Earlier today my colleague the MRC's Business & Media Institute director Dan Gainor testified before a Senate panel on the media's biased presentation of climate change science. Gainor's testimony is a coup for the MRC and invaluable for the public record. Of course the aim is not to legislate or regulate the media. By no means. But it's an honor when your boss gets to flesh out our hard work and intensive research for the congressional record.
Read more about it at BusinessandMedia.org, particularly right here.
Oh, and here's the link to our study on the media's 110-year history of hype on climate change: "Fire and Ice."
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Comments Policy
"Of course the aim is
December 6, 2006 - 17:21 ET by sarcasmo"Of course the aim is not to legislate or regulate the media. By no means."
Good, that's nice to hear. Perhaps it follows that we can resolve to work to totally defund both: the left's holy of media holies (NPR/PBS) & the right's (FDR's white elephant; the thuggish, expensive, and overpolitical FCC). By all means, let's spend less (like none) of my tax money on the left's & the right's various sinecure government jobs & political shenanigans...
JMR
Yeah, well, I added that be
December 6, 2006 - 17:31 ET by Ken ShepherdYeah, well, I added that because when interest groups testify to Congress, usually it's to push a regulatory agenda. I want to make clear to readers of this blog who may be unaware of our intentions that that is by no means the case.
Now, with PBS and taxpayer-funded institutions, yes, there is a role for federal oversight, because it's a legitimate issue for Congress pertaining to the use/abuse of tax dollars.
But even there the aim would be defunding and privatizing the PBS/NPR news outlets, not in political micromanagement. At any rate as a 501(c)3, we don't endorse candidates or legislation or lobby for changes in U.S. law.
Ok, but part of the reason
December 6, 2006 - 17:45 ET by sarcasmoOk, but part of the reason I initially popped-up around here was to directly take on those who were egging-on the FCC against Howard Stern, and that seems to include a bit of the masthead, even if not you personally. I think any big government forced political speech or any speech regulation -- especially extrajudicial speech regulation such as "McCain Feingold" & the FEC or the FCC -- is constitutionally suspect at best under the first amendment. Beyond that, I also think that basically: "To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." And I'm not the first one to say that...
JMR
Ken - link to the video
December 6, 2006 - 18:14 ET by Gary HallKen. I watched most of the last 1/2 the AM, and other than wanting to note the giddy excitement of the staffer sitting behind Barbara Boxer, every time Boxer said something completely off the wall or non-pertinent to the actual issues at hand, I was very impressed with Dan Gainor's performance.
As soon as the entire video replay becomes available, I'm sure all at NB would appreciate the link being posted. Thanks.
Ken-could you please fill us
December 6, 2006 - 18:45 ET by CaringwhiteguyKen-could you please fill us in a little more on the panel? Who chaired, Inhofe? Another poster noted the presence of Sen. Boxer. Who else showed up, Republicans & Democrats?
Caringwhiteguy...Inhofe chair
December 6, 2006 - 19:00 ET by bassndudeCaringwhiteguy...Inhofe chairs the committee, I think it is the Senate Environment Committee. So every one on the committee was there. Both parties were there, with invited guests.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
googling Senate Committee o
December 6, 2006 - 20:01 ET by John in CAgoogling Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works returns -
Hearing on Climate Change and the Media
Committee Members in attendance"
Sen. James M. Inhofe, of Oklahoma.
Sen. Christopher S. Bond, of Missouri.
Sen. George V. Voinovich , of Ohio.
Sen. John Thune, of South Dakota.
Sen. Johnny Isakson, of Georgia.
Sen. James M. Jeffords, of Vermont.
Sen. Barbara Boxer, California.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, of New Jersey.
Site linked above includes Witness List
Give a Democrat Party free America a chance!
Thanks--I too have done some
December 6, 2006 - 20:35 ET by CaringwhiteguyThanks--I too have done some Googling. Here is the link to members of the committee. http://epw.senate.gov/members/members.htm. There are 18 members, 10 Republicans & 8 Democrats. Attendees listed above are 5 Republicans, 2 Democrats and 1 WhateverJeffordsCallsHimself. Among the missing are those two MSM darlings, Senator Clinton & Senator Obama. Also missing is Senator Chaffee, who is busy packing boxes.
BroomHillary is busy meetin
December 6, 2006 - 20:53 ET by John in CABroomHillary is busy meeting with demo insiders and movers and shakers laying the groundwork for her presidential run.
Jeffords is Jumpin' Jim Jeffords - he got his feelins' hurt and threw a temper tantrum. That's what he is. And so he leaves and the state of Vermont elects a socialist to the Senate.
Give a Democrat Party free America a chance!
BroomHillary is busy meetin
December 6, 2006 - 21:12 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsBroomHillary is busy meeting with demo insiders and movers and shakers laying the groundwork for her presidential run.
I hear she has thrown down the gauntlet and had her puppets tell Obama 'hands off' the 2008 presidential race or the 'Clinton Hit Team' (patent pending) will ruin him.
DSG
...and here come the femini
December 6, 2006 - 21:48 ET by John in CA...and here come the feminist defenders. If anyone criticizes BroomHillary it's going to be based on sexism.
As soon as I saw this Fox Opinion headline First Whiffs of Sexism in HIllary's Presidential Coverage I knew it was from Susan Estrich.
[...] But it’s always different with Hillary.
There’s something about Hillary. And it definitely has to do with her sex.
Maybe Estrich should consider that it's not about Hillary being a female, it's about Hillary being Hillary.
Give a Democrat Party free America a chance!
Run, Hillary, Run
December 6, 2006 - 22:12 ET by Blonde.
John,
Hillary has sex? (something to do with her sex) Sheesh!
Susan Estrich is about the only dem I won't channel surf beyond. She's got a good sense of humor...even if her voice leaves a bit to be desired. But she is funny, and for a lib, usually pretty honest about the foibles of the left. Plus, I think she doesn't care overly much for Her Nibs.
HR Clinton thinks she's already been annointed....and Barak should "step to the back of the line"....how's that for liberal hypocricy and race-baiting? Laughing.
I can't wait for Hillary to run. It will be a debacle that goes down in history as the debacle of all time. The woman has more baggage than the entire Emirates on tour.
Run, Hillary, Run.
I can't wait to put that bumper sticker on the front left bumper of my car!
Also missing is Senator Cha
December 6, 2006 - 21:08 ET by Jack BauerAlso missing is Senator Chaffee, who is busy packing boxes.
Oh I imagine he has his valet, pool boy and butler do that proletariat activity, doncha know.
Proud member of the all-powerful and vast
militarist/industrialist/capitalist/zionist-bagelist complex
Thanks--I too have done some
December 6, 2006 - 20:35 ET by Caringwhiteguy