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Media Blackout: CNN Fox News and MSNBC Ignore 100,000 WI Protesters
Over 100,000 people in Madison, Wisconsin were joined by thousands of other Americans around the country in protest of Gov. Scott Walker’s attempt to strip collective bargaining rights from the state’s unionized workers, but you would not have known any of this if you watched cable news on Saturday as the coverage of the protests ranged from disappointing (MSNBC) to scant (CNN) to non-existent (Fox News).
AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale estimated that the crowd was over 100,000 people before the rally began at 3 PM. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, police estimated the crowd size at around 70,000 three hours before the rally began, “Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain said the number of protesters around the Capitol is on the scale of last Saturday’s peak crowd of an estimated 68,000 and could swell even more for a 3 p.m. rally.”
Here are some highlights from the protests around the country from Moveon.org:
Hundreds of thousands of Americans around the country march on their governments in an event that would be a perfect fit for the 24 hour cable news cycle. Even better, the protests were occurring during the news cycle dead zone of Saturday afternoon. The coverage should have been everywhere in the media, but if you turned on your television in hopes of watching the rally from Wisconsin live, you were disappointed.
As the official state run television of the Republican Party, Fox News has been openly and loudly supporting Gov. Walker. It is no surprise that the right wing network would ignore the events in Madison and around the country today. A propaganda outlet never spends much time relaying information that is detrimental to their message.
CNN, which is supposed to be the moderate network in the cable news ideological spectrum, sort of thought they should cover the story, so they did a few minute and half live cut ins here and there. No wall to wall coverage of course, but they at least managed to pull themselves away from celebrating the Tea Party long enough to take a quick glance at Madison.
Now we come to MSNBC. Sigh, the so called liberal news network. MSNBC couldn’t be bothered to break away from their Lock Up and Dateline reruns documentary bloc to cover a landmark event that has reunified the left, and is likely to have an impact on the 2012 presidential election.
If there is one network that progressives/liberals thought understood this, it was MSNBC. However MSNBC has never really been overly interested in covering the news, much less live news events on a weekend. If I had a dollar for every time MSNBC has disappointed their viewership by being AWOL when news happens, I’d be a very wealthy man.
All three cable networks share something else in common besides their decision to ignore today’s rallies. CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News along with most other forms of media have decided that liberal protests aren’t newsworthy. They believe that the ratings and the money are in the right, not the left. The three cable networks are corporate owned and only for the purpose of profit. They don’t care about journalism or their obligation to inform the public.
This is all about dollars, and the outdated notion that the most profitable way to run a cable news outlet is to be like Fox News, which is why CNN keeps hiring more and more right wingers and has hopped into bed with the Tea Party Express.
There is a deeper bias evident in the case of the Wisconsin rallies. The corporate ownership of these networks, like most businesses, is anti-union. They assume that all of America is also anti-union, and they have conveniently ignored all the polling that shows the American people are behind the protesters in order to rationalize ignoring the protests.
The networks assume that since there is no money to be made by covering the left, America isn’t interested in events like the protests in Madison. At least this is what they tell themselves in order to justify their own biases in filtering out the news. The problem is that when the cable networks stay stuck in their old model and ignore these stories, new media steps up to fill the void, today’s generation of Internet news viewers and tweeters are tomorrow’s would be cable news viewers. If cable news insists on imposing their myopic definition of news, those viewers may not be tuning in.
By focusing on a misguided cash grab, corporate cable news is sowing the seeds of its own stagnation. A protest was held today that was bigger than anything that the Tea Party has ever done, but you wouldn’t know it if you were watching TV. There is something seriously wrong with a news gathering and reporting apparatus that devotes more live coverage to the protests in Egypt than protests in Wisconsin. Egypt was a big story, but the a fight for the very survival of the middle class should not be ignored.
Cable news, your bias is showing.
Image Courtesy of Move On
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130 Responses to Media Blackout: CNN Fox News and MSNBC Ignore 100,000 WI Protesters
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novenator
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
I guess the only way to get attention these days is to start carrying signs that read, “we came unarmed…this time” like the Tea Party does.
Sue
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Actually I put on FUX NOOZE today(something I try never to do) because MSNBC and CNN were not showing much of anything. MSNBC shows nothing but trash after noon anyway. So the segments shown on FUX never said the crowd size, from what I heard, so this is a nice surprise! GO MADISON and union protesters around the country! I’m so proud!!
Reynardine
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 7:42 pm
On broadcast news, CBS did a reasonably decent story, but oddly enough, the best coverage I saw was on Al Jazeera, which has newscasts on MHZ that are carried on digital splits of various PBS channels (15.3 in the local market).
Sarah Jones
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
I watched the live feed and it was amazing. They missed the boat – lots of movement, color, great emotion, patriotism, tons of people, great music inside and outside, it was gorgeous, people were everywhere — it was guaranteed eyeballs. They messed up.
When I turned CNN on to the second anniversary of the Tea Party, I shook my head. They were interviewing one person inside. Talk about boring. They wonder why their ratings are so low.
Bill Michtom
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
“oddly enough, the best coverage I saw was on Al Jazeera”
As I suspect you know by now, not odd at all.
Sarah Jones
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Yes. Well….A sad state of affairs.
lee may
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
So disappointed at the coverage, doesn’t do the efforts of those in Madison any justice. I was there, energy incredible. Came home to see instead news coverage of teabaggers effort to recall sen. Wirch in Kenosha. Need to shift strategy to get better coverage of the efforts. We need to spread out and organize recall efforts of Republican senator.
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
it’s probably time that we all start watching Al Jazeera or at least reading it whenever we can. I noticed CNN the other day was just sticking to the Libya story which quite frankly it’s good that they’re protesting, it’s bad that they’re dying en masse but I don’t think it’s as important to me as Wisconsin is. I find myself everyday caring less and less about what happens around the world and worry more and more about the 2000 mile wide world that we live in. I guess the three networks are just doing their job by making sure we don’t know what’s going on.
So now we have Fox Fox and Fox to go along with dumber dumber and dumb. I think it would be nice to start hammering CNN on the twitter. Not that it would do any good
Sue
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 8:48 pm
I agree Shiva!
jlt
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 8:56 am
In fact, cnn hates having their comment box ‘ littered’ with views other than what they espouse…. You can comment on each show..really easy.
Have touted Al Jazeera for 2 years… The Live stream is great and note msnbc is using their reporter to comment! It was the conservapub fear pushing of ‘other’ that made people shy away! All lies from the right! They are the only ones with multi reporters on the ground!
Let the nets know the disgrace of pushing the repub agenda and ignoring what is happening across the country but especially with the corporate vomit walker!
Doug
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
We know tv “news” is garbage. Encourage your friends and family to turn off the tv and get their news online. Here are a couple of sites I read regularly rt.com/ , english.aljazeera.net/ , www.therealnewsradio.com/ , www.thevenusproject.com/. Please list some of your favs for me. We are all one world. As hard as it may seem, pensions and cba’s don’t matter more than people’s lives even if they are on the other side of the world. BTW, I am a proud member of the IBEW and I support the Wi. protests.
Sarah Jones
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Thanks Doug. Just fyi, this isn’t about pensions. The WI unions pay their own pensions.
p lochner
Mar. 13th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
and a good thing too. most underfunded public pensions are in trouble because the money was mis appropriated by their employer. now they blame the victim. whats next, will it be legal for muggers to beat their victims after they take the money?
Debbie Konkol
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
WHY? Why isn’t this the biggest National story of the weekend? It was 14 degrees, snowed constantly and there were at least over a 100,000 people marching at our Capitol! If this isn’t news, what is??????? Seriously – I want to know WHY????
Julia D.
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
corporate power, Debbie! That’s why, and that’s also the answer to most other questions you might think of that start with WHY??? Greedy corporations with no sense of social responsibility have turned news shows from journalistic enterprises into their own propaganda machines. Stop watching them and check out the online media instead: TheNation, DemocracyNOW, TPM, TruthOut, MoveOn, etc etc.
Eykis
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 11:30 am
Debbie,
Sorry foryou not getting the coverage in Wisconsin that is so deserved. There were many signs in Nashville supporting the Wisconsin protesters and the local media here showed the solidarity. Check out wsmv.com.
I truly understand how upsetting and frustrating it can be to get no coverage of an event that is very newsworthy. I started commenting on the Great Flood of Nashville IMMEDIATELY when I turned on the teevee and saw a house floating onto I-24 – nobody would put in on the national news. The big story of that week was the non-bombing of Times Square and the gulf oil volcano had just happened. For some reason, a 500 Year Flood was not news. I screamed at HuffPo for four days and finally got a small thread at the bottom of the main for about 4 hours. Sickening – the Flood here was horrendous and people died and nobody in the media cared.
Hrafnkell
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
I just hate that liberal media elite with all their left-wing lies, don’t you?
Hrafnkell
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
CNN is now saying 70,000 protested in Madison so at least they mention an event actually took place: www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS...
Sarah Jones
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
It was 70,000 hours before the official rally time of 3PM. But I am just pleased they mentioned it. I hope it didn’t hurt them:-)
A
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
There is something seriously wrong with a news gathering and reporting apparatus that devotes more live coverage to the protests in Egypt than protests in Wisconsin.
No, there isn’t. While the union protests are supremely important and should have gotten lots of live coverage, Egypt was overthrowing a long-reigning violent dictator, and did. That’s just on a whole different level.
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Egypt was overthrowing a long reigning dictator. and he is gone. And right now the emphasis is on the people of America in 19 states who stand to lose their rights. At that point Egypt suddenly becomes second fiddle. Just like the people of Egypt are fighting for their rights, we are now involved in a struggle all over the United States for our rights. Every single person in the United States should be outraged at at the Gov. of Wisconsin and the governors of 19 other states. Every single person who works, every single person who is looking for a job, and every single person in college who is going to be working, every 16-year-old is looking for a job in 2 to 3 years or even today.
Everyone of us should be at least enraged if not writing letters and protesting as the good people of Wisconsin are. Everyone of us
Sarah Jones
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Copy that!
Emmie Wagenaar-Sjöberg
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 8:33 am
Hi Shiva, I fully agree with your words. I myself am born in Holland during the WWII and know and feel how much this change of future means to Egypt and Tunesia, Lybia is on th edge of the same turning of history, but they have to pay it with horrible amounts of lives. I also know how difficult the wobbling economy is making it for millions of people and a shame on those who make hurtfull decisions without giving notice to what most of the inhabitants need and want to come through this difficult economic times.
greetings, Emmie W-S
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 8:49 am
Thank you Emmie. It seems as the people of this coutry are at a vulnerable position at this time. And no matter where you are when people are vulnerable there is someone there to step on them
Ack
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
On the CNN.com front page, “Quiz: How long is too long for a nap?” has more space devoted to it than the Wisconsin protests.
Sarah Jones
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Geeze, we’d hate to interfere with the napping quiz and the Sheen coverage. Maybe Britney is shaving her head again!
theHoundDawg
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
It is a shame that to MSNBC their sponsored “entertainment” shows and the $$ they rake in is so much more important than following the issues and events so dear to the hearts of their core audience, and to so much of the rest of America. They could preempt their jail shows for one afternoon, call in a couple of their newspeople (Keith? Where are you? Keith?), and show the monumental events of the day.
janice Nesbit
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 12:35 am
here is Keith’s new website Friends of Keith
foknewschannel.com
Dana
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Thanks Janice for the info about Keith’s blog. To the credit of some of the host of MSNBC during the week, they would have covered it if it had occurred during their shows. Ed Schultz has been right there in Madison. Unfortunately it’s still corporate owned-GE, ComCast, or both. Rachel Maddow was gutsy enough to mention that a week or so ago.
Pam Peterson
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
Thank you so much for pointing this out! Seriously for every 30 sec clip of a nationwide protest in each of the 50 capitals, they had 5-8 min / hr devoted to how Charlie Sheen is doing?? what a sad statement on the media and you can see the future of news lies in online social media for coverage!
Reynardine
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
I grant you that sometimes I think Charlie Sheen and Lindsey Lohan exist just to keep Americans from noticing anything important.
Jonny NYC
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
it’s crazy that they give so much attention to those tea party lunatics who are just doing the bidding of the very corporate power that is screwing the people of this country into the ground … and then ignore thousands of informed Americans standing up for their rights.
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
I think “Informed Americans” scares the bejesus out of them
Lori Schary
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
(Keith? Where are you? Keith?),
Check out FOK (Friends of Keith) News. Don’t have the web site.
Sarah Jones
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
He’s on Current TV:-) Yea Current!
Sammy
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Keith Olbermann glog is called:
FOK News Channel or
The Official Not-For-Profit Blog of Keith Olbermann
foknewschannel.com
There is a very good piece on the media’s ignoring of what is happening in WI. KO does not pull any punches.
janice N
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 12:37 am
here is the url
foknewschannel.com
Droggnon
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
It’s Saturday. News coverage on MSNBC and CNN is always terrible on Saturdays. Did you really think it was going to change just for today?
Sean Oliver
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 1:54 am
I live in Madison (born here) and I was at the rally today. Incredible. 100,000 plus easily. The crowd was energized and in a good, positive mood in defiance of the cold & snow. There was a two hour line to enter the capitol, and inside the building it was absolutely packed on each of the 3 floors
Lots of whole families present. Middle America. Hardhats, teachers, firefighters, and best of all, the cops, are all on the same side with progressives. Almost nobody here that the media could characterize as “loony left”. It was all about Joe Sixpack with the wife & kids in full force. I saw a quiet, shy little 6 y.o. girl holding a “I’m A Union Thug” sign. So cute! Many other great, funny, clever home made signs. I didn’t see any spelling mistakes on them!
This kind of thing makes the T-Party with their stupid guns and screaming hate-speech look like total jackasses.
Keep in mind that the TV news (and other journalists too) generally all operate with tiny staffs on weekends. That’s probably (I say probably) why there was little fresh coverage. Wait until Monday. Maddow, Cenk, Ed S, O’Donnel on MSNBC all have been devoting alot of time to us, especially last Fri.
The occupation of the Capitol for two weeks has been wonderful too. During each day, the union guys all march through, and at noon, the local firefighters bagpipe band escorted by about 200 firefighters in their helmets march all through the capitol building, playing the pipes loud. The crowds go wild. Same with the local Law Enforcement union when they march through. Today the cops were in full dress uniform. If everyone in America could see this, the Republican party and the conservative movement would die instantly.
Despite all the political signs taped to the marble walls, it’s more like a non-stop party. Many groups of young school kids from all over Wis are staying overnight with a mom or two as chaperone. Free pizza from Ian’s 5 times a day.
I wish it could go on forever, and maybe it will if Gov. Walker doesn’t agree to compromise. I hope he doesn’t.
(The COPS!! On our side!)
Sean Oliver
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 2:03 am
And I didn’t see a single Obama sign. He is toast in 2012 if he keeps sucking up to Wall St and letting the Republicans screw Main St. like they’ve been doing for 40 years.
Erik Jurado
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 4:23 am
You make a great point in regards to the MSNBC crew. I always figured that they didn’t have any politics on the weekend so that people would actually go out and experience the world for 2 days instead of being hypnotized by what others think, said or did. But, now that I read your post about how weekends have lighter crews I realize that I’m at least half right. I must admit, I am easily impressed by rebellious optimism!
Barbra
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Why Mitt Romney on the top? This was not about him today and no I do not want to join his team.
Also want to say I hate weekends when MSNBC has those jail house people and cop on. I wish they would find more anchors for the weekends.
Lori Schary
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Try: foknewschannel.com.
theHoundDawg
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Yea, I know about his blog foknewschannel.com/ and Current TV. That was sarcasm regarding Keith no longer being at MSNBC and thus unable to cover major newsworthy events.
busynurse
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
Sigh. And the local network (WTMJ 4 – Milwaukee) gave the story precisely two minutes. Half of which was devoted to interviewing the two tea partiers at the rally today. C’mon, people!!!
Callie
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
Maybe we can take up a collection to buy a plane ticket & get Lindsay Lohan or Charlie Sheen to Madison? The networks would definitely cover WI then.
There
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Please don’t send them to Madison!! We have enough problems with our idiot Governor
Yaledelay
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
I was at the protest today, I marched with the police union, the teachers union of Milwaukee and a few other unions. The crowd was 100000 strong by most estimates.
Libber
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Perhaps the Koch brothers had something to do with the lack of media coverage. I’m just saying.
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
and I am agree-in
R Boyer
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Ed Schultz was covering this all last week. In person. On the ground.
The Middle East was a bit busy last week, too.
And I’m pissed as hell that DOMA change got about ten minutes in a 24-hour cycle.
But that’s life.
MSNBC is NOT going to change their weekend line-up any time soon.
Get over it. Deal with reality. Stop conflating.
Tom Kenny
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
It is unfortunate that unless someones head is being stomped or their lives threatened, the 24 hour news is not interested. Sex and violence sells. It has always been that way and it will always be that way. MSNBC is actually the worst offender with their glorification of gangsters show “Lock Up”. CNN is competing with Al Jazeera now and has little interest in anything in the USA unless it is a disaster, a sex scandal or a violent act. FOX…well…enough said right their…FOX. Things are going to have to get a lot worse if righteous causes are to get any attention.
Alesandra House
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:49 pm
hhhhahahahahaha way to go CNN!
Dave
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 12:59 am
I would also recommend Peter Joseph’s lectures, Where are we now and Where are we going.
Bry
Feb. 26th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Callie, all we’d have to do is say, “Hey guys, we have about two pounds of coke, and if you come here, it’s alllllll yours!”
And though I’m sure many of you are aware of this particular movement, if you haven’t and you’d like to, check out Zeitgeist: Addendum & Zeitgeist: Moving Forward full-length on youTube. I can’t explain it, you just have to see it.
Sending major support from Canada!! … I’m sure we won’t be too far behind in protesting the kind of garbage our government is trying to impose on us…
Dave
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 12:31 am
I don’t believe the media is avoiding the protests because of financial interests. More I believe they are ignoring it because they are being told to. Let’s face it, our government has had control over what we see and read for decades. Most recently our government sent out directives to our media that that “diplomat” who killed two “robbers” in Pakistan was not to be reported on and only after The Guardian broke the story did we hear that he was actually a CIA Operative did we see it in the states. The fact is, if you want to find out what’s going on in America you have to get your news from outside of it.
Sammy
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Excuse me?
Do you have even the slighest idea as to what you are talking about? Or are you one of the right-wing trolls who are paid a few pennies to make foolish comments on progressive web sites?
The gubmint’ did not tell the news organizations not to report on what is happening in WI. The media are owned by corporations and rich right-wingers (Rupert, anyone) who decides what gets reported. Also, too, most of those in what passes for the main-stream media have no personal interest or concern for the average person not in their income bracket and are no more than shills, lapdogs and hacks for the right-wingers. They are not real journalists.
Anyone who is even slightly informed knows this.
Denise
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 12:31 am
I don’t know about the rest of you but I don’t have cable or satellite. If it isn’t on the net or in the newspapers I don’t normally hearing about. I think our form of media and where we get our information from is changing…. and CNN and MSCBC are for the older folks… not me in my mid 50′s.
Not Anybody
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 12:37 am
It wasn’t based on fear. Because if its not fearful, its not news.
Kathy Payne
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 1:23 am
www.savetheinternet.com/
Conservative Heart
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 1:34 am
Wisconsin rally isn’t being covered because unions aren’t news. Unions are the devil’s work and don’t deserve any publicity.
janice N
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 12:49 am
You like having weekends off? Thank the union movement. You like a 40 hour work week? Thank the union movement. You like being paid extra when you work overtime? Thank the union movement. You like laws against child labor? Thank the union movement. You like workplace safety? Thank the union movement.
Archaeopteryx
Mar. 1st, 2011 at 4:06 pm
The devil’s work! Oh my! Really? You sound certain. Did the voices in your head tell you this? You present such well-framed and thoroughly substantiated arguments. It’s time you entered your work in an essay contest.
Sorry folks. I should probably have just passed by and left that stuck on the windshield, but it’s hard sometimes.
Bob
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 2:48 am
I am as progressive as they come, I fully support efforts by our government to help the poor, needy, ill, and elderly.
I find nothing “liberal” or “progressive” about the completely stupid protests that are going on in Wisconsin. On the contrary, we are well past the point where it is obvious that the bloated salaries and benefits of so-called “public servants” are taking money from the poor and needy.
As a taxpayer, and a progressive, I strongly object to the greed of these unions and so-called “public employees”. These public employee unions are helping to bankrupt the states and nation.
As for the lack of press coverage on this, guess what? Most people don’t care about these stupid protests for the same reasons I have stated here. We, the people, are tired of paying the bloated wages and benefits of these “public servants”.
Good luck, Governor Walker.
Wiekey
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 3:38 am
I certainly don’t like my taxes paying an inflated salary to those who don’t earn it. I also have my issues with the unions and government inefficiencies. There’s a greater-good at risk here though, and all the hard working, productive public employees out there deserve to fight and to be fought for.
I hope for reform in the gov’t/union system but the governor’s plan goes too far.
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 8:01 am
Lack of honest info raises its head again
Nadine
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 8:55 am
I am from WI and am a state employee. I don’t know where you get off saying we are greedy. Do you want us to work for peanuts? How are we to get paid? How about your job? Can I call you greedy if you work for a department store, grocery store, auto shop, etc? Your company takes money to pay your salary. If I didn’t spend money at these types of places, you’re job would be lost too.
Currently there are approximately 4,000 vacant state positions in Wisconsin and he wants to cut 1,500 working people. Do you know those 4,000 positions have been accounted for in the current budget that he says is in crisis and that’s why he has to lay off people. Maybe he should start with the vacant positions.
Also, this state hires hundreds of private contractors that charge the state much more than what it would cost for a state employee. If you don’t believe it, go look at the contract sunshine website in WI. We are required to post all spend over $10,000 in a biennium. There’s a vendor that’s been listed I think five different ways. I started adding up how much has been paid to that company and only did the first two entries. It was over FOUR MILLION DOLLARS. And those numbers didn’t even include the department I work for which has about 80-100 contractors. Don’t call me greedy. I’m not the one who has caused this mess.
PoorStateWorkesWife
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 11:33 am
Bob… You are severely UN-informed.
In my husband’s union of 2,200 employees, the average wage is under $15 an hour! He has been an employee for 33 years and only takes home $2,000 a month. After we pay our fixed expenses of mortgage, taxes, home insurance and heat, we only have $550 left a month for variable expenses of gas, groceries, car insurance, phone and lights.
If this goes through, that $550 will now become $150! I repeat.. for gas, groceries, car insurance, phone and lights.
I am battling off cancer and we can NOT lose his health insurance. So he keeps plugging away at his job, giving up more and more each year.
-They gave up raises, repeatedly again and again over the years just to keep their health insurance and pension. They would beg for a nickel, get 2.5 cents a year offered back, and then the whole contract would get approved, and at the last minute it would get tossed out and not voted into law.
-They gave up longetivity pay bonuses. (which were small, about $200 a year based on years in service)
-They gave up over $1,000 each year for the last 2 years for furlough days.
-They do pay for part of their health insurance AND extra for dental, he pays over $100 a month now.
My husband’s wages have gone so far backwards he now takes home what he did 14 years ago. As are most of his co-workers! Can YOU live on 1997 wages?
I knit socks and weave rugs on my good days to help out. We can’t exist now, how can we go any lower????
Sooooo Bob .. .I ask you…
WHERE are the bloated salaries and benefits??????????
They sure aren’t in my husband’s union!
Archaeopteryx
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 6:06 pm
It rings a bit false to call yourself a progressive, and then proceed to repeat, verbatim, some of the most favored talking points of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck. By all means, say what you think, but I think you would be more credible if you dropped the charade.
As has been stated repeatedly, the public sector unions made the asked-for financial concessions. They should not be stripped of their core function. Every worker in this country should have the right to form a union and bargain collectively for pay, working conditions and benefits. It is a necessary, balancing force against exploitative and abusive practices that *always* happen when and where such rights do not exist.
I also think it’s quite a stretch to claim that a work force pulling in average annual salaries under $50k is playing a very big role in bankrupting Wisconsin. The public sector unions primarily cover professionals such as health care providers, fire fighters, police, and yes, the much-maligned school teacher. So, comparing their average with that of the private sector is fallacious because the private sector average is skewed down by the service industry: dishwashers, maids, busboys, retail cashiers, etc. I have a hard time reconciling the actual numbers with scapegoating language like “greed”, “bloated”, “bankrupt the state…”, etc.
I understand that you are concerned about your money. I hear you. So, for the sake of your money, I beg you to give careful consideration to the following article in that “Budget Repair Bill” you are hoping to see passed:
“16.896 Sale or contractual operation of state−owned heating, cooling, and power plants. The department may sell any state−owned heating, cooling, and power plant or may contract with a private entity for the operation of any such plant, with or WITHOUT SOLICITATION OF BIDS, for any amount that the department determines to be in the best interest of the state. No approval or certification of the public service commission is necessary…”
You seem to strongly object to paying those “greedy” nurses, teachers, firefighters and cops a decent, living wage. So I ask you, in complete sincerity: How do you feel about having $billions funneled out of your state, and planted firmly in the pockets of the billionaire Koch brothers? That is what is intended by the above language which I have lifted straight out of that “budget repair bill”. The union-busting ploy is a big smoke screen, intended to distract you from a truly epic heist. It’s a movie-worthy corporate welfare scam.
Good luck Governor Walker? He’s a con man – a paid agent of Koch Industries. They’re working in concert to fleece you and your state of $billions, and you want to tear down your teachers. Wow.
Wiekey
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 3:02 am
I’ve gotten most of my coverage on this from NPR. They may have a reputation for leaning to the left (if only slightly) but I respect their integrity if only because they don’t have the same interests as the mega news corporations.
Remember, Public Broadcasting is facing the chopping block, just like the unions.
Gone Rogue
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 5:28 am
I did not realize that any one watched CNN any more. Considering that internet has been leading the teevee bosses when it comes to news, sports and entertainment trends, it begs the question regarding their coverage: WHO the HELL CARES?
For teevee, I watch broadcasts online or read the blogs.
Consider these numbers before you start shedding tears over these tea bag network bosses:
Numbers to blow your mind:
Facebook: over 600 million users.
Huffingtonpost: 270 million readers (now with AOL)
Yahoo news (another 500 million users)
Google…over a billion.
Youtube: well, you make a guess!
Did the protesters in Egypt need the media? No! Their stories were seen via Twitter, Facebook and other social, and new media. Only then did these dinarsaurs pick up these twitter feeds.
That has implications for the 2012 elections. I have been telling people that social media and the internet is going o neutralize the Koch brother’s money in 2012.
Tina
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 6:51 am
Apathy is alive and well in West Virginia.I went to a solidarity rally at the capitol here and only about 200 people showed up.Very disappointing.
As far as the so called news channels go….I only get Fox and CNN. Well,I refuse to give Fox even one minute of my time and 2 years ago,I stopped watching CNN.Every day I ask myself,where is the liberal media I keep hearing about but have never experienced?
What a laugh.Thank goodness for the internet and great blogs like this one.
GeorgiaBlue
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 8:13 am
During the Dean campaign in 2004 we had rapid response teams. When there was a misstatement or something that received short shrift in the press the teams emailed and called the MSM and sent letters to editors. That was pre-social networking. Now it would be so easy to get the left base up and moving on a moments notice. If we do it regularly and loudly we can start to get the kind of coverage events such as Saturday’s deserve.
John Hoover
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 8:47 am
I wonder why anyone is surprised that the corporate media ignore stories that might upset the status quo. The media from FOX to MSNBC are owned by entertainment conglomerates who aquired them for the revenue streams they create and not because they are interested in maintaining the fourth estate. The media all make their money by advertising products and services and spinning public relations narritives for the same corporate entities whose lobbyists are working day and night to subvert democracy. The best interests of the media are served by a public which believes that happiness is purchaing the nest must have widget and that freedom means having a choice between Pepsi and Coke and that BP really means beyond petroleum. A cynical citizenry capable of critical analysis does not serve the media or their advertisers. They prefer a dumbed down conusmer who is gullible and credulous.
Jim
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 9:18 am
It really upsets me that people in this nation are more concerned about things 4000 miles away then they are in our own backyard!
It’s like a dysfunctional family pointing fingers at everybody else before paying attention to what they have to work on.
I just don’t get it. Face it, America: WE are in trouble. WE need to work together to fix it.
Dalaney
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 9:27 am
from the tone of the comments (and article) it’s safe to assume none of you actually WATCH FoxNews.
They DID mention the “huge crowds” that was estimated to be in the “tens-of-thousands”.
So, maybe you were tuned into FoxSports?
Ken
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 10:12 am
Who is holding back the two trillion dollars that should be put back in our society? “where it came from” The GOP and wall street are trying to break the American people down during President Obamas term. They will do anything to make him look bad! When they keep saying “NO NO NO” to anything he trys to do. We the people will make a comeback in 2012 and get rid of the paid for leaders. And I agree with the political contributions coming only from the voting public. Also $100.00 limit sounds sencible
Hugh Janus
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Maybe the protesters should have dressed up like Arabs. Then there would have been round-the-clock coverage just like in Egypt. :-)
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 11:06 am
From a Canadian Blogger who linked to Politicususa
“These are the same reasons why the Toronto Star has not carried one single news story about the historic protests in Wisconsin. Thomas Walkom wrote a column about a week ago and that’s been it. “
lilly lily
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
NY Times had it about 5th or 6th page? Don’t recall exactly. They noted about 70,000. I Have been reading THE TIMES for as long as I can read, and I am beginning to doubt its priorities.
This is history in the making.
Foreign news front page stuff. I see the Libyan dictator will be giving his subjects $400 each. How rich he is, and how rich he wants to remain.
A
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
There is one main reason for this, there are people that own the news.
Not American taxpayers. I suggest you look into “Rothchilds” history.
Here are a few links below. Things like this started way back. Selling and controlling America did not happen overnight. … I’m just saying LOOK at these three links.
Mike Post All Video links.
1/3 www.youtube.com/watch?v=8...
2/3 www.youtube.com/watch?v=q...
3/3 www.youtube.com/watch?v=4...
lee may
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
We need to shift our strategy in Wisconsin. There were over 100k people in Madison and the news offered the same amount of time to what was going on in Madison as to a group of under 100 teabaggers in Kenosha with a recall effort of one of the Fab 14 senator Bob Wirch. We need to keep and sustain media coverage of our struggle, and it may be more effective at this time to decentralize ourselves to Madison. We need to organize recall efforts of Republican senators throughout Wisconsin that are in favor of this bill. We need to get to local media outlets and get local coverage of our struggle. What do you guys think?
putra
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
I think FOX and MSNBC was feeling great and principal on the money-oriented, not journalism, that’s why they are not interested in events like the protests in Madison.
Joan Clancy
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
I watch Fox News all the time and the situation in Wisconsin was covered ad nauseum. I was so sick of it. Why do you lie about them?They are the most honest Cable news around.
Sarah Jones
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Really? OK, send us links to their live coverage of the rally please. Their wide shots, their interviews of the union members, etc.
I’ve seen plenty of Fox coverage of the “situation” in WI – that isn’t the same thing as covering the rally on Saturday live. And the only person on Fox who spoke the truth about the “situation” was Shep. Everyone else talks about pensions which have NOTHING to do with this and salaries which also have NOTHING to do with this.
You do realize that the unions ALREADY gave in on the financial issues, right? They are simply fighting for their civil rights as guaranteed by the UN for god’s sake.
What is wrong with people who are against American liberty? How can you justify that?
Dan
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
So of course the only reason anyone would support the protesters is because they’re on the political left. And the only reason anyone would not support the protesters is because they are not on the political left.
Way to go, moveon.org bias. Keep dividing the country along left vs. right lines and watch it fall.
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
That is absurd. Wisconsin is primarily a republican state. There are republicans and dem’s in the unions there that are protesting. Left or right has nothing to do with the actual protests. However the republican party and tea party is crapping on their own constituents.
Are you wondering how those republicans in the protests are going to vote in 2012?
Derek Lee
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Fox news is not “the official state run television of the Republican Party”. Fox news is a publicly traded company, and is not officially Republican. They do, however, lean to the right, or towards Republican ideologies, as its founder and CEO is Murdoch. Don’t let this liberal bashing of Republicans influence the way you think. Check actual facts before believing anything online.
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
LOL
Uh huh
Sarah Jones
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
Yeah, that’s why they donated a million to the RGA this past year. The REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION. We are dealing with a Republican Governor here.
That’s why they raised money on the air for GOP candidates. Uh huh.
That’s why they read the faxes straight from the machine with the spelling errors from the Bush White House.
That’s why they declared Bush the winner in FLA before the votes were counted.
The list is endless, but suffice it to say, I’d like to hear from you as to why you don’t support hard working Americans from the heartland of this great country fighting for their liberty.
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
If Hannitys lips are moving he is lying. The same for Doocey and Kilmeade. Nothing left to be said about Beck.
Master David Goodmen
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Vimeo dotcom—You have to join!—has real videos of Wisconsin.
Under “Search”, select “Search Videos”. Then, enter Wisconsin, click the magnifying glass icon.
When the page comes up, set the “Show me” menu to “newest”. There are some about music, and some useless ones, also, but the fight against hate is very prominent.
Drag a video to a new tab, or new window. Page-Down, to see a black bar, “About this video”. There should be a link, labeled “download this video”. If not, then I just skip it, as the supposed built-in player does not show up, for Me!
The downloaded movies are usually excellent quality! I but RARELY use youtube, anymore!
DO NOT click the page numbers, to go to older videos: It does not work. Click the “>” icon, which moves you one day at a time. I am new to this, so there could be a better way.
I do not bother with the “Lamestream Media”, as they are almost entirely propaganda channels, now. The Founding Fathers would be in shock, and Joseph Goebbels in love, with the situation!
sam
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
There is no real news on cable television period! They are all entertainment channels now bent on ratings and advertising dollars; nothing more. This is the dumbing down of America. To get informed, I have to go on the internet read the most reputable papers, search for the topics I am interested on, figure out which sites are partisan (MOST ARE) and which are neutral and then do some research to get to the facts! It’s insane!! When did the machine take over all the news?!
Anyway, this is how I found out about the protests, the issues, the protester’s side and Walker’s side. And guess what? It’s more partisan politics!! Is anything in this country NOT about partisan politics anymore?? Well, after considering all the facts and partisan politics on both sides, I side with the union. Taking away collective bargaining rights is wrong and will be hurtful to our democracy. I support those 100,000 plus protesters all over the country. They are you and they are me and they are inspiring; just when you thought democracy in the US was dead. I hope our spirits remain strong and I have confidence in the people in this country to fight off any minority interests in oligarchy no matter how much money is behind the idea. May lose a battle here or there, but we’ll win the war; always have. Cheers and thank you Wisconsin!!
jennifer
Feb. 27th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
News channels such as Fox and MSNBC need to be blacked out. They have served as nothing but societal ills.
Ann
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 12:11 am
The revolution will not be televised.
Walker is my Hero
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 12:39 am
Thank GOD they are finally helping shut down this chaos . This is costing tax payers a lot of money. I would like to see it end .. and quickly.
Sarah Jones
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 1:03 am
What is costing the tax payers? I’m just curious since Walker cost the taxpayers all that money he wasted hiring a UK firm to do the jobs of the union security guards he fired last year. Turns out, he was wrong and now you all have to pay for them on top of the criminals he hired to “guard” the courthouse. Privatization – tax payers still pay, and often it costs more for less.
Archaeopteryx
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 1:55 am
Friends; fellow citizens,
It’s time to start naming all of the cable “news” networks for what they are: purveyors of industrial dishonesty. Fox is the worst, but only by degree.
If Walker is anyone’s hero, let them explain this: “16.896 Sale or contractual operation of state−owned heating, cooling, and power plants. The department may sell any state−owned heating, cooling, and power plant or may contract with a private entity for the operation of any such plant, with or WITHOUT SOLICITATION OF BIDS, for any amount that the department determines to be in the best interest of the state. No approval or certification of the public service commission is necessary…”
That’s the Trojan Horse article in the “Budget Repair Bill” that allows the state to sell off it’s power plants (WITHOUT BIDS) at low-ball prices, to Koch Industries; enter contracts (WITHOUT BIDS) with Koch Industries to operate it’s power plants for any amount of money the corporation wants to charge; allow Koch Industries to charge ratepayers anything it wants for the electricity and gas it just acquired for pennies on the dollar.
Destroying labor unions after reading that is like building a gallows for the kid who spray-painted your mailbox, while ignoring the white-collar gangsters behind your house (with a really big truck) who are about to haul everything you own down to Kansas. Read and comprehend the bill if you really love your hard-earned money.
Calvin Kramer
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 7:26 am
Union thug here, at least according to Fox news. Fox gets yelled at for lying every time they turn the camera on!, haha fox news, ha, ha, ha. We don’t need the national media, bloggers unite! If the media won’t tell the truth then no sense reporting anyways.
Dc
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 7:40 am
Kind of reminds me of how the “MSM” completely ignored the TEA Parties march on Washington, hundreds of thousands marched in perfect peace! So how does it feel?
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 7:58 am
News to me. The tea party has been covered ad nausea since it started. the Koch brothers and the conservative think tanks that started the tea party seen to that with money
Bev Doan
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Ignored it? They covered it extensively. You must have been watching Fox, who told you everyone but them ignored the tea party march on DC. Try switching channels and doing some independent research to find out how often Fox flat out lies, distorts facts, and misleads their audience by claiming to be the only one’s telling you the truth.
billie
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 11:07 am
so what do we do about it
Bev Doan
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Not only was there very little coverage of the union support marches that took place all over the country on Sat., I saw no mention at all of the March for Choice rallies that took place in cities nationwide, in protest of attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, Titlx X, and to weaken access to legal, safe abortion. Was Feb. 26, 2011 the day the media officially abandoned the people?
Иван Грозный
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
In Russia too protest, but it is not enough successes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v...
Bobjfs
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Excuse me, but I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about. MSNBC has covered this since Ed Schultz first reported the story the day it began. They’ve had a reporter there all weekend (I think it’s Mike Taibbi) giving updates to both MSNBC and the weekend Nightly News. CNN is also reporting the story.
Please don’t commit the same errors made by the corporate media and report selectively. CNN, MSNBC, and NBC are reporting the story. I’m not sure what ABC or CBS are doing because I don’t usually watch their nightly news programs.
Sarah Jones
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Ed Schultz had Matt Taibii there all weekend and you watched the rally live on Ed’s show on Saturday? Link please.
Surely I saw the story reported for a minute on CNN before they cut back to their celebration of the Tea Party’s second anniversary. Are you saying that’s the same as covering a rally live?
By the way, this isn’t about the story Ed has been covering all week – it is about a specific rally on Saturday- you know, the big one that took place all over the country.
Shiva (Moderator)
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
CNN spent more time on a baby laughing when his dad tore a pc of paper today than they did Wisconsin
Sarah Jones
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
But Shiva, that baby had a tea bag on his head, which makes him immeasurably more important plus the Sheen – must cut to the Sheen.
manny
Feb. 28th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
I actually saw coverage on all three of those channels, sadly, FOX gave it the most.
Steve
Mar. 1st, 2011 at 8:37 am
Without reading through all of replies this may have been already said. I was a that rally also on Saturday. I as a voting voting Republican, decided to join my friends who are mostly teachers and show my support for their cause. After 2 hours of reading signs that said Republicans=Hitler, Republicans Are Koch Suckers, a moving sign with a guillotine cutting of a head that had Republican written on the forehead etc etc… And you call that peaceful demonstration? Also, FOX news was there and tried to broadcast, but every time they went on air multiple people stood 5 feet away with megaphones and blared the sirens. I watched this go on for a half hour as the crowd cheered when they blared the siren. The chants were “this is what democracy looks like”? All I can say, is I have a hard time supporting a cause that is less than peaceful.
Sarah Jones
Mar. 1st, 2011 at 8:45 am
Maybe peaceful means something different to Democrats, like no t-shirts proclaiming it’s time to kill our leaders, no armed assault weapons, etc. You know, violence. Protests by their nature involve speaking loudly, signs, etc. They are protests.
As for the the Fox issue, they do lie and everyone knows so, it’s a fact. Why would anyone allow themselves to be lied about night after night without calling out the liar?
Shiva (Moderator)
Mar. 1st, 2011 at 9:33 am
I think thats the problem. Not enough kill t-shirts for some.
The real problem here is not yelling at Fox News, its losing rights. Its obvious that for some, much like the balloon boy on Fox news, the surroundings overshadow the reality. But then again I would not support a group that has to wear assault weapons in order to gather peacefully.
Leslie Martin
Mar. 1st, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Where was C-SPAN in all of this? I checked it out before leaving for the rally in St. Paul. Regular programming. Yet they covered the Stewart/Colbert rally, if memory serves. Our rally, which drew 1000, was covered in the Minneapolis paper’s metro section, and not even on the front page!
Rebekah
Mar. 2nd, 2011 at 4:22 pm
I too am extremely disappointed in the media coverage, or lack thereof, throughout the protesting that is going on in Madison, WI. The only news I get is through the newspaper and that information is twisted and wrong to made the protesters look back. This entire situation is sick and keeps getting worse because of the behaviors of Mr. Walker, but nobody knows this is going on unless you are at the Capital. There is no violence at the Capital, only people politely asking for rights and liberties that we have all worked so hard for. I was there on Saturday and was amazed and in awe of all the people. I also saw all the media vehicles but saw nothing on TV indicating what is really happening. This affects all of us, but I guess we have to create our own coverage since the media is obviously hiding the truth and is seemingly on Scott Walker’s side.
boil
Mar. 5th, 2011 at 11:12 am
but if 12 baggers show up with idiotic signs, then you will see 13 satellite trucks show up, and fox will run a loop all day. this is another example of why the corporate owned cables are in cahoots, and are only interested in infotainment, not news.
i had to watch the rally on ustream! while msnbc ran their old jail crap shows.
Vincent
Mar. 7th, 2011 at 2:22 am
This mysterious lack of coverage also happened when there was a massive rally of 100,000 in D.C. against the Iraq war, way back in the day. Who is behind these media blackouts? Very strange stuff. There was media blackout on coverage of protests the day of Bush’s first inauguration. It is particularly odd that CNBC participates in these blackouts.
JohnyV
Mar. 10th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Talk about news BLACK OUT on this issue, there is almost zero videos or images from last night 3/9/11 (after they back-doored the vote) and the 10000 people who rush into the state house. Zero images or video on the 80000+ prostesters already there today 3/10/11 who are fighting for our rights and getting beat by police.
Everyone, Never forget the “backstabbing” actions of the police & firefighters on this issue. When state was going to include them in the cuts, they walked with us BUT now that they are officaly EXEMPT from the bill they are kicking protesters in the head; acting as if they never stood beside the people.
BUT there is plenty of news covercage and paid online bloggers who are against the unions and attempting to make them look bad at all cost. How much more rights and abuses from the corprate elites are the people going to put up with before they use real force? These disgraceful types Complain that the unnion workers get to many benifits and pay (which might add up to a few thousand dollars more at the end of the year) from the very corporations & governments that stole trillions from every man women and child in America, is insane!
These government and corprate elites kept all their 100 million dollar bonuses and pay scale, even after “We the People” bailed them out… but they spin the issue back on the regular Joe worker who is barely feeding his family!
Wake up America, you want to be treated like slaves, well keep on believing the BS that the news and paid bloggers are spoon feeding you.
Mike Kay
Mar. 14th, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Forget Fox and support workers instead!
We’ve created a workers’ rally song “Down On The Line” in support of the hardworking middle class brothers & sisters nationwide. You can listen & download it free here:
www.mikekonopka.com/downo...
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