Comcast: Taking Out Liberal Voices One at a Time

[Joanne98]

By jumpin’ Jesus they figured it out. They figured out how to silence the loyal opposition. They figured out how to obliterate the voice of progressivism from airwaves. You go for the guy who brought sanity and civility to cable media via his nightly news and commentary show, “Countdown.” You go for the guy who virtually invented speaking for the lower and middle classes and against the power brokers who were trying to make our country into a personal ATM for themselves and their friends.


You go and get Keith Olbermann.


And you silence him.


Details on how and what went into the deal to get Olbermann off of his nightly one-hour MSNBC show are sketchy because that, apparently, was part of the deal.


From the New York Times:
“The executives involved in the discussions confirmed that the deal carries limitations for Mr. Olbermann in terms of when he can next work on television, though he will be able to take a job in radio or on any forum on the Internet. The deal also prohibits the host from commenting publicly on the deal, the executives confirmed.”
But with the just closed deal between Comcast and NBC Universal, along with official blessings by most of the FCC, the timing couldn’t make it clearer who and what is behind this attempt to gut the liberal voice on television: Comcast.


Again, from the same NY Times article:
“Many of Mr. Olbermann’s fans responded to the decision by accusing Comcast, the incoming owner of NBC Universal, of forcing him out for political reasons. Several of Comcast’s top executives have been financial supporters of Republicans.”
An accusation that Comcast will deny until Doomsday.


This is what we have to expect in the days, weeks and months to come. The Right is in a resurgence and this time they are making sure that the opposition, that is, the forces of all that is good and right, doesn’t have a voice or a vote to return the country back to a path of social justice, opportunity, and equality for all.


Keith Olbermann, we hardly knew ye.


http://halfempth.blogspot.com/2011/01/comcast-taking-out-liberal-voices-one.html

[cutlassmama]

1. If there was ever any doubt in your mind that Comcast and

corporations are trying to bias the media in their favor you now have irrefutable proof.

They didn’t like the truth that Olbermann presented, so they silenced him, the ratings be damned.

[brooklynite]

2. Unrec'd

I don't see ANY proof, just assertions. If Comcast's goal was to silence voices on the left, then why did they replace KO wi another liberal voice (as opposed to bringing in a new conservative voice for "balance"), and why didn't they fire Ed, Rachel and all the other liberals at once and get it over with? If they want MSNBC to be a new voice of "corporatist" conservatism (taking a financial bath in the process), there's no reason to drag things out.

[grasswire]

3. how many times do we have to refute your theory?

The firing of KO was a horse head in the bed. No one who wants to work will be foolhardy enough to be as opinionated as Keith was.

[brooklynite]

4. Or what?

If, say, Rachel Maddow get fired for continuing to state liberal opinions, she's under no obligation to stay silent or not take her services elsewhere.

You seem to be suggesting that she, Lawrence O'Donnell and other liberals voices must be a bunch of milquetoast cowards too afraid for their jobs to keepup the fight. Where's your evidence?

[radiclib]

5. Elsewhere?

Where are they gonna go, the new Soros Network?

[pacalo]

6. After Rachel's laid-back, simply-put "He quit" comment, with a shrug of her shoulders, on "Real Time

last night, I agree that we can expect that the others -- who have jobs at MSNBC after KO paved the way -- to toe the corporate line. I was taken aback at Rachel's nonchalance & oversimplication, but who knows if others were given strict orders to say nothing about it.

[brooklynite]

8. So you're saying that they're cowards...

...too afraid for their own careers to challenge conservatives in their new Comcast world?

I guess we'll know on Monday.

[pacalo]

9. I'd actually like someone else's opinion about how Rachel came across on that video.

It's in the political video forum. I love Rachel & that's why I was taken aback. I'm guessing from what little she said & the manner in which she said it, she was prevented from saying more. But like you said, we'll see on Monday.

[Paka]

10. O'Donnell is no where as "liberal" as Keith...

and there is every reason to drag things out. Keith was the original and set the tone. Get him off and try to ratchet things down. If that doesn't work, trim some more. But they are just stupid (or arrogant) enough to think that if they do it in little baby steps they won't take a financial bath. Everyone will just adjust to the changes if they are gradual. It's up to us to call their bluff. :tinfoilhat:

[southernyankeebelle]

7. DROP YOUR COMCAST AND SWITCH TO DIRECT TV. Let them know why you are leaving.