moveon.org walks off Scarborough, Squinty McMurder sputters!

[thebigidea]

ha! he's getting a lot of mileage out of that Hitler thing regardless of the lack of someone to interview.

what a creep - fitting that he addressed an empty chair.

I wonder where Scarborough Country is located.... hang a left at Flavor Country, down a pace from the Undiscovered Country...

[grasswire]

1. details?

come on...tell us what happened.

[thebigidea]

2. he didn't have an explanation - so he cut to commercial

then had a teaser - "we're going to find out what happened."

then he babbled a bit more, said something about moveon.org "not wanting to be ambushed" - "this tells you what kind of group they are!"

well he played the Hitler ad and shrieked GEORGE BUSH! ADOLF HITLER! I taped it, and will use the sample for an ad. Thanks, Squinty.

[Eric J in MN]

3. They did a segment calling the awards ceremony a "Bash Bush" event and

They did a segment calling the moveon.org tv-ad awards ceremony a "Bash Bush" event and the moveon.org representative (I don't even know if it was a man or a woman) walked off before the segment because he or she felt it was an "ambush," based on how they promo-ed the segment before going to commercial.

The moveon.org rep should have been prepared for an ambush and stayed and criticized Bush.

Now they will probably never invite a moveon.org rep on the show, again.

I saw a segment on "Hannity and Colmes" in which a PETA rep was attacked by BOTH Hannity and Colmes for an anti-fur campaign, but he just kept talking about animal rights.

Similarly, the moveon.org Rep should have kpt criticizing Bush no matter Scarborough said.

[Katherine2]

4. The thing

that is strange is that everyone complained about moveon.org having the Bush/Hitler ad on their website. So they remove it and apologize. So after moveon removes it, the RNC, FoxNews, etc. all put it on their websites. So if it's OK for them show it, what was their problem in the first place?

[PaDUer]

7. They've got loose screws..

Remember all those "firings" that were taking place shortly after the misadministration took over...ever wonder why?

[Ksec]

63. I think its about time

they have used us as punching bags and ambushes long enough. Just stop going. End the visits and stop showing up. Let them argue amongst their sorry selves.

I think its brilliant. You hurt them financially by stopping the entertainment of this dembashing spectacle.

[grasswire]

5. media training

Some of our "home-grown" grassroots people who get thrust into the spotlight need media training. The DNC ought to be offering it for free.

And I know just who can provide it.

http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/introtomedia.html

TJ Walker, a good liberal talking head and now media trainer.

[thebigidea]

6. I suggest we lock them in broom closets and play parakeet training tapes

I offer low cost media indoctrination/propagantastic seminars for professional punditry. ACT NOW!

you too could befuddle O'Reilly with a well timed: "Such a pretty bird! Such a pretty bird! Do you want a kiss? Do you want a kiss? SQUAWK!"

[Sterling]

50. lol

too funny

[Military Brat]

8. Absolutely. Look how well bush has done with media training

Remember how truly awful he was not so long ago? Of course he still stammers and sputters now and then, but he's better, and actually seems able to pronounce polysyllabic words.

Media training is the only way to go if you're coming up against the big guns. I am really really disappointed in the MoveOn representative.

[Eric J in MN]

11. my speculation

Maybe a Scarborough producer told the moveon.org Rep that they would be nice, and then he or she was shocked that they were describing the awards night as a "Bash Bush" event.

I think any liberal appearing on a conservative show should be prepared for the worst no matter what a producer says. Producers are paid to book guests, not to tell the truth.

[Sterling]

41. This is a joke right.

Sarcasm? Bush was still an idiot last time I checked. I still can't watch him speak for more than 5 mins for the embarassment I feel as an American.

I think too many of us live in the universe Rush L created for us. A world of double speak and double think. Media "training" seems to be code for assimilated by the Borg.

I can accept that a person I respect when faced with the prospect of participating in a sham of TV journalism decided it was beneath them to take part. I only wish there were more people with that much class on our side. If that were the case I doubt we would even be talking about assbags like Joe S.

[Skittles]

58. I agree, Stereling

Bush has not "improved", not one bit.

[SemperEadem]

60. they did the best thing by walking off before they were to air

The producers of the show still have to fill the time and they were forced to scramble and not let the show crash. It's a pretty good bet that that dude had no clue as to how to fill a 5-7 minute segment of his show without stuttering, spitting and awkward dead silence.

Like my aunt used to say "be careful of the hole you dig for someone, lest you fall into it yourself.." Moveon did the right thing--they forced Scarborough country to step into the hole they dug for Moveon.

[SammyWinstonJack]

68. That would be five minutes more than I can tolerate him

I last about as long as it takes to change the channel, cursing the whole time.

[Nite Owl]

9. The DNC needs

media training doncha think?

[Eric J in MN]

10. Media training is good, but people who can't get it should

Media training is good, but people who can't get it should just decide on 2 negative things to say about Bush before the show starts, and expect to be ambushed but criticize Bush regardless.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. Or get tapes of

Janeane Garofalo on O'Reilly or Alfre Woodward on Dennis MIller for shining examples of how to handle wingnuts.

[bettythecat]

13. why should anyone appear on those shows?

why? it's bullshit

[Eric J in MN]

14. It's a chance to criticize Bush, that's why. nt

nt

[grasswire]

15. the # 1 strategy should be this

...use your time to address the viewer, not to converse with the wingnut.

Choose the one message you want to get across. Then look at the camera, and use everything the wingnut says as a way to get out your MESSAGE. He says "What about Kerry's yadda yadda yadda" and you say "The American people want to know why George Bush is green." He says "But don't you think that Dems are imploding?" and you say "The American people want to know why George Bush is green."

You hammer the message. You talk to the people. You don't get baited, or distracted, or intimidated. You just keep talking.

Even Al Franken and Michael Moore take their bait occasionally. That's why grassroots stars need media training, even if it's from a professor at a local college.

[truth2power]

69. Yes...yes...yes!! Thank you. Say it again.

[Sterling]

39. No one that watches those shows cares

what you say about Bush. They have already made up their minds. Those shows are disigned to make anyone but neocon ape men look bad. To any objective viewer anyone associated with those shows looks like an ass. It's lose lose taking part in that circus.

[SemperEadem]

61. yeah, that would be true if they could get a word in edgewise

and could complete an answer before the host interrupts in the middle of what they are saying to ask another yet inane question.

[Sterling]

54. Actually they called it a left wing hate fest.

nt

[Snivi Yllom]

43. so they never went on at all?

?

[Sterling]

51. Nope

And I hope this is the begining of a trend. No liberal should aid them in their destruction of the truth by playing straw man to their WWF style "news" shows.

[thebigidea]

52. either that or they should sabotage them by refusing to answer questions

hold up a mirror to their bullshit RW confrontational style by refusing to deal with any question, instead just launch into a tirade of prescripted propaganda.

to hell with these leeches...

[Sterling]

53. I agree

bottom line is we must stop playing their game.

[Sterling]

16. The lady who was to be on the show is a friend of mine.

She had never seen Joe Dickface before when she agreed to appear and when she witnessed the idiocy that show is she decided not to participate. I cannot begin to tell you how mach I respect her decision.

[Eric J in MN]

26. Why didn't MoveOn send someone more familiar with cable news shows?

Why didn't MoveOn send someone more familiar with cable news shows?

Did the show specifically request her as a guest?

[symbolman]

17. I was on that same show yesterday

maybe he was nice to me to lure someone from MoveOn onto the show -- so WHO was going to be on the show? Can we get a name of the guest?

Were they actually from MoveOn?

Here's the link to our site where you can watch how my interview went with Joe the Scar, and that was the second time I was on his show..

Click on the link on the homepage - realaudio version

http://www.takebackthemedia.com

She should have stayed and taken the idiot apart, he's really not all that smart..

[FrankBooth]

18. I just watched it.

Great job.

[Sterling]

19. Yes and what this tells me.

Is that a sane and normal American who does not spend their time monitoring the RW corporate media was shocked by the low level of discourse that passes for news these days. The person did not dignify the charade by acting as Joe Scumbucket’s straw man. If more Americans rejected the propaganda the way this person did it would cease to be effective.

It also tells me most people don't watch this shit anyway.


If only this could be the start of a trend or movement. Boycott the RW propaganda machine. Call them out on their bullshit. Refuse to play their game.

[Eric J in MN]

27. Why not say one the air, "this piece is nonsense,"

Why not say one the air, "this piece is nonsense," MoveOn is trying to unseat a man who used election fraud to steal office and disenfranchised 60,000 legal voters, etc.?

[Sterling]

37. I think that would give Joe too much cred

I can't speak for Move On and if the person was sent by Move On or invited personally by Joes producers. I think it was a dirrect and personal invite. I do know that the person was expecting a sane and resonable dicussion on a news network. What an eye opener, huh?

I think it worked out great however. I think someone walking off the set sends a powerful message and I wish more on the left had the guts to do the same and publicly denounce the sham that is the RW WWF media.

[Sterling]

65. Oh now that one was good!!!

"MoveOn is trying to unseat a man who used election fraud to steal
office and disenfranchised 60,000 legal voters, etc."

I wish more people would bring that up. I

[Thunder Road]

20. Actually, have to disagree...

Sorry Michael, I saw the show and didn't think you did such a great job on air...the ad was GREAT, but you didn't really use your time well, getting bogged down in incidentals..when Scarborough asked why you got involved in the Moveon contest, you went into a long story about how your ad was created before the contest but you decided to enter it anyway to take advantage of the visibility it would give, instead of talking about the issue behind the ad and why it is so important to you, which is what he was actually looking for (it was a surprisingly friendly interview from Scarborough and he was giving you opportunities to get some major points out there). Likewise, when Scar showed the winning Moveon ad and noted it was about the increasing debt Bush is crippling future generations with, and your ad is about the shaft our military and vets are getting from this administration, he asked is Moveon moving to the center -- that was a perfect opportunity to say that those issues are not the property of the right, and no one should be surprised that left-leaning orgs like Moveon or TBTM are behind them..instead you went into something about how you can't speak for Moveon...hell, even at the very begining of the segment, after he showed your ad, introduced you by name and asked why you got involved in the contest, you said, Are you talking to me? Theres two Michaels here..in that context who else would he be talking to. Great ad, but you should really get someone else in your group to do interviews.

[Sterling]

21. The fact is no one looks good on those shows.

Least of al Joe but that is not the point. If you are willing to get in a pissing contest you might end up with piss on you.

The person invited on the show had no idea what they had agreed to. Maybe that was the mistake but can you blame them? If that was your first exposure to the frothing locker room espn style news format it would probably blow your mind. I am impressed that this persons reaction was to not lower herself to the level of the hack RW media circus.

[Eric J in MN]

28. If I were invited to appear on a show I never saw, I'd watch it first (nt)

nt

[Sterling]

42. And hopefully you would have enough class not to appear.

I think it was great that Joe looked like an asshole who can't even keep a guest on his show beacause he is an asshole.

The person was invited at the last minute. I think the invite came around 7 pm. Too late to witness first hand the horror that Joe's show is.

Fact is only RW "morans" and geeks like us even know or care who Joe is.

It was a breath of fresh air for a liberal to come in contact with the RW media and decide to "move on".

I suggest we all do the same for the good of mankind.

[thebigidea]

44. yeah, definetely...

the empty chair and his complete confusion was much better. he looked pretty impotent.

[RapidCreek]

57. Amen

RC

[0rganism]

23. although I agree with some of your criticisms, symbolman did his best

and it was apparently enough, yesterday. Today, I'm not so sure.

Still, going for an interview isn't the easiest thing in the world, and not every organization has the extra funds to hire professional spokesjockeys.

[Sterling]

45. It was not Mikes fault.

No one looks good on those shows. The minute you walk on the set you have lowered yourself to the level of the WWF "moran" right wing media.

[blondeatlast]

32. Everyone LOVES a Monday morning quarterback!

Mike did a great job. He was careful not to implicate MoveOn in any way, they took a great deal of concentration and forethought.

Welcome to DU anyway!

:toast:

[kcwayne]

33. Welcome to DU

and I agree with your assessment as well. I was shocked at the kid gloves Scabbrow was handling Michael with, and I was disappointed that no issues about content or philosophy of the ad were discussed. The interview came off as nothing more than Michael promoting TBTM and trying to distance himself from MoveOn.org and positioned them as a contest promoter. That's not terrible, but it wasn't what I was expecting, and what I stayed up late (for me) to see.

[Cannikin]

66. Pretty harsh words for someone so new!

did you sign up just to say that or have you been a lurker for a while?

[0rganism]

22. Odd, isn't it? Scar was almost deferential to you and MoveOn yesterday

My impression was, whatever he thought of the content of the ads, he certainly respected the craftsmanship. And now this...

Was it a sucker play to catch a MoveOn rep off guard?

Was it your overwhelming charm and charisma that diffused him?

Was Scar under pressure from his bosses to ensure a more satisfying slant this time around?

Strange.

[Eric J in MN]

29. Scarborough did say that he was criticized for being too nice night before

nt

[Sterling]

40. Friends of Scar?

It's a good thing when Joe S is being nice to you? Honestly that would scare the shit out of me. lol.

[RapidCreek]

24. I think he was nice to you because he couldn't afford not to be

Your commercial said it all....which is why commercials such as yours should be aired...with the help of someone like George Soros...morning noon and night. What surprises me is the fact that they even acknowledged it or your existence. I suspect that Joey boy fucked up. It looked to me as though the idea was, to paint you as a centrist or a hypocritical liberal....as you apparently support the men and women who make up our military. It is Scarborough and his ilks mission to create the impression that us lefties are anti military. I think mr. Scarborough muffed his lines....and or blew an accusatory segway. Once missed the whole piece was a lost cause and he made the best of a bad situation and exited it with as much grace as he could stomach. I have no doubt that he got his ass handed to him by the producers after you had departed.

You also appear to be around 6'5 and weigh about 260. I imagine that terrifies the shit out of little pimps like Scarborough. In short you make him nervous. He is certainly aware of the fact that you posses the intellect to create some damn compelling media pieces without the help of a production crew, writers, makeup people etc....adding to that your rather imposing aura, confident, well spoken manner and a guy like Scarborough's gotta be pissing down his leg.

Not to appear uncivilized but I am a big boy myself and on occasion take advantage of it. Nothing gives me greater pleasure that to pose this little question to guys like Scarborough....."So my friend, since you obviously have little use for logic and ascribe to the philosophy that might makes right, particularly as it regards wars which you won't get your hands dirty fighting....How about I get outa my chair, punch your teeth out and chalk this little discussion up to a win for my side?

RC

[Sterling]

47. You watching the same RW media I am?

These guys are willing to scream "GET OFF MY SHOW" at families of 9-11 victims when they dare to point out that Bush/Cheney have inappropriate relationships with the MIC, Oil biz and terrorist groups.

These guys have no shame, they will attack anything they think threatens their hold on society no matter how valid the point.
Actually the more valid the issue the more the try to twist it to there ends.

[RapidCreek]

56. Generally you are correct

Sterling. The difference here is the approach Symbolman took. He did not enter the discussion from a defensive posture...but an offensive one. He was allowed to frame the discussion before it ever took place. IE we are on the side of the men and women of our military who are currently being used as mercenaries by Bushco and its sponsors. What could Scarborough argue about? Nothing stated in Symbolmans piece could be argued with. It's contents were simply stated points of fact. To argue with them or the conclusion they posed would be a bad mistake on Scarborough's part. Thus he was left with the rather elusive task of redefining Symbolmans political bent as being in line with his own....which of course it is not. He failed to do so....because he was not up to the task....he muffed his lines. Why? Because their delivery required a clever sort of subtlety...something Joey is incapable of achieving and more importantly a quality which is lost on the vast majority of his viewers. Hence, my confusion as to why Scarborough's masters would entertain Symbolman or his commercial. The only thing I can think of is that they are frightened of talented altruistic people like Symbolman and of the messages he so cleverly presents. They recognize the incontestable power of the piece is generated by it's simplicity and incontrovertible truth. Thus they seek to hijack it's message as their own by defining it as centrist....which of course it is not, or you'd hear "centrists" consistently expressing it's moral.

What Symbolman and the rest of those who submitted the ads I have seen on the Moveon site have done is what has not been done up till now. Talented, artistic, expressive people have contributed their time and expertise to a very valid cause in a very powerful fashion and a powerful internet outlet has made them available to the public. By whining about Moveon so incessantly the rightwing has given it the very power they fear. The power to reach an audience. No longer does media production require million dollar editing facilities. Facilities available only to those who can afford them. No longer does dissemination of that media require a major network. Anyone with 3 grand to spend on a box...willing to take the time and interest to produce and disseminate media can do so, in an expert fashion. This is how we shall defeat the right wing control of media outlets in this country. Even if conventional media outlets refuse to air such pieces they shall be disseminated via the web. Until the right wing controls that as well we gottem by the balls. The only other thing we are left to do is to forbid the likes of the Scarborough's of the world from hijacking our work or redefining the direction from whence it comes when it is so obviously contradicts everything their bedfellows have done, are doing and seek to do.

As far as the families of 9/11 victims are concerned....perhaps the next item Moveon should focus its attention on is that which you describe. It seems to me that a contest of 30 second spots addressing their mistreatment by the likes of Hannity, Oreilly, Scarborough and the rest of the "liberal" media is in order. Obviously such an approach has the desired effect on these wolves. It strips from them our flag....one which the unpatriotic, antiamerican, anarchical, evil sons of bitches have thus far successfully wrapped themselves in.

RC

[Sterling]

62. I agree the theme of the ad was very safe.

Who can argue with treating our troops the right way? I make that point often when talking to pro war people. SGTV’s ad had a similar theme.

I think that is a separate issue from appearing on the RW media. I honestly think there is no way of winning by taking part in the Faux News media WWF style discussion.

The fact liberals are willing to go on those shows in a way legitimizes what they do.
e

[Snappy]

25. OK

I thought it went alright. Maybe I'm a bit lenient but I like Joe. I disagree with about everything he says but...he is likeable and at times amusing. I watch the show sometimes just to see what the wingnuts are up to.

[Robb]

30. Well, I think Joe is a hack.

And also (harumph!!) I disagree with most of what's been said here. :)

I think Dean has the right idea (and no, I don't have a candidate): screw 'em. If the left would stop going on these RW looney shows, they'd get even loonier, and lose all relevance. I watched O'Really make a bigger ass of himself than I thought possible spending his entire opening segment calling Dean a coward for not coming on his show, the most important show in the world. :eyes:

[Sterling]

35. Yes you get it.

I wish more people would figure this out. Honestly the amount of cred some on the left give these assholes is embarassing.

[Cannikin]

31. He's so obviously slanted...He's just a Hannity/Rush wannabe

I'm so sick of 'liberals all bad/conservatives all good' bull sh@# on tv and radio! Thank God for the internet....

Here's my favorite photo of Joe...
http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=magoo/v=2/l=JVN/*-

[Sterling]

34. Don't feed the hacks

If you ignore them, they will go away. They only exist because dumb people are willing to take them seriously. If you find people like Joe likable than maybe that kind of thing is your cup of tea? Most intelligent people I know right or left find the ESPN WWF style of news TV repulsive and not worth their time. Even my wing nut family won 't claim the likes of Joe, Hannity, ORealy? and Rush.

Whenever someone tells me they watch or listen to that crap I feel like they just exposed a giant character flaw.

[tom_paine]

36. Scarborough Country is right next to Dead Intern Nation

Fucking murderer.

[AngryAmish]

38. waddajerk

[TheDalaiMama]

46. Eli doesn't need the publicity....and he doesn't need to justify

the video. Rove started the Hitler connection with his statement after 9-11 saying the rally at the ball park in NYC was like a "Nazi rally."

The comparisons are true and when the truth touches a nerve...they react...that my friends is what is happening.

Move on will reap the rewards. Bring it on!

[Sterling]

48. I agree

I do wish Move On was more willing to make that point though instead of the apology that they issued.

[mandyky]

49. Deb Norville will be taking Scarbro's spot in a week or so

Is Joe getting the axe?

[Sterling]

55. I sure hope so

but I am sure they will get someone worse. That is the norm.

[loudsue]

59. Yep....that's become the norm...and all these TV execs were wondering

WHY the people are turning away from television! Ratings were all down, and viewership was down. They were trying to pin the problem on a dozen totally irrelevant things, and in spite of all our e-mails about how outraged we are, these brilliant, multi-million dollar execs STILL don't BELIEVE it could be their totally out-of-step-with-the-average-American values.

:kick:

[Eric J in MN]

67. No, the new MSNBC lineup, starting at 6 PM Eastern, will be

No, the new MSNBC lineup, starting at 6 PM Eastern, will be Abrams Report, Hardball, Countdown, Norville, and Scarborough.

[Ksec]

64. good

they have used us as punching bags and ambushes long enough. Just stop going. End the visits and stop showing up. Let them argue amongst their sorry selves.

I think its brilliant. You hurt them financially by stopping the entertainment of this dembashing spectacle