CBS fires Gen. Batiste over VoteVets ad.
Iraq veteran Gen. John Batiste “has been asked to leave his position as a consultant to CBS News” over a new VoteVets ad criticizing the Iraq war. He was interviewed tonight by MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann. Watch it:
UPDATE: Atrios notes:
[L]ots of former generals and similar are on the cable networks cheering on the war, so anyone who criticizes former generals speaking up is essentially saying they can only express their opinions in one direction. In addition, while this point wasn’t (IIRC) made explicitly, it essentially makes the whole “former general as cable news commentator” position a farcical one at odds with any claimed journalistic pretension, as they’re only on if they support current policy.
UPDATE II: Raw Story has more.
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106 Responses to “CBS fires Gen. Batiste over VoteVets ad.”
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he obviously hates freedom - and CBS is the bastion of freedom that we should all bow down to!
is this what America stands for? I happen to think not. The government-backed cartel that is the mainstream media refuses to allow strong opposition to war….
I say all of us fire CBS.
They’re the real haters of freedom - freedom of speech, peace, anti-war, etc.
Some reading on this issue:
May 10th, 2007 at 10:55 pm“The America-Haters Strike Again”
http://www.populistamerica.com/ the_america_haters_strike_again
Please take time to go to cbs.com…
…and let them know that we the people disapprove of their firing this PATRIOT…
…and taking the side of the demented criminal White House TRAITORS…
…then boycott their sponsors and stations…
May 10th, 2007 at 11:01 pmHe said we need to listen to what Gen. Petraeus has to say…I agree. Glad to see TP al agrees that we all need to hear what Gen. Petraeus says before making any decisions.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:11 pmGen. Petraeus says before making any decisions.
All ears.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:21 pmGeneral Batiste is the epitomy of courage and honor. The rest of the military could learn a valuable lesson from him.
I want to know who owns CBS. I am going to start a letter writing campaign to boycott all their products. I am sick of this. These people have gotten away with this crap long enough.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:22 pmThis is more of a conflict of interest with contracts type deal..jes sayin
May 10th, 2007 at 11:23 pmThe liberal media my *ss… So much for the MYTH of CBS being *librul*!!!
May 10th, 2007 at 11:25 pmHe said we need to listen to what Gen. Petraeus has to say…I agree. Glad to see TP al agrees that we all need to hear what Gen. Petraeus says before making any decisions. Comment by Exley — May 10, 2007 @ 11:11 pm
The General will say whatever King George tells him to say - dum bass.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:26 pmHe is fighting with honor for the lives of soldiers, the well-being of their families, and the absolute best interest of this country. He is working at saving MANY people’s lives (our soldiers) instead of covering for ONE incompetent man who lives in a bubble. What I would give to have more people stand up and speak out in truth for what is right.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:28 pmPeople’s lives and the future of our country is at stake. Is Bush’s ego worth it? Is Cheney’s?
I want to know who owns CBS. I am going to start a letter writing campaign to boycott all their products. I am sick of this. These people have gotten away with this crap long enough.
Comment by JG — May 10, 2007 @ 11:22 pm
I think Westinghouse. A long time weapons manufacturer in addition to it’s other concerns.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:29 pmThese are the same morons who continue to employ Katie Couric. If you want to get them where they live, start phoning their sponsors. Get Military Families Speak Out involved. Someone call Cindy Sheehan…I know that she will be interested in this.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:29 pmso much for free speech…
And, yes, I DO take it personally
May 10th, 2007 at 11:30 pmThe General will say whatever King George tells him to say - dum bass.
Comment by ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus
Until he retires and writes his book. *sigh*
Goodnight all — one more exam tomorrow and I’m done. :-)
May 10th, 2007 at 11:30 pmHow is this a conflict of interest? One is work, the other is free speech.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:31 pmHe is no longer an asset as neutral consultant. He abused the media exposure that CBS provided him. He deserved to be fired.
May 10th, 2007 at 11:35 pmso much for free speech…
Comment by profmarcus — May 10, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
Not really a free speach issue. No one is trying to stop him from voicing his opinion.
Freedom of speech means that the GOVERNMENT can not censor him, but CBS can fire him (see Imus).
May 10th, 2007 at 11:49 pmPresident Bush issued a formal national security directive Wednesday ordering agencies to prepare contingency plans for a surprise, “decapitating” attack on the federal government, and assigned responsibility for coordinating such plans to the White House.
The prospect of a nuclear bomb being detonated in Washington without warning, whether smuggled in by terrorists or a foreign government, has been cited by many security analysts as a rising concern …..
May 10th, 2007 at 11:54 pmOver the past week, the continuing implosion of the Republican Party produced another bumper crop of jaw-dropping conservative gaffes and goofs. GOP infighting over the dismal realities in Iraq, Alberto Gonzales’ PurgeGate scandal, and a fresh batch of right-wing rage combined to deliver new innovations in conservative rhetorical psychosis. And in recent days, White House hopeful Mitt Romney rivaled the current Oval Office occupant for sheer verbal incontinence.
Here, then, are the latest GOP Quotes of the Week…
May 10th, 2007 at 11:57 pmhello
May 10th, 2007 at 11:57 pmThe US military is showing growing signs of a mutiny against the Bush Regime and Dubya himself has caused this to happen by his debacle in Iraq.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:08 amthis is simply sad, and
on so many levels. . .
history will look very
May 11th, 2007 at 12:15 amfavorably — on his choices,
here — but history won’t
pay the mortgage next month,
either. . . a sad day for patrick
henry-esque patriotism. . .
He is no longer an asset as neutral consultant. He abused the media exposure that CBS provided him. He deserved to be fired. Comment by Mr. President — May 10, 2007 @ 11:35 pm
So in your mind, a *neutral* consultant can’t have an *opinion* as to the state or appropriate direction things should go? BAHAHAHA, and here are of you wingnuts always claim that you should *never* be fired as *journalists* (neutral news purveyors) or *consultants* because of your wingnut opinions!!!! St*pid hypocrite!!!
May 11th, 2007 at 12:17 amCBS, NBC, ABC, Faux News, all the same…. remember this
http://thinkprogress.org/2005/08/23/ad-rejected/
Nothing new, never watch them myself… AND, not because they are liberal… that just ain’t true, never was true in my opinion… willing to kiss ass without questioning “why is my nose up your butt?”… All second rate news and stations…
Good news anchors are hard to find. Glad MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann is around. (But for how long?)
May 11th, 2007 at 12:21 amNot really a free speach issue. No one is trying to stop him from voicing his opinion.
Except his employer, who fired him for saying something they didn’t like.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:23 amExcept his employer, who fired him for saying something they didn’t like.
Comment by dave — May 11, 2007 @ 12:23 am
Still not a free speach issue. Where is the government interferance?
May 11th, 2007 at 12:29 amCan, and did. Reminds me of the Smothers Brothers.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:32 amNot really a free speach issue. No one is trying to stop him from voicing his opinion.
Freedom of speech means that the GOVERNMENT can not censor him, but CBS can fire him (see Imus).
Comment by hacker bob — May 10, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
No it’s not a free speech issue. But it probably isn’t a very wise public relations move either.
Interesting it doesn’t annoy you that they fired him. Party over brothers in arms I guess.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:33 amC’mon CBS! You fired a general for speaking his mind about the best way to support our troops? Edward R Murrow is turning over in his grave.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:34 amWrite CBS.
CBS Television
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
http://www.cbs.com/ (you have to click feedback at the bottom of the page)
Main Number:
(212) 975-4321
—-
CBS News
555 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
Main Number:
(212) 975-4114
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TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc.
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Swiffer Brand Manager
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Web feedback form
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CustomerService@LifeScan.com
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General Mills, Box 200
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Madison, New Jersey 07940
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Philip Morris USA
1-800-343-0975, prompt 4
Philip Morris USA, Consumer Affairs
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1-800-851-6744
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Mazda North American Operations
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May 11th, 2007 at 12:34 am614- 278-6800
Big Lots, Inc.
300 Phillipi Road
Columbus, Ohio 43228-5311
I just got off the phone with Gen. Petreus: he says Exley should sign up and get his ass over to Iraq, once he’s emerged from his mom’s basement and lost 200lbs.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:42 amComment by Shane — May 11, 2007 @ 12:33 am
Actually, it does bother me that he was fired for voicing his opinion on his own time. But as you said earlier about someone else, he has a public forum to voice his opinion. He has gotten his complaint out.
All I said was that CBS had a right to fire him, no matter if I agree or disagree with their decision or his opinion.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:43 amHere’s another opportunity to voice your opinion:
http://johnedwards.com/ action/ sign-petitions/ standfirm-dems
May 11th, 2007 at 12:51 amIt’s like everything is upside down. On one hand you have Bush - who cares about the troops, yet manufactures reasons to go to war, starts a civil war in motion, and then sends even more troops on extended deployments to be targets not to mention putting the entire military at a point of being broken and decimating our treasury to do it. All in the name of defending our country from a country who never posed a threat to us..
Then you have a General, who loves the military and the troops and is willing to put his career, his name and his reputation on the line in order to let people in this country know the truth. He loves this country and the military enough to do what it takes to try and save the lives of those soldiers, and keep this nation from falling into a giant abyss..
Hmmmmm….. I wonder who REALLY cares about the LIVES of our soldiers and keeping this country SAFE! I wonder who is actually demonstrating that caring by really putting themselves at risk to fight for them. General Batiste has proved himself the true patriot. I truly believe if he thought for one second that this fight was for some noble reason worth the lives of our soldiers he would NEVER say a word against this President and this insane war. He has been there. He cares and he knows what is at risk here.
Hello all you other Generals out there. Wake up and stand up for your country. To hell with protocol. This country is seriously at risk by the incompetence of and insane rationalizations coming from this Administration. They don’t represent anything that the American people want. It is time more people stepped up and spoke out. That is what it will take.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:52 amI just got off the phone with Gen. Petreus: he says Exley should sign up and get his ass over to Iraq, once he’s emerged from his mom’s basement and lost 200lbs.
Comment by ahem
Damn what a coince. I just talked to Rumsfeld and he said he has been trying for years to get Patrick1 to join. He also waited outside Pats mothers basement, alas, not one saw the cowards PS shadow.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:52 amHaha dictators around the world must be looking at our media wiith envy.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:54 amComment by hacker bob — May 11, 2007 @ 12:29 am
Hacker bob is right on this one, folks. The First Amendment applies to Government action.
The only way to make this a “free speech” issue would be if the Government used its licensing authority over CBS to have the General fired. There’s no indication that that happened. So, what we have is Corporate Media making a marketing decision to appeal to 30% of the public.
The proper counter reaction to this would be for the other 70% of the public to “fire” CBS by not watching their programs and not buying from their sponsors. And, that, my friends, is the free market of public opinion. The public can literally bankrupt a media outlet through an effective boycott of its advertisers.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:57 amAll I said was that CBS had a right to fire him, no matter if I agree or disagree with their decision or his opinion.
Comment by hacker bob
I really dont understand technically what would happen if all radio and TV waves were owned by corporations and not the government and they just decide to put people that say the owners of the corporations want them to say. Would that cancellation of public voice be something that goes against democracy? Please, I want know, I really dont have a clue.
Briseadh, could you help me out here?
May 11th, 2007 at 12:59 amDid anyone dispute CBS’s right to fire him, hacker bob?
I can’t believe that when talking about freedom of speech, you actually think there’s some kind of equivalency between “making racist comments” and “speaking out about important national issues”.
You wingnuts are weird, sir.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:01 amComment by Briseadh na Faire — May 11, 2007 @ 12:57 am
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut….
eventually.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:02 amComment by JTitor — May 11, 2007 @ 12:34 am
Thanks for the info. I just emailed CBS and told them I fired them! I’m not going to watch their programs, nor listen to their radio stations, nor purchase anything advertised on any CBS broadcast.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:04 amAnd if General Bastiste really wants to get the White House’s attention, he needs to remember to include words like “awol from TANG”, “five deferments” and “other priorities”.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:04 amComment by Worst. President. Ever. — May 11, 2007 @ 1:01 am
Actually, BOTH were fired by CBS, figure that one out…..
War in Iraq = Serious national issue
Racism in the US = Serious national issue.
Both men have a right to their opinion even if we don’t like their opinions. But that does not mean that they have to be provided with a forum for their opinions.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:08 amVIACOM!!!
May 11th, 2007 at 1:09 amI heard somewhere recently that there were only four people (or corporations) that actually owned all the media outlets. Now, I get things wrong sometimes and I wasn’t paying full attention to this, but I would love to know who OWNS all the stations and media outlets. Not just the people who advertise with them, but who owns them. I know Rupert Murdoch is one of them.
I read a really interesting and scary book about 6 months ago called “Propaganda” by Edward Bernays. It really opened my eyes to how easily the public is manipulated and manuevered. In fact, there are entire teams and companies whose whole purpose is to manipulate public opinion in their buying habits, their opinions, etc.. This book was originally published in 1928. It is entirely pertinenet today. In fact, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Karl Rove had a copy sitting on his desk..
May 11th, 2007 at 1:12 amYes, and thank you JTitor. I will write to them tomorrow. I am too tired tonight and I want a clear mind.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:14 amBriseadh, could you help me out here?
Comment by Juan C — May 11, 2007 @ 12:59 am
I think I did in post 35. In this case, as in the Imus case, there’s no government censorship, just free market censorship. Captalism at its worst and best.
Worst, when, in this case, a General was fired for speaking out against a misguided war policy.
Best, when, in the Imus case, someone finally got fired for making insensitive racist remarks. I think of that case like a school-yard bully finally getting his come-uppance.
However, both cases were driven by market forces. In both cases, the Corporate Media decision was (or should have been) based upon what the Board of Directors felt would generate the greatest profits for shareholders.
It may well be that CBS’ market share will increase after this. In which case, from a Corporate standpoint, it was the correct decision. On the other hand, their market share could go down faster than Enron Stock, in which case it was a poor decision.
We, the consumer, will by our voice and our dollars verify or villify the decision made by CBS.
Perhaps the General will be willing to be a regular consultant to John Stewart or Steven Colbert. Or maybe MSNBC will offer him a spot….
May 11th, 2007 at 1:14 amI agree with the boycott of CBS and anything to do with them. Does General Electric own CBS. I have read GE owns one of the stations and GE is MAJOR MANUFACTURER OF BOMBS USED IN THE IRAQ GENOCIDE. I never buy GE lightbulbs or products but we need to organize a real boycott of CBS to make a point.
We need to pressure Congress to reinstate the Fairness ACT, EQUAL TIME FOR TRUTH SPEAKERS NOT RUSH AND COULTER NAZIS!!
http://www.buyblue.org/about
May 11th, 2007 at 1:14 amSince I already spoke on cspan earlier this week I sent washington journal email. Feb-17-07
I hope they read it.
Here.
I have a plan to end this Invasion and Occupation of Iraq. This will require that the people take control of this effort and pressure Republican contributors through a boycott of their consumer products and demanding the end of the occupation of Iraq and to deploy the troops to the area but not in Iraq.
Everyone who wants to end this occupation please call Republican contributor and war contractor General Electric Corporation at 203-373-2211 and ask for Public Relations and give them an ultimatum.
GET THE GOP to END THE WAR or WE DON’T BUY YOUR PRODUCTS ANYMORE.
Also tell the person this means you will not buy GE lightbulbs, telephones, televisions, radios, stereo equipment, ovens, refrigerators and any other GE products.
NO CEO WANTS THEIR TELEPHONE LINES TIED UP AND TO GET CALLS FROM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
EVERY DAY WHILE THEY LOSE MONEY. NO CEO. NOT ONE.
“The Republican party appears weak and vulnerable at the cash registers of those companies that donate money to them.”
I want each person who wants this war and occupation to end, to tell as many friends as you can and for them to tell as many of their friends and so on and so on until GE and congressional Republicans and Democrats pass a law to stop the war and that the troops deploy out of Iraq.
Go forth and do this.
Thank you.
The Liberal Democratic Party of the United States of America.
http://www.dmocrats.org
Please pass this text on to as many people too.
I’m watching Senator Feingold now.
http://www.thegreatboycott.net/
BOYCOTT
May 11th, 2007 at 1:19 amby Mike McL
It truly is such a neocon right wing corporate media owned war mongering machine.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:29 amHacker Bob is certainly correct. CBS can fire him if they don’t like what he does. The first amendment is a defense against government intrusion. That said, CBS pulled the trigger awfully fast. Unlike the Imus issue, I don’t see any backers pulling their money because of his comments. It just proves that the main stream media STILL doesn’t get the public’s less than enthusiastic response to the Iraq War. This was not an illegal act but damned if it isn’t a good reason to rethink consolidation of media outlets and the Fairness Doctrine”.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:31 amActually, BOTH were fired by CBS, figure that one out….. Comment by hacker bob — May 11, 2007 @ 1:08 am
That’s easy. Imus was a Libertarian that ranged too far off the GOP farm. The GOP spin machine has been itching to axe him since the November election. This is nothing more than Consolidation of power and MSM Corporate media propaganda alignment.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:47 amAmazing what a quick search finds out, CBS had the BushCo Carlye group’s Frank Carlucci in charge over there. Now this all makes sense. Bastards!
WESTINGHOUSE / CBS INC.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:51 amWestinghouse Electric Company, part of the Nuclear Utilities Business Group of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL)
whos #1 on the Board of Directors? None other than:
Frank Carlucci (of the Carlyle Group)
Here’s the source of that information.
Who owns CNN? or MSNBC? ABC?
http://la.indymedia.org/news/2003/04/47530.php
May 11th, 2007 at 1:53 am#47 auel
Thank you. I’m on it.
Any other takers?
May 11th, 2007 at 2:15 amCBS is controlled by Sumner Redstone through his company National Amusement. GE owns NBC. Disney owns ABC. CNN is owned by Time Warner. I think everyone knows who owns Fox.
I’m pretty sure there was a clause in the general’s CBS contract forbidding political endorsement/statements in an arena not controlled by his employer. It’s pretty much standard.
May 11th, 2007 at 2:20 amI logged into my carbon account only to find myspace dust totals were way up. Seems some jetsetters needed a qiuck flight across country and bought out my carbon surplus…bought me a new boat with the proceeds, even got a few left to buy gas and oil.
May 11th, 2007 at 2:33 amIt’s them darn liberal media that is at it again!! When will them librul media stop their lies and spin!?
/sarcasm off
May 11th, 2007 at 2:58 amYes, I’d like to see a boycott of CBS too, if for no other reason than to see the spectacle of conservatives sticking up for them. You know they will, LOL
May 11th, 2007 at 3:08 amWhat Batiste is saying is dead on. Not just that he’s saying it ,but what he’s saying. It’s very very important. I’ve said before that while everyone compares the Irag war with the Vietnam war, it’s the wrong comparison.
Compare Iraq with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The Soviet empire was not brought down by Reagon or Gorbechev. the Soviet union was brought down by 5 years of pouring their national treasure into a war that they should never have fought. A war that was a killing field for it’s army. The war that was used by foriegn interests (us), who kept pouring just enough gasoline into it to keep it going.
It backrupted the empire, demoralized and broke the military and divided the governed. Seem familliar. Brezhnev was the same arrogant incompletent corrupt leader/enabler that Bush is. Brezhnev surrounded himself with the same head-in-the sand toadies and propogandists that Bush has. Brezhnev was surrounded by the same kind of profiteers that surround Bush. And he had his own neo-cons guarding the hen house just like Bush does.
Listen to what Batiste is saying, he’s the voice in the wilderness, not just a new and bigger hole in the dam. Don’t cheer because the Bush dam is breaking - cry because our country is being systematically and intentionally destroyed.
Bush is not a leader - he’s just an arrogant, incompetent, corrupt enabler - just like Brezhnev.
May 11th, 2007 at 3:08 amPeace is an unacceptable position in the rethug party and the corporate whore media that supports it.
May 11th, 2007 at 6:16 amMajor General Batiste is the most refreshing and rational retired military voice I have heard in a long time. CBS, I guarantee that you’ve dropped the ball on this one. Any praise for the punishment you handed out to Imus may very well be erased by this decision.
And Also, either retool Katie Couric or fire her. Reduce her salary, as well. She has no business taking in more than Williams/Gibson.
May 11th, 2007 at 7:26 amScrew CBS. Get a hobby. Go for a bicycle ride. Fix something around the house. Pick up a book.
There are so many important things to be done in the brief span of a life, why waste it on that rotten box. I’m sure the networks and their sponsors will do just fine supported solely by the patronage of Bush’s 28%. Sure.
May 11th, 2007 at 7:56 amAs Atrios notes, former generals who SUPPORT Bush are allowed to be on the TV. It’s only those who OPPOSE Bush that are censored.
May 11th, 2007 at 8:23 amThank you Gen. John Batiste. It is really said that CBS could not do their job over the past 6 years and it has required you to do it for them… and then they fire you for it.
Well good soldiers are not afraid to take a hit to do what is right.
Thanks Gen. John Batiste.
May 11th, 2007 at 8:39 amHe wasn’t perky and didn’t have puff pieces.
May 11th, 2007 at 8:49 amDid anyone in News ever hear Speak Truth to Power? How could CBS possible fire Gen. Batiste over VoteVets ad.
What happened to news? Where are the people that uncovered Watergate? Where are the real news people? Where are the people that stand for “We the people”? This man should be praised for his courage to stand up to power in the face of no evidence that he will ever be heard. I’m ashamed of CBS.
May 11th, 2007 at 8:55 amBring back the fairness doctrine! Without it, our media serves the corporations and not the people.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:01 amThese are the same guys who got rid of Dan Rather.
.CBS should be ashamed. It once stood for integrity No longer. …. Boycott all CBS sponsors..
Make his sacrifice worthwhile by contributing towards running the ad!
Here’s the link:
https://secure.democracyinaction.com/ dia/ organizations/ iavapac/ shop/ custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=1383&t=GoodNewOne.dwt .
……Sign the petition to re-hire Batiste
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?batiste
…..We endorse the CBS Must Re-Hire
General John Batiste Petition to CBS News.
Read the CBS Must Re-Hire General John Batiste Petition
May 11th, 2007 at 9:05 am“If we don’t get this right, we’re going to break our Army and Marine Corps.”
Some folks might say that this is indeed the plan — to break the U.S. Armed Forces, which is the largest most successful example of socialism we have in this country. The object being, of course, to privatize the military. Blackwater, anyone?
May 11th, 2007 at 9:05 amI think John Batiste should replace Katie Couric.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:08 amThe control of the major media in this nation by a handful of corporations with conservative leanings and military-industrial affiliations prevents democracy in this country. We will not have a functioning democracy as long as this state of affairs continues.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:16 amSomeone at CBS news has been missing the “news” lately (and probably the most important historcal lesson to be learned from this whole fiasco): that our major media “news” outlets bear culpability for this mess in Iraq by not airing the voices of those that disagreed with the White House in the run up to the war. For CBS news this is one more nail in the coffin of irrelevence–one of their own making.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:16 amI just sent CBS an e-mail telling them what I think about this action. I encourage everyone to do the same. I will have nothing to do with CBS from now on out. I have made a pledge to myself that I will have nothing to do with corporations that contribute to the mess we are in in this country. Carrying Bush’s water certainly contributes.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:20 am“He said we need to listen to what Gen. Petraeus has to say…I agree.”
And will you agree when the General says that Iraq can’t be won without diplomacy? I think not.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:22 am“Good news anchors are hard to find. Glad MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann is around. (But for how long?)”
At least another 4 years. He just signed a four year contract with a significant raise.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:27 amRet. Gen. Batiste is canned as guest analyst because he criticized the Bush war, but the racistsLimbaugh and Beck, the hate-mongers Coulter and Ingraham have contracts in effect.
May 11th, 2007 at 10:42 amCBS can hire and fire whomever they choose (unfortunately), but we certainly have the right to express our opposition and outrage.
May 11th, 2007 at 10:45 amBTW, I heard Glenn Beck’s ratings are on a steep slide down into oblivion.
May 11th, 2007 at 10:46 amThe US military is showing growing signs of a mutiny against the Bush Regime and Dubya himself has caused this to happen by his debacle in Iraq.
Comment by Jay Randal — May 11, 2007 @ 12:08 am
If you’re this delusional I cannot understand why people keep calling for impeachment. Why not just tell yourselves that this already happened. It would be a much smaller lie.
Not to mention how much money it would save TP in traffic costs. Hell that’s half the comments gone.
May 11th, 2007 at 11:31 amSign the petition to re-hire Batiste
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?batiste
Well that settles it then, he’s gone for good.
I wonder has anyone ever started a petition at PetitionOnline to force them to produce evidence of a single successful petition out of the 3 million started there.
May 11th, 2007 at 11:38 am“” “He said we need to listen to what Gen. Petraeus has to say…I agree.†“”
And will you agree when the General says that Iraq can’t be won without diplomacy? I think not.
Comment by Kate Henry — May 11, 2007 @ 9:22 am
And you won’t when that includes the surge. Or a sustained COIN campaign necessary to ensure the stability of the government.
Were you going to make a point that hypocrisy is a good thing or bad ?
May 11th, 2007 at 11:45 amI have called the CBS numbers and they keep passing me off to yet another number.
Very last number — no one picked up and I had to leave a message.
The number 212-975-4321. Ask for AUDIENCE SERVICES. You’ll probably get about 25 ringy-dingies. Then leave a message.
I read the statement off the top of the page, told them if it wasn’t true they had better get the word out LOUD and FAST, because the next phones calls I was making were to Lincoln, P&G, Cheerios, Centrum Silver…
PLEASE CALL.
May 11th, 2007 at 11:45 amBatiste got fired because he is effective. He is speaking the truth and it scares Sumner Redstone and that phony bastard Les Moonves. Howard Stern had him pegged from day one.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:17 pmJust some suggestions:
May 11th, 2007 at 12:31 pmCBS probably doesn’t care if you boycott it as long as they have sponsors. And it would take thousands of boycotts to have any impact on these sponsors. I read one time that the best way to deal with this type of thing is to contact the sponsors, then instead of telling them you will boycott their products, tell them you no longer watch CBS, and therefore don’t see any of their commercials there. Advertisers want to target the largest possible audience, and if they think they can do better on another network, maybe they will abandon CBS.
Does CBS fire its media generals who voice support for the war or administration policies?
No?
I guess CBS has a clear bias then — in favor of the administration and the war.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:32 pmLets take down the media. I want to start fighting back so bad.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:13 pmWhen that glory day happens, you got me? Kind of like waiting for Americans to get to a realization point that we need a paradigm shift in our energy and human consumption. The arrogance of Americans and the life they think they deserve through manipulating and pirating the world for sustainability sickens me.
Westinghouse does not own CBS. What was Westinghouse is no longer a company. CBS is owned by, surprise, CBS. British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) owns the nuclear business and the rights to use the name in that business. The defence business was sold to Northrupp Grumman. Power generation was sold to Siemens. I know, my job was one of the casulties of the breakup. CBS is listed on the NYSE, look it up. This stuff happened ten years ago.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:14 pmWESTINGHOUSE / CBS INC.
Westinghouse Electric Company, part of the Nuclear Utilities Business Group of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL)
whos #1 on the Board of Directors? None other than:
Frank Carlucci (of the Carlyle Group)
Television Holdings:
May 11th, 2007 at 1:21 pm* CBS: includes 14 stations and over 200 affiliates in the US.
* CBS Network News: 60 minutes, 48 hours, CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, CBS Morning News, Up to the Minute.
* Country Music Television, The Nashville Network, 2 regional sports networks.
* Group W Satellite Communications.
Other Holdings:
* Westinghouse Electric Company: provides services to the nuclear power industry.
* Westinghouse Government Environmental Services Company: disposes of nuclear and hazardous wastes. Also operates 4 government-owned nuclear power plants in the US.
* Energy Systems: provides nuclear power plant design and maintenance.
I think it will be an education for Mr. Batiste. I’m glad to hear him speaking out, but it’s good for a general(whom I’m guessing supported the war at the beginning despite its blatant illegality and fraudulence) get a taste of the relentless ostracization (apologies for the bushism?) that American citizens have had to endure for their legitimate political viewpoints. As for CBS, I’d pretty much forgotten it existed since the war started. This is what REAL patriotism looks like, General.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:25 pmCBS et al of our supposedly independent media giants are either controlled or owned by the same small group who are reaping unbelievable profits from this misadventure. They put GWB gang in to do what they needed to further their control of us the American people.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:27 pmThe laws passed in the wake of 911 sure look & feel like the actions corporations are pulling & getting away with, Invasion of privacy, restriction of free speech, etc. In employment, there has always been the policy of “nexus†of the outside actions of employees & the implications to the employer’s business or image. However, of late the application has escalated. In watching the ad for “VoteVets†the General made no implication, he worked for CBS or that his statement reflected the policy of his employer.
If we the people believe that, the US Constitution & Bill of Rights must apply to the individual how can it not be part of our everyday life, not just our dealings with government? With the consolidation & merge of every facet of commerce being taken into fewer & fewer Corporate groupings, the dependence of these “holdings on Government contracts, the obligation in law of these contracts on such things as Non-discrimination, can we accept that free speech is not included. Yes, they made us believe that business can do more to us than our (?) government, yet, the end is the same. Speak out, get fired, and go hungry. Control is control, either thru law or thru employment.
We the people must cast off this shackle of intellectual blindness & spirit, when are we free, there isn’t much left to be free in.
What one does as a ‘worker’ at work, is what they pay for, those hours you are their. Moreover, how one lives & believes as an individual should be yours. On the other hand, are we to the place where the Company is above the government, like some sci-fi novel where Corporations are in charge of everything? Do they, that cabal holding the fulcrums of power, control the majority of production & distribution, welcome to true Globalization?
What a shock & sadness that to speak the truth, even when we all know it, is cause for dismissal? They fired Dan Rather for one document after a lifetime of correctness, yet promoted those who knowingly sold the lies; they fired John Batiste for speaking the truth. Boycotting CBS, or their sponsors gets a little sticky when they sell everything under a million labels, like supporting major market workers strike at Ralph’s or Albertson’s & buying food at Food 4 less or Max Foods, the money goes to the same owners. We the people hold the power for change but the change has to be fundamental core values change not this knee jerk, quick fix mentality. Impeach Bush et al & we can keep this type of witch-hunt from recurring or becoming acceptable. As for Imus, he was railroaded to, and so were we.
I would say that the government of the people by the people and for the people need to get into gear and cancel the CBS public licence for there obvious attempt to censor free speech. I would say that Batiste as a former general has every right to speak out. After all he is a consultant to the CBS empire wich is granted it’s licence to print money from our public airwaves.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:59 pmI likewise think the time has come to BOYCOTT CBS.
Indeed, boycott fox and the entire mainstream media. Big corporate media was complicit with Bush from the get go.
It is time to face the face that Bush and his minions DELIBERATELY defrauded the American people about Iraq and that is a felony. That US citizens have died because Bush lied is impeachable. If that is not a “high crime or misdemeanor” their isn’t one.
May 11th, 2007 at 2:35 pmFolks,
CBS was until recently owned by Viacom, but viacom recently spun them off and they are an independently traded public corp (Ticker CBS). ABC is owned by Disney, NBC by GE (MSNBC is a JV between GE and Microsoft), Fox by News Corp (Murdock).
I agree that A) CBS was within its rights to fire the General
May 11th, 2007 at 3:40 pmand B) It was a stupid and cowardly thing to do. and C) CBS news is a mere shadow of what it was under Murrow and Cronkite (or even under Rather).
Has anyone gotton a confirmation from CBS that Batiste was indeed fired over his votevet ad?
May 11th, 2007 at 4:36 pmThere is absolutely no reference to it anywhere except the offhand remark by KO and Batiste didn’t confirm it or mention it in this clip.
As for comparing Imus and Batiste, no one’s mentioned that Imus’ remarks were made on air while Batiste’s were made on his own time and not as a part of his job at CBS.
If my boss fired me explicitly for expressing my lefty opinions in public it might not be called censureship but I’d still have a pretty good case against him.
Finally how can there be so many different, well researched and personally verified explainations of who owns CBS?
It is true that the falsehood that corporations are people too and have human rights is the root of this disagreement. They are not, and they don’t. The American revolution was not so much about forming a new governement as it was freeing ourselves from a government that was owned by corporate interests. The founders weren’t rebelling against the british parlament, but rather the british west indies company, and their enumerations of citizens rights needs to be read in light of that (regardless of what Rupert Murdock has told you). So, a free and unencumbered press and free speech implies the citizens freedom from the whims of influence and power. The long and the short is that not only dose CBS not have the right to fire him, but they do not have the right to only report the news that benefits their powerful masters.
May 11th, 2007 at 5:52 pmI am anti-war.
May 11th, 2007 at 6:13 pmI have always been anti-war.
If he had made an ad supporting the war, I would be howling for CBS to fire him, and I wager so would 99% of the disaffected who are posted here.
He surely knew the risk when he did it.
CBS had no choice.
Nit Romney stated today (05-11-2007) that he would cap all ENTITLEMENTS at the rate of inflation by minus 1%. This will make veterans get poorer at faster rate. Should I and other veterans vote for him?
Gerald T. Losey
May 11th, 2007 at 6:33 pmCBS is just trying to emulate Faux News. And they’re getting better at it every day.
May 11th, 2007 at 6:53 pmWent to the CBS “News” site and left a message indicating that this firing underscores their complete lack of credibility as a news source and expressing my plans not to support any of their corporate sponsors.
BTW, right on the CBS site is a plug for Exxon Mobil, one of the four corporate behomeths set to take control of Iraqi oil, which is after all why Bush took us to war. In the sense that the pending Iraqi Oil Bill will grant these four corporations unprecented profits for decades (none of which will ever “trickle down” to us), you could say “mission accomplished”, now couldn’t you?
Immoral thugs.
May 11th, 2007 at 7:16 pmEach day Old Media dies a little more. Soon they will be relegated to the history books.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:53 pmA lot has happened at CBS since the days of Edward R Murrow, who said on this once fabled TV network, and I paraphrase: We cannot fight for liberties abroad while disserting them at home. Or, famously, “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.”
May 11th, 2007 at 10:01 pmAs for comparing Imus and Batiste, no one’s mentioned that Imus’ remarks were made on air while Batiste’s were made on his own time and not as a part of his job at CBS.
Why would anyone mention that ?
Imus was fired for racist remarks. It would have been a similar case if Imus was employed to comment on race issues and he was fired because he portrayed himself as unobjective or biased on that matter.
It would save a lot of confusion among readers if TP would just come out and state what the problem is. That objective analysis in news isn’t a problem that should get you fired if it’s the right kind of bias.
Anyone going to lie and say that Bill Kristol shouldn’t be fired if he featured in a campaign advert attacking Democrats for a position he is employed elsewhere to comment on ? No ?
If my boss fired me explicitly for expressing my lefty opinions in public it might not be called censureship but I’d still have a pretty good case against him.
Comment by Tim — May 11, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
Not if you were employed to provide unobjective analysis of the same topic you were making objective political statements about in your own time you wouldn’t.
May 12th, 2007 at 12:34 amBatiste was a well-known critic of the war before CBS hired him. He and other generals made news when they retired and made public their opposition to war policy. Surely CBS can’t claim that Batiste loses his objectivity as an analyst due to participation in an anti-war ad. His very name recognition and credentials for the CBS job were derived from his stand on the war. CBS’s policy regarding political activism is sound journalistic policy for reporters, but not for those hired specifically to give their opinions.
May 12th, 2007 at 1:46 pmWhy is anyone surprised over this firing? This is the network that hired Katie Couric over more experienced and able journalists (ANyone think she’s better than Russ Mitchell?) . . . This is also a network that once was the best in all of TV news and set the trends to responsible probing journalism, but like the other mainstream media has fallen to being mouthpieces for whatever the Bush-Cheney administration has said. Just report. Don’t question. Don’t challenge. CBS is NOT alone. Only when Bush’s approval ratings began a freefall did the mainstream media even begin to think they could question the authorities. Edward R. Murrow, Fred Friendly, and Walter Cronkite, each in his own way, is crying at the death of TV news.
May 13th, 2007 at 6:33 am--walt brasch–professor of journalism, Bloomsburg University, and author of “America’s Unpatriotic Acts: The Federal Government’s Violation of Constitutional and Civil Rights.”
“GOOD NIGHT, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA”
May 14th, 2007 at 11:25 amAddress:http://www.veteransforamerica.org/index.cfm/page/weblog/subpage/display_blog/bid/0CB62877-123F-747A-1B48BBE5DB229B41
Major General Bautiste IS one of the General Officers George the Dumb claimed he’d listen to. He is but one of the latest casualties of the greatest catastrophe in US history, and in some cases, the history of the world. It would be good to be able to render him a sincere hand salute, and my thanks for his effort. You sir are a respected soldier.
Ted Bohne, US Army, Sgt. 1972-1976.
May 24th, 2007 at 10:13 am