(Ted) Turner Compares Fox's Popularity to Hitler

[kskiska]

(snip)

The 66-year-old billionaire who leveraged a television station in Atlanta into a media empire, made the comment before a standing-room-only crowd at NATPE's opening session Tuesday.

His no-nonsense, sometimes humorous, approach during the one-hour Q&A generated frequent loud applause and laughter.

Among the highlights:

• On Fox News: While Fox may be the largest news network , it's not the best, Turner said. He followed up by pointing out that Adolph Hitler got the most votes when he was elected to run Germany prior to WWII. He said the network is the propaganda tool for the Bush Administration. "There's nothing wrong with that. It's certainly legal. But it does pose problems for our democracy. Particularly when the news is dumbed down," leaving voters without critical information on politics and world events and overloaded with fluff," he said.

(snip)

• The war in Iraq: "We've spent 200 billion destroying Iraq. Now we've got to spend 200 billion to rebuild it, if they'll let us -- and all to find a nut in a fox hole -- one guy," Turner said. "He posed no threat to any of his neighbors, particularly with us there with overwhelming military superiority." --"it is obscene and stupid

more…
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA499014.html?display=Breaking+News&referral=SUPP

[KamaAina]

1. Any chance Ted might get back in the game?

The loss of CNN when the corporate machine took it over from him was a huge blow to the idea of a well-informed society. We could sure use a guy like Ted as a counterpoint to the shrill, one-note MSM.

[zann725]

11. I wish he would! Even if he started up a smaller cable channel...

one he could manage easier (CNN seemed to have gotten too large for him)...he would be a great asset to disseminating the Truth. I truly wish he would. We need a real "do-er" to start this up, and without our OWN TV news outlet, we are truly at the mercy of the conglomerates.

He just might do it. Maybe that should be our DU Letter of the Week? A mass email or letter campaign to Ted Turner, asking him to return to broadcasting, and open up a REAL news channel?

He's got a feisty side, loves a challenge, and I'll bet he'd be honored that so many of us would like his help. Why not try it?

[AmerDem]

25. he said he has no interest at all

I watched an interview he had months ago and he was asked this same question. He said something to the effect of, he likes new challenges and his desire for a news network has been fulfilled and has no interest at all in starting another one.

[zann725]

50. Was that BEFORE the stolen Election? And the drifting far Right of CNN?

n/t

[Nite Owl]

2. It isn't just FOX

has he listened to CNN lately? I really think that they are worse. A lot of people can listen to FOX and see it as propaganda, people talk about that but with CNN well they still think it's real news. It's deceptive and worse because they do not report what is happening.

[CoffeeCat]

17. So, true Nite Owl...

At least Fox has some sort of direction and passion. Sure, it's all lies and propaganda, but at least Fox isn't as lazy as CNN.

I used to be a total CNN junkie. I stay at home with my kids and I had CNN on all day. Now, I watch under an hour a week. I'll watch Larry King Live, on those rare days that he doesn't have the latest murderer, celebrity or psychic.

CNN is such a devastating disappointment. There is absolutely NO journalism taking place on that channel. They regurgitate White House press releases and sensational/entertainment gossip that is meaningless.

I've grown so weary of CNN's laziness. Their idea of a news story to introduce a topic and then throw it to one side that barks up a storm; then the opposing side barks some more. Then it's, "Ok, back to you Bob!" I want to know the truth about social security, Iraq, election fraud, education, etc. I don't want to hear two sides spewing soundbyte scum.

I glean nothing from CNN.

[zann725]

19. CNN has changed drastically since the Election.

They've recently incorporated "religious" subject matter into many of their "special" news stories. And now they have Falwell, right...as a talking head on one of their shows.

Plus their 'psy op' stuff. And many clearly biased toward Admin. coverage of current major items (including SS)...have made me discontinue watching them almost entirely...except for brief stop-by's as I channel-surf.

They are far from 'the most trusted name in news' anymore.

[joefree1]

21. But CNN is nowhere near as evil as Faux News

Rupert Murdoch as a history of pushing his fascist and selfish agenda. For example ...

MURDOCH THE DEFENDER OF REPRESSIVE REGIMES: The last governor of Hong Kong before it was handed back to China, Chris Patten, signed a contract to write his memoirs with Murdoch's publishing company, HarperCollins. But according to the Evening Standard, when "Murdoch heard that the book, East and West, would say unflattering things about the Chinese leadership, with whom he was doing satellite TV business, the contract was cancelled. It caused a furor in the press - except, of course, in the Murdoch papers, which barely mentioned the story." According to BusinessWeek, internal memos surfaced suggesting the canceling of the contract was motivated by "corporate worries about friction with China, where HarperCollins' boss, Rupert Murdoch, has many business interests."

For lots more ...
http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=122948


Download the free poster/bumper art here:
http://ediablo.com/eDiabloGallery.html

[w4rma]

27. AOL runs CNN, now. (nt)

[Spazito]

57. CNN is actually more invidious than Faux, imo...

for the simple reason that there are many who are still "buying" the old Turner CNN as opposed to the new AOL/Time/Warner CNN whereas Fox (Faux) is well know to all but the kool-aide drinkers to be the antithesis of "fair and balanced".

Fox, ironically, has been more "honest" in it's intent to slant the news whereas CNN is still trying to falsely present the facade they are reporting the news instead of influencing it.

[CreekDog]

63. My favorite moment on CNN Ever!

"This is Larry King, tonight on Larry King Live,
we have Manuel Noriega and Catherine Deneuve"

Quite a pairing. ;o)

[pippin]

3. Yes Ted

Everything about the Bush regime and what they've done is obscene ands stupid. Hope Ted Turner is part of the coalition of billionares with conscience and money enough to give the bum's rush to the gangsters who now run the world.

[liberal N proud]

4. Ted Turner, Come on DOWN!

We need to get Ted back into the business, maybe turn another local affiliate into it's own truely "LIBERAL" outlet.

[zann725]

14. Let's send Ted a flurry of emails imploring him to do so!

n/t

[KurtNYC]

5. Confession time

I used to work for Fox. Fox Broadcasting (Ally McBeal, Simpson, etc) -- not Fox News. But we followed with great interest all of the exchanges between Turner and Murdoch. Turner would churn out these WWII/Hitler analogies almost daily.

At one point, Turner said he was "at war" with Fox and that the goal was to "take the food off of the other guy's table." My boss jokingly said that he had gone home and taken the food out of his cupboards and piled it onto the table just to piss off Turner.

This is like a blast from the past. Thanks for posting.

[bluestateguy]

6. Maybe he should run for president

He sure wouldn't have to worry about raising money.

[sonicx]

7. he doesn't have anything to do with CNN anymore, does he?

[pdxmom]

8. Nope,he was pushed out at the time of the merge with AOL n/t

[Edgewater_Joe]

9. I'll Say This Again: Ted, Call George Soros

I hear he's got some pocket change; maybe he'll loan some of it to you so you can repurchase CNN and show the Limbaughs and Hannitys what a REAL liberal news outlet would look and sound like!

And if Soros' number is busy, why not give Mrs. Kerry a call?

[zann725]

16. Forget about re-buying CNN, let's start a new cable channel from scratch

and disseminate our OWN news...with Ted's help. And Soros...if he wants. Wasn't Gore also talking about setting up a cable channel not so long ago?

[kypper]

24. Left wing news...

Propoganda from either side is insane. Soros would just promote his left wing agenda...

I want a news channel that actually does investigative reporting and rips EITHER side, chews out hack pundits, and does it all without being sensationalist and utterly demeaning to its viewer's intelligence (read FOX)

[zann725]

49. Who's saying it would be 'left wing?" OR Propaganda? I said Truth.

n/t

[NEOBuckeye]

58. I've said this many times as well

n/t

[William Bloode]

10. Why does everyone refer to the old CNN....

As a liberal new outlet? They were never a "liberal" news network, they just were more truth oriented and tended to give a broader picture than they do today.

Thats not liberal, it just the way real news is ment to be done.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. It WAS liberal...

...because liberals want the truth. The right wants lies.

[Jacobin]

12. Put your money where your mouth is, Ted.

Start a new network. There is a huge vacuum out there to be filled. A news network that just tells the fucking truth. Imagine that.

[zann725]

18. I second that motion! Let's write Ted NOW!

Anyone have his email address, and/or mailing address?

[Just Me]

13. WOW!!! *lol* He actually said that?!?!?!

All's I can say is: Way to go, Ted!!! :bounce:

[CoffeeCat]

20. A spade should be called a spade...

...just as Fox/Bush should be likened to Hitler.

Mr. Turner need to get back into the game.

There's money to be made, in a news network that actually engages in journalism and tells the truth.

I can only dream of a large cable news program that:
--Isn't afraid to offend the White House
--Actually covers the war in Iraq
--Helps to inform the public--not dish up propaganda from both sides
--Engages in journalism and tracking down stories
--Tells the truth and makes no apologies.

It's so revolting how CNN and other MSM have hid Iraq. They showed the truth about Vietnam. They received flack for it, but they did it anyway!

We need Ted so bad.

[SoCalDem]

22. Sorry to be the skunk at the party,

Ted Turner is not some naive little country bumpkin. He managed to get himself into a position where his "baby". CNN. was vulnerable, and then through greed or whatever, he lost control of it. I can understand how he left, since it's no fun to be working "for" someone at a place that you once RULED.

If the pursuit of truth and evenhanded journalism was as important to him as he SAYS it is, he would have fought tooth and nail to keep CNN independent and free of the garbage it now is FULL OF..

Nostalgic looks back at the "good ole days" of CNN will also show that in the lead-up to GW1, Ted was still at the helm, and yet PsyOps was allowed (and perhaps encouraged) to operate at CNN to help "shape public support" for the upcoming war in Iraq..


When Ted had been pushed out of CNN he retreated instead of dusting his ego off, and pouring his heart and soul into something else.. Imagine if he had turned his attention to radio....or the press.. Things could be very different..

Don't get me wrong.. I love his brash attitude, and his straight talk...but that's about he is now. He has lost his platform, and now is treated like some dotty old curmudgeon, who must the "tolerated", but to whom most pay little attention..

[PROGRESSIVE1]

23. He could have been ClearChannel and we Democrats would....

have in our control the nations largest radio chain!

[wicket]

26. I'll take pre-G1 CNN any day over what they are now

n/t

[zann725]

51. If I recall the time sequence, I think he gave up CNN about the time he

and Jane split. My guess is he was going through a lot of changes. And I think what he gave up was the "mega mogul workaholic" role. My guess is he's hankering for getting his feet wet again..on a smaller scale. A TV version of AAR. There's a definite market for it. And he has an excellent Business mind.

Let's 'enlist' him!

[0007]

28. Many kudos for Ted baby!

[xchrom]

29. now that's straight talk.

bush could take lessons.

[sendero]

30. Our Dem..

..."leaders" could take lessons.

[Downtown Hound]

31. Well Ted, your old network ain't doin' much better.

[Dr Fate]

32. I'd love to hear DEMS speak w/ that kind of factual candor.

Babs, Grandpa Byrd,Conyers & Teddy Kennedy seem to be the only ones.

GO TED!!!

[Chicago Democrat]

33. SUPER FANTASTIC!

WOw!!!!

[Liberty Belle]

34. TED TURNER COMPARES FOXNEWS TO HITLER

TED TURNER COMPARES FOXNEWS TO HITLER
Tue Jan 25 2005 15:53:55 ET

Ted Turner called FOX an arm of the Bush administration and compared FOXNEWS's popularity to Hitler's popular election to run Germany before WWII. Turner made the controversial comments in Las Vegas before a standing-room-only crowd at the National Association for Television Programming Executives's opening session.

<snip>

He followed up by pointing out that Adolf Hitler got the most votes when he was elected to run Germany prior to WWII. He said the network is the propaganda tool for the Bush Administration.

<snip>

"It's certainly legal. But it does pose problems for our democracy. Particularly when the news is dumbed down, leaving voters without critical information on politics and world events and overloaded with fluff," he said.

A FOXNEWS spokesperson responded: "Ted is understandably bitter having lost his ratings, his network and now his mind -- we wish him well."


Developing...at www.drudgereport.com
(How hard did Drudge have to hunt to find such an unflattering picture of Ted?)

[KeireG]

35. Wow!

Shocking comments. True, but still very shocking.

[Liberty Belle]

37. Yes. I wish Ted would buy another network!

[rwenos]

36. Fox's Comment Sounds Suspiciously Like KGB

Who used to say that dissidents critical of the Soviet system "had lost their minds." Usually, such people were sent to the Gulag, and prescribed strong psychotropic drugs like thorazine and Haldol to keep them quiet.

What the hell is this country coming to? What do these people WANT? How are they different from the PRI, who ruled Mexico as a "state party" for 70 years?

[Scairp]

46. This is their pattern

Anytime anyone calls them they go on the offence by accusing that person or entity of having mental issues. This is a common defence by lowlifes...and cheating husbands as well.

[Spiffarino]

38. Does this mean

...that Turner is thinking about getting back in the game? Gawd, I sure hope so.

Air America TV, anyone?? :thumbsup:

[Brundle_Fly]

47. I would settle for

Media Matters television

[zann725]

53. If he was speaking at this TV convention, he's thinking about it.

He's still a businessman at heart. And there IS a market there for a TV-version of AAR.

And he's not a man to lose at anything. So he must still have a 'score' to 'even' with CNN brass. What a better way than to beat them at their game...a new network of his own...that tells the Truth, and has 10 times the Ratings.

Come on Ted!

[ailsagirl]

39. I'm hoping that Boxer really did start a domino effect

I'm hoping that more and more people will start speaking out-- maybe it's just me, but it seems as if that's been happening the last week (it's only been one week since Boxer trounced "Condi"-- feels much longer!).

Keep it coming!!

[driver8]

41. Oh man -- that would be great!

The more that people speak out, the more the fundies can see how fucked up this administration really is.

[Acryliccalico]

40. Abusers always tell their victims that

they have lost their minds. They tell everyone around that the person being abused is crazy to cover their own asses and so the victim won't be believed.

[kskiska]

42. DUPE

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1182246&mesg_id=1182246

[autorank]

43. Thanks TED. You ran an excellent network until AOL-Time/Warner!

[Maat]

44. Good speech, Ted!

Hang in there! Keep up the good fight!

[Erika]

45. I watched O'Reilly for a few

tonight. He was interviewing a black liberal columnist. O'Reilly ended up calling the guy a fraud and the other guy said that at least he could look himself in the mirror for not dividing this country as Faux news has tried to do. The columnist brought up the fact that O'Reilly and the rest of the Faux crew call democrats nuts, loonies, etc when no other news service did that. It was good.

[Brundle_Fly]

48. is it just me

I have just gotten fox on my canadian television...

but is the "real journalism" tag new?

[henrik larssonisking]

61. i gotta disagree

i caught this segment on fox news as well, i think the columnist came across as a nut, if i got it right he stated that it was wrong that fox got so many viewers because it had a right wing bent and that they shouldnt be allowed to have as many viewers because he disagreed with what they produced. Seems to be to me that he was wanting to take away choice. Gotta say its probuably the first time in my life i ever agreed with bill o'reilly, the guy was a nut.

[Catfight]

60. Oh yes, FOX news is notorious for character assassination and not

answering the charges. Bait and switch answer. Ted Turner is correct, FOX is Bush-TV, all spin and they will tell you what to think. Brainwash News....welcome to the 21st Century of zombie-journalism.

[The Backlash Cometh]

64. Can't FoxNews be sued for that reference to insanity?

[AuntiBush]

52. Yet, Repuks Still Refuse to Believe this!

You got that right, Ted, "the network is the propaganda tool for the Bush Administration. "There's nothing wrong with that. It's certainly legal. But it does pose problems for our democracy. Particularly when the news is dumbed down," leaving voters without critical information on politics and world events and overloaded with fluff."

I sure do miss the good ole' days and like Mr. Turner, I too am sad he let go of his network. Sure would like to see him start another. He'd have more then 50+ million anxious viewers!

:thumbsup:

[genius]

54. GO TED!

[WCGreen]

55. Let me point something out

No one is watching Fox or CNN or MSNBC,,,,

They can't even get as many viewers as re runs of Sponge bob...

Last week, the only show that cracked the top forty broadcast cable Neilsens was a rerun of the innaguration......


Since the election, they haven;t been any where in sight of number 40.......

They are not attracting any casual viewers. that is why fox seems to be going off the deep end....

Hell even the Simpsons, a fox show, makes fun of the Fox Network......

[ebayfool]

56. Ted sounds like a DUer! n/t

[MADem]

59. Ted is an interesting character

He is bipolar, and not always compliant with his meds, so he sometimes gets very excited about things. However, he does have a reputation for meaning what he says. I wouldn't hold my breath hoping he might go back in the news game.

As for CNN, they have cozy relationships with three-initial government agencies. The staff changes and the focus changes, especially when the US goes to war. They have good international coverage, but I don't always buy the stuff they sell if there is even a hint that the administration could benefit from a particular spin on a story, especially one of international import.

[CreekDog]

62. Get this man elected!

He is one of ours and one of the good guys.

He wrote in the Washington Monthly last year:

"My Beef With Big Media: How Government Protects Big Media and Shuts Out Upstarts Like Me."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0407.turner.html