CO Indy media: talk radio host takes payola to frame Ward Churchill

[Democrats_win]

http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10164/index.php

The Next Armstrong Williams: Caplis accepted “payola” to attack Ward Churchill
by brubaker


An anonymous tipster working with, what was referred to as, a “faith-based think tank”, claims that KHOW/Clear Channel’s Dan Caplis accepted a “gift” from the unnamed group to spread the biased Ward Churchill story in an attempt to “frame the left”, the anti-war movement, and the 9-11 truth movement into “one package”. The person also stated this was a ploy to set-up an “Ideological Enemy” on “American Soil” and to re-invent Ward Churchill as a “sacrificial lamb”.

Details are sketchy.

The claims made by the tipster, if true in whole or in part, would suggest that the neo-conservatives are digging in their heels for another cointelpro-style battle in the homeland. Ward Churchill could be an ideal candidate for the neo-cons because of the fissure created in so many camps such as free speech, 9-11, racism, Native American rights, and the growing anti-Iraq War sentiment. Others have noted that this may be an attempt to push America back toward the right by evoking the emotions of 9-11. With the administrations campaigns to wage wars abroad waning on the world stage, a war at home may be up the neo-cons sleeves to eradicate or minimize their political enemies, which neatly falls into all of the above mentioned issues.
The fervor, credited with originating with Caplis, does follow the pattern of “talking points” that are handed down from producers to talent in both radio and television newsrooms (see “Outfoxed” for reference.)

It is also interesting to note that Ward Churchill has been at the forefront of ousting the governments CoIntelPro (Counter Intelligence Program) and has been critical of the lefts failure to react to repressive government tyranny, making him a very visible and controversial target of many groups.

[bloom]

1. “faith-based think tank”

This would not surprise me.

[HR_Pufnstuf]

12. oxymoron

n/t

[Haymare22]

2. Am I correct....

...this whole CU/Churchill thing is over an article he wrote?

[Democrats_win]

3. Yes, he wrote an article saying 9/11 victims were not innocent ppl.

http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/education/article/0,1299,DRMN_957_3501617,00.html

CU prof's essay sparks dispute
Ward Churchill says 9/11 victims were not innocent people

By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News
January 27, 2005

A University of Colorado professor has sparked controversy in New York over an essay he wrote that maintains that people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were not innocent victims.

[Metrix]

5. I've talked to Ensslin and think he's a nice guy

but think it's better to read the original essay than go by his characterization.

http://www.kersplebedeb.com/mystuff/s11/churchill.html

[Democrats_win]

9. Thanks for the link to "Thee Essay." Its truth scares Americans

because as individuals, we too are not innocent. Maybe that is why the current peace movement is so strong, because these people don't want to be part of the crime anymore.

Odd no one mentions that our war on Iraq does more to harm the names of those killed on 9/11 than Churchill ever could. Too bad Churchill uses a karma-like link between Iraq and 9/11, because Iraq really wasn't a motivation for the 19 hijackers.

[EC]

8. This link provides the same mis-information

the White House wants to make people believe...Here is the link to the text of the essay...I can see how he comes to his conclusions and he is right in the context he is trying to put forth...what he said is nothing like what the misinformation is putting out there...the quotes are out of context and misrepresenting of the whole paper:

http://www.darknightpress.org/index.php?i=print&article=9

[Haymare22]

7. So now.....

...its not only talking but writing too. Old writing if Im correct.
Hmm, thought police, how very quaint.
}(

[Metrix]

4. Caplis is an uber Catholic and

former seminary student, I think. Nephew of a priest. He emerged in local media covering the O.J. trial, and had a squeaky clean image at the time. The contrast with what I hear the few times I've listened to his current show is striking. He is partnered with former Assistant D.A. Silverman, whom the public defenders had many complaints against for his slimy tactics, but I find Silverman clear and rational in comparison. Caplis was extremely anti-Kerry. Gave the Swift Liars ample air time. He seems motivated by the anti-abortion issue above all others.

[Metrix]

6. Dan's Plan

http://www.westword.com/issues/2005-02-03/news/message.html

Then, on January 28, during a remote from the University of Colorado at Boulder campus, Caplis and Silverman landed the first live radio interview with CU professor Ward Churchill since news broke about an essay in which Churchill likened 9/11 victims to "little Eichmanns." The two can't be credited with bringing these remarks to the attention of publications such as the New York Times. But it's likely that their brutal tag-teaming of Churchill helped inspire CU regents to schedule a February 3 meeting to deal with the flap, and perhaps even hastened the prof's resignation as chairman of the university's ethnic-studies program.

Caplis trusts that he's in the right medium to make things happen. "Talk radio is a real privilege, because, to my mind, it's the best opportunity out there to try and affect public opinion," he says. "You can lay facts out there for people to consider and, hopefully, change the world in some small way."

[trudyco]

10. So does Churchill still have a job?

Last I heard they found out he got hired as an Indian but he isn't one.

What is the latest?

[Metrix]

11. No, saying he is not an Indian is one of the things the talk show

hacks are pushing. Yet Craig Silverman admitted on Channel 12 last night that he has no proof of that. He just repeats over and over that other people have said it. Then he cited an erroneous newspaper article from Hawaii to that effect. (The newspaper has since issued a retraction.) Alan Gilbert (Condoleezza's professor) did a good job refuting Silverman on Channel 12.

This will blow over, and Caplis & Silverman will be the worse for it. I had never heard of Ward Churchill, and now I may just read a book or two of his.

[Democrats_win]

13. Kick. The Clear Channel mukraking op in CO marches on.

They even have a homepage on FR!! Today, this arrogant lawyer, dan caplis, has an ad in the Boulder Daily Camera saying Churchill should be fired.

Presstitution has come to Colorado.

[eleny]

14. Jay Marvin interviewed Caplis this morning

It wasn't heated. JM just kept to his point that Caplis is using selected, out of context sound bites of Churchill's words and misinterpreting Churchill's meaning.

JM also interviewed Churchill's free speech attorney. He said that the school is approaching Churchill with a package to buy him out. No details were discussed in this morning's interview. But the attorney said he thought it was a good idea all around so Churchill can then move on with his life.

[Democrats_win]

15. Interesting.

They ad they put in the paper has a lot of quotes, probably taken out of context. RW radio creating hysteria is no fun.

[Metrix]

16. CU Faculty Who Signed Full-Page Ad To Be Targeted

Commenting on faculty support for Churchill, Craig Silverman threatened: "I'm going to save this Boulder Daily Camera because I want to remember who these professors are."

According to an informed source, faculty members who signed the pro-Churchill ad are now being investigated by KHOW's friends. Stay tuned for the witch-hunt to widen.

http://colorado.indymedia.org/feature/display/10505/index.php

It may be time to explore whether Silverman and Caplis really should have law licenses. They need to come out and be full-time media whores.

[Democrats_win]

17. Before reading this, I was going to give Silverman a break, but

aparently he's can't find a real job as a lawyer. I wonder if he'll dare show his face on that channel 12 Inside Out show now that he's become part of the problem.