Media vs Harper

[Topaz]

As always Harper and the media clash on questions from A Chinese reporter based in Ottawa. I would like to know what the question was and if Harper knew what it was or if it was because the reporter was Chinese. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/08/23/pol-harper-northern-tour-chinese-reporter-rcmp-tussle.html?ref=fh,inck.ca%C2'>

Edited August 24, 2013 by Topaz

[CPCFTW]

Yes it was because the reporter was Chinese. Another thought-provoking thread from Topaz.

[cybercoma]

Imagine if Putin only took pre-vetted questions from select reporters. We would have an entirely different narrative around it than what the Conservatives have spun about Harper.

[Argus]

Harper's disdain for China is well-known. He might have been forced to modify his public policies and statements by economic circumstances, but he certainly won't have any degree of respect for a Chinese government reporter, nor feel any particular need to answer whatever question the Chinese government had instructed the man to put.

[scribblet]

The spin around Harper on here is not to be imagined, it's right there. The reporter Li got physical with an aide and tried to grab the microphone so the RCMP stepped in.

I can only imagine if a physical altercation happened at a U.S. Pres. Conference.

[Big Guy]

The intent of a politician is tell the public only what he wants them to know. The intent of anybody in the media is to get the politician to tell the public what they think they should know. This adversarial relationship has continued through every PM in the history of Canada. Harper is just very good at it. We keep re-electing him and have now given him a majority. Looks like it is a very successful policy.

[ReeferMadness]

Harper's disdain for China is well-known. He might have been forced to modify his public policies and statements by economic circumstances, but he certainly won't have any degree of respect for a Chinese government reporter, nor feel any particular need to answer whatever question the Chinese government had instructed the man to put.

Harper's disdain for the media is well known. Those that fail to parrot Conservative talking points with sufficient zeal find themselves without access. Since most of us cannot ask our own questions (well, we can if we want to get canned email responses from some flack-spin-doctor in the PMO), the media play a key role in the democratic process. Harper's unprecedented manipulative media practises should be quite scandalous but he has shown himself a master at taking advantage of public apathy.

I suppose collectively, we deserve what we get. :angry:

[Keepitsimple]

As always Harper and the media clash on questions from A Chinese reporter based in Ottawa. I would like to know what the question was and if Harper knew what it was or if it was because the reporter was Chinese.

The question he wanted to ask was to "clarify Canada's position on state-owned companies investing in Canada". He was not allowed to ask the question because as with all media sessions, reporters get 5 questions and they are reserved for Canadian reporters. It's been reported that the Chinese reporter was an accredited member of the press. That just means that he is permitted to travel with the press and attend the media sessions. Another tempest in a teapot.

[dre]

The intent of a politician is tell the public only what he wants them to know. The intent of anybody in the media is to get the politician to tell the public what they think they should know. This adversarial relationship has continued through every PM in the history of Canada. Harper is just very good at it. We keep re-electing him and have now given him a majority. Looks like it is a very successful policy.

Yeah obviously our disfunctional political system rewards this sort of contempt for the public. Im suprised they talk to the press at all.

[August1991]

Harper's disdain for the media is well known.

Harper's disdain for the CBC, a State-broadcaster, is well known.

To his credit, Stephen Harper answers local news reporters with honest answers.

[Argus]

Harper's disdain for the media is well known. Those that fail to parrot Conservative talking points with sufficient zeal find themselves without access. Since most of us cannot ask our own questions (well, we can if we want to get canned email responses from some flack-spin-doctor in the PMO), the media play a key role in the democratic process.

Perhaps, but the media are far from neutral observers. They have their agendas too and those agendas have, more often than not, been biased against the conservatives. That's true not merely because the bulk of them tend to have fairly liberal ideological beliefs but also because big stories come from 'gotcha' moments. It's unsurprising the government has little affection for them. Chretien's government despised them too.

[Demosthenes26]

One thing about Harper is that he is not very charismatic. I feel that Harper has to be really guarded about his appearances, because he lacks the ability to charm his way out of things. Unlike Pierre Trudeau.

As a comparison look at rob ford and his unguarded approach to the media.

[Demosthenes26]

One thing about Harper is that he is not very charismatic. I feel that Harper has to be really guarded about his appearances, because he lacks the ability to charm his way out of things. Unlike Pierre Trudeau.

As a comparison look at rob ford and his unguarded approach to the media.

[Demosthenes26]

One thing about Harper is that he is not very charismatic. I feel that Harper has to be really guarded about his appearances, because he lacks the ability to charm his way out of things. Unlike Pierre Trudeau.

As a comparison look at rob ford and his unguarded approach to the media.

[Shady]

The media's disdain and dislike for Harper is about as equal as it is for Rob Ford. Except that Harper gives them little legitimate ammunition for their attempts to de-legitimize him, and politically sabotage him. It probably makes them pretty frustrated, which has them resort to these kinds of lame attacks. Not taking questions from a dictatorial regimie frontman to use as propaganda.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

Perhaps, but the media are far from neutral observers. They have their agendas too and those agendas have, more often than not, been biased against the conservatives. That's true not merely because the bulk of them tend to have fairly liberal ideological beliefs but also because big stories come from 'gotcha' moments. It's unsurprising the government has little affection for them. Chretien's government despised them too.

...

Are you serious?

Media Corporations do not have fairly liberal beliefs unless you are talking about social policies like abortion or racism or gay/lesbian issues.

Only one major newspaper endorsed anyone other than Harper. They even failed to report an oil spill in Alberta that happened 3 days before the election until 2 days after the election.

Edited August 25, 2013 by MiddleClassCentrist

[Shady]

...

Are you serious?

Media Corporations do not have fairly liberal beliefs unless you are talking about social policies like abortion or racism or gay/lesbian issues.

Only one major newspaper endorsed anyone other than Harper. They even failed to report an oil spill in Alberta that happened 3 days before the election until 2 days after the election.

Complete nonsense. Media "coporations" aren't choosing what stories to cover, and how to cover them. They're also not writing op-eds. It's the reporters themselves, and the editorialists themselves that do that. Most of which are not Harper friendly. To deny this is to deny fundamental reality.

[LonJowett]

Your opinion is baseless and has nothing to do with reality whatsoever. The corporate media has divided a mostly conservative population into two opposing groups of conservatives. There is no liberal agenda.

[Shady]

Your opinion is baseless and has nothing to do with reality whatsoever. The corporate media has divided a mostly conservative population into two opposing groups of conservatives. There is no liberal agenda.

I agree that there is no liberal agenda. An agenda would suggest some type of larger plan. What it comes down to individuals. And the vast majority of journalist, and those working for newspapers and on television in media are left of centre. That's a fact. Same goes in American media except the slant is even worse. Something like 80% of media members consider themselves liberal.

[BC_chick]

I agree that there is no liberal agenda. An agenda would suggest some type of larger plan. What it comes down to individuals. And the vast majority of journalist, and those working for newspapers and on television in media are left of centre. That's a fact. Same goes in American media except the slant is even worse. Something like 80% of media members consider themselves liberal.

And when it comes to the owners of our media outlets, what percentage do you think are liberal? You know, the ones that actually set the 'agenda'?

Edited August 25, 2013 by BC_chick

[LonJowett]

That's a fact.

No, that's an unsubstantiated opinion that has no basis in reality.

[Bryan]

Your opinion is baseless and has nothing to do with reality whatsoever. The corporate media has divided a mostly conservative population into two opposing groups of conservatives. There is no liberal agenda.

That's an unsubstantiated opinion that has no basis in reality.

[LonJowett]

That's an unsubstantiated opinion that has no basis in reality.

The reality is the media is owned by a number of right-wing corporations. That is a fact.

[Bryan]

The reality is the media is owned by a number of right-wing corporations. That is a fact.

That's your opinion. Corporate support in this country has historically been overwhelmingly Liberal. It's the LPC and NDP who were hurt the most by the bans on corporate donations, it barely made any change whatsoever to Conservative support, because they never had much corporate backing to begin with.

Edited August 25, 2013 by Bryan

[LonJowett]

Corporate support in this country has historically been overwhelmingly Liberal.

That's your opinion. I say it's right wing and you say it's left wing. I guess it's somewhere in between us.