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
Oops, forgot this was about The Donald. From a pure economics standpoint, his clothes, golf clubs, etc., will be contracted with someone else for more money than NBC, et al, were getting. Celebrity Apprentice will probably go to Fox, the only station with brains. He’s doing a Ross Perot rerun. And getting lots of attention, which makes him happy. Being a conservative, he sure is letting the uninformed with information. And that is a good thing!
First, the Miss Universe was held in Long Beach, CA. My home town! It was at the civic auditorium, holding maybe 3,000 at most. The contestants were guests of anyone who had a guest house or private facilities separate from homeowners. I have a vague memory that it was a two-fer. Miss USA was picked first, a lovely girl from Ottumwa, Iowa, then the Miss Universe portion, won by? A lovely girl from Ottuma, Iowa. I was at kid with black and white TV, so everyone went to a movie theater to see tidbits in color. Our Ottumwa, Iowa, was gorgeous in color!
That trip to the movie theater was how we saw the Rose Parade in color. Those were a simpler time, with everyone easily satisfied. I don’t recall any fights or gunshots. Girls always wore skirts. There was a take-out hamburger nearby selling ten hamburgers for a buck. Now you can get a pretty tacky hamburger for a buck.
I’m probably wrong about a lot of things. But who could forget a girl from Ottumwa, Iowa!
Tom Nash–Sorry, misunderstood.
Trump is a billionaire, who is none to bright…the political “kiss-of-death” as a politician is impugning other ethnic groups…all those green-backs, and he couldn’t buy some t.v. smarts…Trump…”you’re fired”…LMAO!
It tickles me that Issac (whom I know is brighter than that) on this thread or another ( I lose track) said Hillary is the “least worst catastrophe …that says it all. 🙂
Good Lawd almighty…not we must select the least worst catastrophe ? Dang, I like Obama ( just a very tiny infinitesimal bit, but….) far better than Hillary. He accomplished something no one believed possible, “election”, so I’ll credit him for that. Hilary has mostly made pant suits for large ladies popular….never done anything of substance. Neither had Obama but he did make a sea change in our electorate…she cannot possibly do so unless everyone falls asleep. I love the “there is no evidence” meme versus ” the “I didn’t do it” assertion. Big difference. Bill did the same thing about his BJ in the Oval office closet…until the blue dress surfaced. I almost cannot wait for Hillary’s. “Is” means exactly what “is” means…it just “is.”
Karen S .. Do NOT stay home. It is the ABH election, no matter who has the opposing nomination. You MUST vote or you assist Hillary. If this means a “least worst” candidacy once again, so be it. ABH is the mandatory policy for voters who are not senile or deceased.
I am a true California Girl. You folks are all over the place. If I had been present when the vet shot an arrow in a cat, the vet would be in bad shape. Watching John Roberts once again set aside the Constitution he swore to uphold was disheartening. Same sex marriage is OK, so all States should get with the program ( and Ted Cruz) and move on. The ones planning a same sex marriage would do well to use services offered by those with no problem with same sex marriages. Don’t ask a Catholic priest to marry you. Have some respect for the good things the Church does and leave them alone. Acceptance will come faster if you quit making it an issue.
The Donald will land on his feet, making more money with Apprentice, and girls in bikinis. I don’t take him seriously, but if he wants to spend his own money taking shots at Hillary, go for it!
I haven’t watched an NBC news program since Brinkley passed. His passing brought the new NBC that hires the most horrible people, and could care less about truth. So their sending Brian to MSNC (which I have never watched) to wait until people get over it and he can take a few trips to prepare his (fuzzy memory) comments.
We in CA have decisions made for us, you can only water your lawn on the two days they tell you. So automatic sprinklers are set and while out of town people’s sprinklers are spreading water while rain falls, causes the sewers to flood. We have a bucket for the shower to capture water and can sneak out late at night and give our grass a little relief. How can we buy water from those who have no grass could be a new industry.
Living in CA, as I do, you notice the folks cutting back on labor, as the usual corners have many people left without work. Now having lived here most of my life I can spot a Mexican as he can spot the blanco. I didn’t say Mexicans at these corners to protect myself from being called a bigot. Southern California is nirvana. I watch people in line in front of me at the market who can’t speak English, but have that card, almost golden, filling their trunks almost to capacity with MY MONEY! Oodles of kids along, so at least their tummies will be full.
I had some major back surgery in May, requiring multiple surgeons, a three-week stay in the hospital, and two weeks at a rehab (I would probably still be there, but threatened divorce). As I visit my doctors they never look me in the eye. Too busy using little computers entering every word. Next time I’ll bring a hard copy of the info, which allows me to see his face. I jest, but the requirements of ACA require this. Some doctors have someone else in the room making a record on his computer of all that was said. And the cost of care goes up.
I cannot wait for a copy of the hospital bill. Probably in a month or so while Medicare argues its position on eligible charges and then my private insurer gets into the discussion. After all is settled, we get a copy of the bill along with a late notice from the hospital. I am keeping the adult beverages at the ready for how much we must pay puts my husband agog with a stare with his mouth open while I put the adult beverage in his hand. I have another one in my other hand, in case the first is drained in one swallow.
I am saving up meds that can kill you if you take too much, for the occasion of, God forbid, Hillary’s election. I’ll take them one by one watching Bill and Chelsea with hubby and baby joining her on stage while balloons fall and glittery paper falls and blowers keep pushing them back up in the air. And here come the Obama’s as a surprise (and Hillary and family) put the smile onl Obama will make a wonderful half-hour speech, while people go to their beds, they are so sleepy.
As happened in Russia, Stalin died, nothing changed, it got worse. So if Hillary is elected, following the worst President in our history, nothing will change, it will just get worse. Perhaps beyond repair.
As an aside, Hillary made a big todo about babies getting voter ID when born, oh how wonderful, what a great idea. Babies get Social Secuity Numbers at the hospital, adding voter ID would be simple. Perhaps our Republican Congress, maybe our last Republican Congress, could put that bill through. A one-liner, assign a voter ID to Certificates of Birth! Done!
Nick – true. This is going to be a referendum election.
Ken,
All I’ve heard is that secrecy is required when negotiating treaties with other countries. I take that to mean that they want to keep people (citizens) from having input until it is a done deal, when its too late for their input But to be fair there may be a better answer to your question out there.
I meant to say he’s the opposite of Obama. But, Obama, Clinton, what’s the difference?
Karen, This bozo Trump is polling strong. In spite of himself, he is the opposite of Clinton. We tend to elect opposites in Presidential elections. People are CRAVING non politicians. The problem is it makes voters vulnerable to non politician hucksters and demagogues.
Thanks for the links on the TPP. I will check it out.
Aridog – I agree. They’ve crowned Hillary Queen and have provided no alternative for those Democrats whose conscience troubles them about Hillary’s well documented history of lying, erasing State emails, hiding evidence from subpoenas, acting above the law, refusing to grant tough interviews to the press, and otherwise acting like the epitome of what’s wrong with politics as usual.
I would never vote for someone against my conscience. I would either vote for someone else or stay home. But many people are quite open that Hillary could do literally anything and they would still vote for her. They’re just sheep and they’re willing to drag the country down with them out of blind obedience.
Ken – I agree that money has an undue influence on politics at the expense of the rest of us. I include unions in that statement, who spend more than the Koch Brothers. NO big money belongs in politics. Cut out the entire pay to play scheme, regardless of who is paying.
I have heard, not from you, but from others, people bitterly complain about the influence of large corporations but in the same breath applaud unions doing the exact same thing.
The entire system of bundling and mandatory political contributions against the members’ will needs to end. Politicians need to be more worried about their constituents than their major donors. I also want to rein in the absurd amount of money spent on political campaigns. A candidate of more modest means doesn’t stand a chance, which makes politicians sell their favors in the first place to get the heavy hitters to finance them.
@ Shadow
1, July 1, 2015 at 6:37 am
“As to Propoganda and “Corporatism, have you seen the proposed Copyright rules in the TPP.”
“https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/07/dozens-organizations-and-businesses-protest-tpp-copyright-proposals”
No, I hadn’t, but I have now. Thanks for the link.
Regarding the TPP as a whole, anything so cloaked in secrecy and shielded from public examination and input stands self-condemned by this very lack of transparency as a highly probable threat to the public weal.
Has anyone seen any rationalizations by its proponents for this secretive, back-room wheeling and dealing?
Is JT’s quote–“They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists”–from a transcript or is it an audio interpretation? Would it matter if this Republican idiot actually said, “They’re bringing crime…their rapists.” I don’t want to give this moron a break, but I also don’t want to wrongly condemn him based on an errant interpretation.
Harry and Ari, One of the reasons you see so many Republicans on the ballot is they see Hillary as quite beatable. The Dems better get someone other than old man Bernie on deck.
Harry, I don’t know the Machiavellian analysis of Trump vis a vis Hillary. But, I look @ this as simple PC by the uber PC NBC. That is not to say you’re incorrect. But, if I were a Dem, I think I would want the buffoonish, bomb throwing, Trump w/ a high profile. He’s a loose cannon in a duopoly that HATES loose cannons.
Trump is suing for breach of contract, the speech issue is merely a corollary. And I am not a fan of Trump’s. He’s going to have to face the numerous bankruptcies he’s faced without harm to himself. I like his willingness to say what he thinks, but some of his proposed policies are impossible. Christy is similar, but he’s made it clear, he will govern as the moment requires, not necessarily as judgment would suggest. He’s done it before. All that said, the mix of candidates is a good thing, if only for the variety and choices it provides Joe Sixpack. The Democrat “coronation” is absurd…I know there are better Democrats to run, but they won’t….and the coronation unity will trump them if they do.
Nick – Add there are some Hillary Clinton supporters at NBC with cash to give and want Trump shut down.