Al-Jazeera frustrated at convention
August 31, 2004 12:49 by ManagingTeam
Al Jazeera was allowed to set up shop at the Republican convention, but they’re having a hard time getting anyone to talk to:
An Al-Jazeera camera crew sidled up to South Dakota Senate candidate John Thune today and tried to ask some questions after he finished a live shot on MSNBC. But Thune kept walking after his campaign manager, Dick Wadhams, realized the crew was from the Arab-language satellite TV network, which many U.S. conservatives say is biased against the United States.
“We don’t need to be talking to people who defend terrorists,” Wadhams told other campaign aides. The crew followed Thune around on the floor for a few minutes before giving up and leaving.
(Hat tip: Allah)
alvin_day
4:31 pm
Aug 31, 2004
It would have been rather wiser for these Republicans to make their case on Arab television. Walking on by and taking no notice is not only arrogant but foolish. Nothing to be proud about.
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shai
6:09 pm
Aug 31, 2004
‘Walking on by and taking no notice is not only arrogant but foolish. Nothing to be proud about.’
How is that arrogant? If Goebells were to come up to me and ask for an interview I’d be happy to provide viewers with a surprise live edition of Saturday Fight Night. Fortunately I’m not a politician but quite honestly, giving an interview to an openly Arab propogandist station where you KNOW very well your remarks will be either mistranslated and/or distorted to me is foolish.
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Ratbert
6:17 pm
Aug 31, 2004
There’s a reason it’s called Jihad TV
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E2SJ
7:22 pm
Aug 31, 2004
I agree that it is best to not give ANY face time to this propaganda machine. There is no real respect in the Arab world for those who appeal to diplomacy, so why would ALL JEER A expect a warm welcome from the country that has to endure the telecasts of the brutal murders of her people broadcast for cheering crowds?
Now THAT is stupid!!
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T.A Tiger
7:26 pm
Aug 31, 2004
If only they would give the same treatment to the BBC we’d be on to something. We need to stop legitimizing propaganda machines dressed up as news organizations.
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alvin_day
9:48 pm
Aug 31, 2004
Arab viewers watch Al-Jazeera. If you want to talk to Arab viewers (and you can say what you like) then it would be foolish to pass them by and say nothing.
In fact, it is the extremists on the Arab side who wish that Al-Jazeera would not interview Israelis or Americans.
If these Republicans could think that they only need to ignore Al-Jazeera and that then all their Arab viewers would quit watching this channel, then I’d understand it. As it is, their behaviour achieves nothing and makes no use of the opportunity they’re provided.
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Nao
12:20 am
Sep 01, 2004
What’s the point of talking to them? The response would be twisting of his words and editing his comments in a way to make Americans, and especially Republicans, look terrible. What’s the point when you know that would be the result?
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Alex
12:51 am
Sep 01, 2004
Giving interviews to Al-Jazeera is equivalent to commiting your picture to some grotesque misrepresenation. No self-respecting politician should subject themselves to that, and what John Thune did is more than comendable. I would have probably gone further and filed a complaint with the organizers to have the Al-Jazeera crew removed as they have no right to follow any of the participants. As I have worked as a political advocate on federal grounds and on private property I know that they have no right to interfere with his actions, thus, by following him they break that rule.
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Elliot
7:52 pm
Sep 01, 2004
I certainly agrea with Shai et all. That no doubt Al Jazeera would continue its trend of skewing news to continue to rile up the Arab hoardes who tune in to get their weekly dose of hate.
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