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MSNBC Should Hire Rev Wright to Balance Pat Buchanan
This weekend, MSNBC ran an hour-long "Special Report" on Rev Jeremiah Wright and Barack Obama hosted by Dan Abrams. The report aired the weekend before Primary voting in Indiana and North Carolina. Abrams rehashed the stories that MSNBC had run repeatedly on its news shows the previous two weeks. There was nothing special about the "Special Report".
MSNBC happens to be the home of Nazi apologist and part-time racist Pat Buchanan. It occurs to me that Rev Wright would provide just the balance MSNBC needs to atone for its repetitive use of Pat Buchanan as a credible political analyst. MSNBC was the home of Dan Savage, a racist homophobe, in years past.
Rev Wright would not remain silent if Buchanan told him to shut up, as Pat did to African-American MSNBC analyst Keli Goff during an appearance on the Dan Abrams show several weeks ago. Abrams remained silent, offering no objection. It was Rachel Maddow, another guest, who voiced opposition to Buchanan's outburst.
Mr Buchanan was a full fledged supporter of the GOP's Southern strategy. Rev Wright could detail how viewpoints like Buchanan's stoked the fire in some of Wright's sermons. I think MSNBC's ratings would skyrocket.
Comments (7)
Oh, my, that would be SOME pairing - I'd pay money to see that!!! Pat Buchanan would get his ass handed to him! ;)
May 6, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
For once I agree with you, rmrd0000!
May 6, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Regardless of how Wright's antics have reflected on Obama's campaign, I enjoy his fire and brimstone sermonizing, his insightful mode that we saw on Bill Moyers, his activist mode we saw at the NAACP speech, and yes, I even enjoyed his mockery of the press at the NPC event.
But even more than all of that, I love this Grandpa Simpson/Rev. Wright mash-up:
http://www.vanityfair.com/ontheweb/blogs/daily/2008/05/reverend-wright.html
May 6, 2008 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's just what we need - more exposure for Jeremiah Wright in the national media, which has largely silenced the man to date.
May 6, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Are you kidding me? First, since I'm in a cable news blackout right now, I didn't know MSNBC was doing such a special and I'm stunned that it has stooped this low at this point in time. (I shouldn't be, right?) And the last thing I want is for MSNBC's ratings to skyrocket because of a controversy that should have been put to bed a long time ago. In fact, what we should want is for MSNBC's ratings to decline because the network isn't fulfilling its duty to the public as an alleged news organization -- a duty it and all networks have for use of the public airwaves.
You describe Buchanan as "a Nazi apologist and part-time racist." I won't argue with that. But I will ask: Does a network who hires such a person and allows him to spew his venom deserve to see its ratings skyrocket? Shouldn't the opposite be the better scenario?
Furthermore, the last thing anyone should want is for Wright to be legitimized with a high-paying job on a news network. I watched the Moyers interview and I, too, felt that Wright had been wrongly used as a dirty tool of the MSM and others. I thought he was sensible, intelligent and that he had been wronged. Until he went nutso only days later. My opinion of him has changed dramatically. I wish he would just go away. I can't imagine any thinking person wanting to see more of this kook. Especially under the banner of "news."
May 6, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Buchanan is as outrageous as Wright. The real question is how does Buchanan find employment at MSNBC or CNN, etc?
May 6, 2008 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
The same way any of them do -- the networks want the controversial characters (caricatures?) to drum up viewers who want to see the carnage. It's the TV version of the old newspaper saying: If it bleeds, it leads.
May 6, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
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