scaramouche

...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.

Sheepish Ceeb “apologizes” for Heather’s malice: Heh. From CP:

TORONTO — The CBC has issued an apology and retraction for posting a controversial online column by freelancer Heather Mallick about Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin earlier this month.

Following 300-plus complaints from readers, and attacks from Canadian and American media organizations, including Fox News, publisher John Cuickshank said the public broadcaster had erred in its editorial judgement and the item should never have appeared on the CBC website.

In an online statement, Cruickshank said reaction to the column has caused the CBC to install new editing procedures that will ensure inappropriate work won't appear.

"We are open to contentious reasoned argument but not to partisan attack," he said in a statement posted on the broadcaster's website.

Despite the vitriolic response to Mallick's Sept. 5 piece, "A Mighty Wind Blows Through the Republican Convention," the CBC had initially stood by the article and said it wouldn't remove it from its website.

In the article, Mallick said Palin appeals to "the white trash vote" with her "toned-down version of the porn actress look."

Vince Carlin, the broadcaster's ombudsman who was later asked to assess the offending article, determined many of Mallick's assertions lacked a basis in fact.

"Mallick's column is a classic piece of political invective," Cruickshank agreed. "It is viciously personal, grossly hyperbolic and intensely partisan."

In the wake of her column, Mallick has said she's faced a slew of abusive comments. She was called a "pig" by a Fox News anchor and branded an insane Pakistani Muslim on Fox message boards.

She has also received threatening email, some of which include anti-Semitic slurs - despite the fact she's neither Jewish nor Muslim.

Mallick has never expressed apologies for her column, and had one week ago lauded the CBC for supporting her right to expression.

Partially in response the outcry, Cruickshank said CBCNews.ca has plans to soon expand the diversity of voices and opinions expressed online "to better reflect the depth and texture of this country."

My thoughts:

·         Since the Ceeb has apparently decided a la the Islamists that “anti-Semitism” includes both Jews and Muslims (a classic Islamist tactic; a way of ridiculing and diminishing Judenhass), I suggest that from now on we ditch the term and refer to Jew-hate as, well, Jew-hate.

·         I’m glad that Mallick wrote what she did. It showed Canadians the freaky mindset of Ceeb employees, and it’s encouraging that so many Canadians were so appalled by it that they felt compelled to complain. That being said, I don’t think she should have been censored. Free speech means that the Heathers and Evans and Jians get to express whatever sophistries and imbecilities they want to. That’s my assurance—and yours—that our voices get to be heard, too.

·         “Partially in response to the outcry” the Ceeb is planning to “expand the diversity of voices and opinions”: Cut to the chase—the Ceeb is feeling uneasy about a possible Conservative majority. Should such an eventuality come to pass, the Ceeb knows it will no longer be able to get away with presenting a single viewpoint—the lefty/Socialist/anti-American one. Not if it hopes to keep sucking from the taxpayer’s teat.

posted by: scaramouche at 11:26 | link | comments (4) |

Comments:

#1  29 September 2008 - 16:20

 

Re.: Thought 3.

That is the most important aspect, I reckon. No more Neal MacDonald/Nella Ayad/Margaret Evans bleatings about the Israeli "occupation" or those bloody "keys on the wall" tear-jerkers.

There's a new, straight-shooting gang coming to Ottawa. And the Ceeb's not going to be permitted its reflexive anti-West, anti-Israel, anti-American bollocks any longer.

Mo'nonymous

#2  29 September 2008 - 19:57

 

Isn't Malarkey MacKinnon lucky that he works for the Glib and not the Ceeb?

scaramouche

#3  30 September 2008 - 13:16

 

Hi,

I'm one of the 300 people who wrote to the ombudsman complaining about the disgraceful hit piece.

I have another ongoing dialog with the CBC on the rabid anti Catholic hatred being expressed in the forums.

If more people took the time to complain, we could definitely change things at the Communist Broadcasting Corporation.

Love your blog BTW.

Mo'nonymous

#4  30 September 2008 - 20:44

 

The CBC web site would definitely be improved by having an "Absence of Mallick".

Mo'nonymous

Comments: