MSNBC squelched Donahue, Press and Buchanan to make way for Iraq war cheerleaders

[JohnyCanuck]

by Philip Weiss on June 12, 2012 5

The American Conservative this month has more antiwar articles than any publication on the left. The cover piece is by Jordan Bloom, "When News Is Propaganda," and its most disturbing section details the ways that the cable news networks folded in the runup to the Iraq war. Jeez, look at the memo about Phil Donahue-- not a good face for the network at at time of war.

Since CNN broadcast some of the opening volleys in the first Gulf War, the history of cable news has been inextricably tied to foreign conflict. War is a godsend for the networks. The public sits at home in rapt patriotism while the network brings on experts who speculate about minute details and strategies in language with just enough jargon to sound convincing.

The elephant in the room—the advertising and viewership benefits of war—has never been acknowledged by any of the three networks. But they regularly censor antiwar voices.

“There is little room for an antiwar point of view, either from the left or right, on television today,” says [Bill] Press, whose show on MSNBC was cancelled because he and co-host [Pat] Buchanan were both against the Iraq War. He criticizes the media’s failure to question government assertions about military operations.

http://mondoweiss.net/2012/06/msnbc-squelched-donahue-press-and-buchanan-to-make-way-for-iraq-war-cheerleaders.html

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, JohnyCanuck.

[msongs]

2. Gulf War 1 first day was a huge day for the pizza delivery business however, as

one minute after CNN started showing that green screen with bomb sounds, Americans swamped Domino's, Pizza Hut, etc
with calls and orders. I know because I was working at a Domino's. The manager had to hit the phone and call in everybody he could contact to come in and shill pizzas. It was a madhouse.

[sabrina 1]

3. They forgot Ashley Banfield and Christiane Amanpour.

[Ninga]

4. Of course. Me thinks not one current MSNBC talking head would tackle this...n/t

[freshwest]

5. I remember. It wasn't about ratings/$$$s, it was about pushing the war for their MIC owners' profits

We would do well to look behind the curtain to see who is profiting off the swill they're slopping to us on television and radio, instead of what it is packaged to be about.

They make more money off the industrial interests they push under the guise of 'national security, crime, terrorism, crisis, reform' or whatever name they choose to pay speakers to blab about, and what the businesses of the owners are.

The amount the networks get for ads and the amounts they pay in costs pale in comparison to the drain these vampires have on the national treasuries of the world, to sell their product, be it oil or weapons or war, a combination deal.

[girl gone mad]

8. IMO, they've silenced criticism of the bank bailouts..

and our lousy economic policies for the same reason.

GE was one of the biggest benefactors of the bailouts and GE doesn't want its taxes raised and would prefer to see the continued looting of the 99%.

[RagAss]

6. The blood is on their fucking hands.

[Mosaic]

7. msnbc is republican propaganda

With a faux caring liberal veneer. Don't be fooled.

[cynatnite]

9. Sure it is with commies like Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell and Ed Schultz...

[spanone]

10. the media is not liberal. period.

[mzmolly]

11. Not to mention Arnett and Banfield

I'm sure there were more.