CNN -- Eat Your Own Red Meat

God help us. CNN is doing what they are paid to do. Find something critical to say about everything.

Watching the opening night of the Democratic Convention, I was amazed and appalled by the CNN coverage. Even though I knew they had to fill up time, all they did was complain that there was no "red meat" and no attacks on McCain. Even the Democrats, including Carville, complained. What party is he in, anyway?

Is anyone listening to the American people? Maybe we're tired of the attacks all the time. Maybe we don't want CNN to keep pushing the Clinton-Obama so-called conflict. Maybe we want to just watch and come to our own conclusions. But NO. Wolf Blitzer and gang had to tell us what to think every step of the way. I wanted a little time to just think about what I was hearing and seeing, but they gave us no time to do that..

Perhaps the earliest hours were not as interesting as Ted Kennedy's appearance and Michelle Obama's amazingl presentation, but for those who live in the Central or West regions of the U.S., we missed those early presentations and Ted and Michelle were the presentations we wanted to watch. We didn't expect the earlier presentations to be all that dynamic, although Claire McCaskill was terrific even though CNN didn't deem her important enough to cover.

There is a channel or two (C-Span and one called DNC08) that only carries the convention podium live and doesn't annoy us with the talking heads. Folks, I call on you to watch those stations. Boycott CNN. They didn't air many of the earlier speeches, obsessed with their own anchors. Enough already!

Please save us from CNN and these so-called pundits. You want red meat? Eat your own.

For more Huffington Post coverage of the Democratic National Convention, visit our Politics @ the DNC page, our Democratic Convention Big News Page, and our HuffPost bloggers' Twitter feed, live from Denver.

Comments

[TexasDem0]

CNN has been catering to the political mud wrestling mentality of the right wing for so long that they have forgotten what journalism is.

[Mojane]

AMEN! However, if one doesn't have cable, which I soon will not, one cannot get C-SPAN and DNC08. So, here on HuffPo and other blogs, etc. is where I'll have to go. And where do those people who don't have either cable or a computer go (my sister and brother-in-law) besides PBS and newspaper (which here in Tucson stinks) which they can't afford.

[GrkAm]

Mojane . . . Try PBS for news and convention coverage. I think you might be glad you did, especially considering your options (or lack thereof). It will definitely help your blood pressure, believe me!!

[WmC]

You have a real simple choice for complete coverage. You can watch CNN or MSNBC for 24 hours straight. Or you can watch the Daily Shows' summaries for a half hour.

[liberalcanuck]

It's nice to know I'm not the only one flabbergasted by what I'm seeing on CNN. I've added it to my blacklist. Now I only watch MSNBC (mainly for Maddow) and C-Span.

[idahospud44]

This article said exactly what I feel.. CNN is terrible. MSNBC;s convention coverage has been even worse.

[castlerider]

Thanks so much for this post.

I think you are voicing for the great majority of people trying to watch this historical occasion without being told what to think. This is the most rude, obnoxious and insulting way to bring the news. They have no real point to make except for to state how the crowd reacted and where what was stated in the speech by whoever gave it may lead us from there. I couldn't care less about their "historians" or whatever... Now is not the time! When they start di-secting it, I get furious and hit the mute.

Thanks for reminding me of C-span!!

[GrkAm]

Not enough "red meat", or not enough "blood"? I was able to watch the majority of the convention (finally) on CSPAN last night. Powerful messages there, and ones that shouldn't be discounted. MSM, it doesn't have to "bleed to lead".

[booksnmore4you]

Even my 70 year old mother gets it.

"Oh, so now they're gonna come on and try and tell me what I just heard and saw like somehow I didn't just watch and see it and like I don't have a brain inside my head."

[saami]

Are you tired of having the talking heads tell you what you just heard?! I for one will listen to the speeches and not the commentators. If Tom Brokaw tells us one more time how choreographed the event is I will scream. This is from a man who was totally scripted when he read the news. I thought Michelle, Hillary, Ted Kennedy and many others were terrific. We sat watching them with tears in our eyes, daring to hope again. It has been a long time coming.

[PKSSK]

I have to agree, CNN has trully turned into a joke, as they have become another faux news, and MSNBC has turned into a constant battle of pundit witts. It's sad, because I have always been a fan of MSNBC, but the DNC convention coverage has been awful!!!! I have now become a fan of PBS and C-span.

[dadumdee]

It is sickening to see pundits say the EXACT same stuff. I heard 'red meat', 'Clinton didn't make it personal enough to Obama', and 'Clinton never said that he was ready to be commander and chief' over and over and over again. It reminds me of why I stopped watching reality television. These people offer up empty speculations in real time instead of offering a real critique of what happened. Its like the instant need for nostalgia that you see in pop culture. Instead of basking in a great speech by a great woman, you hear criticisms about her not reaching some ever changing imaginary bench mark and an attempt to record a magnificent speech in American history as inadequate. She could have rolled up her sleeve to expose an "I 'heart' Obama" tatoo on her arm and they would have said she didn't do enough to convince people that she supports his campaign. Hillary Clinton is amazing. Progressives are amazing. This movement and energy among the electorate is amazing. Overhearing minimum wage earners with high school diplomas and no prior political interest having detailed policy discussions in local PA businesses is amazing. Having to listen to people who see their relevence waning every day ignore actual events, then make up conversations and then discuss the merits of their make believe conversation instead of what I just saw with my own eyes....not so much.

[wendynyc]

Who owns CNN - Time Warner -AOL - donated $1.6 million to GW Bush's 2000 campaign. They have a lot to gain if Democrats lose.

Boycott CNN.

[sarafina49]

My 85 year-old mother's blood pressure rose watching the convention on CNN. I personally drove to her house to place her TV on C-Span! I would not watch it any other way!

[Yola]

I stopped watching CNN and some MSNBC.

[fnygy]

I've been saying it for years - do our democracy a favor and TURN OFF the carnival. The cable "news" stations at looking for drama - as all storytellers must - and drama means conflict. If it's not there, they manufacture it - like the good reality show producers they are. They're NOT looking to inform anyone - they are looking for ratings so they can lure advertisers - it's the business model since TV's inception. If we turn it off, it will go away. There are other ways to get your information - avail yourself.

[AnnieinOR]

I've watched CSPAN for the convention coverage - you get to hear all of the speakers without rude interruptions and no pundits putting in their hot air... it's wonderful!!!! I understand that PBS and DirectTV have coverage as well.