This is truly painful since I am neither a fan of Donald Trump or beauty pageants, but here it is: Is it possible that the actions taken against not just Donald Trump but his business associations are excessive? NBC has issued a statement that it will no longer air the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants and that Trump will no longer participate in “The Celebrity Apprentice.” (Univision previously banned the pageant as did Televise. Mexico swore not to send its contestant to the pageant). Now many people have long advocated a Dump the Trump position because they view him as an obnoxious self-caricature. However, NBC is now dropping its association with Trump because he said highly negative things about border illegal aliens at a political event. [Now Macy’s has joined the corporate Dump Trump movement]
One could understand dropping a personality from a show like “The Celebrity Apprentice” over public comments, but the network is shooting shows that are connected Trump’s business interests. It seems odd to pull the plug on the Miss USA and Miss Universe contestants solely because the events is connected financially to someone who has controversial political views. The Miss USA contestants expected to appear on NBC on July 12 from Baton Rouge. The network has aired the program for the last 11 years.
Trump created a firestorm in announcing his candidacy on June 16th for President in discussing illegal immigration. He said:
“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems. … When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” said Trump. “They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
I can certainly see the basis for the outcry in labeling the population of illegal immigrants as rapists and criminals (except for “some” who may be “good people”). The question is whether businesses should be punished for the political views of their CEOs or leadership. We have been discussing the increasing private sanctions for unpopular speech — the so-called “Little Brother” problem. It bears some resemblance to the Chick-Fil-A controversy after Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy made anti-gay comments. The question is why it is appropriate to punish an entire business — and its employees and customers — because you disagree with the political or religious views of an owner or executive. Where should be draw the line? I can see the basis for severing Trump as an on-air personality over public comments deemed offensive but is it appropriate to bar shows that happen to be financially supported by Trump?
It seems to me that, if NBC is going to bar shows due to the views of business executives, it should do so uniformly. Many CEOs hold views that can be criticized as offensive by one group or another. Is NBC going to impose a uniform speech code for businesses funding programs? The alternative is to separate the political views of business people from their products or programs, particularly when those products or programs do not in any way reflect the views.
What do you think?
Source: Hollywood Reporter
I believe SCOTUS, unequally packed with appointees by Bush and Daddy Bush, did more harm to the causes of democracy, free speech and incorruptible politics/elections than we will ever know. And since corporations are now “persons”, NBC’s dumping of the village idiot Trump is simply one kid telling another that the other that the other kid is no longer welcome in one kid’s sandbox. Get out, and the tricycle you rode in on, clear and simple. Has nobody noticed there is no such leftist mainstream media anymore, nor has there been for some years past? Even MSNBC has conservative ownership and only retains left-leaning programming if it brings in the buxx. As always, it’s all about the bottom line. Finally, to those emos who insist on hating Brian Williams, whose “lies” render him lower than a sack of cat-scat, it’s fairly well documented that his embellishments had little to do with any news stories he read. They were confined to anecdotes he told about personal experiences. Ever heard a fish story or, better yet, an old veteran’s war stories? While all men have feet of clay, it’s a fact that jealous men get back at more successful men by pointing out each other’s feet of clay. While the naive amongst the public gasp in disingenuous horror; the constant, 100% adobe clay super-whopper-liars get shows on Fox and its ilk (Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck, that raspy screeching blonde in mini-skirts whose name I can never remember, the beautiful Asian news reader, etc etc) and are installed as news readers – yet insert their opinions in news reports as a matter of course – this is news in America today. Anyone intelligent enough to read and comprehend this blog is arguably sophisticated enough not to pretend you’re shocked. Incidentally, since The Donald is well known to perpetually lie about his personal worth, net or gross, as well as the number of times he has filed for bankruptcy protection (his corporations are his person[s], remember, SCOTUS has ruled!), nobody truly knows how much money he really has. Those who know or have known his finances best, however, feel safe to report that he is worth much less than his daddy left to him – leaving us with the undeniable truth that his DADDY was the genius at making money, NOT The Donald.
Well from this dog’s side of the political rectum I detect a lot of dislike of The Donald. Why is that? Maybe the hair. The face. The voice. The ego. Is there a way to ban him like the Confederate Flag? I hope so.
DBQ,
Thank you. I’m not sure that’s the comment he was questioning but your clarification is spot on. It comes as no surprise that Inga/Annie and others consider defending rights as “gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair” as they only believe rights come from government. We therefore have no standing to defend any right in this ‘democracy’ because their majority rules. I believe the common refrain is “elections have consequences”.
I. Annie said …
I encourage all candidates to speak from their hearts, the consequences of expressing their true selves is exactly what should happen …
As I’ve said now and then you do post a real gem on some topics. I agree with you on this one…but I await the phenomena from both sides of the political spectrum.
It was a rational, well reasoned decision to dump Trump from NBC. Again, he most certainly won’t be “silenced” because just because he can no longer spew his crap on NBC. There are numerous other multi media outlets that he can exercise his free speech on. It’s humorous seeing the gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair over the NBC decision to do what is in their own best interest. The response from the right o’sphere sounds like a temper tantrum, lol.
That is what rational adults do instead of throwing temper tantrums because people disagree with them or express thoughts that make them uncomfortable.
Cut and pasted only part of my comment. Doh!
@ Issac
Why is it when the defense of a natural right happens to be attached to a specific individual or group it’s perceived as an endorsement of the individual or group and not simply the right?
Let me try to translate. Why is it that if people defend Donald Trump’s right to free speech or the right of even the Southern Dixiecrats to fly their flag, as free speech, it is seen as if we are endorsing either Trump or the Rebel flag, when all we are doing is standing up for free speech for everyone.
Obviously that right, to free speech, is not defended by all or recognized by all since some, even in this very thread, are advocating that people “like” Trump be banned or silenced. Censored and punished for speaking their thoughts.
Free speech is free speech whether you, or I, agree with the content. People have the right to express their thoughts. Instead of censorship, squelching thoughts, destroying history and burning the Rebel Flag……adults and people who respect the rights of others would discuss and try to persuade. That is what rational adults
Better?
@ Harry
1, June 30, 2015 at 1:21 pm
“Ken Rogers – NBC is not owned by GE anymore. It was bought by Comcast. Comcast CEO, Brian Roberts calls a lot of the shots.”
Thanks for the reminder, Harry. While composing my post, I completely spaced Comcast’s acquisition of NBC from GE in 2011.
The substance of my remarks regarding the economic power dynamics and control of public opinion by multinational media conglomerates is as germane to Comcast as to GE, however, if not even more so:
“Comcast Products
Cable television
Broadband internet
VoIP phone
Television broadcasting
Motion pictures
Radio broadcasting
Sports franchising
Theme parks
Venture capital
“Revenue
Increase US$ 64.657 billion (2013) [4]
Increase US$ 62.570 billion (2012) [4]
“Operating income
Increase US$ 13.563 billion (2013) [4]
Increase US$ 12.179 billion (2012) [4]
“Net income
Increase US$ 6.816 billion (2013) [4]
Increase US$ 6.203 billion (2012) [4]
“Total assets
Increase US$ 158.813 billion (2013) [5]
Increase US$ 164.971 billion (2012) [4]
“Total equity
Increase US$ 51.058 billion (2013) [5]
Increase US$ 49.796 billion (2012) [5]
Number of employees
136,000 (Dec 2013)[6]
“Subsidiaries
Comcast Cable
Midcontinent Communications (49%)
Comcast Interactive Media
Comcast Spectacor (63%)
Comcast Ventures[7]
NBCUniversal
“Comcast Corporation, formerly registered as Comcast Holdings,[note 1] is a U.S.-based multinational mass media company and is the largest broadcasting and cable company in the world by revenue.[2] It is the largest cable company and home Internet service provider in the United States,[8] and the nation’s third largest home telephone service provider. Comcast services U.S. residential and commercial customers in 40 states and the District of Columbia.[9] The company’s headquarter is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [emphasis added]
“As the owner of the international media company NBCUniversal since 2011,[10][11][12][13] Comcast is a producer of feature films and television programs intended for theatrical exhibition and over-the-air and cable television broadcast.
“Comcast operates multiple cable-only channels (including E! Entertainment Television, the Golf Channel, and NBCSN), over-the-air national broadcast network channels (NBC and Telemundo), the film production studio Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks & Resorts, with a global total of nearly 200 family entertainment locations and attractions in the U.S. and several other countries including U.A.E., South Korea, Russia and China, with several new locations reportedly planned and being developed for future operation.[14] Comcast also has significant holding in digital distribution (ThePlatform). [emphasis added]
“In February 2014 the company agreed to merge with Time Warner Cable in an equity swap deal worth $45.2 billion. Under the terms of the agreement Comcast was to acquire 100% of Time Warner Cable. [15] However, on April 24, 2015, Comcast terminated the agreement.
“Comcast has been criticized for multiple reasons. The company’s customer satisfaction often ranks among the lowest in the cable industry.[16][17] Comcast has violated net neutrality practices in the past; and, despite Comcast’s commitment to a narrow definition of net neutrality,[18] critics advocate a definition of which precludes distinction between Comcast’s private network services and the rest of the Internet.[19] Critics also point out a lack of competition; in the vast majority of Comcast’s service area, it does not compete with other cable providers.[20] [emphasis added]
“Given Comcast’s negotiating power as a large ISP, some suspect that Comcast could leverage paid peering agreements to unfairly influence end-user connection speeds. These issues, in addition to others, led to Comcast being dubbed ‘The Worst Company in America’ by The Consumerist in 2014.[21][22]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast
And, of course, the public was very nearly subjected to even more consolidation of media power, i.e., information control, with the attempted acquisition by Comcast last year of Time Warner, one of the five largest media conglomerates.
isaac,
That is by far the shortest comment I have ever seen you post. 🙂
Olly
Wha…..?
Why is it when the defense of a natural right happens to be attached to a specific individual or group it’s perceived as an endorsement of the individual or group and not simply the right?
I remember a long time ago seeing Trump on the “Donahue” show. And Donahue asked him if he would run for president. He said, “No way, why would I want to do that? I can influence the country more doing what I do now”.
To all those with 1st amendment chauvinist knee-jerk reactions: This is not a denial of the freedom of speech. It is not censorship. It is not punishment. It is not an infringement of the free speech rights of presidential candidates. It is not in any way a threat to freedom. It is not a triumph of “liberal”, “MSM” political correctness. Trump remains perfectly free to express his ideas and opinions throughout the country. NBC will even cover them on it news broadcasts. This is, simply put, an expression of disapproval of Trump’s sentiments. Period. To continue to support him would imply an approval of his comments, which NBC does not condone. NBC is a private corporation; as such, it is under no obligation to support the statements every Tom, Dick, and Harry who comes down the pike.
“…if you study history that they can in part and as these parts join together perhaps some day, as a whole will be how humans rise above their nature.”
Isaac,
I’ve studied history and our species has offered no proof whatsoever that our nature is changeable; only the societies within which they exist has changed. Our country was established on that principle, that the laws of nature and to those that believe, nature’s God, are what humans are bound by. As a result, civil society establishes a form of government that best secures the free expression of our nature to the greatest extent possible. Declaring those principles and living up to those principles are a matter for cultural transformation. The principles are right and for sure our culture at the time was not representative of those principles. It is however arrogant to believe cultures MUST transform in “my” lifetime; the larger the group the slower the change. We have many people today that want to embrace ‘some’ of our founding principles but not all. Equality, well yeah that’s a good thing. Life, well that depends; liberty, again that depends, property, forget about it and that leaves us with pursuing happiness, but today, that of course depends on the majority opinion of what defines happiness.
We need to abandon the ridiculous notion that someday humans will rise above their nature and instead embrace the idea that our nature is selfish and we are not to be trusted to act in the best interest of anyone other than ourselves. Call it our sin nature or animal instinct but however you want to define it, it is with us for eternity. Before you get defensive, this does not mean an individual is incapable of altruism. Once we can understand and unite on that principle then we can perceive those that govern with the skeptical eye they deserve.
Ken Rogers – NBC is not owned by GE anymore. It was bought by Comcast. Comcast CEO, Brian Roberts calls a lot of the shots.
Since Comcast took control of NBC, the network’s news division—famously termed Comcast’s “crown jewel” by C.E.O. Brian Roberts—has endured one debacle after another.
“When Comcast took over, they had the No. 1 morning show, the No. 1 Sunday show, and the No. 1 evening broadcast,” says a former top NBC executive.
“That’s all completely fallen apart. I don’t know how you blame anyone but Comcast and the people it brought in. It’s been a nightmare.”
And we also failed to pass food labeling laws that would identify GMOs, thanks to Monsanto. Repealing meat country of origin labeling is a bow to Mexico. Plus, who wouldn’t want to buy their processed chicken nuggets from China?
Know where your food was raised and under what conditions.
https://agriculture.house.gov/press-release/house-ag-committee-approves-bipartisan-bill-repeal-country-origin-labeling
Chairman Conaway said. “We must do all we can to avoid retaliation by Canada and Mexico, and this bill accomplishes that through full repeal of labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken…“With the recent decision by the WTO, we must act rapidly to avoid serious trade barriers being enacted against U.S. agricultural products. This is a good first step towards resolving this issue that has been hanging over the industry for years.”
The repeal was enacted in response to a threat from the WTO on trade restrictions. Once we joined the WTO, we lost our ability to set all our own rules, apparently.
@Ken Rogers
I am pleased that you chose to present this quote from Bernays!
“This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. …In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons…who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.” [emphasis added]
? Edward L. Bernays, Propaganda
I have posted that here several times. FWIW, here is a downloadable pdf of the book, Propaganda.
https://wikispooks.com/w/images/1/1f/Propaganda.pdf
and one in French for foreigners:
http://lesmoutonsenrages.fr/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Bernays_Edward_-_Propaganda_Fr.pdf
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
DBQ – true and true.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/244636-house-passes-bill-to-repeal-meat-labeling-rules
Concerned about pesticides and overseas regulations? The House voted to repeal country of origin labeling in pork, chicken and beef.
Olly:
Critics of voter ID laws, or any efforts to purge the roles of fraud, cite the low conviction rate of voter fraud. But the fact remains that this crime is rarely investigated or prosecuted. In fact, any attempts to fight voter fraud, including such investigations, are hammered as racist. It’s a vicious circle.