LONDON — In 2004, Clare Short, a Labour member of Parliament, learned what could happen to British politicians who criticized the country’s unforgiving tabloids. At a lunch in Westminster, Ms. Short mentioned in passing that she did not care for the photographs of saucy, topless women that appear every day on Page 3 of the populist tabloid The Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. “I’d like to take the pornography out of our press,” she said.
Big mistake.
“ ‘Fat, Jealous’ Clare Brands Page 3 Porn” was The Sun’s headline in response. Its editor, Rebekah Wade (now Rebekah Brooks and the chief executive of News International, Mr. Murdoch’s British subsidiary), sent a busload of semi-dressed models to jeer at Ms. Short at her house in Birmingham. The paper stuck a photograph of Ms. Short’s head over the body of a topless woman and found a number of people to declare that, in fact, they thoroughly enjoyed the sexy photos.
“Even Clare has boobs, but obviously she’s not proud of them like we are of ours,” it quoted a 22-year-old named Nicola McLean as saying.
Maybe free speech isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. My opinion of Rupert Murdoch has never been high but after reading some of this, it is off the charts low. Politicians should fear being dishonest and hypocritical, however, they should not be controlled by the press like they obviously are in Great Britain.
Are we surprised that Murdoch condones this kind of boorish behavior? Frankly, yes. Granted he pushes the envelope daily on Faux News but even they don’t approach doing anything this vile. They stretch, bend and wiggle the facts and insert a great deal of opinion during fact presenting but they don’t hold our politicians hostage.
However, now we know, the American public needs to be vigilant to make certain that this kind of behavior doesn’t take hold and become common practice on this side of the big pond. I would be delighted to give up a few first amendment rights to avoid this behavior from becoming our MO.
That’s pretty funny.
Is the objection lampooning politico’s generally or that he ‘used’ women to point out to a female politician that her objection was silly?
What about Daily Show, Colbert or SNL? They lampoon politicos on both sides. I’m sure a few politico’s don’t like being in the crosshairs of those producers.
I think what is done in this country is vasty different than what is done in Great Britain.
What if that were done to one of your favorite woman politicians–say Sarah Palin. That would be totally over the top and out of line.
Secondly, I think that SNL does go over the top sometimes. Colbert (not my favorite ) and Stewart are 95% of the time not totally dehumanizing and disrespectful. I did not like what Stewart did to Charlie Rangle. It was disrespectful and crude. I am not defending Charlie. I just don’t like that kind of behavior.
I think those late night shows are different than print news. Anthony Weiner probably caught it the worst from Jon. I never thought about pitying him. He did it to himself. And I don’t dislike Anthony Weiner. It should just be painful to be stupid.
I think most people can identify a real newspaper versus a tabloid.
That a politico wanted to target a tabloid means she didn’t have the foresight to see how they’d turn that around on her. Maybe she’s not the brightest bulb in the bunch.
Even when Colbert or Maher go over the top.. They have that right. When Maher called Ms. Palin a dumb twat and not a peep was heard from women’s groups.. That’s his right and presumably women’s groups are OK with that language.
Hope springs eternal for the far left! Keep hoping!!
The Hustler Magazine vs. Jerry Falwell involved some very offensive material yet the Supreme Court was unanimous in that it was protected speech. All that means is that Congress can’t pass a law prohibiting it.
The American public has the right to try to prevent speech within their power. If you own a radio station, you can fire the Greaseman or Mrs. Grandy. You can ask someone to leave your home if you don’t like what they say. You can delete comments or ban someone from participating in the discussion on your website. There are a lot of things that individuals on this side of the pond can do to prevent speech we don’t like.
Maher always goes over the top. He isn’t like a British tabloid though.
Why should women’s groups respond to something totally inappropriate? Why is it up to women? Can’t men be offended also? What women’s groups do you want to do it? The league of women voters? Specifically which group should keep Bill Maher on his leash?
Why must there be a chorus of people with women parts speaking out?
I don’t follow Colbert that closely. I have never heard him be that vulgar.
I don’t think you understand the difference in British and American newspapers.
There are cultural differences that are almost inexplicable but it borders on professionalism–perhaps unspoken rules of the trade that are continually violated there and would probably get one blackballed here by reputable news organizations.
Think Oprah vs Jerry Springer Hannity vs Dawg the Bounty Hunter.
Slowpoke, what are you snorting about this afternoon? What’s this about the far left and what does it possibly have to do with this thread?
You like old Rupbert, eh?
And yet those jerks from Westboro still get to have their say. I would give up some free speech just to cut them off at the pass also.
you bring up some good points, Guapo. I don’t think Americans would tolerate the same stuff that the Brits do. Actually, the press really has too much power there. It looks like NOTW pushed the envelope just a little too far this time.
Larry Flynt is a person many of us love to hate because he is outrageous and totally gross, however, I love how he calls out hypocrits. I don’t remember what he did to jerry Falwell but I am sure it was outrageous.
My favorite thing he did was to offer the million dollar reward to anyone who could come up with proof of inpropriety on the part of congressmen and senators during Clinton’s impeachment. I acted honorably also and didn’t spill my guts about something I knew of.
“Why should women’s groups respond to something totally inappropriate?”
My appologies. NOW did come out and condemn the use of the words ‘dumb twat’ against Ms. Palin.
In the same release they also distanced themselves from any and all of her policies.
“I don’t think you understand the difference in British and American newspapers.”
Maybe I don’t but I think of tabloids as the rags that tell me about Elvis sightings, what celeb is in rehab, and what politician is having who’s love child.
I view them as I do Ms. Maddow and Mr. Beck.
“Specifically which group should keep Bill Maher on his leash”
No group. I think Mr. Maher has every right to say what he wishes on his own program. I think of silence as consent. And, if women groups are happy to allow a woman get beat up on because they don’t agree with her politics.. I personally think all women lose. Just makes me sad.
I think Maher is fine on premium cable. I would not feel that way if he was on at 8 pm on network. Not sure I would mind him on comedy central either. Not sure.
I don’t think Ms. Maddow is anything close to Beck. Have you ever watched her? She might not say what you like but she is well researched and if she is wrong, she admits it and apologizes. My biggest criticism of her is that she ends up droning…she needs a half hour show. But she isn’t pulling things out of thin air. She is also very courteous.
As for tabloids, from what I can tell, most of papers are tabloid in nature in UK. Here we have serious newspapers where there are standards of professionalism. (that is diminished a great deal over my lifetime) We wouldn’t tolerate some of the stuff the brits do. We are also more respectful of our politicians I believe. Well…maybe not on blogs but in our legitimate press.
I am surprised that NOW came out one way or the other. I don’t blame them for distancing themselves and it shouldn’t matter. That’s just not appropriate public language, regardless of whom it is about.
Maher is rough on many people. I am not sure it is a male/female thing. I am still not real good with how Hillary was talked to by the press and other politicians. They all but came out and asked her if she was moody during menopause. Just stuff a male candidate would never be asked. However, no one even blanched. What about the guy on MSNBC who called the Prez a ‘dick.’ How is that different? Should only men’s groups have spoken out? I guess I don’t see it as a gender issue. I still am not sure which women’s groups should speak out. NOW and Concerned Women for America?
A men’s group? That would be as popular as a “white’s only” scholarship.
Yes, I’ve watched Maddow. And, not just clips on right leaning blogs. I’ve watched her. She’s very good at what she does. I think she does her best to get the story as close to the truth as possible and then interjects her own opinion and twist. That’s fair. She’s not a journalist. She has a talk show. I see no difference between her and Mr. Beck.
Maher used to be on networked TV but got pulled IIRC over a remark about September 11.
My progressive friends are all big fans of him.
Are you familiar with “Question Time” in the UK? Even that makes me squirm.
And, because I’m an AMERICAN I’ll take this time to point out that I’m actually surprised that they have a PRESS in the UK as they are only subjects…not citizens. I bend my knee to no one..cept my wife. 😉
Scholastically, she is more like O’Reilly in my opinion except she is liberal and he is not. I don’t think O’Reilly is a journalist either but Maddow and OReilly come a lot closer than Beck. I see Beck more as Jerry Springer.
My daughter likes Maher too. I find him obnoxious most of the time. Actually, he can be really funny but you have to wade through too much crap to get to the funny parts.
No to question time. Should I ask my friend Roger?
The Brits don’t bother me, just their press does. I think the royals are charming and antequated. If the Brits love them, then keep them.
While on the subject of free speech, I saw this and thought it was pretty interesting. In Obama’s home town in Chicago a poll was taken. The subject? Which book would you ban from this list:
Glenn Beck
Sarah Palin
Ann Coulter
Andrew Breitbart
Ayn Rand
Michael Savage
Bill Clinton
Michael Moore
Karl Marx
Adolf Hitler
Barack Obama
And the results…
#1 – Sarah Palin received 53 votes putting her at 36% overall
#2 – Glenn Beck at 23%
#3 – Ann Coulter at 22%
#4 – A very distant 4th – Adolf Hitler at 0.5%
A few takeaways from this… first, wow, the would actually vote to BAN a book. Second, they would prefer to ban Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck and Ann Coulter OVERWHELMINGLY over the likes of Adolf Hitler. Another Wow…
http://rebelpundit.com/2011/07/11/chicagoans-overwhelmingly-vote-to-ban-palin-beck-coulter-books-at-book-fair-in-obamas-home-town/
None. I don’t ban books, regardless of how obnoxious or toxin they might appear to be. Who conducted the poll and who did they ask? I don’t put much stock in what book banners say.
Dan, I’m not surprised re that poll because in Chicago if you don’t vote the proper way (democrat) then your car gets towed, your trash doesn’t get picked up and someone takes a crowbar to your knee.
MH, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IRQJjbQtRk&feature=related
😉
I would say at least they were snickering while they insulted each other.
The Iron Lady at Question Time in Parliament. Never was there a better display of the give-and-take of British politics — interspersed with the kind of humor that broke the tension.
Slowpoke! I have no idea (Jay Rockefeller) what you’re talking about (Jay Rockefeller)!
Oh, and Babs Boxer is in on it, now too. But we have NO IDEA what Slowpoke is talking about!