Hotel Chain locks out CNN

[kaydee457 13]

source

This is a fine example of left liberal media exaggerating the news from Iraq. This tape was obviously targeting a specific audiance; the fine folks here in the U.S.A. It can't be any clearer that the enemy is manipulating the U.S. press and thereby the people in this country via propaganda and it's clearly working by all accounts given the results of the last election.

Midwest Hotel Chain Drops CNN Over Video

Thursday, November 16, 2006

By ALAN SCHER ZAGIER, Associated Press writer

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COLUMBIA, Mo. — A Midwest hotel chain has pulled CNN from the TV channel lineup in its guest rooms, saying the cable network was aiding terrorism with the broadcast of a video showing Iraqi snipers shooting at U.S. troops.

The broadcast, which aired Oct. 18 on both CNN and CNN Headline News, featured edited portions of a tape the network said it obtained from a rebel group called Islamic Army of Iraq.

The video crossed the line from journalism to propaganda, said James Thompson, president of the Iowa-based Stoney Creek Hospitality Corp.

"It was shocking and repulsive,"he said."Their actions supported terrorism."

Guests at the Stoney Creek Inn's 10 properties in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin can still view Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC and other cable news channels.

Supportive comments from guests have outnumbered complaints by a 3-1 margin, Thompson said.

A network spokeswoman did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment Thursday. A CNN producer previously defended the report as an attempt to show the"unvarnished truth"about the Iraq war.

The video, which first appeared on"Anderson Cooper 360,"shows uniformed U.S. soldiers mingling with Iraqi civilians in a public area. An American gunner is seen standing guard in a turret atop a U.S. military vehicle.

After the insurgent sniper confers with a spotter _ presumably the person operating the video camera _ a shot rings out. After a fade to black, the soldier in the turret slumps forward as the sniper's car drives away.

In a CNN Web log entry defending the segment, producer David Doss wrote that the network excluded the"actual impact of the rounds"because"a number of us felt airing that precise moment was simply too horrific."

Only portions of the rebel-supplied tape _ which CNN said featured a total of 10 sniper attacks _ were included as part of a broader news story that also featured interviews with a U.S. sniper in Iraq and a network military analyst, Doss noted.

Thompson called his response"a moment of conscience."He said the decision to yank CNN and CNN Headline News from his hotels is permanent.

The company has hotels in Columbia and St. Joseph, Mo.; Des Moines and Waukon, Iowa; East Peoria, Moline, Quincy and Galena, Ill.; and La Crosse and Wausau, Wis.

The CNN report also raised the ire of several Republican lawmakers, who asked former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to bar network reporters from traveling as embedded journalists with military units in Iraq.

On Thursday, opinions among guests were mixed at the Stoney Creek Inn in Columbia, a central Missouri college town.

Dennis Cunningham, a retired factory worker from northern Missouri staying at the hotel for several weeks while his wife undergoes brain surgery, said he supported Thompson's decision.

"I agree with him. I think it was inappropriate,"Cunningham said."We don't need to see things like that over here."

Cunningham was not aware of the hotel's decision until told by a reporter. Neither was Peter Cain of St. Louis, who like Cunningham ate breakfast near the hotel lobby as the Fox News Channel played in the background.

"If he's trying to make a statement, then why doesn't he make it known?"said Cain, referring to hotel owner Thompson."I didn't even notice (it was missing)."

[Alex+R 0]

Dennis Cunningham, a retired factory worker from northern Missouri staying at the hotel for several weeks while his wife undergoes brain surgery, said he supported Thompson's decision.

"I agree with him. I think it was inappropriate,"Cunningham said."We don't need to see things like that over here."

Isn't that the real reason you're offended?

I have NO IDEA how this aids terrorism. What a croc. There's a hotel chain I won't be visiting. EVER.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

Dennis Cunningham, a retired factory worker from northern Missouri staying at the hotel for several weeks while his wife undergoes brain surgery, said he supported Thompson's decision.

"I agree with him. I think it was inappropriate,"Cunningham said."We don't need to see things like that over here."

Isn't that the real reason you're offended?

I have NO IDEA how this aids terrorism. What a croc. There's a hotel chain I won't be visiting. EVER.

given that you probably would avoid most of the states those hotels are in anyways, it's a hollow threat

or are you protesting for your right to watch american servicemen being shot on tv?

Edited November 17, 2006 by charlesandnessa

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

They're a private business, they can do what they please. What's silly is that they probably think this is going to win them additional customers. What's even sillier is that it probably will. Too many people in this country make decisions on where to spend their money on dumba$$ political ####### like this. If you need a place to stay the night, find cleanest room for the cheapest price. Why do you care what channel they show or don't show anyway? I bet conservatives will be flocking to this hotel now and they will all be overcharged. The price of misguided patriotism.

Edited November 17, 2006 by Gupt

[heishe 2]

They should lock out all the news stations that broadcast video news releases from the Whitehouse, too, since we're trying to avoid propaganda.

Edited November 17, 2006 by heishe

[Alex+R 0]

They're a private business, they can do what they please. What's silly is that they probably think this is going to win them additional customers. What's even sillier is that it probably will. Too many people in this country make decisions on where to spend their money on dumba$$ political ####### like this. If you need a place to stay the night, find cleanest room for the cheapest price. Why do you care what channel they show or don't show anyway? I bet conservatives will be flocking to this hotel now and they will all be overcharged. The price of misguided patriotism.

I dunno, I usually like to support businesses I don't think are completely sleazy. I think they did this ONLY to win more customers. Blech. Sometimes you can't avoid a crappy corporate product/hotel/whatever, but you can try.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I dunno, I usually like to support businesses I don't think are completely sleazy.

And you're not alone. I happen to think that's silly because it takes attention away from quality vs cost of the business's actual product. When quality suffers because consumers are making decisions based on other factors, the consumer suffers. JMHO.

[DeadPoolX 9]

This is silly. I can understand why they're doing it, and as Gupt said, they're a private business, so it's within their right to do so -- but it's still silly.

I don't usually care what's on television when I'm staying at a hotel. What I care about is the cleanliness, cost, and service factors. If I wanted great TV, I'd stay at home.

[Alex+R 0]

Hm, I don't think I can help it. I was raised by liberal tree-huggers who wouldn't order from Dominos because they contributed to Republican candidates and pro-life causes. I still can't eat it.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Hm, I don't think I can help it. I was raised by liberal tree-huggers who wouldn't order from Dominos because they contributed to Republican candidates and pro-life causes. I still can't eat it.

That's funny. Don't worry you're not missing much, their pizza sucks.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

I dunno, I usually like to support businesses I don't think are completely sleazy.

And you're not alone. I happen to think that's silly because it takes attention away from quality vs cost of the business's actual product. When quality suffers because consumers are making decisions based on other factors, the consumer suffers. JMHO.

some consumers broaden their definition of quality. it isn't a simple formula of x% clean at y cost. for some is 'stature' or location or historical value ,or etc... at least when it comes to hotels... and yes, then there is the 'they support my views' angle too. Complicated? Sure.

Daniel

:energetic:

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Kaydee did you actually watch the CNN report before you commented on it?

[Sinergy 3]

i think its sickening how they lock out CNN for showing whats really happening over there, instead of locking out fox news for not showing whats real and continueing to try and convince ppl that we are winning and doing "wonderful" over there in iraqi

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

some consumers broaden their definition of quality. it isn't a simple formula of x% clean at y cost. for some is 'stature' or location or historical value ,or etc... at least when it comes to hotels... and yes, then there is the 'they support my views' angle too. Complicated? Sure.

If quality of the product vs cost was maximized across the board, overall quality would rise across the marketplace. Introducing factors other than that serves no purpose other than to dilute quality and increase costs. It creates an inefficient marketplace. It really isn't that complicated until you introduce human biases into the process.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

some consumers broaden their definition of quality. it isn't a simple formula of x% clean at y cost. for some is 'stature' or location or historical value ,or etc... at least when it comes to hotels... and yes, then there is the 'they support my views' angle too. Complicated? Sure.

If quality of the product vs cost was maximized across the board, overall quality would rise across the marketplace. Introducing factors other than that serves no purpose other than to dilute quality and increase costs. It creates an inefficient marketplace. It really isn't that complicated until you introduce human biases into the process.

and consumers are, by nature, human.

you are being way too theoretical there gupt. business is complicated, you have find what appeals to the consumer. not simply the 'best'/efficient fiancial formula. and what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow/ yada yada.

Daniel

:energetic: