Not too right wing for VJ but

[Peikko 1,575]

Leading US brands pull advertising after presenter calls Barack Obama racist

By David Usborne in New York

Wednesday, 19 August 2009

It may in the end have little impact on the bottom line of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, but a fast-gathering boycott by some of America's best-known conglomerates of Glenn Beck, a conservative commentator on his Fox News channel in the US, is beginning to take on embarrassing proportions.

The baby-faced Beck joined Fox News in January and has quickly established himself as one of the network's stars by feeding the political prejudices of its mostly conservative audience. Indeed, his daily assaults against President Barack Obama and, in recent weeks his healthcare plans, have helped Fox achieve record ratings.

But Beck, who moonlights on the comedy circuit, stepped on too many sensibilities a few weeks ago, however, when he suggested that Mr Obama has a, "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture". He went on: "I'm not saying that he doesn't like white people. I'm saying that he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist."

Spearheading the advertisers' boycott of his daily programme is an African-American online political group called Color of Change. Some 145,000 of its members signed a petition asking Beck's advertisers to stop supporting him and the response has been impressive.

On Monday alone, eight new top-brand companies said they were joining the already long roster of firms no longer willing to have their spots aired during Beck's show. They included Wal-Mart, the discount retailing chain, as well as two other big national retail giants, CVS and Best Buy.

"While advertising on Fox is part of our communication plan, we had not requested time on Glenn Beck's show specifically," a spokesman for the chemist CVS confirmed to the Huffington Post website. "We have instructed our advertising agency to inform Fox to ensure Glenn Beck's programme is not part of our advertising plan."

Glenn Beck: 'Our health care is better than Europe's

Other companies that had already agreed to spurn the show included Procter & Gamble, Radio Shack and Geico. None of these advertisers have said they will boycott the Fox channel entirely and thus are likely simply to shift their dollars to other programmes on the network's schedule. But their actions are beginning to resonate on the national stage, if only because it is proving to be remarkably successful.

It also comes at a time when the tone of public debate may have become more acerbic than ever before as opposing sides squabble over healthcare. Beck and some of his rivals, including Lou Dobbs on CNN, seem to be competing over whose insults about the President, liberals and Democrats are the most outrageous and rude. Dobbs distinguished himself this summer by supporting claims that Mr Obama is not, in fact, an American. "It's rare for a campaign directed at a TV show's advertisers to be this successful," said Color of Change founder James Rucker. "But we won't stop here. We're going to continue reaching out to Beck's remaining advertisers."

Glenn Beck: 'The radicals on the left want you to shut up'

Fans of Beck – and they are legion – are fighting back. They offer solace to their brethren and the broadcaster himself with a newly minted website. Called DefendGlenn.com, it boasts a "Turncoat List" of boycotting companies and urges visitors to contact them. "Tell them how big your family is and what you buy, and how much you used to spend on their products each month... and how you bought their competitor's product today," it advises.

Glenn Beck: 'Where the tough questions about health care reform?'

Fox News itself has had little to say of the boycott. It did however issue a statement soon after Beck made the allegations of racism, not on his regular show but on a morning programme called Fox and Friends, saying Beck had "expressed a personal opinion, which represented his own views, not those of the Fox News Channel".

Beck made the remarks after the President suggested that a white policeman who had arrested the black Harvard law professor Henry Louis Gates had acted "stupidly".

Link

It's pitiful that this is considered the epitomy of American media excellence when all it is is a bunch of little boys calling each other names.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Some really appalling stuff comes out of the US media. It really is deplorable.

But I think we can safely predict the way that this thread will go - spurious defences of Fox News via attacks on other outlets, how Fox "tells it like it is" and that it is the only network telling "the other side of the story".

Clicheed and puerile arguments all.

[Otto 83]

[Peikko 1,575]

America does some things very well, but television journalism isn't really one of them. I don't even like the 60 minute type documentaries, they are too trite, too safe.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It's pitiful that this is considered the epitomy of American media excellence ...

I've heard Glenn Beck called many things, by supporters and detractors alike, but an "epitome of media excellence" has never been one of them.

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Funny, you guys had nothing to say about GB when he was on CNN.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It's pitiful that this is considered the epitomy of American media excellence ...

I've heard Glenn Beck called many things, by supporters and detractors alike, but an "epitome of media excellence" has never been one of them.

Glenn Beck serves a purpose. He rattles the rafters, and that is a good thing.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's pitiful that this is considered the epitomy of American media excellence ...

I've heard Glenn Beck called many things, by supporters and detractors alike, but an "epitome of media excellence" has never been one of them.

Fox news and Glen Beck are viewed by the VJ right (and presumably all the other fans of these types of show) as the highest standards of excellence in TV journalism this is proved by its 'popularity' or that's as I understand the argument. Perhaps some of the fox fans will elucidate further

[_Simpson_ 250]

Some really appalling stuff comes out of the US media. It really is deplorable.

But I think we can safely predict the way that this thread will go - spurious defences of Fox News via attacks on other outlets, how Fox "tells it like it is" and that it is the only network telling "the other side of the story".

Clicheed and puerile arguments all.

Really, can you give some examples? The major media right, not the no name loonies? Your not referring to Glenn comment about deep seeded hatred for white people are you? One might disagree but to say appalling seems a little melodramatic.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's pitiful that this is considered the epitomy of American media excellence ...

I've heard Glenn Beck called many things, by supporters and detractors alike, but an "epitome of media excellence" has never been one of them.

Glenn Beck serves a purpose. He rattles the rafters, and that is a good thing.

No, I don't think simply 'rattling the rafters' is good enough, particularly if said roof rattling is based on simple hatred and belittlment and not on a desire for improvement or change to existing problems.

Good investigative journalism has a point beyond name calling.

This stuff is nihilistic and I am definitely not a fan.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

It's pitiful that this is considered the epitomy of American media excellence ...

I've heard Glenn Beck called many things, by supporters and detractors alike, but an "epitome of media excellence" has never been one of them.

Glenn Beck serves a purpose. He rattles the rafters, and that is a good thing.

No, I don't think simply 'rattling the rafters' is good enough, particularly if said roof rattling is based on simple hatred and belittlment and not on a desire for improvement or change to existing problems.

Good investigative journalism has a point beyond name calling.

Do you watch his show?

[_Simpson_ 250]

America does some things very well, but television journalism isn't really one of them. I don't even like the 60 minute type documentaries, they are too trite, too safe.

I cherish these moments...give me a minute

Edited August 20, 2009 by looking_up

[zqt3344 21]

So you think it is not possible for a black man to be racist against white people? Why is it when someone that is black and makes racist out of line comments or exhibits blatant racist behavior toward white people, folks like you ignore it?

And by the way Glenn Beck is a wacko right wing radical, but he is entitled to his opinion. And truthfully he is on to something with Obama being a reverse racist, too many things Obama does and says are obviously racist to a white person, but no one wants to speak up yet and say it because for fear of being ridiculed, but get ready Glenn just fired the first shot and there will be more to come from many many others that notice this behavior of Obama, for it is there.

Leading US brands pull advertising after presenter calls Barack Obama racist

By David Usborne in New York

Wednesday, 19 August 2009

It may in the end have little impact on the bottom line of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, but a fast-gathering boycott by some of America's best-known conglomerates of Glenn Beck, a conservative commentator on his Fox News channel in the US, is beginning to take on embarrassing proportions.

The baby-faced Beck joined Fox News in January and has quickly established himself as one of the network's stars by feeding the political prejudices of its mostly conservative audience. Indeed, his daily assaults against President Barack Obama and, in recent weeks his healthcare plans, have helped Fox achieve record ratings.

But Beck, who moonlights on the comedy circuit, stepped on too many sensibilities a few weeks ago, however, when he suggested that Mr Obama has a, "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture". He went on: "I'm not saying that he doesn't like white people. I'm saying that he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist."

Spearheading the advertisers' boycott of his daily programme is an African-American online political group called Color of Change. Some 145,000 of its members signed a petition asking Beck's advertisers to stop supporting him and the response has been impressive.

On Monday alone, eight new top-brand companies said they were joining the already long roster of firms no longer willing to have their spots aired during Beck's show. They included Wal-Mart, the discount retailing chain, as well as two other big national retail giants, CVS and Best Buy.

"While advertising on Fox is part of our communication plan, we had not requested time on Glenn Beck's show specifically," a spokesman for the chemist CVS confirmed to the Huffington Post website. "We have instructed our advertising agency to inform Fox to ensure Glenn Beck's programme is not part of our advertising plan."

Glenn Beck: 'Our health care is better than Europe's

Other companies that had already agreed to spurn the show included Procter & Gamble, Radio Shack and Geico. None of these advertisers have said they will boycott the Fox channel entirely and thus are likely simply to shift their dollars to other programmes on the network's schedule. But their actions are beginning to resonate on the national stage, if only because it is proving to be remarkably successful.

It also comes at a time when the tone of public debate may have become more acerbic than ever before as opposing sides squabble over healthcare. Beck and some of his rivals, including Lou Dobbs on CNN, seem to be competing over whose insults about the President, liberals and Democrats are the most outrageous and rude. Dobbs distinguished himself this summer by supporting claims that Mr Obama is not, in fact, an American. "It's rare for a campaign directed at a TV show's advertisers to be this successful," said Color of Change founder James Rucker. "But we won't stop here. We're going to continue reaching out to Beck's remaining advertisers."

Glenn Beck: 'The radicals on the left want you to shut up'

Fans of Beck – and they are legion – are fighting back. They offer solace to their brethren and the broadcaster himself with a newly minted website. Called DefendGlenn.com, it boasts a "Turncoat List" of boycotting companies and urges visitors to contact them. "Tell them how big your family is and what you buy, and how much you used to spend on their products each month... and how you bought their competitor's product today," it advises.

Glenn Beck: 'Where the tough questions about health care reform?'

Fox News itself has had little to say of the boycott. It did however issue a statement soon after Beck made the allegations of racism, not on his regular show but on a morning programme called Fox and Friends, saying Beck had "expressed a personal opinion, which represented his own views, not those of the Fox News Channel".

Beck made the remarks after the President suggested that a white policeman who had arrested the black Harvard law professor Henry Louis Gates had acted "stupidly".

Link

It's pitiful that this is considered the epitomy of American media excellence when all it is is a bunch of little boys calling each other names.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

America does some things very well, but television journalism isn't really one of them. I don't even like the 60 minute type documentaries, they are too trite, too safe.

There isn't a US equivalent of Paxman or Jeremy Vine - something I've noticed is that politicians rarely get asked really tough questions that put them on the spot in a really uncomfortable way (like when Paxman screwed Michael Howard to the wall and which resulted in his having to drop out of the Tory party leadership contest)

Obama has been criticised for having an easy time of it in the media, but you rarely see much scrutiny of any politician in this country. Any hint of a difficult question is done away with via contractual agreement before they even go on air.

[zqt3344 21]

Sad but true, and look what we all stuck with, and empty suit for a president!

America does some things very well, but television journalism isn't really one of them. I don't even like the 60 minute type documentaries, they are too trite, too safe.

There isn't a US equivalent of Paxman or Jeremy Vine - something I've noticed is that politicians rarely get asked really tough questions that put them on the spot in a really uncomfortable way (like when Paxman screwed Michael Howard to the wall and which resulted in his having to drop out of the Tory party leadership contest)

Obama has been criticised for having an easy time of it in the media, but you rarely see much scrutiny of any politician in this country. Any hint of a difficult question is done away with via contractual agreement before they even go on air.