Hotel chain removes CNN/HLN over sniper video…
This story made Brit Hume’s Political Grapevine yesterday…
CNN’s decision to show video of Iraqi insurgent snipers targeting U.S. troops has gotten it kicked out of one Midwestern hotel chain. James Thompson — who owns Stoney Creek Hospitality Corporation — has dropped CNN and Headline News from the cable lineup in his 10 hotels in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.
Thompson tells FOX News he made a “judgment of conscience” after seeing the sniper video — which he calls an “obscenity” that was “personally offensive and shocking.” He says his company “will not be a party to propaganda for terrorists.”
The main “propaganda” going on is news networks acting like there isn’t a serious problem in Iraq and Afghanistan. How much difference is there in this “snuff video” and the Daniel Pearl one? (which was shown everywhere) Our soldiers are being “targeted” daily and the news barely mentions their names.
Comment by Terance — November 9, 2006 @ 12:34 pm
Why didn’t CNN show the Danish Muslim cartoons?
Comment by spiffo — November 9, 2006 @ 1:01 pm
Did FNC or MSNBC show the cartoons? I fail to see the correlation between “terrorist” videos and “cartoons” meant to incite rioting.
Comment by Terance — November 9, 2006 @ 1:13 pm
Everyone is aware that there are serious problems in Iraq. No one is questioning that. What people are questioning is the ethics behind airing literal terrorist propaganda–propaganda that CNN requested from insurgents. Therein lies the problem.
Comment by Caufield — November 9, 2006 @ 2:18 pm
I agree with Terance.One can’t compare the two at all.
Comment by Anon — November 9, 2006 @ 2:35 pm
Don’t ya just love people making decisions about what they think you should and shouldn’t be watching. Heck, we’re all grown and can make decisions for ourselves.
Comment by Stud — November 9, 2006 @ 3:17 pm
Dropping Headline News? Ooooo. That is really going to hurt their ratings.
Comment by Staycee — November 9, 2006 @ 3:35 pm
Everybody airs bin Laden/Zarqawi videos when they are released, and those are propaganda films as well…
Comment by Coreyback — November 9, 2006 @ 3:41 pm
“What people are questioning is the ethics behind airing literal terrorist propaganda–propaganda that CNN requested from insurgents.”
This is a complete mischaracterization of how they got the vid. They sent a series of QUESTIONS to insurgent leaders thru intermediaries, and received back both answers to the questions and the propaganda flick. They made very clear when showing the film that it was an insurgent-generated propaganda piece, the authenticity of which they could not verify.
If they had not made it available, the same whiners who are now calling them traitors would have filed a FOIA for it, I suspect.
Comment by Arthur — November 9, 2006 @ 3:42 pm
“What people are questioning is the ethics behind airing literal terrorist propaganda–propaganda that CNN requested from insurgents.”
This is a complete mischaracterization of how they got the vid. They sent a series of QUESTIONS to insurgent leaders thru intermediaries, and received back both answers to the questions and the propaganda flick. They made very clear when showing the film that it was an insurgent-generated propaganda piece, the authenticity of which they could not verify.
If they had not made it available, the same whiners who are now calling them traitors would have filed a FOIA for it, I suspect.
Comment by Arthur — November 9, 2006 @ 3:42 pm
There IS a big problem in Iraq and Afghanistan Terance. The point here is that they (CNN) are hypocrites. And yes, FNC DID show the cartoons. That is NOT hypocrisy for the reason you pointed out. CNN won’t show something minor, but WILL show something major. CNN cares about foreigners’ feelings, but doesn’t care about Americans’ feelings. They care about offending foreigners and terrorists, but don’t care about offending Americans.
That is the point.
Comment by erljr — November 9, 2006 @ 4:08 pm
Where exactly did you get that quote Arthur? I don’t see it here or on the link. You are making up a quote, it seems, to distract from the real issue. Unless you’ve been living under a log, you know by now that CNN didn’t request the video. And unless someone else has been using your name to post here, I don’t think you’ve been living under a log.
The issue is CNN airing a snuff film; not where they got it from.
Comment by erljr — November 9, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
erljr, the quote is in comment 4 to this thread.
CNN had the right to show the video, just like this hotel chain has the right NOT to show CNN/HLN in their hotels.
Comment by OverHere — November 9, 2006 @ 5:35 pm
Erljr: CNN’s quote was, “CNN has chosen to not show the cartoons in respect for Islam.”
George Bush et al said the fascists have hijacked and perverted the religion. However, I would venture to say he was only talking about the ones murdering innocents. There are “good” and “bad” people in all religions. Look at the Catholic pedophile priests, new victims are coming forward all the time. Do you see anyone going around saying all Catholics are pedophiles or victims of sexual abuse? Of course not, because that would be simply untrue. I don’t think CNN should of bothered to report on the “cartoons” since they didn’t show the pictures. We were told Daniel Pearl was beheaded at the end of that video. You might want to file that in your “snuff” category.
Comment by Terance — November 9, 2006 @ 5:42 pm
The owner shouldn’t be making decision for his patrons. If they want to watch CNN, let them watch CNN. Who is he to make that decision for them? This guy probably had a stroke when the breast incident happened at the Super Bowl a couple years ago.
Comment by Nobody — November 9, 2006 @ 6:32 pm
The correlation between the cartoons and the video is CNN’S left-wing hypocrisy. Aren’t they the ones who so self-righteously claim that they are so objective and air the news, no matter who it offends? Left-wing hypocrites and cowards!! Islam is protected at all costs, yet, America, Christianity, and traditional values are always their targets.
Comment by spiffo — November 9, 2006 @ 7:46 pm
Thanks Overhere; don’t know how I missed that. And I agree with you.
And I DO consider the Daniel Pearl beheading as a snuff film. Snipers sit on rooftops and around corners. When the victims are bound, blindfolded, and gagged, how can you call the killers snipers?
Comparing a Catholic pedophile priest to an islamo-facist is like comparing a bug to an elephant. Which would you rather rent that extra room to?
Comment by erljr — November 9, 2006 @ 9:28 pm
“The owner shouldn’t be making decision for his patrons.”
Nobody: Why the hell not? It is his properties and he can show whatever he likes over his cable or satellite system.
I can easily turn this around and ask, why do so many hotels and motels (and nearly all cruise lines) still not show Fox News Channel but CNN instead?
Comment by Ira — November 10, 2006 @ 8:53 pm
I like travel, although the accommodation is not good solution, but the scenery along the way that I had forgotten the trouble
Comment by beijing backpackers — October 6, 2011 @ 4:26 pm