GOP jams the airwaves

[RamboLiberal]

Rachel Maddow seemed pleasantly surprised when Republican Rep. Donald A. Manzullo turned up on her show last week to talk about his vote against the Democrats’ stimulus plan.

“I can’t tell you how many times a day Republicans say no to invitations to be on this show,” said the liberal MSNBC host. “So we’re very grateful to him for saying yes tonight.” Maddow may have to get used to the experience.

If she had been monitoring MSNBC last week, she would have noticed that more congressional Republicans than Democrats appeared on the network to discuss the stimulus — by a tally of 15-9.

In fact, more congressional Republicans than Democrats appeared on all of the major cable news networks — CNN, Fox News, Fox Business and CNBC — during three days last week surrounding the House vote on the stimulus plan. That’s according to a report by Think Progress, a project of the left-leaning Center for American Progress, which added up congressional TV hits related to the stimulus bill.

The study found that Fox News struck the most balance, with eight Republicans to six Democrats; on CNN, there were two Democrats to seven Republicans.

-----

Since becoming conference chairman, Pence — who has a background in television and radio — has beefed up the press shop with additional bookers and is in the process of adding a deputy press secretary to deal specifically with Hispanic media outlets.

Pence said that because the “Republican conference exists to promote Republican members,” he’s been closely watching the morning’s headlines and then having staff reach out to media outlets with those members who can speak authoritatively on specific subjects — subjects that include the stimulus, national security and trade. About 70 members are now in the rapid response groups, which Pence has dubbed “tiger teams.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18419.html

Damn, this pisses me off. As usual Repukes are getting their friggin' message out even though they are the minority party.

[TeamJordan23]

1. yep, Democratic congress failing us once again. I don't even know where the hell Reid and Pelosi are

or why they aren't fighting these smears.

[rainy]

2. Do the media invite these republicans or do the republicans

call them for an interview? How do you get to be on the air as a congressperson? We have to get to the root of it so we can stop this. It has always been more republicans than Dems but I always thought that it was because they were in power and so got invited to be on more shows. NOW WE ARE IN POWER AND SHOULD BE GETTING THE MOST AIR TIME. Makes me mad also. I can't stand how we keep hearing their talking points and nothing else.

[rvablue]

4. The shows have bookers and they make the calls to have someone on

with the exception of course, if it is someone "high profile" like Pelosi or McCain, for example, and then it might be the other way around.

I think the best we can do, which I intend to do right after I post this, is to get on the horn to my Senator -- Jim Webb -- because he does have some media "cache."

Who are your Congresscritters? Is your Congressperson or either of your Senators close to being "known?" --- if so, give them a call and ask them why you aren't seeing them on any of the cable shows defending the stimulus bill?

BTW, in passing on this advice based on my experience with the media, I am in NO WAY condoning it or affirming it -- just trying to explain the "status quo" of the way it all works.

[rainy]

5. I'm from the same state as you! I'll make some calls today too.

[AndyTiedye]

3. That is Because the Repiglickins OWN THE MEDIA

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. I know some people here oppose it, but some revamped version of the "Fairness Doctrine"

would be nice.

[Dinger]

7. Yes, 100% (nt)

[backscatter712]

8. Obama has to carry the Democratic side in the media by himself.

Others have explained it - that the media moguls call Congresscritters most of the time rather than the other way around, and they will make sure Republicans outnumber Democrats on the bobblehead shows by at least 2 to 1.

Yes, our Congresscritters can call and ask to be on those shows, but frequently they're blown off.

The fact is that the right-wing media can blow off Congressmen and Senators, and they can blow off just about everyone on our side.

They can't blow off the President of the United States.

Fortunately, President Obama is an expert in gaming the media, and has done so brilliantly during his election campaign. He was able to get his message out there, even though the MSM has proven to be as hostile as possible to him.

Now he's got the bully pulpit - so that's something for our side.

[otohara]

9. Shame on MSNBC

I've turned them off due to the amount of pukes vs dems they've had on.

They have made big gains in viewership lately and we know who's watching more...."liberals and progressives".

I will not watch as they systematically take down Obama, I wrote to Chuck Todd & Matthews saying so.
I encourage other DU'ers to do the same.

[rvablue]

10. I agree with you on Chuckie, Tweety, et al, save KO and Rachel. PLEASE

keep in mind that they NEVER have Todd opine on their shows.

They are decent, fair progressive voices and if they continue to get good ratings for those shows and not the other ones, they might just change their format even further.

Please reconsider watching MSNBC from 8 pm to 10 pm!!

[otohara]

11. Okay

but if they start with the "honeymoon over" shit again.....:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: