Is PBS Taking Sides in Michigan?
By Erick Posted in 2006 — Comments (4) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
After months of trying to get Debbie Stabenow to debate, Mike Bouchard was finally successful and last night was their first debate. Media across Michigan seems fairly unanimous that Bouchard crushed Stabenow.
But if you were just a viewer, you probably never saw it.
Emailers alerted me this morning that the debate was aired throughout Michigan on PBS. But, when people who wanted to see the debate tuned in, they were treated to a repeat of a documentary on sharks. There was no notice that the debate would not air live. In fact, there was nothing at all to inform the voters that PBS had, without notice to anyone, decided to air the debate fifteen minutes late.
According to the Bouchard campaign, they had lots of calls from people wanting to know what happened. Callers had turned on to see the debate only to see sharks swimming -- perhaps some sort of figurative irony from PBS on behalf of the Stabenow campaign.
Given the close ties between Debbie Stabenow and Michigan's PBS, one does not have to think too hard that they might have been doing her a favor. When even media biased against Bouchard thinks he stomped her, it must have been gory.
Read on . . .
Here's a sample of the email I'm getting on this subject:
I am furious with PBS for conspiring with Sen. Stabenow to drive away viewers of her debate with Mike last night. I tuned in and waited and waited, and even my husband commented that they'd lost all their audience. One PBS station even put up an old show to fill the time... How confusing was that people waiting for the debate!We were ready to give up when suddenly, without warning, it popped on, with no explanation or anything. This can't have been an accident. I've worked at public TV/Radio stations before, and there is absolutely NO reason for this supposed 'technical glitch.'
It was on purpose.Sen. Stabenow definitely needs to be honest and allow the citizens she claims to care so much about the opportunity to hear her defend her record in the Senate. Obviously, she's afraid of the truth getting out and is stooping to low means to confuse her constituents.
Mike did a SUPERB job last night and really nailed her good, not once, but many times. Yes, we definitely need another debate, but hopefully NOT on the PBS network.
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Is PBS Taking Sides in Michigan? 4 Comments (0 topical, 4 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Let there be no doubt: in covering partisan contests, PBS outlets have a clear conflict of interest.
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If you're seeing shades of gray, it's because you're not looking close enough to see the black and white dots.
I'm in Michigan right now. Every other commercial on TV or Radio is for the MI Economic Development Corp. with actor Jeff Daniels. All the commercials implicitly praise Granholm, and all the commercials are funded by the State of Michigan.
DeVoss has not said a word about this.
This is how Democrats win elections. They just get the taxpayers to fund their campaigns. And even Republicans don't say a peep about it.
Eric Dondero
www.mainstreamlibertarian.com
I stopped contributing to, and viweing, PBS years ago. They are so far to the left, they view Moyers as a mainstream kind-a guy.
Although I can't stop giving as a protest, I'm thinking about asking for a return of past donations.
Yeah, that'll work.
PBS should sink or swim on thier relative value to the market. If people want leftist propaganda, let the pay for it (or trade really cool handmade items and organic twigs etc.)
when ever would a tax payer funded media outlet ever present the news fairly much less froma conservative point of view?