expulsion? Wishful thinking from a scared neocon.
Or wishful thinking from a loonie leftie named heru.
Five thousand loons cause CNN to get rid of Novak? Keep dreaming. You lefties crack me up.
Left045: Does Media Matters only want ONE point of view expressed in this country?
There is a difference between presenting a point of view and emitting propaganda. As MM shows through its reporting, organizations and persons are consistently spreading misinformation (information that has been publicly been shown to be false). Although the form of presentation may seem to demonstrating a point of view, its substance is propaganda. That, combined with oligopoly power of media organizations, is a problem for a thriving democracy.
"oligopoly"??
Puh-leeze. Thirty years ago, there were only three television networks within one square mile(??) of each other in Manhattan.
Now there is cable TV, satellite radio, robust talk radio, and the internet. The Internet!: From which you can download almost any newspaper in the world!; in which almost any schmo (sp?) can start a blog, report news, and voice his/her opinions!; in which you can visit sites like this!
"Oligopoly"?? You're kidding, right?
If you're going to recycle conservative talking points, make sure to cover these two facts: a) the declining number of owners of the major media outlets (i.e., more outlets controlled by less people), and b) the fact that in the past their were many more independent radio stations and newspapers.
The Mighty Wurlitzer of the rightwing blogosphere should also probably be singled out as a single outlet for the homogenous viewpoints (and if you aren't homogenous, you get the boot).
We got our first television about 1962. Neither of the two channels we saw were owned by a major network.
While I suppose that any time a group of one particular ideology calls for the dismissal of a reporter obviously associated with a different ideology, a red flag should go up. However, no, the call for the dismissal itself does not "clearly illustrate" intolerance or censorship.
Should all points of view be represented in the media? Of course! However, let us please never confuse neutrality with objectivity. Neutrality is a normative concept; moderators of debates must be normatively neutral towards the debators. Objectivity is an empirical concept, and journalists, regardless of their personal ideologies, must remain objective and report facts.
Novak didn't earn the moniker Bob NoFacts for nothing. The problem with Novak, and others of his ilk whom Media Matters highlights, is their willingness either only to report the facts that lend credence to their ideology or to report outright falsehoods as truth in order to lend credence to their ideology.
Oh, and Novak published the name of an under cover operative, thereby ruining her career and threatening her life.
The call for his dismissal is principled and just.
"Wha-?? "Media Matters delivered nearly 5,000 letters ..." Does this not clearly illustrate that the left (for the most part) is simply intolerant of different points of view and wish to silence those with whom they disagree?"
No, it means that the people are sick of crooks and will take steps to remove them from their thrones.
"Is this the kind of country that Media Matters wants? Where only their point of view is expressed? Does Media Matters only want ONE point of view expressed in this country?: Their own left-wing ideology?"
Oh please. You neocon liars have taken over and run every branch of the federal government into the ground and have monopolized massmedia, then pretend like left wing ideology dominates?
Don't assume others have the same motives as your frankenlies.com site.
Fox News is becoming the Argentina of news organizations. When somebody like Novak is just too extreme and wacky to be allowed on a responsible news network any more, there's always Fox News to give them asylum.
Think of the right-wing idiots that have all converged at Fox. O'Reilly, Major Garrett, soon Novak, and many many more. Hell, after Bill Bennett became radioactive for endorsing the ethnic cleansing of the United States by aborting all the black babies, Fox News gave him an open-door policy. You simply cannot be too insane, too hateful, or too extreme to be at Fox News. You can, however, be too liberal. Lately, my favorite crazy statement over there has been their describing John Murtha, who's been about the most hawkish and pro-military of the Democrats, as "left-wing" and "liberal".
I just send an email to CNN asking them to dump Ann Coulter. She's got to be next on our list. It's good to see that our side is finally starting to use tactics like those used by the Religious Right. We have to hit CNN where they live.
Left045 Blames MMFA and its readers for the desire for only one point of view to be expressed - while Jeter2 says MMFA and its readers are "taking too much credit" for Novak's dismissal . . . well, which is it?
IF you&others here want to BELIEVE that 5,000 letters delivered to CNN from MMFA was the REASON CNN did not renew Novak's contract, then NOTHING anyone says will convince you otherwise....BUT think about it....do you HONESTLY think CNN would base a decision like that on 5,000 disgruntled liberals?
Novak claims the severing of his ties to CNN were mutual (personally I have MY doubts about that)....HOWEVER I believe CNN was planning on dumping Novak from the MOMENT he walked off the set in a huff after his "tussle" with Carville.
It's actually laughable to read how SOME of you think MMFA&5,000 letters hold any sway with CNN.
In response to, "NOTHING anyone says will convince you otherwise....": A statement from CNN and Novak, saying the letters had no effect, would be a nice start. In the absence of that, your speculation as to the effectiveness of the letters is no better than anyone else's, and you are not being fair in calling someone else's opinion "laughable".
At least it's a start What I find most outragous about this Mr Novak outing situation is that not only does he out Mrs Wilson as a CIA agent but he exposes the network that hid here identity (such as his mentioning of the the faux company she used as a cover, that I believe had a fake address in Boston). It bothers me that no one seems to talk about this aspect of the outing case and to me it seems as (if not more) treasonous than the blowing of Mrs Wilsons cover itself.
this guy was/is just flat-out nasty. he'll do well at fox, unless someone drives a stake through his heart...
Let Novak join Fox's stable of crooked pundits and commentators. He'd look good on a show with convicted perjurer Mark Fuhrman or one of those Watergate crooks they love to trot out.
When did the left start caring about convicted perjurers? I know of one disbarred, impeached, lying convicted perjurer that the left parades around constantly....want to guess his name?
I say congrats not only to CNN, but a bigger kudos to Media Matters for getting that Hitler-loving Nazi Robert Novak off CNN and onto Fox, where he belongs.
I guess MMFA got what it wanted. There are now no conservatives left on the Clinton News Network.
--you're kidding, right?
I'm kidding about the Clinton News Network part. I got that from listening to Rush's show. But the part about there not being any conservatives left on CNN I'm serious about.
--sorry, the statement was so absurd i thought you might be waxing satirical. for your statement to make sense, the definition of "conservative" would have to be someone so far to the right they have swastikas embroidered in their underwear. if you use a more conventional definition, then EVERYONE at cnn is conservative! zahn is just coulter without the adam's apple, kagan is the pontificating pill-popper's latest "beard", dobbs sides with bush about 80% of the time, blitzer is like dobbs with half the IQ, soledad & prettyboy in the mornings are probably three-quarters...the only one who works there regularly who can even be described as "middle-of-the-road" is cooper. but, since i stopped watching all tv news except the daily show a couple months ago, perhaps someone who is more current can weigh in.
The reality is that the current Republican crew leading our Nation is a bunch of f’ups that make Clinton look like a saint.
Republicans should be ashamed but they are stuck in the denial phase. They also harbor a lot of anger and resentment and try to blame others for their own actions. The depression and then resignation phases are coming.
1. Denial (where most Republicans are) 2. Anger/Resentment (a lot of Republicans are here too) 3. Bargaining (some of the smarter ones like McCain are already here, e.g. on torture, Supreme Court nominations etc.) 4. Depression (get ready for the deep long depression you deserve Republicans, for screwing our Nation and yourselves with it in the process) 5. Acceptance (this stage isn't going to be pleasant either)
By the time America tosses out the current crew of Republicans, the damage will be so bad that America will not reelect Republicans to lead our Nation for another 20 years. The legacy of Iraq will fester, our economy will hit the skids for quite a while, the poor will wake up to the fact that Bush has benefited only rich people and huge corporations, the fallout from Bush's belligerent attitude towards the rest of the world will continue, we will have lost the lead in critical areas like stem cells due to Bush's pandering to a "moral minority", the climate will worsen due to Bush's failed leadership on global warming issues, and the torture and corruption scandals will rage on. Bush is like Hoover.
We ALL know why.