CNN: Press Not Allowed to Talk to the "Refugees"

[me b zola]

Reporter in Houston Astrodome just stated that they were only allowed to photograph the "refugees" from the fifth tier of the Astrodome, but they are NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO ANY OF THE REFUGEES.

[Bonobo]

1. I just linked that too. He mentioned it so matter-of-factly too!

[me b zola]

9. Isaw that as soon as I posted.

I asked the mods to delete, maybe they will combine the threads.


Yes, the "journalists" response to this was strange. Why are they not asking WHY?

[niyad]

2. probably the beginning of the news blackout that is coming

[ElectroPrincess]

40. I hope it's too late for a LOCK-DOWN ...

The truth is "front and center" all over the corporate USA media tonight.

NO, we must not let them cover this up?!?

[Missy M]

3. How is that for freedom of speech and a free press....

is this what bush considers a democracy that the whole world should follow.

[me b zola]

14. Last night DUers were streaming the police radio communications

There was a NG who was shot in the leg. Later, someone died.

Alot of stuff went on. There is a lot of stuff that they don't want people to know.

I will look for the link.

[growlypants]

28. that link was shut down earlier today by some Homeland Security guy.

I kid you not.

[frictionlessO]

55. Thats why I can't get it going again!

Geeze i hope we didn't get admin in trouble.....

[rateyes]

29. Since when is * interested in "defending the constitution"

:sarcasm:

[Judi Lynn]

4. If this dosn't make one's hair stand on end, what WOULD?

Kiss your dream you lived in a free country goodbye.

[Hobarticus]

5. United Police States of America...n/t

[bryant69]

6. Yeah that's really sinister

Depriving those poor refugees the opportunity to be hassled by the press. I mean there's nothing to pick up your spirits after a crisis than having an idiot interviewer wave a microphone in your face adn ask you how you feel.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Bridget Burke]

7. "So, your family is missing, your house is gone & you have no job....

Please let us know your feelings right now!"

Don't forget the TV lights & flashbulbs!

[lostnfound]

57. I think many of them would be THRILLED to be interviewed

My wild guess is that they are pissed off and disgusted and want to tell the country just how bad and how stupid the handling of this crisis has been. If one doesn't want to talk, there's 10,000 more who might. Give them a chance to have their stories heard. Many people find it cathartic.

[DBoon]

11. That never stopped the press before

nt

[bryant69]

13. So this proves what exactly?

Bush is killing black people for the hell of it?

[DBoon]

30. Something more than a respect for suffering people

is preventing the press from talking to these folks.

As our press has not previously been distinguished by such sensitivity in other cases.

Maybe the administration wants to exercise "perception control" by restricting the bad news that hits the media.

[niyad]

12. it would be nice if this were done out of any sense of compassion--but if

you believe that, you live in a dream world

[bryant69]

15. Why doesn't Bush want people to be atle to talk to the press?

What dark secret is he trying to cover up?

[Judi Lynn]

16. People are aware they can decline to be interviewed. It's a choice.

What's NOT a choice is an order forbidding information to come out of their zone.

I don't believe for a moment you're swept away with a feeling of protectivness for these flood victems.

[bryant69]

17. What the fuck?

Could you explain this to me? "I don't believe for a moment you're swept away with a feeling of protectivness for these flood victems." Are you under the impression I had something to do with this decision?

[me b zola]

19. Here's a link that may make you change your mind, sinister or not

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4542580

This is a link to a thread that was begun last night and went into the early hours of the morning. It is a thread monitoring the police communication, until they went to a secure channel. The bottom third of the thread will perhaps give you a different perspective. :hi:

From the communications, it sounds as though a riot may have taken place. A NG was shot in the leg. Someone died. They are quarantining a portion of the refugees.

[bryant69]

24. I was being sarcastic

This is a valid explanation but it doesn't fit the "Bush is killing black people for the hell of it" storyline.

[bvar22]

48. Please post a link to your claim that

"Bush is killing black people for the hell of it" storyline.
or is this simply a "Strawman" created by a propagandist?

I haven't seen anything like this on DU.

[Pacifist Patriot]

39. Some people feel hassled, others feel relief at being able to

share their story with the world and perhaps connect with a missing loved one. I'd rather have an idiot interviewer wave a microphone in my face than be treated like cattle.

[linazelle]

8. I guess this is Iraq and those reporters are "embeds"...

:sarcasm:

[WiseButAngrySara]

10. Unfriggingbelievable! Free Press? Not. Refugee? Not. B* is such an

evil assh...I can't even think straight!

[Henny Penny]

18. The bbc and C4 both interviewed some refugees...

and they were pretty angry with Bush. The reporters were saying things like...(I'm paraphrasing here)

"the lack of assistance available to these citizens of the world's richest country is appalling" and that they "could understand if it was an impoverished third world country...." etc.

The bbc main news led with the headline... "Thousands feared dead..."

There was mention made of the looting, but it was fairly sympathetic coverage.... these people need supplies and have reached the end of their tether type coverage.

[spanone]

20. Refugees my ass these are our brother & sister Americans.

[me b zola]

21. They are indeed our brothers & sisters

And they are suffering. The authorities are treating them like animals, and it is such a helpless feeling to not be able to help them. :cry:

[libnnc]

26. if I hear "refugees" one more time...

these people are citizens. tax paying citizens of NOLA. and the federal government is letting them die.

[Pacifist Patriot]

49. Actually, I think it is important to use the term.

And it is not only appropriate, it is technically correct. Refugee status does not mean people are not citizens. It means they no longer have homes to which they can return. They are refugees WITHIN their own nation. We have a civic and moral obligation to assist our refugees as best we can. The government is failing. Fortunately we have citizens with a higher sense of duty.

To me, refugee connotes the degree of want and peril that evacuee does not.

[Henny Penny]

58. So do I....

To think that the richest country in the world has refugees as a result of this catastrophe and is doing less for them than might be done in a third world country is something that should be exposed at every opportunity.

It is absolutely disgraceful!!!

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[bribri16]

22. I must be living in the twilight zone! This can't be America.

Maybe we have just solved the immigrant problem. After seeing how natural-born victims of disaster are treated, I would think twice about immigrating here if I lived in a half-way decent country.

[Skidmore]

23. Gitmo reduxe?

[me b zola]

25. Welcome to Amerika

It is only a matter of time before Limballs will be selling Camp Superdome t-shirts. :grr:

[robertpaulsen]

27. Totalitarian States of America.

This is your country under martial law. Bill of Rights down the fucking toilet.

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?!

[proud patriot]

31. well that's not right

:grr:

[VolcanoJen]

32. The reporters should go back to the NOLA Convention Center, then.

The refugees are desperate for cameras and reporters to share their story with the world.

The world, which has left them behind and in unspeakable conditions.

Do I live in America? Still?

[Fleshdancer]

33. and how will making the victims MORE isolated help?

so we'll videotape them from above like zoo animals? Perfect way to take away their voice. :grr:

[annabanana]

34. are the "refugees" allowed to leave the astrodome?

Are they Americans in America.. Or are they prisoners?

[deadparrot]

35. On whose orders? nt

[onecent]

36. SAYS WHO??????? DISOBEY

[Stockholm]

37. Refugees? What´s next insurgents roaming the streets n/t

[1932]

38. Some one pinch me. I just dreamed I was living in totalitarian state.

[distantearlywarning]

41. Press should disobey.

Who will stop them?

Sounds like to me they don't have enough police/military down there to even provide basic humanitarian help, much less arrest disobedient reporters.

Any member of the press with any balls and a conscience should disobey these kinds of orders on principle.

[gollygee]

42. Aren't ALLOWED to? This is the US for christ's sake. People can talk to

whomever they please!

What the hell is going on???

Where am I? What country is this?

[Stephanie]

43. Are the people allowed to leave the Astrodome?

Are they free to do as they wish? I feel like they're being held prisoner.

[Pallas180]

44. First Amendment?

huh?

[Wizard777]

45. Bush is on First! File for Freedom in Federal Court! n/t or freedom.

[Stinky The Clown]

46. 'Refugees'? ...... or prisoners????????

I have no words .........

[Usrename]

47. It's bad that the future of the nation rests on the shoulders of

a spineless bunch of media whores.

[Miss Chybil]

50. Who says? They can't keep people from stealing tennis shoes

how are they going to keep reporters from speaking to US citizens on the street? FUCK THEM!

[Tom Joad]

51. Saw incredible report on MSNBC

Cameraman who reported the scenes he had witnessed. He was on Reagan's show (ohhh the irony). It was incredible. He said that people were left to fend for themselves in the superdome. The scenes of "looting" were actually ways people were getting food & water for their families.
In the superdome, infants dying of dehydration, as well as old people. They were simply covered up because there was nothing people could do. No outside help.

He said these were very law-abiding people, who were told to go to the superdome, but no help was given them. He further stated that people very much wanted America to know what was happening to them. So they very much appreciated the camera.

Somoza was buried as a result of his response to an earthquake. Leaders beware.

[MojoXN]

52. Then WE need to get out and start recording...

firsthand accounts from survivors. To anyone who comes into contact with a NOLA refugee, ask them if you can record their statement, video or audio, about what they saw or didn't see with respect to relief efforts. I know that many of them will of course not want to discuss it, but we NEED these accounts for posterity. It's easy to prevent a media blackout on this one; all we need to do is make sure that immediate recollections are available, the sooner, the better.

MojoXN

[fooj]

53. I wonder why that would be!

Peace.

[robertpaulsen]

54. Kick. Unreal.

:kick:

[roguevalley]

56. they can't keep the truth out. they can't.