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Blacklisted by the CBC

Michael Coren
National Post


Wednesday, May 10, 2006


Last Thursday evening, I received the following e-mail from a CBC researcher/ producer named Ghazala Malik: "I am mailing you from CBC News Sunday -- hosted by Evan Solomon and Carole MacNeil. I was wondering if you would be available to take part on our Political Panel this Sunday the 6th of May.

"You would have to be at the CBC Toronto Studios by 9.30 a.m. EST and should be done within an hour. There will be two other panellists. It will be on live and the length will be approximately 10 minutes. The topic of discussion is the budget."

This came a few days after an e-mail discussion I had had with Ms. MacNeil, the extremely talented co-host of the show, in which she had told me that she'd like to have me on as a guest.

I replied by e-mail to Ms. Malik that I would be delighted to appear, and we discussed various details by e-mail. I then spoke to her by telephone to confirm my appearance and she told me that Brian Laghi of The Globe and Mail was also on the panel and that she was still looking for a woman to join us.

I suggested some names, particularly of women economists on the left of the political and economic spectrum, who had appeared on my own television show and had performed well. All was agreed and, for a second time, confirmed.

At 6 p.m. on Saturday I received a call from a seemingly embarrassed Ms. Malik. "I'm afraid I have to tell you that we're cancelling you for the morning. I'm so sorry. I do apologize for the inconvenience."

I replied that it was indeed rather inconvenient because I had rearranged my Sunday to accommodate her, and that it was purely fortuitous that she had caught me at home. But, I continued, the greater point was why I was being cancelled.

"Well, we've just had our meeting and it was decided to change the panel."

I asked if the panel was being changed because of me. There was a pause. And then, "I have to be honest, I'm not going to lie or beat around the bush. Yes, it was."

I asked how many people were at the meeting and was told there were "about 10." I asked who some of them were but was told, "it would be unprofessional of me to tell you that."

When I pushed for a more full explanation, the thickness of the plot became ludicrous. "We have to book panels that work together." Fine, I replied, you don't actually have a panel yet and the only person you are cancelling is myself. Mr. Laghi, the other panellist and someone I don't even know, has not been cancelled and no third panellist yet booked. And, anyway, why would this panel not work?

There was no explanation.

I reassured Ms. Malik that I wasn't angry with her but emphasized that this had happened to me in the past at the CBC, and that it was obvious that I was being cancelled because of people who objected to certain conservative, particularly morally conservative, voices in the media. (As readers of my columns will know, I am an advocate of traditional Judeo-Christian ideals. In particular, I oppose both gay marriage and abortion.)

I continued that I had not been pre-interviewed and that the people at the meeting didn't even know where I stood on economic issues -- in fact I am extremely progressive on certain policies, such as forgiving Third World debt and a massive public investment in psychiatric medicine. There was no logic but piles of guile in such a decision.

I shouldn't, however, by surprised. I was once cancelled at the actual reception desk at the CBC, the show's booker telling me, "the union don't want you on." That incident produced an apology from the head of Newsworld.

I had an entire CBC radio interview prevented from going to air because, according to the producer, "it's extremely good but there are people here who simply hate you."

Nor am I alone. Dozens of genuinely conservative commentators in the country could tell you similar stories.

It's certainly not the fault of Carole MacNeil or Ghazala Malik. It's not even the fault of the liberal gatekeepers who so fear and despise contrary opinion. It's the fault of a culture that we have allowed, by our indifference and our tax dollars, to smother what could have been a balanced public broadcaster.

People used to run away to sea. Now they run away to the CBC. Well, at least the ones who don't like freedom of speech do so. The rest of us simply have to learn how to swim. With sharks.





source

The CBC should be taken off the public dole.

   

I wish the CBC would wake up and let people with different opinions on air. I also watch the Michael Coren show, and find his show out of all the ones on tv to have the most balanced panel discussions, and it's on a Christian tv network.

   

Before going off half-cocked, maybe someone should go to the trouble of ascertaining the facts. Did the panel go ahead anyway without him? If so, might this be sour grapes? If not, were there other pressing stories of the day that elbowed the panel out of its way?

That this just happened to have been printed by a national newspaper that's had a well-known woody about trashing the CBC at every opportunity since the first day the presses rolled and, oh, golly gee, said newspaper happens to be owned by one of the privately-owned networks that while nominally in competition with the CBC produces damn-near no programming save news in this country and is, in fact, legendary for the depth of American programming it buys brings an oh-so slight stench of agenda to this 'story'.

   

The CBC is the Liberal Ministry of Truth and the only place you'll hear other views are on comedy shows. They've been filled with Liberal insiders so long, they have no idea where the center is anymore.

   

Un huh! Riiiiight!

Of course, you have an encyclopaedic knowledge and understanding of all things CBC. And you've worked for the CBC for how long? And you think your view is centre? And you don't think that you come off as having an axe you're grinding here?

   

No, if I worked for the CBC, I'd probably sound more like this:

   

Case in point. Any media that says anything remotely negative about the cons or the right is taken as abject proof of complete bias yet your own press is magnitudes worse.

AKA the Western Standard. It doesn't even attempt to appear as a legitamite news journal. Even when your own biased press prints an article criticizing the cons you simply state that it must have been a liberal journalist who somehow lied his way onto the staff.

When you want the truth, trust a Liberal source. When you want a laugh read a conservative rag.

It all depends on your POV doesn't it?

   

Toss them out to the wolves and let them make it on their own.

Who wants to bet they are all snow within a year.

   

So, your mother have any children that lived?

   

Bet they regret that! ZING! I love that movie.

   

Here's an idea; pull CTV and Global off the teat of Yank shows they buy for a comparitive song and let's see how long they survive. Betcha David Blaine's show on Monday night would put them to shame.

   

That's right, because the CBC can no longer afford hockey... or ever curling...


it's 24-7 King of Kensington
Then the news with Peter Mansbridge and Celine Dion

   

For those who actually want to read both sides of the story, Proud to be Canadian is now being "watched" by the CBC.

I believe that equates to double secret probation but I'm not sure. Since Arrow works for the CBC, maybe he can tell us.

Proud to be Canadian

Long live Freedom.. but vore Fiberal.

   

I always thought that that the CBC was the Commercial Broadcasting Corporation, with a little left slanted news accidentally tossed in now again.

   

This site also covers this topic in detail.
The Black Rod

They may be under double secret probation too.

   

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