Does Thom Hartmann heart Putin?

[uhnope]

This NPR episode of Fresh Air about Pussy Riot renewed my anger that Russia tends to get a pass (like China) because they are good capitalists now, which makes me wonder just what Thom Hartmann is doing on Radio Putin aka Russia Today. I have only recently started listening to Hartmann's radio show (which I appreciate) so I do not know if he has addressed the issue of taking a paying gig from Putin's propaganda station. I find it appalling and horrible. Human Rights now and always, no compromise.

Can anyone fill me in on whether Hartmann has at least acknowledged the, um, paradox?

[House of Roberts]

1. I know this is wikipedia,

but it explains Hartmann's business relationship with RT America.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Picture_with_Thom_Hartmann

[freshwest]

2. Listened and watched him for years. As progressive stations were censored, he had to go somewhere.

More of his history, also Wikipedia, but I remember most of it myself:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom_Hartmann

Used to get him everyday. Now I don't see him except when he (or his staff) posts here at DU, which he has mentioned in some shows.

[madrchsod]

3. no...thom is one of the best on the radio/tv

[uhnope]

7. I agree that's why I'm very disappointed with his association with Putin's RT

[uhnope]

22. Hartmann's podcasts are behind a paywall but

I detect a lot of silence from him re Pussy Riot

[El_Johns]

4. He doesn't have a "paying gig from Putin's propaganda station" ergo no paradox.

[uhnope]

5. Hartmann's production staff work for RT. That's $$$. & Pussy Riot doesn't get mentioned

by Hartmann too often (ever?)

[El_Johns]

8. No, Hartmann rents RT's studio. They don't pay him, he pays them for studio space & crew. It's

not Hartmann's crew, it's RT's, and all they do is run the cameras etc.

[uhnope]

9. Trying to distance Hartmann from RT is ridiculous. Why Progressive silence?

Hartmann's show is carried on their network, RT/the Kremlin pays him for that. Hartmann shouldn't help legitimize RT and Putin by accepting the deal, not during a pogrom in Russia against gays and lesbians, not from a dictatorship that is a human rights nightmare. I really can't believe how the progressive community is so silent about this. We are outraged when any conservative American helps Uganda in their horrible campaign, by Cheney's ties to Blackwater, by Oilman Bush invading the oil fields, by financial ties or any kind of support of Apartheid in those days. It would be different if Hartmann made a point to mention Pussy Riot or the human rights crackdown that Putin is orchestrating, but instead it's silence everywhere.

Again, listen to this brand new interview with Pussy Riot's lawyer, who had to flee Russia, and see if it doesn't make you angry about the world turning a blind eye to the situation: http://www.npr.org/2014/01/08/260746432/the-pussy-riot-arrests-and-the-crackdown-that-followed

[Bluenorthwest]

12. It's very possible to hire a Union crew and studio space. Easy as paying for them.

That would put a crimp in the profits, as any hard core business guy making deals could tell you.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. That is simply incorrect, he license his show for airing on RT in exchange for cash and production

space, his crew is provided by RT as part of his deal. RT 'talent' have filled in for him on the show in the past, although Hartmann claims he has editorial control, the show is in fact a product he makes and sells to RT for a profit. It's that simple. He does not pay them, they pay him, the space and non union crew are part of his compensation, as he sells the show to others as well, and it is a radio show, which he sells. He is in business with RT, the Russian government owns RT fully and they promote and enforce horrific anti gay laws. That's how it is. It is sad, but it is also true.

[sabrina 1]

10. RT is one of the best news sources on TV. Progressives like Thom Hartmann can now air their

views to a very large audience considering the popularity of RT around the world.

Using your logic 'do people who rely on the US Corporate Media heart Right Wing Predatory Capitalist Ideology and Warmongering?

Love RT and all the other news sources now available to the people who no longer have to rely on our own controlled media.

[dionysus]

11. are you claiming RT doesn't have an agenda?

[sabrina 1]

13. Of course they have an agenda and won a prestigious award for practicing real news, which IS their

agenda. Unless you don't like finally having that 'liberal bias' we've heard so much about but couldn't seem to find since six Corporations took over OUR media.

Are you claiming a news organization should NOT have an agenda? I always that they should. The Corporate Media has an agenda or are you suggesting they do not?

[Bluenorthwest]

15. All media companies have the agenda of their ownership, which in the case of RT is the Russian

government itself. That government does not have a liberal bias, they have a hard core anti gay bias. That you think this outlet is somehow unlike the rest is just stunning, they are State Owned Media.

[sabrina 1]

17. I have seen nothing to suggest that the reporters on RT are in any way representing the views of

the Government. News is news, if reporters cover it factually, they are doing their job. We have a DUer here who has appeared on RT many times. I asked him if he was ever told he needed to be careful of what he said, his response was 'absolutely not'.

Until I see some evidence of your claims, and I have used RT as a source for news for two years now, I will continue to use it as I also use many other sources and have nothing to suggest their reporting is false in any way or controlled by the Kremlin, quite the contrary actually. During the protests against Putin, eg, I saw far more coverage of the extent of those protests on RT than anywhere else. As far as I know none of the reporters were arrested or sent for 're-education' despite the fact that the coverage was pretty negative re Putin.

As for RT's attitude towards Gay Rights in Russia I have seen Gay Rights activists who are Russian on RT speaking out against the Government on the issue and offering an insight into the movement there against the Government's policies that I have not seen anywhere else frankly. I prefer to see the actual people, in this case Russian Gay Rights Activists themselves speaking out, as they have right on RT, for themselves. So far as I know, none of those who have appeared on RT have been arrested or restricted from re-appearing should they want to.

[dionysus]

16. they're all propaganda, RT included.

bluenorthwest also makes a good point above.

[sabrina 1]

18. See my response above. No point in repeating it. What I like most about all the new media

is that we DO get to see people like Thom Hartmann, Amy Goodman and so many other Liberal voices that we will never be allowed to see here. All speaking out on issues that are important to Democrats. Many great Progressive Dems have been allowed to speak freely there while being shunned by the Corporate Media.

RT hasn't gained the audience it has by lying to the public, a public that is far more educated and aware of the control the US Media exercises over 'news' coverage and who gets to express their opinions.

IF you are satisfied with the MSM, that is your choice, for others, it is refreshing to be able to hear actual Liberal povs. But of course RT is not popular with those who view 'Lefties' as 'Commies' and who jump to the 'commie' conclusion everytime they see the word 'Russia'. Cold Warriors still living in the past and unaware of the fact that the Cold War ended and we now have some 'enemies' to keep the war machine going.

[uhnope]

20. Russian liberals are totally against RT.

RT = Putin = Gays in Prison, dictatorship

[sabrina 1]

21. Got something to prove that? RT has given voice to Gay Russian activists so I am

unaware that they have objected to that. If you have some links, credible, not Faux type links to show that Russian Liberals object to RT I'd be interested. I personally have seen more coverage on RT of Gay Rights in Russia than I have anywhere else.

How about Al Jazeera? It is owned by a dictatorship. Yet Liberals have always used it as a source of news and as one of them, I supported them, the journalists when Bush and his gang were targeting them physically and jailing them for covering Iraq and Afghanistan. I never saw any indication, until very recently, that those reporters who were from every country in the world, as is the case with RT, were being influenced by the Government while covering news. Same thing with RT.