On The Media

While I tend to think that the MoveOn.org ad was in poor taste and did little to help the Democratic party (if anything, it undermined the anti-war position, at least from a PR stand-point) -- I really can't help but chuckle at the irony that a group called, "Freedom's Watch" is actively producing its own propaganda that is in effect, condemning freedom of speech - and encouraging their party opponents to do the same thing. If they were really about watching out for freedom - would they be focussing so much of their energies at stifling free speech that differs from their own position?

I wish the person from Moveon would have at least made passing reference to these other uses of the term. I know "everyone does it" isn't an excuse, but the noise machine is in overdrive about this.

From a story on August 19, 2007 in the Sunday Times (UK)

"Critics, including one recently retired general, are privately calling him “General Betraeus” on the grounds that he is too ambitious to deliver a balanced report on the war."

Rush Limbaugh used the reference calling Chuck Haegel Senator Betrayus.

The Brave General & The Whining Senator (Petraeus vs. Betrayus)

Rush Limbaugh's show | 01/26/07

Moveon is supported by citizen contributions. Ari Fleisher's organization is funded by multimillionaires. I find the ads they have aired deceitful and distasteful.

actually, mainstream folks could indeed identify with the people protesting in the streets, as the news commentator would know had she been to a recent protest. But since the mainstream protesters are often not photogenic (read: "bizarre" or "radical looking") enough to warrant the photographer's attention, their component is rarely covered. Mainstream media perpetuates the idea that the only people on the streets are the fringe.

Karen Dawson

I was offended several years ago when the late Rev. Jerry Falwell referred to Ellen Degeneres as Ellen “degenerate” when she came out of the closet. Now it’s the lefts turn to act childish and resort to name calling, calling General Petraeus, General Betrayus.

Shame on you all.

Sale Price

So how deep was the discount MoveOn.org got for its famous ad suggesting General Petraeus is a traitor?

The Times tells FOX News that the published rate for a similar ad is a little under $182,000. MoveOn confirms to the New York Post that it paid only $65,000 — a discount of almost $117,000. A Times spokeswoman denies the rate charged indicated a political bias.

Republican Senate Whip Trent Lott told FOX News, "I assume the New York Times gave them the friends and family discount."

Meanwhile, the ad alleges that the Pentagon's claims of reduced violence are false because car bomb deaths are not counted. But The Times own reporting contradicts that. In an article Saturday explaining the Pentagon formula, reporter Michael Gordon writes, "but victims of all car bomb attacks and Shiite and Sunni infighting are included in the overall civilian casualty count."

I usually enjoy your show and find it insightful. I was, however, very disappointed with your coverage of this story. Given the nature of your program, to not report on the extraordinary discount the NY Times gave moveon.org for the ad placement was neglect at best and at worst was indicative of bias. In any case, it undermined the credibility of the show. What a shame.

I agree that the ad is in poor taste, and confirms my belief that the people running moveon.org are not serious about contributing anything but invective to the debate over the war. god knows we have enough of that.

but, the "you must condemn this!" political tactic is just part of a cynical attempt to connect an opponent with a distasteful message that they did not endorse.

I was deeply offended by your interview last week. She tossed cup cake questions to Tom Mattzie with out the least bit of critique on her part. Then, in the second half of the interview, she had the audacity to insert her own opinion about running 9/11 shots next to the War on Terrorism shots. She is guilty of bias in clearly expressing her own views and supreme lack of judgment in not being more thorough in her questioning of Moveon.org. This was validated in yesterday's Congressional repudiation of Moveon.org. Shame on you! What has happened to the quality we should expect from On The Media?