Those who caught Robert Rabinovitch proposing a CBC Contract with Canadians, saw a defining moment in diplomacy. That is, the art of saying “nice doggie…nice doggie” until you can get your hands on a rock.
Canadians respond – “Orwellian roach motel”. Heh.
Here is my recent correspondence with the CBC about its abysmal coverage of the Liberal leadership convention:
#1: I sent this to the CBC ombudsman on Sat., Dec. 2.
#2: Vince Carlin, CBC Ombudsman’s lame and condescending response.
#3: My counter response, sent on Dec. 4.
The ombudsman’s ludicrous response is absolutely typical and a perfect illustration of the CBC’s arrogance. (In 25 years of registering my complaints, apparently, I’ve been mistaken exactly 100% of the time. What are the odds? Also, I’ve never–not once–received a reasonable rebuttal of my concerns.)
1) “‘Hope you’ve ENJOYED [emphasis mine] the highlights” of the Liberal leadership convention? Thus said Peter Mansbridge on Newsworld. (I
watched and heard this just before 9:00 p.m.)
I didn’t watch the CBC today [Dec.2] in order to ENJOY: Liberals (and the CBC) usually make me feel quite queasy.
This is REPORTING?
Please tell me how such a comment by P. Mansbridge serves the CBC’s mandate to be “balanced and fair”.
2) Dear CBC Watcher:
I write to acknowledge your e-mails which I am sharing with senior programmers, so they may be aware of your concerns.
However, I am forced to point out that in plain language one can enjoy a broadcast of something even if one does not agree with the views being
expressed. [Masochism, anyone?] I suspect that anyone really interested in politics [I’m not!?], no matter which party they belonged to, might have found the unfolding events “enjoyable”. An attempt to stretch that notion into a claim of
bias would appear to be more partisan than pertinent.
I will do a count, but I suspect there were as many “opposition” views heard on the coverage of the Liberal convention as there were on the
Conservative convention which selected Stephen Harper. If that is not the case, I will report back to you.
Yours truly,
Vince Carlin
Ombudsman, CBC
3) Thank you for your response.
Mr. Carlin, I shake my head at what I hear, via you, from CBC. (I see exactly where CBC’s argument to dismiss mine will come from.) You think I
should have “found the unfolding events enjoyable” “no matter which party [I belong] to”.
Wrong adjective, Mr. Carlin. “Interesting”, like having the person who wants to buy one’s house evaluate it. Enjoyable? I don’t think so. (And
your suggestion that I should fall in with Peter Mansbridge’s cozy little in-house indulgence is, frankly, an insult.)
How the CBC could overlook having even one member of the sitting government as a commentator–while indulging the intellectually comatose Belinda Stronach and other Liberal bagmen (people?) and lefties–is, sadly, CBC business as usual.
At the Conservative leadership convention that elected Stephen Harper, please let me know if there were any members of left-of-centre parties on the panels. And, if there were, why was the same standard not adhered to at the Liberal leadership convention?
I look forward to hearing from you.
________________________________
I’m sure I’ll receive more of the same CBC bafflegab, “aren’t we great?” blather.
(The text is all lined up on my screen–but not at sda: sorry for the spaces.)
pulling CBCpravda off the public teat and allowing it to charge the cable companies for its signal will definatively and finally establish its value.
They are delusional over their 7% market share which is largely forced recipients.
Who will rid us of this Commie Boring Corpse?
It’s really beginning to stink.
Congrates Kate , looks like 4 milllllllion sometime today!!!!
The CBC has absolutely nothing to do with “National Unity”.
It’s more of a haven for second and third rate talent, who are fortunate enough to be members of this taxpayer funded clique.
Apart from HNIC, CBC has very little to offer. Most CBC dramas are pure drivel, with acting of soap opera calibre, and often unabashed propaganda, ie. “Prairie Giant”.
Sell it.
‘Couldn’t agree with you more, dmorris, about the CBC’s dramas. I run a mile when I see one coming.
The CBC as a national unity enhancer? My bu**.
AA – Absolutely Appalling.
dmorris
you forgot to mention the stilted CBC dramas produced in the maritimes to try to keep the film industry down there.the lines are usual read like Pansbridge reading the news. every line matter of fact.
CBC and national unity?
It takes a lot of gumption and hubris to pull out that sack of s**t when their French news is run by a band of separatists!!
Unity would be served by burning the CBC to the ground and tarring and feathering the lot of them before driving them out of town by torch-wielding villagers!!
If CBC “shares its stories with Canadians” and nobody watches, will it make an impact? The dirty little secret of TV is, if people watch, advertisers will follow. Rather than accept this reality, we get a contract with the people we’ve never heard of/disagree strongly with, telling “our stories.” No thanks, I won’t be subscribing to that channel, except I’ve been negative optioned into buying it.
Librano propaganda machine. Tear it down.
Uhhh CBC Watcher:
Of all of the things the CBC could be legitimately blasted over…Mansbridge saying he hopes viewers have “enjoyed” watching something is not one of them. Actually, it was pretty lame.
Yes, the convention coverage did smack of the CBC wanting the Liberals to look as smooth and renewed as possible. I don’t really remember the coverage of the last CPC leadership convention. But, in any case, complaining would have had a lot more merit if you had solid comparisons to make about how they represent Liberals versus Conservatives.
That you got a response is amazing to me.
We all would like to see the CBC – in its present form – gutted. But, your ‘complaint’ falls way short.
As a matter of fact, if the glorious day should come when we have a serious public debate on abolishing Pravda…their defenders will be able to hold up emails like yours and say, “See, these conservatives are nuts…Do you want them deciding the fate of your gool ol’ fair-and-balanced public network?”
Please – use ammunition if you have it – but, don’t give them free ammo.
The time draws near to fire the incompetents, sell the CBC’s assets and use the funds to reduce the national debt.
In Harper’s lexicon when “Something Needs” to be done It Will be done!
The simple statement that CBC’s mandate “Needs” to be reviewed is the only warning the pompous self proclaimed arbiters of Canadian Values are going to get.
Having married into the CBC, let me assure everyone here that the worst thing you could do to them all is to support them . . . halfway, the way Harper will.
The vast majority of CBC staffers are over the hill, tired, bitter, unhappy and unemployable — and waiting for a government buyout.
And ultra-leftist, of course. Which means they should all get what they deserve: 15 more years of work! With declining funding, disappering ratings, no raises, and a one-way ticket to public mockery.
Jail is way more painful than a life sentence.
Woops. Meant that jail is more painful than a DEATH sentence. No matter how much they deserve the latter!
I sort of wonder, well actually I DO wonder, why is it the Globe and Mail doesn’t do a poll on what Canadians want to do with the CBC.
Keep it, trash it or just what exactly.
I’d like to see that question asked for a change. Who knows, maybe some good suggestions of where to shove it may be submitted 🙂