CBS offered response to Giuliani's "Free Speech" segment -- but still no Democrats or progressives
SUMMARY: The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric featured a Muslim American in its "Free Speech" segment following commentary by Rudy Giuliani and Rush Limbaugh, but after six of the segments, the program has still not offered a Democratic or progressive take on national security.
As Media Matters for America noted, the first week of "Free Speech" segments on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric featured commentary on national security from nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani -- both of whom praised the Bush administration's terror policies -- but featured no Democrats or progressive media personalities or pundits offering their views on the subject.
On the September 12 broadcast of the CBS Evening News, anchor Katie Couric presented that day's "Free Speech" segment as a response to Giuliani's comments from the previous broadcast, saying: "In our 'Free Speech' segment last night, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani talked about the need to press ahead with the war against Islamic terrorists. Tonight, you'll hear from an Islamic American" -- Ahmed Younis, national director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, who spoke about how Muslim Americans "can help win this international war on terror if you include us in the fight."
Couric also noted that CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer will be featured in the September 13 "Free Speech" -- bringing to seven the total of "Free Speech" segments without a Democratic or progressive take on national security.
From the September 12 broadcast of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric:
COURIC: In our "Free Speech segment" last night, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani talked about the need to press ahead with the war against Islamic terrorists. Tonight you'll hear from an Islamic American -- there are as many as 7 million in this country -- about how he believes they can help win the war. Ahmed Younis is national director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
YOUNIS: I was recently in the desert of Central Asia on a trek through old Soviet territory when an 80-year-old imam asked me whether Muslims in America are feeling the backlash of 9-11.
I realized again at that moment, as I had on other trips, that the story of the American Muslim is a core element of our winning hearts and minds in the international war on terror. Muslims around the world look at how we American Muslims are doing and make judgments about our country. Their biggest question: "Can Muslims thrive in a Western society? Can Muslims thrive in the United States of America?"
The answer is yes.
And we can help win this international war on terror if you include us in the fight. What many Americans might not realize is that the Muslim community already has effective partnerships with the FBI and other law-enforcement agencies to ensure that terrorists don't harm our nation again. That kind of cooperation will not only help Muslims fit into America, but also send the message to Muslims overseas that America is a place where Islam can be practiced freely. And that in itself is a major victory in the war on terror.
As an American Muslim, I am committed to the values of reason, mercy, justice, equality, and humanity. Those are American values. They are also Quranic values.
I am a Muslim, but I am also an American and a patriot.
COURIC: Tomorrow night on "Free Speech," Bob Schieffer.
is only for 36% of Americans.
are they even doing this silly segment at all? Is CBS News actually unable to come up with 23 minutes (after commercials) of original news reporting a night? That is lame.
It's closer to 22 minutes. It is Rather sad. Out.
This is just a silly and contrived, this "Free Speech" segment. It's like an shrunken, evening Today show with a more dramatic opening score and no Matt.
What is the point of this pointless few minutes anyway. My prediction is it will be axed fast, and replaced with some other gimmicky filler.
CBS is really exposing people to a national viewing audience that they have never seen before.
Next Bob Schieffer.
Hilarious.
CBS has shown its true colors. Katie Couric was not hired to further the long journalistic history of CBS Evening News. Couric is a journalistic lightweight, and they know it. She was hired in a dubious attempt to boost the CBS Evening News out of 3rd place in the nightly news ratings. Unfortunately for CBS, they're back at square one, in 3rd place, and Couric's hiring will eventually be acknowledged as one of the biggest blunders in nightly news history. Their feeble attempts include efforts to emulate Fox News and grab some of those right-wing viewers, especially those viewers who've been leaving Fox recently.
Seven guests with views on "free speech" without a single democrat or progressive is simply shameful, is not in anyway journalism, and can only represent an agenda of sorts from CBS.
So, what's left? We should continue to expect more of the same from the CBS Evening "News." Leave journalism in the hands of journalists.
By Media Matters' own admission, CBS offered a response to Rudy Giuliani's segment. However, it did not fit MMFA's criteria of a "Democrat" or "progressive." Does Media Matters have an approved list of guests that they find acceptable which would exempt CBS from such criticism?
Is this a fair post by MMFA? Eh ... I don't think so.
My 2 cents. Thanks.
--"MMFA's criteria of a "Democrat" or "progressive"---
It doesn't fulfill ANY reasonable person's criteria, troll.
oh sorry bud, i didn't see the "so". you see, my friend, a response is usually someone of the opposite political party or persuasion. not someone who offers some generalities. now cbs will say, see, we do have "responses". just not legitimate ones. i suggest raising your two cents worth to something a little more valuable. your posts are worth what you say they are.
Broadcasting the viewpoints of several well-known, prestigious conservatives, and then broadcasting the viewpoint of "some Muslim guy" doesn't equate to equal time. To wax Newtonian on you, the equal and opposite reaction to Limbaugh and Giuliani would be two prominent Progressive viewpoints. The aforementioned "some Muslim guy" is neither equal nor opposite. And if MMFA did have a list of "acceptable" guests, this guy wouldn't be on it if the list contained a million names.
I will not believe Muslims hate terrorism until I see more of them speak out....1 or 2 speaking out just is not enough for me....and you will be hard pressed to find a muslim to say anything bad about another muslim, no matter what they did.....THEY STICK TOGETHER!!
---"you will be hard pressed to find a muslim to say anything bad about another muslim"---
Kind of like Republicans.
Prominent Muslims speaking out against terrorism and extremism. Here is a clue. Just because it isnt on Limbuagh or Hannity doesnt mean it doesnt exist if you want to SEE what Muslims are saying LOOK.
Isn't it great that we in America have the freedom to go on national television and regurgitate GOP talking points? In what other country could one be so bold as to be in total accord with the President ? God bless the first amendment.
You ever notice how taglines like "Free Speech" or "Fair and Balanced" are anything but. It's pretty safe to assume that the more someone feels the need to tell you they are one way, they are probably the exact opposite. Why not have a segment or program with a brutally honest moniker? Instead of the "No Spin Zone," how about the "Do-everything-you-can-to-apologize-for-the-GOP Zone" (or I guess just "Spin Zone" would also work). Fox's "Fair and Balanced" news coverage would certainly be more appropriately dubbed "Unjust and Biased." Couric's "Free Speech" segment might as well be called "Shut Up Lefty!" And I'm sorry to say that, at times, Chis Matthews would be better off calling his program "Softball."
Noah Chomsky, Al Franken or John Murtha would be welcome guests for an opposing viewpoint. They are more on point than Rush Limburger.
And as soon as one or more of these names makes an appearance, all will be forgiven and Katie will be your darling, right? Look, the segment is called Free Speech...if you're gonna complain it's a violation of free speech to toss somebody out of Congress or high school for wearing a t-shirt, then you can't complain when someone uses 2 minutes and 15 seconds to say something you don't agree with (or won't at least give consideration to because you dislike/can't stand/hate or are otherwise similarly disgusted by the person exercising the right you've said has been previously violated). Fercryinoutloud, this new format is SEVEN DAYS OLD. Heck, even Suri Cruise wasn't standing on her own two feet by then. Give it time. And you can best believe it will take only a nanosecond after Al Frankin is off the Free Speech seat for the right wing to set the blog world on fire, asking for the FCC to fine, sanction or take away CBS' broadcasting license. Let's hope Al keeps his nipple under wraps.
The airwaves belong to US. Do YOU have a right to go on Courics show? No? Are YOUR free speech rights being denied because of it? NO. The deal we made with the networks is that they get to make money for FREE off of a resource that belongs to all Americans, in return they are supposed to provide SOME public service when NEWS shows propagandize which is what giving only one side of the political spectrum is they are betraying the trust inherent in that deal. Now I am willing to give SOME time but they need to have some balance if this trend continues its pure propaganda and a betrayal.
the complaint has been that a certain segment of the population is picking on the Muslims of the world. Here we hear from a Muslim who is saying, "Give us a voice and a piece of the action, and we will help in the battle against terrorism." Is this such a bad thing? Or do we really want more of the partisan bickering that seems to be the trend of the past several years? IMHO, it was a very timely segment.
could address the issue here? just for once.
has had the opportunity for his/her 90 seconds of fame, right? But we get a response to Rudy's segment from a moderate Muslim, wanting to show that most Muslims are not of the extreme temperment of the Terrorists and MMFA thinks that is a bad thing? What has there been, four segments? Two Republicans (although I wouldn't classify Rudy as a RW adherent), a comedian and a moderate Muslim. Just about balances out a months worth of "60 Minutes" with good, old, old Andy Rooney.
----"we get a response to Rudy's segment from a moderate Muslim. Is this such a bad thing? ...Just about balances out a months worth of "60 Minutes""----
But no one said the Muslim man's appearance was "a bad thing". There have been no Democrats or progressives. That's the point.
Your beef with 60 Minutes has nothing to do with the topic at hand here. Complain elsewhere.
that makes "60 Minutes" relevant. Posters and MMFA are "whining" (what else do you call it) because there seems to be no balance in the "Free Speech" segment (after only 4 segments), there hasn't been balance to Mr. Rooney on CBS since "Point/Counterpoint" back in the early 70's. I predict by the end of the month, most of the "Free Speech" segments will offer Progressive/Democrat viewpoints and this will suddenly become a non-issue in MMFA's eyes.
whoop-de-doo!!
---"makes "60 Minutes" relevant"---
Fine. If you want to go there, then it makes the right-tilting Face the Nation relevant as well:
"Face the Nation showed increases in pro-Republican disparities in a number of categories, including overall guests, elected and administration officials, and solo interviews." (Media Matters, 7/20/06) [link to mediamatters.org]
that Andy Rooney pontificating on the design of cereal boxes, or "reporting" that he gets sent hats from viewers is a balance to the right-wing propaganda spewed by the likes of Rush Linbaugh?
It was interesting to see an American Muslim's view. But it was the view of one person and did nothing to counter the right wing positions of Limbaugh and Saint Rudy.
I'm tired of the partisan bickering myself, but it's a two way street and we're not rolling over anymore. We saw in the 2004 election that lies do work. We can no longer let the lies stand. They must be confronted.
Only conventional wisdom need apply...that I think is why any real progressive views aren't welcome.
I hate the way all these segments/discussions are framed...."our national security." How about "How can we progress as a nation and truly be a beacon of Light to the rest of the world?" there can be no security without concern for the rest of the world.
On all fronts on this phony "war on terror" there is such a lack of real action. It will take detective work: following the money and through a multi-pronged approach drying up the funding for terrorist activities...and getting serious about weaning ourselves off foreign oil.
My 2 cents on Katie Couric: I think she can sometimes be a real journalist. This came through on the day of 9/11. But she's in a system that doesn't reward serious journalism for the most part.
He was offered the chance to have a "Free Speech" segment but ONLY if he would talk about subjects they presented to him in advance.
In other words. NO FREE SPEECH, just what they dictate.
Pretty obvious what is going on.
Restrictions on Free Speech which then makes it NOT FREE SPEECH.
Hypocritical CBS jerks.