Urgent: 60 Minutes Caves to Pressure from White House on Siegelman Story...

[lala_rawraw]

cross posted at my place (http://www.atlargely.com/2008/02/60-minutes-cave.html)

Well folks, seems that 60 Minutes is postponing (read "killing") its Siegelman story. The excuse I am told for this lapse in ethics is that the network needs more time to vet the whistle-blower, Dana Jill Simpson. You see, the reason the network suddenly needs more time to vet Simpson is that the White House has launched a direct campaign inside CBS to discredit her and just to make sure the dirt sticks, they have called in some favors too. I am told that Senator Jeff Sessions has been instructed to help the White House discredit Simpson as part of his "Senatorial" duties. Nice system of government we have here, eh?

So, two things are going to happen now. The first is, we will be including what 60 Minutes did not report as part of the Raw Story series on the case. Instead of 5 installments, we will now have 6. Second, all of you as citizens of this nation must voice your concerns about this situation to CBS. You want a free press? Then fight for it!

ADDRESS:
60 Minutes
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019

EMAIL: [e-mail]
PHONE: [phone]

I would tell you to call Congress, but as we all now know, they will not do a damn thing. But if you feel this would help, then by all means do contact Congress, the FCC, and every advertiser giving money to CBS. If money talks, scream with your wallet. You may also wish to contact Senator Jeff Sessions and ask him who John Price is, you know, just for shits and giggles;)

[derby378]

1. Oh, bloody hell...

It's The Insider all over again. :mad:

[lala_rawraw]

3. yep...

and the journalists working on the story are good eggs... just as with the Insider!

[burythehatchet]

18. I was just reflecting back on The Insider

Thanks for the update. Outrage overload.

[Changenow]

2. There seems to be

a disconnect between the puppets and the puppeteers at 60 Minutes.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Plan B: Get Bill Moyers to do the program.

[lala_rawraw]

7. good thinking...

everyone email him please

[L. Coyote]

9. He has been on top of it too.

Time is on it, Harpers is on it, Congress is on it, DU is all over it, TPM has followed it closely, .... etc.

Maybe the 60 minutes angle isn't panning out! I think they were working the Rove connection!!

[no_hypocrisy]

13. CBS is more than a little scared after their being jerked around by the WH during

the Dan Rather/*-AWOL incident. I figure they're waiting to hear back from their inhouse corporate counsel.

[lala_rawraw]

15. they were working

the trial angle and from what i understand, it was panning out... that is, until the WH had it not pan out.

[AikidoSoul]

71. You mean when they "lost" all the emails

relevant to the case? Anything else?

[xxqqqzme]

68. Exactly, my first thought as well.

This fits neatly into the underlying issue Moyers has been reporting on for years. Corporate media control information.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

73. Maybe Letterman will cover it

Well, he's at CBS. And he is pretty brave these days.

I know it isn't something he can do, but this has got to be worked into the MSM somehow. Documentaries don't really get to the mainstream. HBO specials have little impact.

What would be some huge flare that people couldn't ignore?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

5. K & R

:kick:

:kick:

:kick:

[SpiralHawk]

6. CBS assumes the position. Again. Like all corporate media, failing America

Pathetic. Don't pretend to be "journalists" in a "news" organization anymore, please.

[asjr]

CBS threw Dan Rather under the bus

for daring to bring up the AWOL Bush in the Nat'l Guard so we know where the strings are located.

[NastyRiffraff]

8. CBS does it again

Remember the Jeff Wigand/Brown & Williamson story that was killed (and ultimately broadcast) by CBS, due to pressure from the tobacco company? This is what we get from corporate media that doesn't care about news, only about profits. And of course, covering their asses. Let's bare those asses.

[mod mom]

10. done:

To Whom It May Concern:

Shame on you! 60 Minutes used to be a standard for integrity in journalism-not caving in to the powerful, and now you've transgressed into a shadow of your old self. It is appalling that you would postpone an important story such as the case of Don Siegelman-a political prisoner in our United States of America.

Every American should be concerned about the Siegelman case. It is about politics at it's worse and the distortion of justice under a politicized Dept of Justice. According to Harper's Magazine, highly partisan Judge Fuller has contracts with the federal government that prevent a fair and balanced oversight of the case. The influence of Karl Rove into the mixture adds further to the appalling facts that surround this case. If you would like to be complicit in your silence, then you are part of the problem. Shame on you.

[lala_rawraw]

42. excellent work

[davidthegnome]

11. Not surprised at all

[OneGrassRoot]

12. This is bullshit...thanks for the heads up, lala

I will contact CBS and Moyers.

Jon Stewart really had a following during the last two election cycles. Maybe he could be persuaded to cover this and shed some light on the obscene absurdity of it all.

[hootinholler]

14. Ok, who is John Price?

:shrug:

Don't recognize the name.

-Hoot

[lala_rawraw]

16. ah grasshoper, google is your friend;)

[hootinholler]

19. Ok weed leaper

Still don't get the connection and can't spend more work time googling. Other than his being a Pioneer who got some quid pro quo for donations, what's the connection to Don?

-Hoot

[lala_rawraw]

24. none...

Sessions:)

[electprogdems]

17. Where are our Democratic leaders on this?

What part of Siegelman has been disappeared because he is a dem do they not understand? How can I donate to any dem candidate, incumbent or otherwise, or any dem organization if this is allowed to stand. Do they not see that if it can happen to Siegelman, it can happen to them? Just ask Susan McDougal.

[lala_rawraw]

28. How about the most recent arrest of a Dem?

Sue Schmitz?
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080204/NEWS/503659289/1007

Don't you find the timing interesting?

[mmonk]

50. What were the charges?

Not too clear.

[xxqqqzme]

69. we need to get accustomed to the fact that

there are no Democratic Leaders!

[Richard Steele]

20. Stalin would be pleased. K&R

[aquart]

21. Done.

[FourScore]

22. k&r n/t

[Tuesday_Morning]

23. k & r

[Kurovski]

25. K&R. (nt)

[fascisthunter]

26. Welcome to Soviet Russia

where we show you all you need to know.

[lala_rawraw]

27. hell, and i just left there...

not 30 years ago... am i already back so damn soon?

[fascisthunter]

31. Hiya Lala... I Knew You'd Reply

My father was born in Kharkov, Ukraine and tells me often that after all the traveling he and his family have done around the World, he wonders if they have gone full circle. He lived in Brazil most of his young adult life, then when old enough, entered the military in the US to gain citizenship. Stayed in the military for close to thirteen years, was VERY proud to serve his country and now wonders if it was worth it? Over the years, especially the Bush years, we have devolved into more of a Fascist Police State than what you have experienced. But I'm sure you see plenty of parallels...

[lala_rawraw]

33. my father says the same thing

sad:(

[apocalypsehow]

29. Disappointing - but not surprising.

[immoderate]

30. Done, and a rec.

--IMM

[The Backlash Cometh]

32. Is a defamation of character lawsuit in order?

[lala_rawraw]

34. i don't know...

this is all being done quietly by the WH

[The Backlash Cometh]

36. Sounds like somebody leaked.

[blm]

35. I hate these media fascists doing this. What if they JUST pumped Siegelman to GET the

lowdown and tactics for his defense ONLY TO USE IT against him when they develop their counter moves?

Where are the BIG Dems on this? How could they have let this happen since 2002?

[antigop]

39. How could they have let this happen? You're joking, right?

WE don't have representation in our government. THEY don't work for us.

[scarletwoman]

41. "THEY don't work for us." This is THE most essential principle for understanding

the U.S. political system.

THEY DON'T WORK FOR US!

If people would just get this through their heads, it would go a long way toward devising solutions.

sw

[SalmonChantedEvening]

37. K&R for lala and Governor Siegelman

:hi: :loveya: :patriot: :yourock:

[lonestarnot]

38. Done

K & R

[The Wizard]

40. 60 Minutes/CBS News

lost its integrity when they fired Dan Rather. They are part of the fourth Estate that has become a fifth column.
Everyone go out and rent the movie Network.

[theFrankFactor]

43. SIEGELMAN SPEAKS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymqcU5zOPSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUYOSruz4dw

[Botany]

44. 60 minutes just did a great piece on Iraq ..... durning the super bowl ....

.... and don't forget they pulled the part about Plame looking for WMDs
in Iraq & Iran from their show months ago.

[Kurovski]

45. Kick. (nt)

[AzDar]

46. K & R...

:kick:

[defendandprotect]

47. Really feel sad for Siegelmann --- this is awful, but like so much before it ---

They have been able to pull off so much more than Nixon --- and on and on it goes!!!

[barbtries]

48. i wrote to them:

How can you abscond your responsibility to report the news to the American people in response to political pressure?!

This story needs to get out. A man was imprisoned for being a Democrat in the United States of America. That is huge news and you must report it.

Show the people we still have a fourth estate. Have some courage and some conviction. Stop pandering to the powerful and recognize and act on your own in an ethical and fair manner.

Barbara Bales

[lonestarnot]

49. Kick

[Ian_rd]

51. I am constantly surprised at the power these people have

Even after everything we've seen since Bush took office, their ability to do whatever they want with no consequences whatsoever blows me away. The un-American and anti-Democratic White House, the lack of will from Congress, the complicity and pliability of the press, and the easily distracted public are conspiring to turn this nation into something else. Into Russia.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

53. Yes, this really has shades of the USSR, complete with a "war" in Afghanistan

We have our own "Gulags" and we spend billions on the military, all while bankrupting the treasury. And, we see almost complete control of the media, with FAUX as our Pravda.

I fear that the recession will now bring our own version of bread lines, but I hope I'm really wrong. :-(

[trof]

52. My e-mail to 60 Minutes:

Just wanted to say thanks for freeing up my Sunday evenings.
I used to plan them around 60 Minutes, but I won't do that any more.

Right now I'm reading Mary Mapes "Truth and Duty".
And then just this morning I see that you've 'postponed' the segment on Don Siegelman.
Right.

It's really a shame to see what has happened to a once great program and news department.
Maybe you folks should just go ahead and move over to Faux News.

Anyway, next Sunday I guess I'll find a good old movie on TCM.

[Graybeard]

54. Shame CBS, shame.

The Siegelman case and the misuse of Judicial power is a scandal of ugly proportions. Seeing CBS cave in to WH pressure is a disgrace. This story must be aired. That is what I wrote in my email to 60 Minutes.

[MaineYooper]

55. Edward R Murrow is no doubt doing cartwheels in his grave. n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

56. Kick!

:kick:

[redqueen]

57. K&R

And thanks...

[Subdivisions]

58. Ummm...I sent a polite email to the addy you provided last night

and today I find that it has returned undeliverable.

[lala_rawraw]

80. that means the mass mailing is working...

we need to keep it up... because a Democratic gov sitting in jail as a political prisoner is just the tip of this twisted iceberg. if we don't fight for him, who will fight for us?

[DemoTex]

59. Got to keep that train to GULAG America on track!

Nikolai Getman Moving Out

[donsu]

60. kick

nt

[cadaverdog]

61. Disgusting

K&R

[mahatmakanejeeves]

62. I wish they had spent more time vetting their source for Rathergate.

Checking won't hurt.

[BrklynLiberal]

63. K&R.....Where is the f**kin outrage?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Phred42]

64. See BS

[blayne]

65. k&r

and email sent.

[JPZenger]

66. We've been waiting for this story for 3 months

Most the 60 Minutes story was completed last year. It was supposed to be shown in December, then January, then silence.

Hopefully, the squashing of this story will bring MORE attention to our number 1 political prisoner than if the story had aired.

Where is the outrage? Right here.

[JPZenger]

67. They Could Do the Story Without Simpson

There are so many injustices involved with Siegelman's imprisonment, that they could do a multi-part series. They could easily do the story without even mentioning the allegations by Simpson (a Republican attorney from a solidly Republican family, who has testified under oath).

[lala_rawraw]

75. Yup...

They could. You are very right to point this out:)

[JPZenger]

70. The old days - Remember when 60 Minutes Went After Injustice?

Does anyone remember the old days when 60 Minutes actually went after injustice? It used to be fun to watch. In fact, at that time, 60 Minutes was the number 1 rated TV show in the US. Because it was cheap to make, it probably was the most profitable show on TV by far.

Today, when was the last time anything important was uncovered by 60 Minutes? When was the last time you heard anyone quote anything from 60 Minutes? As investigative journalism has died on TV, it has become irrelevant.

[xxqqqzme]

72. should be worthy of a' worst person in the world'

slot.

[lala_rawraw]

76. good call...

I somehow think though that Karl Rove deserves that slot permanently and he is part of this story in any case:)

[Cleita]

74. Besides Bill Moyers, you could try Keith Olbermann, Amy

Goodman of "Democracy Now", BBC America News (kind of conservative, but they like to show they are better than the American news channels), and any other International News that will carry it. If this story gets momemtum in other venues and starts spreading, then the WH sycophants will have a harder and harder time ignoring it.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

77. K&R

[Plucketeer]

78. There WAS a candidate that dared to point out this crap.

<- here's a photo of him. But the very same media "took care" of his truths as well. They've now got the "field" winnowed down to the two lackeys they like/own. SO - the screen-licking American Idle gangs got just what they deserve. Too bad for the minority of us who seek truth and not stardom. :grr:

[AikidoSoul]

79. Just sent my email to 60 Minutes

Am hoping the rest of DUers are doing the same besides the
ranting that goes on here. Send out emails to all your
friends and ask them to do the same.

This is outrageous !!!!

I'm so angry that I'm sick in my soul and heart.

Those evil bastards!