Readers Angry at The Times for Schwarzenegger Stories

[DBoon]

Quoting:

Since publishing an article Thursday that described allegations by six women that Schwarzenegger groped them or made inappropriate comments, The Times has come under attack on talk-radio stations and television, and has been the target of vociferous complaints by the Schwarzenegger campaign.
...
...
As of Saturday evening, about 1,000 readers had canceled their subscriptions to protest the handling of the Schwarzenegger story. In addition, the newspaper had received as many as 400 phone calls critical of its coverage — many angry, some profane.

Also a comment from a talk radio host speaking at an Arnold rally, "jokingly" asking the crowds to beat up any LA Times reporters that might be present.


See:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-times5oct05,1,5313309.story?coll=la-news-politics-california

(registration required)

[wryter2000]

1. Oh, ye gods

Shut up, LA times. Shut up, shut up, shut up!

[proud patriot]

3. LOL

hee hee hee hee ...

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Wow! Great impersonation

of Bill O'Reilly! (as stated per description in Franken's book)
(just teasing :) )

On a more serious note:
The DC gang Repugs are getting their money's worth of the millions invested in pushing CA to be Republican re: electoral college. The Rove machine is determined to have the puppet boy remain in office for one more horrendous, evil term sucking the life-blood out of the Constitution and making the word "democracy" become obsure, not to mention further alienating the US from the global community, putting more blood bucks in their pockets, and continuing to rape the land and the air.

[Snellius]

2. Arnie's Brownshirts: Attacking nuns, beating up reporters

If Arnie wins, it's civil war.

[Lorien]

4. These same "angry readers"

were no doubt lapping up and regurgitating every detail of Clinton's affair with Monica. The only ugly truths belong to democrats, in their twisted universe. I hope CA DUers will give the Times a call of support; sexual battery is a crime that should be disclosed and punished!

[davidinalameda]

5. that's what you get for telling the truth

I figure that they knew what would happen if they ran the stories

They still come out looking good. Doubt a 1000 subscriptions will really hurt their subscriber base all that much.

[w4rma]

7. If the LA Times sticks to what they're doing, they'll probably *gain*

subscribers from the publicity that these angry censorship-loving readers are giving them.

[schultzee]

24. The freepers will still buy it just to see what they are saying.

I hate republicans.

[realFedUp]

6. so, they lose the misogynist's subscribers this month...

next month it'll be a different group.

All in the name of shutting up the messenger.
Hope that Enron story comes out tomorrow.

[Frances]

9. Is this how Hitler

came to power? By intimidation?

[dofus]

12. Yes.

That's exactly how he came to power.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. The funny thing is is that the LAT is a center-right paper.

Despite it being decried as a liberal rag.

[UpInArms]

11. here's an itneresting read on

hate radio

http://hartwilliams.com/hrv1no1.PDF

Part of this, I think, is that

“Hate Radio” thrives in the Jerry Springer arena of gladiatorial

spectacle – people tune in to hear Rush talk about “Feminazis”

about “Tree-huggers” and “Environmental Wackos.” The low

guffaw and the gutter humor of throwing feces at “liberals” (and

“intellectuals” and “free thinkers” when you think about it) is part

and parcel to the spectacle.

It is said that patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel, and so

it is, at least here. Each host, from Felonious Ollie to Rush

Hisownself makes a great show of playing patriotic songs, of

turning the flag into a fetishistic totem, and, of course, of reveling

in (imagined) military glory. In 1993, Rush literally shoved his

show down the throats of Armed Forces Radio, and if you don’t

understand WHY those military absentee ballots in Florida came in

overwhelmingly for Bush, well, you haven’t been paying attention.

[wtmusic]

13. Surprised to read it in the Times

Usually leaning conservative, but they were right on the money.

[peterh]

14. What a hoot...

that about a thousand people wish to cancel their subscriptions because The Times published info on a candidate that proved to be both relevant and accurate. I suspect these people will just opt for Faux News where they’re assured of hearing what they want to hear….accuracy be damn.

[Voltaire99]

15. Right wing rage is meaningless

Well, OK, so it does currently make our laws, give away our treasury, foment our wars, crash our economy and earn us universal disdain among the brighter and more decent lands of the earth.

I mean other than that, of course, it's meaningless. ;-)

[Gman]

16. Typical right wing tactics

My only thought is, that's all? Only 1K cancelations? Only 400 phone calls? The story may well be those that didn't cancel, and didn't call. FR can generate that many cancelations and calls.

[Democat]

17. Can you believe the media is critical of itself for daring question Arnold

One paper prints one article critical of Arnold, after all of the media bashes Davis for years, then the rest of the media has to attack that one paper for daring to question the great Arnold.

I have seen quite a few articles "questioning" the Time's motives, but fewer questioning the allegations. How dare they not get behind Arnold 100% and help the rest of the media try to overthrow Gray Davis.

Imagine if the media had questioned any of the allegations against Clinton, instead of just reporting them with such enthusiasm.

This whole recall and Arnold's candidacy is right wing media supported.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

21. Achtung!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Down with Nazi Boy Ahhnuld!!!


I guess his Austrian Roots are showing!!!!


:eyes:

[Cat Atomic]

18. But I thought a man's sex life was an indicator of his character.

Hmm. Those guys sure do confuse me.

I must say though, if these stories were about Arnold having affairs, they might have a point. I don't think that's anyone's business.

But we're talking about a long history of sexual battery. That's criminal. It's certainly relevant.

[realFedUp]

19. If this had come out two weeks ago it would have hurt Arnie more

Around 2 million absentee ballots have already
gone into the Sec. of State's office or wherever they
go and people who were unaware of Arnold's problem
may have voted for him.

So, Arnie shouldn't whine so much about when this
story finally was investigated and printed.

[Fuzz]

20. Their questioning of the 'timing' of the report begs the question,

when was the 'right' time for these reports to come out?

:shrug:

[Bozita]

22. Shoot the messenger if you don't like the message.

It's the freeper way.

They're not upset with a serial groper unless he's a dem.

[dolstein]

23. What about the New York Post and the Washington Times?

If either of these publications ran hatchet pieces on a Democratic candidate in the final days of a campaign, nobody would raise an eyebrow. Certainly no conservative pundits would complain. But the Los Angeles Times gets hammered for taking the time to verify the credibility of their sources.

What I find particular odd about these criticism is that people assume that the LA Times withheld the story until the very end of the race to ensure maximum political damage. But the fact is, these stories would likely have been far more damaging had they been released earlier in the campaign, before Arnold had gained any real momentum.

[schultzee]

25. You are right about that. Good observation.

[JackSwift]

26. The Re Pukes are really pissed that the LA Times finally

covered the story. The ones I know are just apolplectic. They also don't believe that it is a far right wing paper.

[BeFree]

28. Papers that usually Lie

Are called Far-Right.

Papers that occasionally tell the whole truth are called Liberal. Re Pukes are never happy to read the truth.

[Rex]

27. THAT DAM LIBERAL MEDIA!

nt

[TahitiNut]

29. Subscriptions to the LA Times can be ordered at ...

https://www.latimes.com/services/secure/subscriptions/la-homesubscribe.htmlstory

or by contacting Customer Service at 1-800-252-9141

(I have no affiliation whatsoever with the LA TImes.)

[L.A.dweller]

30. Local talk radio hosts were bad mouthing

the LA Times back in early Sept. They hated the fact that the LA Times released poll results that showed Bustamante had a considerable lead over Arnold.
These guys really don't like contemplating the truth and end up rejecting it.
"1,000 readers had canceled their subscriptions to protest the handling of the Schwarzenegger story."
In other words they dislike that the media is reporting the truth.

[Manix]

31. This is why Arnold loves Hitler, the way he channeled the anger of the..

populace against the free press!

[Logansquare]

32. LA Times total circulation: over 1 million!

http://www.latimes.com/services/site/releases/la-pr-0505b2003,0,1198023.story?coll=la-news-releases

circulation as of March, 2003. So, a thousand subscribers is what, a tenth of a percent of the total. The LAT picks up about 2000 new ones a year, anyway, and I bet they'll do even better this year.