# Nah, CBS news division is not in Obama's pocket **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 8, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465 "2012-06-08T03:22:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/1 "2012-06-08T03:22:16Z")
> **[President Obama gets enthusiastic welcome at L.A. gay event](https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-jun-06-la-na-obama-gay-fundraiser-20120607-story.html)** > > President Obama gets enthusiastic welcome at L.A. gay event Before the event began, a long line of partygoers waited on the sidewalk outside the hotel to check in. CBS chief Les Moonves and his wife, Julie Chen, waited patiently for their wristbands. Obama, Moonves said, “has shown great leadership” on the issue of gay marriage. Though he heads a news division, Moonves said, “ultimately journalism has changed … partisanship is very much a part of journalism now.” He hastened to add that despite his presence, “I run a news division. I’ve given no money to any candidate.” ========================= Well, no money, except the $[1250](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/07/obama-run-celebrity-packed-fundraisers-continues-on-west-coast/)x2 to attend the Obama fundraiser, of course. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/2 "2012-06-08T03:32:39Z")
Moonves said, “ultimately journalism has changed … partisanship is very much a part of journalism now.” That was, at best, a very stupid thing for him to say. I wonder if there is some context that we are missing. Still, “high powered, non-FOX media executive is an Obama supporter” isn’t exactly, how shall we say… news worthy? Whether that puts the news division in “Obama’s pocket” is another matter. But maybe he has a point. Who watches network news these days anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/3 "2012-06-08T03:33:42Z")
Nitpick: to be ‘in someone’s pocket’ means you are financially dependent on them. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/4 "2012-06-08T04:06:33Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > Nitpick: to be ‘in someone’s pocket’ means you are financially dependent on them. Not necessarily. It mean that someone is controlling you. It’s leverage – which might be money, blackmail information, hookers and blow… Presidents and the White House staff have lots of leverage, just by issuing (or refusing to issue) press credentials, or not taking the calls from reporters or agencies that have pissed them off. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/5 "2012-06-08T07:25:30Z")
I for one am shocked that liberals are not unilaterally giving up and letting Fox News be the Republican Party’s version of Pravda. How dare another network become politicized. Didn’t Fox patent that or something? It’s really in the networks best interest in the long term. Why pay all these fancy pants reporters when you can do what Fox does and just make shit up. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/6 "2012-06-08T07:53:43Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Not necessarily. It mean that someone is controlling you. It’s leverage – which might be money, blackmail information, hookers and blow… > > Presidents and the White House staff have lots of leverage, just by issuing (or refusing to issue) press credentials, or not taking the calls from reporters or agencies that have pissed them off. Hmm. [UsingEnglish.com](http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/in+someone%27s+pocket.html) > [@](#): > > If a person is in someone’s pocket, they are dependent, especially financially, on them. I guess if that’s the case, then _all_ MSM is in Obama’s ‘pocket’. Wait, that’s a Fox News line. I yawn over this whole thread. Bush II threatened more news outlets than Obama ever did. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/7 "2012-06-08T09:19:38Z")
How does this change the reputation of CBS News? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/8 "2012-06-08T12:13:12Z")
> [@](#): > > … partisanship is very much a part of journalism now. Now? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/9 "2012-06-08T13:45:19Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Moonves said, “ultimately journalism has changed … partisanship is very much a part of journalism now.” > > That was, at best, a very stupid thing for him to say. From that quote it’s impossible to know if it was stupid or not. The article doesn’t supply context. There’s no indication that he meant CBS was now going to actively slant their news division to favor a particular party or candidate. He could have been discussing the blurring between “news” and “commentary” that Fox is often accused of. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/10 "2012-06-08T14:02:01Z")
Hey **Terr** , doesn’t the Breitbart Enquirer page have a comment section you can post at instead of boring us with this pointless non-debate? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/11 "2012-06-08T14:05:23Z")
So if one starts or becomes employed by a news organization, what is the process by which you are supposed to have all your existing political opinions erased? Is it surgical, or perhaps is there an opinion-eradicating drug? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/12 "2012-06-08T14:14:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Now? Exactly. Since when is this a shocking revelation? Nobody flinches when Roger Ailes makes comparable pronouncements. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/13 "2012-06-08T14:35:54Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Well, no money, except the $[1250](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/07/obama-run-celebrity-packed-fundraisers-continues-on-west-coast/)x2 to attend the Obama fundraiser, of course. From my reading of that link, the LGBT event was not an Obama fundraiser. It was a “LGBT Leadership Council Gala featuring TV host DeGeneres and pop icon Cher.” Apparently Obama was a featured speaker, but it doesn’t look like any monies went his way. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/14 "2012-06-08T15:16:17Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > From my reading of that link, the LGBT event was not an Obama fundraiser. It was a “LGBT Leadership Council Gala featuring TV host DeGeneres and pop icon Cher.” Apparently Obama was a featured speaker, but it doesn’t look like any monies went his way. Try reading again, for comprehension this time. > [@](#): > > Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays, Ellen DeGeneres and Cher threw their support behind President Barack Obama at fundraisers in California on Wednesday… > [@](#): > > The president has continually relied on his celebrity support network to help out during his re-election fundraising campaign > [@](#): > > The event at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel was part of a two-day fundraising swing through California and Nevada during which Obama was expected to raise more than $15 million for his re-election effort. [Cite.](http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/jun/07/obama-wins-over-crowd-at-la-gay-event/) Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/15 "2012-06-08T15:23:14Z")
Nope. It was a [campaign fundraiser](http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-embraces-gay-supporters-at-fundraiser/2012/06/06/gJQAVBcwJV_story_1.html). The last paragraph in the article: > [@](#): > > Money raised at the events will go to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fund that includes Obama’s reelection campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state Democratic parties. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/16 "2012-06-08T15:42:46Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Try reading again, for comprehension this time. I was incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/17 "2012-06-08T16:48:37Z")
In the nineteenth century, journalism and journalists seemed to be very sensationalist. (This is only an observation based solely on high school social studies classes.) Then, for whatever reason, the pendulum swung in the other direction, and journalism/ists moved towards trying to project an “objective” approach to news reporting. What caused this swing? (I assume somehow the consumers communicated a desire for this change, but I don’t know what the catalyst could have been.) Is it possible that journalism/ists rediscovered how effective sensationalism can be at selling ad space/time to sponsers? How can we nudge the pendulum back towards non sensationalism? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/18 "2012-06-08T16:48:49Z")
Well done. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/19 "2012-06-08T16:54:37Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > In the nineteenth century, journalism and journalists seemed to be very sensationalist. (This is only an observation based solely on high school social studies classes.) I’m not sure when the change to objectivity occured, but it seems to be around the middle of the 20th century. Before that time newspaper and magazine articles were considered highly unreliable. The gravity of WWII may have been the catalyst for non-sensationalist reporting, or perhaps even the advent of television. All in all, objective non-sensational reporting had a pretty short lifespan and may never return. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465/20 "2012-06-08T16:58:16Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > All in all, objective non-sensational reporting had a pretty short lifespan and may never return. ☹ I get so tired of “spin”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nah-cbs-news-division-is-not-in-obamas-pocket/624465.md?page=2)