Beck falsely claimed Dem candidates have not supported striking writers
SUMMARY: On his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck repeatedly suggested that the top Democratic presidential candidates have not shown support for the ongoing Writers Guild strike. In fact, all of the Democratic front-runners have expressed support for the striking writers. John Edwards joined them on a Los Angeles picket line, and Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton each issued statements of support for the writers. The candidates also withdrew from a planned December 10 CBS News debate, forcing its cancellation.
On the January 23 edition of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck repeatedly suggested that the top Democratic presidential candidates have not shown support for the ongoing Writers Guild strike, asking: "[W]hy haven't the pro-union Democratic candidates spoken up on the strike?" and "[W]hy haven't any of the Democratic candidates joined them on the picket line?" He added: "Are they laying low so they don't upset their Hollywood contributors?" In fact, John Edwards joined striking writers on a Los Angeles picket line on November 16, 2007; he carried a placard and said, "I'm proud to be with you in this march. I'm proud to be with you in this fight for justice. I am proud to be with you in this fight for fairness." On November 5, 2007 -- the day the strike began -- Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) released a statement saying: "I stand with the writers." A Politico article further reported that an Obama aide called the Writers Guild that day and asked, "What can we do to help?" Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) also issued a statement of support on November 5: "I support the Writers Guild's pursuit of a fair contract that pays them for their work in all mediums."
Moreover, the candidates withdrew from a planned December 10 CBS News debate, forcing its cancellation. John and Elizabeth Edwards also canceled a scheduled appearance on ABC's The View, as did Michelle Obama. By contrast, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, a recipient of union endorsements himself, crossed picket lines when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 2.
In contrast with Beck, who did not acknowledge the Democratic candidates' shows of support for the writers, CNN's Wolf Blitzer did so on the November 26 edition of The Situation Room, but suggested that in also taking contributions from entertainment executives, the candidates were "trying to have it both ways."
From the January 23 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: Plus, movie and TV writers still on strike, but why haven't any of the Democratic candidates joined them on the picket line? Are they laying low so they don't upset their Hollywood contributors? Hmm.
[...]
BECK: Oh, well, thank goodness the Hollywood writers are going to return to the negotiating table this week in hopes of saving us from shows like American Gladiators and the return of my personal favorite, Paradise Hotel.
But the real question is not when will they make their deal, but why haven't the pro-union Democratic candidates spoken up on the strike? Where, where, where, where have they been? I'll examine all of that in just a bit.
[...]
BECK: Coming up, if you want more proof that Hollywood is completely out of touch with the American mainstream, look no further than the Oscar nominees. And where are those liberals with the strikers and the writers? We'll look into it next.
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BECK: Hollywood striking writers and the studio executives have said that they plan to meet this week for the very first time since early December, when their talks collapsed. Who's been paying attention? You know, might be good news for those of us who are really sick and tired of reconnecting with our family. I mean, whew.
But the most interesting side of this whole fiasco might be the political one. I want you to think about this. When was the last time that you saw a strike in our country where the Democrats haven't lined up to deliver hot coffee on the picket lines and denounce the big, bad corporation for keeping the man down? Well, where is Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama now? Where's John Edwards?
The writers are starting to ask this question, and they don't like the answer. Democrats just get too much money from Hollywood to risk screwing it all up. Or, do they like Hollywood's money and their propaganda tools, but they just don't want to be seen around the Hollywood people?
Screenwriter and former Clinton/Gore staffer Chris Jackson told the New York Post, quote, "I was hurt by learning the truth. The DNC (the Democratic National Committee) are in bed with big business. They are for change when it comes to using marketing slogans ... but they only use Hollywood to milk money out of us."
Michael Medved is a nationally syndicated talk radio host, a veteran film critic. Michael, which is it? Are they just -- they don't want to be seen around Hollywood because they just -- they know it's really bad for them, or are they just getting too much money?
MEDVED: Well, I think it's a combination of all of the above, of course. But the main thing is they gain absolutely nothing by getting involved in this very, very, very bitter dispute. It would be like getting involved between the baseball players and baseball management when the players went out on strike.
Is it too much to ask these pundits know what they're talking about before they open their mouths?
Either is dangerous on their own, combined they're lethal.
I don't think there's any moral equivalency between Edwards and O'Reilly, Beck, Gibson and the other culture warriors.
class warfare? All this "war" this, "war" that...no one I know has taken a bullet in "class warfare."
Edwards sees a divide between the super rich and the poor and shrinking middle class. He's describing a reality. It's not likely to get better by ignoring it.
I'm sure that you will spend pages arguing, but I gotta go. Have a good weekend.
Is it too much to ask these pundits know what they're talking about before they open their mouths?
Beck, even more than the others, seems to simply "make up the facts" on the fly if it supports his story of the moment. Ignore Tommy's mis-direction.
"Yes Beck is bad but there are other bad things too, in my opinion".
It's as bad as the "Clinton did it first" argument they used to use when they still believed W was the Second Coming.
pen·chant: a strong inclination, taste, or liking for something: a penchant for outdoor sports.
It is the business of every American who so chooses to get involved. It's not like a labor strike is private, in fact strikes are staged with the intention of getting as many supporters involved as possible.
No, it's not ridiculous for labor to enlist public support. It's very smart. When there is a workers' strike with which I'm in agreement I refuse to give the company my business and I make a point of letting them know that I'm doing so. I appreciate the effort of the union to let me know of their situation.
Is the strike none of my business? Am I out of line trying to influence the resolution? Hell no!! I consider my involvement to be responsible, supportive of labor and even patriotic.
And since you're assigning motives to my opinion I might as well point out your anti-democratic, corporatist motive is to keep labor weak and compliant.
Tommy,
The WGA strike is not private, every strike is public. Many strikes-though by no means all-are, at their core, arguments about one set of people profiting from the work done by another set. There needs to be a balance between workers and management all across the board, so strikes are definitely public business.
If you have paid attention, the WGA is asking for a share of internet profits. They aren't demanding a huge share, simply a comparable amount to that which they currently get in other venues. They currently get NOTHING, and this is a significant source of income. Before you decide which group is in the right imagine yourself on both sides. Remember, the writers are not the wealthy ones in this dispute.
"It's a great privilege for me to be here with all of you today...to walk with you, to walk the lines with you...because what you represent and what you are standing for is to make sure that everybody in America gets a fair chance. we have to strengthen the union movement in America...it is the only way that we will ensure that these big corporate conglomerates don't take over the United States of America." John Edwards, on the picket line
Later, speaking to the press:
"The men and women who are part of the writers guild and are part of this strike, are actually the heart and soul of the creative effort. These men and women deserve a fair chance...these are people who work hard for a living....my party, the Democratic Party is supposed to represent the people, it's supposed to represent workers in America and we have to make sure their voices are heard...one of the things that we have a big problem with in America is the conglomeration and consolidation of the media. " - John Edwards
Beck is an idiot.
Uhhh, Glenn McFly - could it be because they are out campaigning for the Presidency of The United States?
I can almost guarantee that, if the strike is still on, you'll see images of all 3 of the Democratic candidates joining in the picket lines once they get to campaigning in L.A..
Of course then we'll see the Doughboy pasting those images up behind him poking fun of their "pandering the Hollywood weirdos".
The man's a total idiot!
(clapping)
The Beaver has gone from mildly entertaining (in a mud-wrestling kind of way) to pathetic. After watching this, I actually started to feel sorry for the guy. He's so frequently out of his depth on the topic of the day that it makes me squirm. Beaver, repeat after me...puff pieces...puff pieces.
Good luck lil' fella...we're pulling for you!