For weeks, many of us have been shocked by the use of controversial Al Sharpton as a host on “MSNBC Live.” We have followed Sharpton’s long litany of alleged criminal violations and race-baiting tactics. Now, as if to show that it can match Fox’s hiring of Glenn Beck and CNN’s hiring of Nancy Grace, MSNBC is reportedly close to giving Sharpton the slot held by Cenk Uygur.
Sharpton has hosted the 6pm show for the last two weeks.
Sharpton has a long history of alleged corrupt practices , tax disputes, and federal investigations. He came to fame with his infamous role in the Tawana Brawley hoax that led to civil liability for Sharpton.
His selection destroys the credibility of MSNBC in its criticism of folks like O’Reilly and Beck. It is a ratings driven decision that does not consider impact on the credibility of MSNBC as a news organization. Liberals often ridicule (rightfully) the embrace of scandal-plagued personalities on the right for such programs. Yet, the objectivity appears lost when there is agreement with the views of such a personality from the left. Whether I agree with Sharpton’s view is immaterial to the litany of scandals and demonstrated misconduct in his part. Sometimes it is the messenger and not the message that is the problem.
Sharpton’s selection in anticipation of the upcoming election appears both cynical and sensational by the network. It is astonishing that MSNBC would embrace such a figure as a host, if the report below is true. The selection would follow the President’s baffling decision to make Sharpton a highly visible component of his reelection effort.
Source: Media Bistro
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/10/roger-ailes-fox-news-murdoch
How the Head of Fox News Is Making Americans More Right-Wing, More Ignorant and Ever More Terrified
“Even Rupert Murdoch is afraid of Roger Ailes, the paranoid boss of Fox News. But ‘the Chairman’ is using his power to make Americans more rightwing, more ignorant and ever more terrified”
Tim Dickinson
Wednesday 10 August 2011
Excerpt:
“At the Fox News Chrismas party the year the network overtook arch-rival CNN in the cable ratings, tipsy employees were herded down to the basement of a midtown bar in New York. As they gathered around a television mounted high on the wall, an image flashed to life, glowing bright in the darkened tavern: the MSNBC logo. A chorus of boos erupted among the Fox faithful. The CNN logo followed, and the catcalls multiplied. Then a third slide appeared, with a telling twist. In place of the logo for Fox News was a beneficent visage: the face of the network’s founder. The man known to his fiercest loyalists simply as “the Chairman” – Roger Ailes.
“It was as though we were looking at Mao,” recalls Charlie Reina, a former Fox News producer. The Foxistas went wild. They let the dogs out. Woof! Woof! Woof! Even those who disliked the way Ailes runs his network joined in the display of fealty, given the culture of intimidation at Fox News. “It’s like the Soviet Union or China: People are always looking over their shoulders,” says a former executive with the network’s parent, News Corp. “There are people who turn people in.””
The “Gawker” story to which Cenk Uygur was referring:
Roger Ailes Caught Spying on the Reporters at His Small-Town Newspaper
By John Cook and Hamilton Nolan Apr 18, 2011
http://gawker.com/5793012
“The small-town newspapers in New York’s Hudson Valley that Fox News chief Roger Ailes owns with his wife Elizabeth are in a staff revolt after employees caught Ailes spying on them with News Corp. security goons.”
“Fox News President Caught Spying?”
“A report in Gawker alleges that Roger Ailes was caught spying on reporters. Cenk Uygur breaks it down.”
This is what you call stone racist comments from a dysfunctional group of people. Reverend Sharpton should be allowed the same opportunity as the White hosts, who cannot get it right. I do not watch o’Reilly, Beck, & others because of their racist attitudes. If you pay close attention, Reverend Sharpton is upfront with his comments and reports the facts openly. Many people throw rocks and hide their hand. Thank you Reverend Sharpton for being honest. The majority of people do not care for honesty.
Your audience evidently are watching the show in order to complain about how you report the news and debate with others. President Obama do not have time to deal with the side shows, or distractions. He has to focus on the country’s business and need no impediments, so you speak your mind as to what’s really happening in America. They do not accept the truth. Keep up the good work.
Al is razor sharp in putting Tea heads in boiling water when they are on his show,he always gets these crazy delusional idiot’s to answer question,they don’t won’t to answer.He uncovers and take apart thier sick uneducated agenda’s in less than two or three minutes, his show is the best show mentally for breaking down tea party sick agendas.
Lottakatz,
Thanks for the video.
Can one imagine this segment from Young Turks (uploaded the 19th) being a segment on an MSMBC show?
Here’s the story from Cenk’s POV, they offered him more money for a different time slot and to “tone it down” …. “we’re not outsiders, we’re insiders”, this in spite of excellent ratings. He said “no” to the offer.
http://www.youtube.com/theyoungturks/#p/u/3/HrKKkGl3TnY
Ah! MSNBCs answer to Glenn Beck. What are/were they thinking. I suspect he will get to stay long after his rating are in the sewer since he will be the official token for MSNBC for commentaries.
Cenk Uygur Out At MSNBC
http://www.deadline.com/2011/07/cenk-uygur-out-at-msnbc/
Cenk Uygur’s run at MSNBC sure was short. The news network says that it has “decided to make a change” at 6:00 PM ET, the time slot when since January Uygur has hosted MSNBC Live. “It’s unfortunate that Cenk has declined our offer to have him develop and host a program for another time slot,” MSNBC adds. The Turkish American radio talk show host plans to hold a teleconference with the press on Thursday where, the invitation says, he will “boldly discuss his departure from MSNBC.” The change comes amid reports that MSNBC may turn the time slot over to controversial civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton who generated decent ratings filling in for Uygur while he was on vacation.
Love Cenk and his style
Hate Rev Al and his style
so they lost me as a viewer-one less thing to DVR or watch during dinner
As in all network decisions, ratings are what really matters. Obviously, in spite of the fact that a few on here don’t think Rev. Al is “ready for” primetime, the ratings say otherwise.
This means MORE PEOPLE are watching, and want to watch, Rev. Al, than were watching Cenk.
That is all.
WOW!!! Do you really think that there are no more shovels, Tawanna Brawley, over 30 years ago, and this is what you bring up…before you try digging, make sure that record is clear…
Happy to see Cenk go! Can’t wait for Dylan to go too!! Thanks Rev Al. Love you, love what you’ve done so far and can’t wait to see more. For the rest of you who disagree, tough. You don’t run the network who was bleeding viewers due to the Libertarian thread that keeps pushing against the Democratic President instead of the Unpatriotic GOP. No love lost at all!!!
Rev all doing a great job. Holding guests to the question, not just bring the regular “respectful host” that excuses lies and ignorance. Those who think that he is not ready for this. I might watch his ratings as he has my vote and the Twitterverse. There seem to be many who don’t understand his following on the ground and not just in the theoretical. Those that seem so upset must have been just reading about him and not reading him or really watching him. I did like Cenk but love Rev Al.
swarthmom
i was thinking meth but pills would explain the weird off to one side stare
The tactics of the Right never work for the Left.
I enjoyed watching Cenk and I think he’s a much better host than is
Sharpton. Sharpton is much better suited to being a guest. I think
this change may be more about ratings than it is about journalistic
integrity.