The Chicago way I suppose….in politics and in the media. Check out some of the stories the CBS station in Chicago did on the Abramoff story and his connections to the GOP a few years back.
DeLay Tried, Failed To Aid Abramoff Client
Vanity Fair: Bush Joked With Abramoff
GOP Politicians Dump Abramoff Donations
Top Lobbyist Abramoff Makes A Deal
In one story they write:
His ties to GOP congressional leaders and the White House pose a particular problem for Republicans.
All legitimate stories about a topic that should be covered by the media. But now a story about a Democrat candidate in Chicago and his dealings with a certain bank don’t seem to create the same journalistic responsibility.
First, here is the story:
The family bank of Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias loaned a pair of Chicago crime figures about $20 million during a 14-month period when Giannoulias was a senior loan officer, according to a Tribune examination that provides new details about the bank’s relationship with the convicted felons.
Broadway Bank had already lent millions to Michael Giorango when he and a new business partner, Demitri Stavropoulos, came to the bank in mid-2004. Although both men were preparing to serve federal prison terms, the bank embarked on a series of loans to them.
Alexi Giannoulias took a senior position at the bank at about the same time and used it as a launching pad for his political career. But as he campaigns to step up from state treasurer to the U.S. Senate, he has tried to distance himself from the bank’s business with the pair and has been reluctant to detail his role.
Broadway is now suing to recover millions of the pair’s delinquent loans as the bank struggles to avoid a federal takeover. While Broadway lawyers now criticize Giorango’s business practices, the newspaper’s examination of court files, land records and public bank documents raises questions about the bank’s decisions to make loans to men with criminal histories.
It’s a legitimate story right? There are definitely questions that need to be answered and any honest reporter and/or news channel should keep on the story until the answers are given.
But not by this CBS affiliate.
No, instead they are demanding the GOP candidate running against Giannoulias quit talking about the story or they will stop covering the race completely.
Now we have the spectacle of one of the major local stations in Chicago threatening not to cover the campaign if the Republican continues to discuss the most damaging aspect of his opponent’s record. Is this the role of an FCC licensed station, entrusted with the role of serving the public interest in relation to a free-flow of information for the citizenry? Maybe in Chicago it is.
REPORTER: Channel 2’s made a decision. We’re really not going to cover the Senate race, if it’s consistently only in your terms, is about Broadway Bank. The bank’s been taken over by the government, Alexi’s (ed. notice the reporter uses the candidates first name here) been pilloried. Tell me, what is your campaign going forward? What are the issues you are going to tell the voters why they should vote for you?
Listen to the audio here.
Can you imagine the outcry if it was FOX News demanding a Democrat stop talking about Bush?
Yeah, no bias in our MSM.
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On the one hand, the CBS outlet has a valid point; they are asking why people should vote for this candidate, rather than why they should not vote for the other one. They are asking for positive campaigning, rather than negative campaigning. It is a lovely sentiment. It almost brings tears to the eyes, especially to think that this is being expressed in such a soft-hearted venue as Chicago.
On the other hand, back in the real world of politics, it is an obscene joke. Since when have the Dems ever had the right to demand someone stay away from negative campaigning?
Typical Lame Stream Media owned by 0-bama. Pathetic that Journalism has stooped to an all time new low!! Demorats should wake up and stop this!!
That’s funny because this morning a local CBS talk show had a discussion about the democrats wanting to dump Giannoulias because he’s so damaged by the Broadway Bank scandal. Look for a Torricelli/Lautenberg switch-a-roo, you know how those democrats are. 🙄
Kirk just might pull this off. Our new governor is panning out to be way less than adequate, the states in a mess, following California’s lead, we would have been better off if Bags would have remained in office. Can’t wait to move out of here!
@Dr.D. almost had me going there in the fantasy world of morally bound jouralistic practices… LOL
Thanks for the grin. In these times of the “remade America”, they are always welcome.
Don’t think about polar bears, don’t look over there at the naked person, don’t… get very surprised if it doesn’t work for CBS
FOX ;will be the best to watch thoses campains;and this special time will be very important to watch.for all AMERICANS.
Chicago media types don’t DARE annoy Shortshanks or Hussein.
I heard the Station Manager called and said,” if these guys can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything”. Three minutes later the Station went off the air.