When Did CNN Become a Shill for GOP Extremism and the Tea Party?

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Adele M. Stan

When Did CNN Become a Shill for GOP Extremism and the Tea Party?
Tea Party Express is not a grassroots group; it's a registered political PAC that funds right-wing candidates. And CNN is helping them.

September 12, 2011 |


CNN, once known for its unflinching coverage of actual news events, last night decided to become a maker, not a chronicler, of news. When the cable news network decided to partner with the Tea Party Express for a debate among the Republican presidential candidates, it cast aside any ethical concerns a news organization might have about direct involvement in elections and active engagement in altering the dynamics of a political party.

You could say there was a bit of a payoff, after a fashion, for the American people in the bargain, though: an unvarnished look at who the rank-and-file of the Tea Party really are, and what they believe. The audience in Tampa was said to comprise members of 150 Tea Party groups from across the nation. True to form, they applauded at the notion of an uninsured person in a coma being left to die (as suggested by Rep. Ron Paul of Texas), and booed Texas Gov. Rick Perry for saying that undocumented citizens who were brought to this country as children, through no fault of their own, should be allowed to pursue a higher education here.

If the Tea Party Express was nothing more than a political constituency of the Republican Party, that would be bad enough. But it's not: it's a political action committee, directly involved in electioneering, and the CNN event promises to aid the fundraising efforts of the Tea Party Express PAC. CNN's co-sponsorship of the Tea Party Express debate amounts to an incalculable in-kind contribution to a far-right political PAC, elevating its brand name, providing free air time and event-staging, and conferring an aura of legitimacy on an organization that is essentially a fundraising operation for anti-government candidates. If this isn't illegal, it's time to scream from the rafters, why not?

In the 2010 midterm elections, Tea Party Express raised a total of $7.7 million, which it spent on the U.S. Senate campaigns of Christine ("I'm not a witch") O'Donnell, Del.; Sharron Angle, Nev.; Joe Miller, Alaska; and Marco Rubio, Fla., among others. In fact, Tea Party Express donated the maximum allowable amount to the congressional campaign of Rep. Michele Bachmann, something that none of the other contenders at last night's debate can claim. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/152386/when_did_cnn_become_a_shill_for_gop_extremism_and_the_tea_party/

[hobbit709]

1. When in the last few years haven't they been?

[liberal N proud]

2. Since forever

[spanone]

3. guess you could say the same for m$nbc last week???

[NorthCarolina]

4. The tea party has been around how long now and they already have their own debate??

How about a CPCC Debate sponsored by one of the networks?

[rhett o rick]

5. I believe it was 2000. Seems I've heard the story about the head of CNN

flying to Washington to meet with the new president Bush to apologize for any criticism of him by CNN during the campaign. They have been part of the GOP propaganda network ever since.

[Ganja Ninja]

6. Wouldn't it be nice if just for once a network would "partner" with an

extreme liberal group for a Republican debate. Not a debate between the candidates but with liberal opponents on one side of the table and Republican candidates on the other side. Lets have a debate where lies & hypocrisy are not allowed to stand without rebuttal or correction. Lets put them in a real hot seat for once.

[ChillbertKChesterton]

7. CNN's main goal is to portrey itself as the "middle ground"

the right in the middle of stupid and insane.

If the Republicans claimed the earth was flat CNN would run the headlines "parties disagree about shape of Earth", they'd have a "debate" with both sides being able to give 30 second sound bites before they cut to coverage about the latest red carpet fashion disaster.

Breaking News: Zoe Deschanel tweeted "this tofu dog is better than the real thing"!

coming up tonight, CNN Special Reporting: Do you have a black friend?

[ThomWV]

8. I'd put it somewhere around 2000~2001

[KharmaTrain]

9. All The Cables Are Manipulated...By $$$$$$

Chicken Noodle Nuze probably drew more eyeballs for that freak show last night than they had for the past 6 months. These "debates" have become games for the various cables to play with. Had there been a contested Democratic primary, my bets are CNN would be sponsoring one as well. This is all about trying to be "relevant" and get viewers. It's a one-shot play and a desperate one for a network that was once the leader and now is reduced to being a parody of a news channel. Just as MTV does no music and the "History" channel is all reality, the "News" in CNN is purely a suggestion.

[lpbk2713]

10. CNN got first billing.

At least they got that part right.

[Vanje]

11. about 1994

nt

[liberalla]

12. Hey CNN! Haven't you heard? The T-Party is a loser

The 2011 National Tea Party Convention, "Freedom Fest 2011", was scheduled for October in Kansas City. It was going to be a "Tea Party Woodstock." (without all the hippies, drugs and trash...) :eyes:

But get this - this same Tea Party Convention has been cancelled
due to low registration and lack of interest. :spray:


The sad announcement is here: http://www.freedomfest2011.com/

:rofl:

[blm]

13. When NWO fascists maneuvered Ted Turner out the door thru AOL/TimeWarner deal.

AOLs Steve Case was BFEE loyalist who grossly exaggerated AOLs assets to get the deal made ala Enron.

[KurtNYC]

16. +1 Ding!

[Doctor_J]

14. At least 20 years ago

duh

[NNN0LHI]

15. I really dislike CNN but I am going to defend them on this call

They did the entire country a favor by highlighting this group of psychopaths for all to see.

This is the side of the GOP that is usually only exhibited behind closed doors. CNN displayed the way these wackadoodles really think and brought it right into everyones living room for all to see.

And that may not have been the purpose of hosting this debate either? Good chance it wasn't the purpose.

But that is the result of televising this Klan meeting.

Don

[MineralMan]

17. When it became profitable for them to do so.

:shrug:

[Kahuna]

18. 2000, when they climbed in bed with bushco. nt