by Mark Silva
First the writers silenced Jay Leno and David Letterman.
Now the writers may silence Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and company.
In the case of the late-night comics, it's the Hollywood writers' strike that has cast the television entertainment world into reruns.
In the case of the Democratic candidates for president, it's the threat of a news-writers' strike that could imperil the final party debate before the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3.
The Democrats today pledged not to cross the picket line, if CBS News writers strike before the planned Dec. 10 Democratic debate in California, the last in a long-running series of debates before the first presidential nominating caucuses in January.
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) issued a statement about the Los Angeles debate that CBS plans in conjunction with the Democratic National Committee: "“It is my hope that both sides will reach an agreement that results in a secure contract for the workers at CBS News, but let me be clear: I will honor the picket line if the workers at CBS News decide to strike.''
Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina made the same pledge in a conference call with reporters. And spokesmen for Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut said they too will not participate in that debate.
CBS News writers this week authorized their union leaders to call a national strike. About 500 of the network’s TV and radio news writers in New York, Los Angeles and other cities have been working under an expired contract since April 2005.
CBS News called the vote “unfortunate” and said its latest offer was “fair and reasonable.”
“The Democratic Party believes the right to organize and collectively bargain is one of our most fundamental rights, and we are proud to stand with the working men and women in the labor movement,” DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney said. “Given the Democratic Party’s long history of supporting the labor movement in America, if the strike is still going on, we will not cross the picket lines.”
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Comments
Finally, some good news!!! Praise the Lord!!
Posted by: John D | November 21, 2007 3:08 PM
Maybe it will be put off until after the nominations...
Posted by: lochnessmonster | November 21, 2007 3:20 PM
The strike isn't silencing the Democrats.
Instead, the Democrats are choosing to silence themselves.
It's hard to imagine a better holiday gift than that.
Posted by: Bruce | November 21, 2007 3:26 PM
This will not be a problem for the republicans, they all say the same old thing.
Over and over and over....
Posted by: bill r. | November 21, 2007 3:37 PM
What!
We can't hear about the 2 America's, UFO's, driver license's for illegals,the idiotic call for impeachment from left wing losers.....
Oh NO!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | November 21, 2007 3:48 PM
Good. It's too early to be campaigning anyway.
Posted by: Cheryl | November 21, 2007 5:10 PM
"FCC DECIDER, COMMANDER GUY, AKA SECRETARY, AKA RUPERT MURDOCK LAP DOG SPEAKS"
SEE HOW WE CAN SILENCE AMERICA!
AND NEXT WEEK WE PLAN ON JUST DECIDING ON YOUR BEHALF THAT THE TOP 20 MARKETS WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE MEDIA AS WE KNOW IT.
SO NO IRAQ RECONCILIATION, OR IRAQ WAR, OR IRAQ SUCCESS OR SHOCK AN AWE, OR CHENEYS LAW ON PBS, OR CHENEY'S IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS ON CSPAN, OR ANY RETIRED PRESS SECRETARY INTEVIEWS RELATING TO THE OUTING OF A CIA AGENT. NO BIGGIE NEWS ONLY.
SO IF NOT FRIDAY, IT THANSGIVING. THANK YOU GEORGE BUSH FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS IN IRAQ!
AMERICA ISN'T ON STRIKE, THE BIG CORPORATIONS THAT ALLOW US, AGAIN THEY ALLOW US TO WATCH THEIR PROGRAMMING IS JAMMING YOUR SIGNAL TO BUY TIME.
CAN WE JUST HAVE MSNBC TRIALS. OJ, MICHAEL VICK WHO BEAT THEM TO THE PUNCH AND TURNED HIMSELF IN AT MIDNIGHT. NO PRESS, DAMN THEY MISSED OUT.
SO LETS SEE IF WE HAVE THE MIKE MCCLELLAN LIVE ON MEET THE PRESS IN LIEU OF HIS NEW FOUND CONFESSION.
THEY KNEW!
Posted by: Roger Morris | November 21, 2007 5:16 PM
I guess we're stuck with only the Republican "debates" where they agree with each other, pat each other on the back and try to pretend that Hillary has been the President the last seven years and not their very own Republican Prez 24%
Here's some "highlights" from one of the fine Republic Party "debates":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKtuXmorlSY&feature=related
Sound familiar? it should, these trained monkeys are trying to pick up the fear and smear mantle from Dick Cheney and run with it.
Posted by: Jimmy Justice | November 21, 2007 5:34 PM
Wow, John E is going by Jimmy InJustice tonight!
Posted by: John D | November 21, 2007 10:57 PM
Wow, John D goes by Jerry White from Springfield, Illinois every day and every night!
Posted by: holes | November 21, 2007 11:22 PM
On one hand, Hillary Clinton will respect unions, and says she will not cross the picket line of the CBS workers. On the other hand, the Clinton NAFTA agreement has screwed unions and labor. I'm confused.
Posted by: Vivian | November 21, 2007 11:51 PM
OMG...even the Mormons are bailing on Bush:
http://origin.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_7518296
This is the same paper that endorsed Bush twice (sort of). The second one sounded a little half-hearted:
The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, endorsed Bush on Oct. 24 -- "This newspaper has been consistently critical of a number of the president's policies, particularly his war in Iraq, his tax cuts for the rich and his abysmal environmental record. But this election is about two candidates, not one, and Sen. Kerry, other than not being President Bush, offers too little evidence, in either his policy proposals or his proffered ability to lead, that he would more ably address the challenges facing this country at home and abroad."
And how can we forget the thumbs up from the Chicago Tribune in 2004?:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0410170332oct17,0,4673811.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Nice call guys, you picked the guy who perfected FUBAR, the guy who brought you Mess O' Potamia. Any buyer's remorse there?
And what's with all these Goopers claiming the Chicago Tribune ("Libune") is a liberal rag--hilarious. You want a house organ?, go read the Moonie Times.
Happy Thanksgiving, Swampaddicts!
And special thanks to the Kook of Cook County and Scourge of Streamwood, Ill., Crazy John Devola. Man, you are a riot.
Honorable Mention:
You may know him as a media gnome, spelling troll, mighty Wurlitzer, white-shoe lawyer, professor of Pharisee, baron of BUSHit, or the dittohead of Des Plaines. But we just know him, lovingly, as bruce.
Posted by: TheReamer | November 22, 2007 4:14 AM
Oh Hillary won't cross a picket line so we don't have to listen to the cackle from Hell or everybodys first ex-wife a/k/a Nurse Ratchet. The unions are good for something silencing HIL. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | November 22, 2007 12:08 PM
Once the "news writers" go on strike, aren't there any real journalists who could factually cover the debates? Or do the journalists need a script? I know that propagandists need a script, but I thought journalism had a more valiant cause.
Posted by: Giraffe | November 23, 2007 10:43 AM