Fans of Thom Hartmann... How do you feel about him working for RT?

[Bucky]

I really hope Thom Hartmann is a mole. Cause as it stands, I can't cotton to a man who openly associates with the people who attacked our democracy so successfully. He's a smart guy. Why doesn't he know better?

(My guess is he does know better, but he's got bills to pay--no different than any corrupt cop who thinks he can still do his job)

[BamaRefugee]

1. There was another guy with bills to pay.

I believe his name was Quisling.

[Bucky]

5. Thank you!!

I've been calling Republicans Quislings ever since they started falling in line behind that big petulant bully. They'd rather have a Яepublican tyrant than a loyal Democrat. This is the house that Fox News built. This is why I'll never let a Republican say "country first" again. When push came to shove, they chose their Manchurian Cheetoh over the interests of America. They sold us out for a fucking tax cut.


I've been calling myself a Blutarsky Democrat lately, just to rally our side at a dark hour.
I realize now that the RNC is a bunch of Lando Calrissian Republicans

[MaeScott]

17. His show is aired there but he does not work for them. Troll much?

[Bucky]

19. Don't be naive. If they are airing his show, they are paying him

If he's drawing money from them, then yes, he's Ann employee... Maybe conttact instead of payrole, but still fiscally bound.

I'm sorry you think stating facts is "trolling". I hope Santa brings you a dictionary. Assuming the use of tired cliches like "troll much?" doesn't count as being naughty.

[RealityChik]

47. Not true...

He licensed one of his shows to RT in exchange for use of their DC studios. No $$ involved. It enabled him to expand one of his shows to an hour from the previous half hour. What if he had done the same with Al Jezeera America? Would you have considered him to be a jihadist?

[Bucky]

49. Oh for heavens sake, alJazeera is not a jihadist network

While that's an interesting business arrangement, that still means that he is getting an in-kind donation from a foreign propaganda outfit that is supposed to American democracy.

And in exchange for that, he's lending his name, and therefore his legitimacy, to that propaganda outfit. Regardless of whether he's an employee or simply a business associate with RT News, he's gotten in bed with the bad guys.

I mean, it's not like that is the only studio space available in DC. I'm sympathetic to what it must take resource wise to put on a show for small business person like him. but this is why its called integrity. He is giving his name and his ideas and his content two people who are trying to harm our country.it's simply bad judgment and not an ethical call.

[RealityChik]

72. My reference to Al Jazeera...

Was used as a hyperbole, since the right wing thinks it's a jihadist network. Guess THAT comment backfired! My bad.

[Demsrule86]

21. His show is aired there?

[pnwmom]

29. He accepts money from RT for his shows. He is an independent contractor

and they are one of the outlets that pay him.

That's not an excuse.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

2. he may not be that smart. what is it called? battle fatigue?

Could be blackmail. Could be he needed the money. He has been used. I turned off to him once I saw he worked for Putin.

[Bucky]

3. Such a waste of a talented mind.

I think Big Ed from MSNBC has gone over to them too.

What the fuck is it with money? I could never sell out my country like that. I loathe Republicans and all their policy disasters, but I'd rather take a conservative president over a liberal president controlled by a foreign puppet master.

The knock on effects of Putin's skullduggery will be felt for decades. The number of dead in Syria, the number of eastern European countries brought under Russia's sphere of influence, the independence of the Ukraine... are all going to be lost because the stupid fucking voters couldn't see through that orange tinted con man.

What total fuckery. I hate it when the bad guys win.

[LenaBaby61]

13. Such a waste of a talented mind.

Ed's Hillary-bashing--PHEW--I had to give him the heave ho too.

"Ring of Fire's" Mike Papantonio also works for RT now, and slowly he's beginning to uh, tow the RT line. Not sure how far he'll go, but suffice it to say that I probably won't be listening to Mike much longer either.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

16. this feels different. it is. it's worse than any nightmare I've ever had.

It seems like America is dead and buried by ignorance and callousness. Undermining our public schools was the writing on the wall. Maybe they blamed unions, but they were after our very soul as a nation. And they destroyed it for the sake of a handful of extremely wealthy people.

And now Warren Buffet will take part in "The Apprentice".

What the hell happened?

[Bucky]

20. I don't believe"America is dead" The Dream is under attack, but not destroyed

We can weather this storm and push back against the creeping authoritarianism. We just have too keep our eyes on the ball and stay calling out the wayward progressives who sell out to tje enemies of democracy.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

48. Then the idea of a Democratic society is dead. Israel is teetering. Europe is in turmoil.

And China is China. Shall we all be one day?

[WhiteTara]

35. Larry King is there too.

[Bucky]

38. fffuu---

him too?

[WhiteTara]

41. Since the beginning. nt

[Raine1967]

66. I believe that Larry has his own Production company and RT

pays Larry King to broadcast it.

It's produced by King and Carlos Slim.

I know it's splitting hairs, but King does his show independent from RT unlike Hartmann, Shultz & Papantonio.

Here is the easiest source I could find. I had some other links about this and if need be I can dig them up.

ETA my source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_King_Now

[WhiteTara]

67. But he still gets his money from them.

As a broadcaster, he knows what side his bread is buttered on and it isn't from the American people.

[Raine1967]

68. I understand what you are saying, However I do think there is a difference

from a show filmed in RT studios and one that is syndicated. Kings' show is the latter.

(also I watch neither)

[WhiteTara]

71. That old saying...lie down with dogs

and you get fleas.

[Maru Kitteh]

4. Not a fan. Thom can go perform unnatural acts upon himself without lube, IMO.

[Adsos Letter]

6. Fuck RT. n/t

[IADEMO2004]

7. Constant buy gold the end is near put me off him years ago.

My book,My book,My book,My book,My book.

[kentuck]

8. Not unlike MSNBC...

A certain amount of liberal ideology is permitted.

So long as it is not a challenge to their long-time corporate goals.

[Quixote1818]

9. I don't get RT because it's generally much harder on Republicans than Dems.

It's like Moscow sort of leaves them alone for the most part, however I did see a report on RT a while back that shot down the idea of Russia hacking the elections so it's kind of a mixed bag. As far as Thom Hartmann is concerned? If they don't censer him he probably feels comfortable there. Wes Clark worked for Fox News but I had no problem with that because he use to argue the liberal perspective there. So as long as he wasn't pushing anything anti-American I don't really have a problem with Hartmann working there. He may have second thoughts now after what is breaking. I think it's time for him to leave. I would like to point out that he vigorously defended Hillary Clinton and was very hard on Trump.

[Bucky]

10. No, their coverage on Syria is solid propaganda. They don't want Americans caring about the rebels

Trashing Syria is really about keeping Iraq from building an oil & gas pipeline that can compete with their European oil & gas monopoly

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. Not a fan of Hartmann, or any of the others who have sold their souls for 40 pieces of silver.

[Jacoby365]

12. Thom Hartmann does not work for RT.

He owns his own show that is aired on RT. We need more shows like his, not less.

[kacekwl]

14. Absolutely, does anyone making these comments

actually listen to him. With precious few progressive voices out there why bash the few we have. If you have some content from his show you can point to let's hear it.

[Bucky]

22. I hear his radio show most mornings driving to work

If you read my OP you see I'm not a hater; I'm a fan.

But taking a check from the same people who helped Trump hijack the election is problematic.

I'm still waiting to hear Hartmann take on that issue.

[FarPoint]

56. Let's look at the big picture.....

Our pResident elect...he is owned by Russian President Putin.... It seem to me, I now need to learn more about Russian lifestyles...

[mackdaddy]

18. Thom has said that HE has complete editorial control of his show.

And that RT has never asked him to change anything. Unlike when his show was carried by the Defunct Air America radio network where the execs regularly tried to tell him what to cover/not cover.

Would I trust any reporting about Russian interests from their "news" feed, absolutely not. But we do know the bias behind their news. Who is the bias behind MSNBC, CNN, Fox and the other "NEWS" outlets? They all seem to be totally Oligarch influenced, and every talking head you see on these shows are millionaires in their own right.

So Far "Russian Today" is the only cable network where truly progressive voices have any chance of getting their message out. As long as true progressive voices are allowed to broadcast their own message, and quit if they do start to get pressure to change, I am all for it.

But, No limit to the irony that the Russian government also seems to be F'n in our election business too.

[Demsrule86]

26. I don't buy it.

Russia interfered with our elections and it is clear,they are attempting to undermine our government by interfering in our elections...and although they hacked the RNC...no emails were released...now Ed ET AL are being used to undermine our government...The GOP hates government too...an unholy alliance. I don't know how I missed the fact that Hartmann was on RT for years but I did. After what the Russians did, anyone who chooses to go on RT which is in fact controlled by Putin, is not on my watch list.

[Demsrule86]

23. If his show is aired there, he gets money...they don't get to have it for free.

I won't listen to him anymore. Although...I have stopped listening mostly anyway...I like Stephanie Miller and the rest of the Sirius lineup. don't watch or listen to MSNBC or CNN anymore.

[RealityChik]

15. Talk about your fake news!

Where on earth did you hear that? Please name your source! I searched the web for almost a half hour and could find nothing to support your claim.
He's one of the most progressive media personalities on the planet. I've been a listener and a fan for over a decade! I've learned so much from him because he approaches the issues from a historical perspective. Republicans spar with him at their own risk! I've listened to him eat them for lunch without losing his cool.

He writes a s well as he speaks. I own almost every book he has written! I love him to pieces.

[Demsrule86]

24. I was shocked...there reports going back to 2012

He is without a doubt on RT...I checked and saw many google articles...here is one where the author defends it as a way to get the progressive message out, but that is not what they do now ...disgusting.

[RealityChik]

46. Need links to your "many Google articles"

Are you SURE we are talking about the same person? Thom Hartmann? I tracked back to 2006 and could find no such articles linking him with RT, except that he licensed one of his shows to RT in exchange for use of their studios in DC, where Hartmann now lives. He has complete contractual control over his content.

I'd have to read your articles to believe it--and Alex Jones or other conspiracy theorists don't count. They will say anything to get a rise out of thei base of sheeples.

[Demsrule86]

61. He uses there studio and came to Washington for that purpose.

This is how his show is broadcast over the US...he owns the show and says he has control...no reason to doubt that...but I still don't like it personally...it is Russian TV...they pay him and let him use their studio...seems as if he is of use to them or they would not do it...I don't mean he is their spy guy or anything like that .. just that his show did much to foster disunity in the Democratic Party during the primary...maybe not on purpose ...but it happened...no progressive should be associated with the Russians in my opinion...I have like Thom for years...but I am taking a break from listening to him...just don't know what to think.

[Demsrule86]

64. There are many google articles discussing this issue ...I don't bother to read the Breitbart

shit...but I am not going to go through pages of google to send you links...it took me some time before...so you can google it yourself...or not up to you. Thom Hartman is involved with RT...It is quite clear. I think RT should be banned as a source here regardless of who works there...the Russians helped steal the election...why should we have their propaganda posted here?

[MineralMan]

65. Use Google. Here's a link for you:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Thom+Hartmann+RT

[otohara]

75. Link to Article Missing

I did some research on RT and you're right purely a Putin propaganda site - sprinkling in Schultz/Hartmann does not make RT legit.

[TonyPDX]

28. Agree. He also had an hour long call-in segment with Bernie Sanders every Friday for about 10 years.

[eleny]

25. I have no problem with it since he controls the content

[womanofthehills]

27. Liberal talk show hosts going to RT because of no progressive major media in US

Progressives are turning to Russian-owned RT America to provide a forum for their views, because there's no progressive major media outlet in our country.

The announcement by Ed Schultz that he is joining Thom Hartmann, Larry King and others at RT America is a sad commentary on the absolute desert TV and radio has become for progressives. It's understandable that RT, which pays very well, is the new home of some of our most prominent progressive voices. But why must they find a home at an agency that is financed by Vladimir Putin? And, how wise is it to look past some of the egregious transgressions committed by Vladimir Putin and provide him with anti-American ammunition to strengthen his autocratic efforts?

Here's why: A simple review shows that at this point in time there are zero TV Stations on the public airways that have a progressive point of view! Current TV, which was on cable, was sold to Al Jazeera and lost over 90% of its viewership. Perhaps had they changed their name, people would have tuned in; but they failed and will cease all US operations at the end of April.

Once upon a time MSNBC seemed to become the liberal alternative to Fox's 24/7 Conservatism but with the demise of over 90% of the their progressive programs ( Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell and Chris Hayes are the last vestiges), most of their broadcast day consists of the usual "both sides" GOP/Conservative excusing pablum.

http://crooksandliars.com/2016/04/why-are-us-liberals-turning-putins-news

[JTFrog]

52. Oh for fuck's sake. Putin's propaganda TV is somehow progressive?

They are fucking sell outs. End of.

[Jeroen]

30. his presence normalizes RT

It makes RT seem like a reasonable channel, a 'quality news agency'. However, by now it's clear what the main objective of RT is. No American should be part of it

[Bucky]

36. That's my concern too.

I hate the idea of legitimizing Putin's main propaganda arm. I won't associate with one enemy of democracy in order to oppose that same enemy's puppet in America.

[eShirl]

60. this right here

[baldguy]

31. It means he's been compromised.

He's in Putin's back pocket just like Trump is.

[Bucky]

34. That seems a little harsh

[baldguy]

39. Would you trust anything from the tame "liberals" on Fox News?

Same thing.

[MurrayDelph]

32. I stopped listening to Hartmann

years ago, when he was trying to rally support for trading birthright citizenship for trade tariffs.

I always thought his willingness to trade away a right that didn't affect him was mighty white of him.

[womanofthehills]

33. Progressives have so few talk show hosts compared to Republicans

and you guys put down the few we have. Thom Hartman is on our side. It's not so black and white. Because RT has no advertising, talk hosts can go after corporations big time. Millennials are watching RT, so it's probably not a bad thing we have progressive talk hosts on RT.

[Maru Kitteh]

37. Hartman is not on our side, and RT does Putin's bidding. Anyone so nearsighted as to believe

that Putin's network is somehow more "pure" because of a lack of advertising isn't thinking past the nose on their face.

[womanofthehills]

43. Hartman is definitely on our side!!!

Progressives need all the exposure they can get to combat the right wing radio stations. As long as over 8 million American's are watching RT weekly, why object to these American's getting a little progressive talk?

[pnwmom]

51. No. He spent most of a year attacking Hillary unfairly. He is NOT on our side,

even if he made a last-minute switch. He had smeared her too often by then and many of his followers had swallowed the crap.

[otohara]

73. Since 2012 Attacked POTUS

and Democrats especially on Friday's with Sanders
And you're spot on. He and others slimed Hillary to the point of no return.

Fuck RT especially in light of hacking.

I stopped listening in 2012

[MurrayDelph]

40. I'm sorry,

but disenfranchising people because you want better trade tariffs is not someone who "is on our side."

If you want to trade away something in order to get something else, first rule is that you have to be willing to trade away something that affects you, not others.

He may be with us some of the time and on some things, but this was a bridge too far.

[Maru Kitteh]

42. Ex RT anchor says goal of RT (including online trolls) is to undermine US democracy

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028355116

It should never be patronized, legitimized, normalized, or accepted by anyone who values liberal democracy.

[womanofthehills]

44. According to Wiki, RT is in 85 million households in US thru satellites and operators

So it looks like it is already normalized. As long as so many American's (mostly under 35) are watching RT - might as well throw in some progressive talk.

[Maru Kitteh]

45. Our job is to educate those too stupid or nearsighted to realize that dancing at the end

of Putin's puppet strings is a really bad idea.

[JI7]

50. that doesn't mean that many people watch it. there is a lot of crap accessable to millions

[pnwmom]

53. So we should just give up and roll over and treat it as not being

Russian state-sponsored propaganda intended to divide Americans and cause turmoil here?

No, thanks.

[pnwmom]

54. It's not "normalized." Cable companies are PAID by RT to take its shows.

And there are no ratings available to show many US viewers in any age category watch it.

And, no, progressives should not take money from RT to serve as window-dressing, enticing gullible viewers to watch Russian-state sponsored propaganda.

From Wikipedia:

In the United States, RT typically pays cable and satellite services to carry its channel in subscriber packages

[Raine]

55. I'm just glad there's a place where I can watch him. nt

[Arazi]

57. Thom is on our side. Are we really throwing him under the bus? Crazy

[pnwmom]

58. He's a sell-out. He's taking money from RT to serve as window-dressing,

luring his progressive fans to watch Putin's propaganda network.

[RandiFan1290]

59. "We" are not

Only the usual trolls trash Thom here.

[BainsBane]

63. This is the guy who complained about the elderly and disabled

participating in caucuses by proxy ballot, that their votes were somehow illegitimate since they were less mobile than younger voters. He may be on your side, but he certainly isn't on mine.

[otohara]

76. OMG I Forgot About That

at this last caucus I sat there for 3 hours and thought this will probably be my last caucus because post-polio gets worse with each passing year - his words were an outrage.

The assisted living home where my auntie lives all wanted to vote for Hillary - but were suppressed by undemocratic caucuses. Uber left has no problem with low turnout caucuses which is disturbing. Hillary would have won CO had it been a primary.

Good news though - we were one of the states to do away with caucus system once and for all after this last primary.

[otohara]

74. The Bus Is Overdue on Hartmann

He's been trashing the Democratic party for years - takes his cues from Sanders.

He and others like him weren't able to reel the hate they created towards Hillary back in once the election came down to Hillary vs Trump. By then the Bernie/Bust movement was too invested in keeping to their word.

[MineralMan]

62. I'm not a fan of his. Never have been.

So, I feel about him the same as everyone else who takes money from RT to write stuff of which RT approves. It's far from positive.

[jalan48]

69. The question I have is why he needed to go to RT in the first place?

Why is it we have non-stop right wing news all over our airwaves but literally no progressive talk shows? How can progressive commentators be heard? It's more about the state of the corporate media in the US to me.

[haele]

70. His radio show is syndicated through Pacifica; his TV show is produced for FSTV in RT's DC Studios.

He's basically working for Pacifica and Free Speech TV, but using RT Studios to do his TV show. I'm not sure if that's "working for RT" - maybe leasing RT space to do his show in. Producing artistic content can be convoluted at best.
I only catch him occasionally on Sirius XM - the radio show. I haven't heard where anything he's discussed or his opinions have changed over the years vis a vis Russian leadership and policy. From what I've heard on the radio, he does prefer transparency in government, and it's been hard for a lot of progressives to avoid Wikileaks, et all, when there's an information dump that supports progressive efforts by exposing something Big Government/Big Corporation would rather keep hidden.
I'm really uncomfortable with the use of RT resources for his TV show. But I can understand why he might feel he'd have more leeway using RT studios rather than going with one of the Mainstream media studios; especially if it's cheaper.

Haele