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arcane1

(38,613 posts)
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:19 PM Jun 2016

Nevada Reporter Who Falsely Claimed Sanders Supporters Threw Chairs Just Got What He Deserves

A veteran political reporter who spread a viral lie demeaning Bernie Sanders delegates at the Nevada convention is now looking for a new job.

Jon Ralston, who has been called “The biggest fish in Nevada” by Politico, has been let go by PBS after the network cancelled his show “Ralston Live” on Tuesday.

Ralston became nationally reviled after the Nevada Democratic Convention, in which he famously propagated the oft-repeated lie that Bernie Sanders’ delegates threw chairs in a fit of rage after state party chair Roberta Lange disqualified a large number of delegates from participating and refused to hear their appeals.

While Ralston’s insistence of Sanders supporters throwing chairs was secondhand, as he left the convention early, the claim was still taken at face-value due to his status as a respected journalist in Nevada. Despite the lack of verifiable evidence, national news media ran with Ralston’s claims and printed numerous stories falsely claiming that Sanders supporters threw chairs, including trusted outlets like the Associated Press, the New York Times, and CBS.

-snip-

http://usuncut.com/politics/nevada-reporter-chair-throwing/

Bye!

206 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Nevada Reporter Who Falsely Claimed Sanders Supporters Threw Chairs Just Got What He Deserves (Original Post) arcane1 Jun 2016 OP
funny he would throw away all his credibility for that rurallib Jun 2016 #1
Ralston's credibility is intact. lapucelle Jun 2016 #71
What does Adelson have to do with this? Craig234 Jun 2016 #74
Adelson has far more power in Nevada than Sanders and his supporters Gothmog Jun 2016 #79
OK Craig234 Jun 2016 #81
This is actually an example of a very good investigative political journalist lapucelle Jun 2016 #86
About PBS Craig234 Jun 2016 #103
way too far right for my taste anymore. eom LittleGirl Jun 2016 #119
Bush and CIA cronies furious over PBS October Surprise coverage. Octafish Jun 2016 #120
Thanks for the mention Craig234 Jun 2016 #126
Bush pardoned those Walsh indicted. Octafish Jun 2016 #153
His "journalism" leaves something to be desired. This was similar to what Fox News rhett o rick Jun 2016 #112
Is this thread being hijacked? OwlinAZ Jun 2016 #113
Nope lapucelle Jun 2016 #84
Reid is retiring--he's not nervous. But Ralston is a good reporter. nt MADem Jun 2016 #98
I hate these required summaries Craig234 Jun 2016 #102
If you think he's in the tank for HRC, he's not. MADem Jun 2016 #105
I don't know him Craig234 Jun 2016 #125
The harm was done, regardless of specifics. It was not a finest hour. MADem Jun 2016 #152
no rehash needed, but Craig234 Jun 2016 #160
I do not agree with the "massive misrepresentation" categorization, but again, MADem Jun 2016 #163
"What's done is done." greiner3 Jun 2016 #172
Please just stop. MADem Jun 2016 #173
Well Craig234 Jun 2016 #174
He lied about the chair throwing choie Jun 2016 #116
Nope, Ralston lied. kiva Jun 2016 #101
Yes, we do know better passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #108
Bye Liar billhicks76 Jun 2016 #121
When you piss off the two Mega donors for Wellstone ruled Jun 2016 #203
Yeah too bad right? He can join the Liars Club now. Rex Jun 2016 #124
The best of Karma. 840high Jun 2016 #2
Post removed Post removed Jun 2016 #3
Sure, anyone can get one wrong. ciaobaby Jun 2016 #8
He mocked the critics of his chair-throwing story. NT Eric J in MN Jun 2016 #128
He doubled- and tripled-down on it, too. arcane1 Jun 2016 #11
Just another Jonathan Capehart. Lie and no retraction. floriduck Jun 2016 #13
yep yep 840high Jun 2016 #40
So darn true. sangfroid Jun 2016 #147
Yup.. disillusioned73 Jun 2016 #158
He came to my mind as well when I read doubled and tripled down. merrily Jun 2016 #181
It is not "just a detail". That untruth was seized upon and Bernie was pretty much beaten with it djean111 Jun 2016 #12
Which I never understood, I mean why hold a candidate at fault for something that cstanleytech Jun 2016 #39
I'm sorry, are you new here?? klook Jun 2016 #56
He was not entirely wrong - At least, one person did raise a chair threateningly - OhZone Jun 2016 #4
Actually, dropping a chair would require letting go. The person put it down with his hands. floriduck Jun 2016 #14
He didn't voluntarily put it down. The people around him intervened. n/t pnwmom Jun 2016 #26
They persuaded him to put it down and then they hugged each other, that's miles away from Uncle Joe Jun 2016 #35
They physically intervened. n/t pnwmom Jun 2016 #36
They persuaded him, they didn't tackle him and this still didn't equate to how the event was Uncle Joe Jun 2016 #37
Did they? Do you have... reACTIONary Jun 2016 #43
The video is posted above. nt OhZone Jun 2016 #45
Thanks! reACTIONary Jun 2016 #54
Yes there is video arikara Jun 2016 #46
Thanks! reACTIONary Jun 2016 #53
You can see 3 people grabbing the chair from the guy in the video. That's why someone got hit TeamPooka Jun 2016 #51
You can see one person put his hand on the man's arm and another person take the chair away Uncle Joe Jun 2016 #107
That's not what I saw. He released it mid air and it fell on someone. OhZone Jun 2016 #191
I watched it multiple times and he never let go of the chair until it was down. Why is it so floriduck Jun 2016 #192
Because people want to smear the journalist as a liar, and he was not 100% lying. OhZone Jun 2016 #193
"may have"? padfun Jun 2016 #15
Look closely at the video - he dropped it on someone and hurt them. nt OhZone Jun 2016 #44
you really try so hard don't you. Javaman Jun 2016 #55
and all the chandeliers quaked with fear. Javaman Jun 2016 #52
I've seen a picture of the guy . ... reACTIONary Jun 2016 #61
And yet Craig234 Jun 2016 #76
As far as excuses go.... reACTIONary Jun 2016 #150
you know you can just talk to me instead of using me as your tool. Javaman Jun 2016 #154
I did.... reACTIONary Jun 2016 #179
yes, the hoisting of a chair sooooo shameful. Javaman Jun 2016 #198
Yes it is. Obviously. Nt reACTIONary Jun 2016 #204
my god, you are still obsessed by this? Javaman Jun 2016 #205
Answering a reply to a post is not obsesive.... reACTIONary Jun 2016 #206
Well Craig234 Jun 2016 #159
+1000 nt Javaman Jun 2016 #164
Just ask yourself...if someone raised a chair at you, would you be so flippant? BlueCaliDem Jun 2016 #78
LOL Javaman Jun 2016 #138
Easy for you to "lol" sitting safely behind your desk. But had you stood in that atmosphere of BlueCaliDem Jun 2016 #142
LOL Javaman Jun 2016 #144
You "lol" a lot, Java. Maybe you should lay off the java. BlueCaliDem Jun 2016 #145
I will continue to LOL Javaman Jun 2016 #146
You continue to "lol" because you know you're wrong, basing your responses BlueCaliDem Jun 2016 #148
LOLOL Javaman Jun 2016 #151
This is a personal attack on another poster. We have moved beyond that. DisgustipatedinCA Jun 2016 #176
Nope. It's not. Nope. I won't. But yes, I've moved on. BlueCaliDem Jun 2016 #195
Just ask yourself, if someone picked up a hughee99 Jun 2016 #183
The intent was clearly there. It was a volatile event. Thank god cooler heads prevailed and coaxed BlueCaliDem Jun 2016 #196
The report wasn't that someone standing near the chair guy feared for their safety, hughee99 Jun 2016 #202
Ralstons tweet said punches and thrown chairs passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #115
"Threw" - maybe not AlbertCat Jun 2016 #156
And yet Jonathan Capehart still has his job. Dr. Strange Jun 2016 #5
And is a regular on Hairball. This primary season has been unreal. eom jillan Jun 2016 #117
This is a sad reminder of all the lies directed at Sanders and his supporters. ciaobaby Jun 2016 #6
Also the lies and outrage stemming from Capehart's and Joy Read's false statements of Bernie's Akamai Jun 2016 #16
Reid and Capehart were shameless. They weren't the only MSNBC pundits who lost credibility. OwlinAZ Jun 2016 #114
As they say there is a special place in &ell for a man like that but.... peace13 Jun 2016 #182
Yes, flinging chairs up and setting them down again, implored by bystanders. Starry Messenger Jun 2016 #7
We are back to multiple chairs again? arcane1 Jun 2016 #10
Fling: bunnies Jun 2016 #38
Nothing being flung around except bullshit . Then and now Person 2713 Jun 2016 #99
I'm sure the apologies will be coming any minute now. bunnies Jun 2016 #132
Lies have consequences? Well who knew? Rex Jun 2016 #9
Actually, his coverage of Sharon Angle in Nevada was pretty spot on DonRedwood Jun 2016 #93
Good, karma bit his ass! nt Raine Jun 2016 #17
He's just the first of the 2016 liars to go down. Bluenorthwest Jun 2016 #18
His lies were such a staple in certain circles... Raster Jun 2016 #31
Don't count on RoccoR5955 Jun 2016 #169
This is that "fair shake" from the media everyone talks about, right? phazed0 Jun 2016 #19
I support the decison to fire him. tabasco Jun 2016 #20
I agree with you LiberalEsto Jun 2016 #139
Post removed Post removed Jun 2016 #21
"I don't care how many chairs". The answer is zero chairs thrown. Snarkoleptic Jun 2016 #25
Depending on the angle of the viewer, it could look pnwmom Jun 2016 #22
Really? Depending on the angle someone might have thought something might have rhett o rick Jun 2016 #32
His "friends" stopped him because they recognized he shouldn't have pnwmom Jun 2016 #34
He waved a chair around above his head among his friends. He was threatening no one. rhett o rick Jun 2016 #48
No intelligent person could think it was okay to wave a chair in the air in the middle of pnwmom Jun 2016 #60
Goalpost moved, duly noted. Snarkoleptic Jun 2016 #73
OMG, lol, that was funny... closeupready Jun 2016 #177
Thanks! Snarkoleptic Jun 2016 #194
This thread is about a reporter that lied to gain favor with the Corp-Media. This is an old Fox rhett o rick Jun 2016 #82
Based on the video, it doesn't look like a lie to me. It looks like an understandable pnwmom Jun 2016 #85
He made the mistake of thinking he saw people throwing chairs? And reported on it? rhett o rick Jun 2016 #110
Ralston losing his show is a victory for the corporate media lapucelle Jun 2016 #137
Except that Ralston wasn't even there LiberalEsto Jun 2016 #141
Great - and I will ask again ciaobaby Jun 2016 #184
Ralston did acknowledge his mistake. A month ago. lapucelle Jun 2016 #200
Thanks for the link, however, that comes no where close to an apology. ciaobaby Jun 2016 #201
Just stop it, pnwmom. The lie has been exposed forever. You're just embarrassing yourself. (nt) w4rma Jun 2016 #41
Facts dont matter awoke_in_2003 Jun 2016 #57
Propaganda Craig234 Jun 2016 #83
Post removed Post removed Jun 2016 #63
+3,576,198 pangaia Jun 2016 #65
She has a right to her opinion. DonRedwood Jun 2016 #95
If Ralston hadn't lied, we wouldn't be having this discussion. kiva Jun 2016 #111
He got fired for lying, probably have to put off getting a new car now etc.. Rex Jun 2016 #123
Ralston lost his show because a right wing billionaire threatened to cut off donations to PBS lapucelle Jun 2016 #135
I'm impressed that you can say the same thing kiva Jun 2016 #157
if the guy didnt pick up the chair and threaten the crowd we wouldnt be having this discussion DonRedwood Jun 2016 #165
Ralsotn was a professional journalist. kiva Jun 2016 #197
I am just glad the guy got fired for lying about it. Rex Jun 2016 #122
he was let go because PBS took a bunch of money from sheldon addles DonRedwood Jun 2016 #167
She's being dishonest Bradical79 Jun 2016 #161
Stop. Please. 840high Jun 2016 #42
What's the problem! SouthernDemLinda Jun 2016 #91
Good. OnyxCollie Jun 2016 #23
+1 AtomicKitten Jun 2016 #127
Hopefully a career ending move. ozone_man Jun 2016 #24
Very unlikely rjsquirrel Jun 2016 #27
Once again money speaks a louder truth than fact. Ford_Prefect Jun 2016 #69
Post removed Post removed Jun 2016 #131
The film footage was all over the internet. I mean we (DUers) knew what happened. So he lied. YOHABLO Jun 2016 #28
Some of us knew, .. pangaia Jun 2016 #66
well wallyworld2 Jun 2016 #29
Just like Brian Williams.. peace13 Jun 2016 #30
The Corp-Media like his style. nm rhett o rick Jun 2016 #33
sorry about the repost tenderfoot Jun 2016 #47
No worries, I gave it a rec :) arcane1 Jun 2016 #50
problem with PBS PatrynXX Jun 2016 #49
Post removed Post removed Jun 2016 #58
+1 baldguy Jun 2016 #59
I think Rachael Maddow confronted him on this and he stuck to the lie. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2016 #62
The Rachel Maddow Show promoted the chair-throwing Eric J in MN Jun 2016 #129
Ralston criticized local Republicans so he was a former guest on her show. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2016 #130
Glad to hear the truth... late, yet at least a few of us heard about it. Equinox Moon Jun 2016 #64
Post hoc ergo propter hoc lapucelle Jun 2016 #67
Post removed Post removed Jun 2016 #70
On losing his show, Ralston referenced lapucelle Jun 2016 #72
Tough. Don't smear Sanders supporters. (nt) w4rma Jun 2016 #75
The only people who think the chair stories were a smear are Sanders supporters. lapucelle Jun 2016 #89
How good a reporter can he be? SouthernDemLinda Jun 2016 #96
I imagine that's the most important thing to far too many people. LanternWaste Jun 2016 #170
OK Craig234 Jun 2016 #80
If his work was that important, he should've avoided telling known lies. arcane1 Jun 2016 #87
Ralston did not tell known lies. lapucelle Jun 2016 #92
Big People! SouthernDemLinda Jun 2016 #100
"he reported what eyewitnesses told him." He reported what some people told him rhett o rick Jun 2016 #171
No, he diesnt Nevernose Jun 2016 #187
Even worse, the anti-circumcision advocates really missed out on that domain name. NuclearDem Jun 2016 #68
HUGE K&R desmiller Jun 2016 #77
Actually PBS there said his show was too costly to continue. tonyt53 Jun 2016 #88
PBS and Ralston issued a joint statement. lapucelle Jun 2016 #90
Could have referenced the influence of false reporting on political primaries too Person 2713 Jun 2016 #106
I'm sure there will be lots of editorial board meetings over this, reforms will happen, apologies... L. Coyote Jun 2016 #94
Good jack_krass Jun 2016 #97
That news made my day. kiva Jun 2016 #104
Good riddance, lying sack of shit. Feeling the Bern Jun 2016 #109
Don't you just love it when a liars pants actually catch on fire. (so to speak?) jillan Jun 2016 #118
Jon Ralston was too obnoxious to belong on PBS even if hadn't spread that lie. Eric J in MN Jun 2016 #133
This is the problem with Else You Are Mad Jun 2016 #134
Regardless, their behavior was still reprehensible... Blue_Tires Jun 2016 #136
Good riddance. Betty Karlson Jun 2016 #140
Those Bernie Supporters in Nevada? Gamecock Lefty Jun 2016 #143
Nice? Sure. sangfroid Jun 2016 #149
Lying is ok if you're lying about rude people? -nt Bradical79 Jun 2016 #162
It's the Nevada Democratic Party which came up with three stage caucuses Eric J in MN Jun 2016 #189
Good, but the damage was done. blackspade Jun 2016 #155
Buh bye. CharlotteVale Jun 2016 #166
I wonder if RoccoR5955 Jun 2016 #168
An ethical person verifies something before they put it out as fact. ladyVet Jun 2016 #175
I'll never forgive Barbara Boxer for smearing Bernie's supporters. closeupready Jun 2016 #178
Could she be voted out for these lies? Pauldg47 Jun 2016 #185
Barbara Boxer can't be voted out because she's not running for re-election. NT Eric J in MN Jun 2016 #190
I think she's retiring, so this would be her last term. closeupready Jun 2016 #199
This man is responsible for slamming the breaks on a Presidential campaign. peace13 Jun 2016 #180
Video shows a chair being held overhead BainsBane Jun 2016 #186
Ralston hates women AND liberals Nevernose Jun 2016 #188

rurallib

(62,448 posts)
1. funny he would throw away all his credibility for that
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:24 PM
Jun 2016

must be an ego thing.

Whatever -- Bye John, don't let the door hit the split

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
71. Ralston's credibility is intact.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:27 PM
Jun 2016

The real moral of the lesson is "don't take on the political establishment, and don't piss off Sheldon Adelson".

Ralston has been calling out Harry Reid for years. His fatal mistake was calling out a powerful right-wing billionaire who is hellbent on controlling what we see on the news.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
74. What does Adelson have to do with this?
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:43 PM
Jun 2016

Ralston made a false claim. It was used by the media, and abuse by Hillary supporters, to smear Bernie.

And now, he's seen some accountability. That's great news. His credibility is not intact.

Gothmog

(145,563 posts)
79. Adelson has far more power in Nevada than Sanders and his supporters
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:50 PM
Jun 2016

Ralston's show was not canceled due to any complaints by sanders supporters

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
81. OK
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:54 PM
Jun 2016

I read further and commented below, that if correct, that is a very important issue and even outweighs my desire to see punishment for Ralston's reckless action against Bernie.

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
86. This is actually an example of a very good investigative political journalist
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:01 PM
Jun 2016

losing his forum due to the influence of a right-wing billionaire who doesn't want the truth reported.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
103. About PBS
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:46 PM
Jun 2016

I will say PBS and NPR have seemed to move way to the right.

Bill Moyers is basically the founding father of PBS, and Bush put him under attack, appointing a far-right head of PBS who went to war against Moyers.

There is a story about a PBS station head who alerted the Kochs to an approved upcoming documentary hostile to them - and it was killed.

Ill just repeat, lets oppose both the corruption of the media regarding the right wing AND Ralston's recklessness on Bernie.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
120. Bush and CIA cronies furious over PBS October Surprise coverage.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 01:19 AM
Jun 2016

Frontline aired "An Election Held Hostage" or some such. It named names and dates, all which have checked out over time.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
126. Thanks for the mention
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 03:07 AM
Jun 2016

I'll look for that Frontline.

Also, Lawrence Walsh seems to have pretty clearly said he's convinced Bush is culpable, he just couldn't get the trial evidence.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)
153. Bush pardoned those Walsh indicted.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 10:34 AM
Jun 2016

For some reason, this never gets mentioned on tee vee much:



THIS is why the conservatives -- no matter their jersey color -- HATE Robert Parry. He reports the truth:



Firewall: Inside the Iran-Contra Cover-up

By Robert Parry
1995

EXCERPT…

Those combined interests likely will lead to very few favorable reviews of a new book by a man who put himself in the way of that cover-up -- Iran-contra independent counsel Lawrence Walsh. In a remarkable new book, Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-up, Walsh details his six-year battle to break through the "firewall" that White House officials built around President Reagan and Vice President Bush after the Iran-contra scandal exploded in November 1986.

For Walsh, a lifelong Republican who shared the foreign policy views of the Reagan administration, the Iran-contra experience was a life-changing one, as his investigation penetrated one wall of lies only to be confronted with another and another -- and not just lies from Oliver North and his cohorts but lies from nearly every senior administration official who spoke with investigators.

According to Firewall, the cover-up conspiracy took formal shape at a meeting of Reagan and his top advisers in the Situation Room at the White House on Nov. 24, 1986. The meeting's principal point of concern was how to handle the troublesome fact that Reagan had approved illegal arms sales to Iran in fall 1985, before any covert-action finding had been signed. The act was a clear felony -- a violation of the Arms Export Control Act -- and possibly an impeachable offense.

SNIP…

&quot White House chief of staff Don) Regan, who had heard McFarlane inform the president and who had heard the president admit to Shultz that he knew of the shipment of Hawk (anti-aircraft) missiles, said nothing. Shultz and (Defense Secretary Caspar) Weinberger, who had protested the shipment before it took place, said nothing. (Vice President George) Bush, who had been told of the shipment in advance by McFarlane, said nothing. Casey, who (had) requested that the president sign the retroactive finding to authorize the CIA-facilitated delivery, said nothing. (NSC adviser John) Poindexter, who had torn up the finding, said nothing. Meese asked whether anyone knew anything else that hadn't been revealed. No one spoke."

CONTINUED…

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/story34.html



What had come earlier makes the Iran "dealings" understandable. Reagan and Poppy owed the Ayatollah a major.



Debunking the Debunkers of October Surprise

Magazines mangled facts to dismiss Reagan campaign collusion with Iran


By Robert Parry
March 1, 2013

EXCERPT...

The New Republic faulted Nightline for failing “to find out that Casey was not in Madrid, but in London.” The magazine also mocked anchor Ted Koppel for a Nightline update, which was the first story to note that Casey had made the unannounced trip to London, despite his campaign duties. Koppel had observed that Madrid was only a 90-minute flight from London, making Jamshid Hashemi’s story possible. “Nightline was wrong again,” Emerson and Furman gloated.

I was ridiculed, too, as one of the “entrepreneurial journalists” who had investigated the October Surprise story, presumably for financial gain. (Because of my extensive work on the Iran/Contra scandal, I had been recruited by PBS Frontline in 1990 to look into the longstanding October Surprise mystery, leading to an hour-long documentary which aired in April 1991.)

The dual debunking stories from Newsweek and the New Republic brought relief and delight to many corners of the Washington–to–New York power corridor, especially at the White House, where President George H.W. Bush’s team could now go on the offensive against the remnants of the broader Iran/Contra scandal. On Capitol Hill, the impact of the one-two punch of Newsweek and the New Republic could not be overstated. Whatever momentum there was for a thorough investigation of the October Surprise issue quickly dissipated.

On the Senate side, Republicans mounted a filibuster to block special funding for an investigation. On the House side, an investigative task force was created but it was soon clear that its principal role would be to ratify the debunking, not dig aggressively for the truth. There was less happiness inside Nightline, where the producer who had arranged the Jamshid Hashemi interview soon found herself out of a job.

There also was little attention when our reporting team at Frontline determined that the London alibi, which Newsweek and the New Republic featured so prominently, was false. It turned out that the magazines had misread the attendance records and failed to interview some of the key people at the conference, including that morning’s speaker, historian Robert Dallek. He told us that he had looked for Casey around the modest-sized board room at London’s Imperial War Museum and found him missing.

A closer examination of the attendance records also revealed a notation next to Casey’s box saying “came at 4 p.m.” In other words, the much-trumpeted debunking by Newsweek and the New Republic had itself been debunked. But the debunking of the two magazines drew virtually no public notice. No corrections were run. No one was held accountable. The conventional wisdom about the supposedly bogus October Surprise story stuck.

CONTINUED...

http://fair.org/extra/debunking-the-debunkers-of-october-surprise/



Secret Government means Secret Beneficiaries.


 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
112. His "journalism" leaves something to be desired. This was similar to what Fox News
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 12:25 AM
Jun 2016

does. Some "journalist" makes a half-assed claim and then they run with it. The corp-media loves this shit.

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
84. Nope
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:58 PM
Jun 2016

Ralston's credibility is intact with people who know anything about Nevada politics, Ralston's history of doing stories that expose corruption, and Adelson's recent attempts to control what people see, hear, and read by buying up media.

Not only is Ralston's credibility intact, it is enhanced by the fact he makes both Adelson and Reid very, very nervous.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
102. I hate these required summaries
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:42 PM
Jun 2016

Good to hear if Ralston is usually a good reporter. And others share a lot of blame for using his false statement to inflate it into a huge national story and smear. But how is his repeating a secondhand falsehood and defending it as well not wrong?

MADem

(135,425 posts)
105. If you think he's in the tank for HRC, he's not.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:50 PM
Jun 2016

He's been quite harsh with her, too.

Google and peruse, you'll see.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
125. I don't know him
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 03:05 AM
Jun 2016

But I have no opinion that he's in the tank for Hillary. It's why I described has action as reckless, not partisan.

It was an important part of causing a lot of harm to Bernie, without needing him to have intended that.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
152. The harm was done, regardless of specifics. It was not a finest hour.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 10:33 AM
Jun 2016

Not the candidate's fault, certainly--it was all down to the supporters who behaved really badly. No point in rehashing it all, though--it's done.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
160. no rehash needed, but
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 12:44 PM
Jun 2016

It is worth having the record clear that there was massive misrepresentation of the situation for partisan politics, and accountability is appropriate to try to prevent a reoccurance, not simply ignoring the bad reporting.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
163. I do not agree with the "massive misrepresentation" categorization, but again,
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 01:45 PM
Jun 2016

I am not interested in re-fighting the primary. What's done is done.

 

greiner3

(5,214 posts)
172. "What's done is done."
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 04:15 PM
Jun 2016

But so is the Holacaust, The Cold War, mass shootings, etc, etc, etc.. But strange, we still have all that crap with us Also, as the Who so brilliantly, with apologies, 'same as the old politician'.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
173. Please just stop.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 04:25 PM
Jun 2016

You are refighting the primary, and we're in GE mode.

Further, comparing it in any way to the Holocaust (check your spellcheck), the Cold War, and mass shootings is a very offensive thing to do.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
174. Well
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 04:52 PM
Jun 2016

Stories of "riots" and multiple chairs being thrown and fistfights are massive misrepresentations of what happened.

And sorry, but I'm not for the bad behavior with no accountability, which is what 'not refighting the primary' is wanting.

There needs to be an understanding that wrongs were done, and then we can move on.

It's a little like how we 'just moved on' from the Bush administration wrongs without any accountability.

kiva

(4,373 posts)
101. Nope, Ralston lied.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:42 PM
Jun 2016

I and several other people I know contacted PBS about Ralson's lies and his unethical refusal to admit that he lied for two days, while his falsehoods hit the major news outlets, and given this turn of events I suspect many more people e-mailed and called.

Ralston's credibility is still good with people who wanted to believe what he said, but the rest of us know better.

 

billhicks76

(5,082 posts)
121. Bye Liar
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 01:40 AM
Jun 2016

Lies always catch up with people. Democrats are not immune. It's best in the long run to stick with people with integrity.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
203. When you piss off the two Mega donors for
Thu Jun 23, 2016, 01:51 PM
Jun 2016

PBS,you can expect reprisals in today's world. Remember ADM and the Andrus price fixing,well,Ralston has always called Adelson,Wynn,and Harry Reid to accountability. With the exception of the Las Vegas Sun Newspaper,which is printed in the same plant as the Journal Review and is a supplement to the RJ,all the Newspapers and several Radio Stations here in Nevada are now owned by Adelson. The Guy has gone totally hardliner in recent years. Seems the only Guy who has kept Adelson in check has been Reid and investigative reporting by Ralston.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
124. Yeah too bad right? He can join the Liars Club now.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 02:12 AM
Jun 2016

Just another garbage pundit with his integrity tarnished forever. Egos seem to do that.

Response to arcane1 (Original post)

 

ciaobaby

(1,000 posts)
8. Sure, anyone can get one wrong.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:37 PM
Jun 2016

the question then becomes, did he correct his initial version and apologize for his error?
I do not know if he did so maybe you will enlighten me.

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
11. He doubled- and tripled-down on it, too.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:39 PM
Jun 2016

No Sympathy from me. And the comparison to Dan Rather is completely dishonest.

 

sangfroid

(212 posts)
147. So darn true.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 09:49 AM
Jun 2016

Capehart just stayed off MSNBC for a couple of weeks and then was greeted with open arms by Tweetie. Lovely.

 

djean111

(14,255 posts)
12. It is not "just a detail". That untruth was seized upon and Bernie was pretty much beaten with it
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:39 PM
Jun 2016

on ALL media for quite a while. People were encouraged to fucking ASSOCIATE Bernie with supporters throwing chairs.

And Ralston said nothing. Lost his job? Just a detail.

cstanleytech

(26,319 posts)
39. Which I never understood, I mean why hold a candidate at fault for something that
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 09:02 PM
Jun 2016

a supposed supporter might do unless the candidate ordered it done or incited it? For example I don't blame Hillary or Bernie for the actions of some of their supposed supporters here on the DU because it's not logical to do that.

OhZone

(3,212 posts)
4. He was not entirely wrong - At least, one person did raise a chair threateningly -
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:33 PM
Jun 2016

Then he dropped it. It looks like it did hurt someone.

SO I guess "supporters" no. Supporter - yes.

"Threw" - maybe not, but dropped clumsily - yes.

"New Video of Nevada Dem Convention Shows Someone May Have Been Hit By Chair"


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4c0yjb_new-video-of-nevada-dem-convention-shows-someone-may-have-been-hit-by-chair_news




Oh well.


Uncle Joe

(58,421 posts)
35. They persuaded him to put it down and then they hugged each other, that's miles away from
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:53 PM
Jun 2016

throwing chairs and demonizing all of Bernie's supporters at the event.

Uncle Joe

(58,421 posts)
37. They persuaded him, they didn't tackle him and this still didn't equate to how the event was
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:55 PM
Jun 2016

covered by the corporate media conglomerate monopolies.

TeamPooka

(24,255 posts)
51. You can see 3 people grabbing the chair from the guy in the video. That's why someone got hit
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:00 PM
Jun 2016

with it because people were grabbing it away from the guy at the same time wrestling for control and the guy let go and it hit someone..

Uncle Joe

(58,421 posts)
107. You can see one person put his hand on the man's arm and another person take the chair away
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 12:00 AM
Jun 2016

and put it down, then you can see them group hug the man to calm him down.

Of course the corporate media conglomerate monopolies never reported on it being one individual, nor that the chair was never thrown, nor that it was Bernie supporters that calmed him down... no with them it was "chairs being thrown, Bernie supporters were "violent" and when Bernie condemned violence in general, the corporate media conglomerate monopolies demonized Bernie for not condemning specific acts of violence that never happened.

That's one of the major problems with having corporate media conglomerate monopolies posing as a free press, at best they're dumbed down due to fewer independent numbers and critical voices while at worst, they're more easily corrupted due to inherent conflicts of interest and corporate boss intimidation.




OhZone

(3,212 posts)
191. That's not what I saw. He released it mid air and it fell on someone.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:48 PM
Jun 2016

He should never have raised it in anger in the first place - BTW.

 

floriduck

(2,262 posts)
192. I watched it multiple times and he never let go of the chair until it was down. Why is it so
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:56 PM
Jun 2016

important to even bring it up anyway? Please just leave it be. It's over and nothing good will come of mentioning the Nevada meeting anyway, no matter who you supported.

OhZone

(3,212 posts)
193. Because people want to smear the journalist as a liar, and he was not 100% lying.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 08:01 PM
Jun 2016

And look again, the chair did not go down smoothly and a bunch of people had to help someone up.

But whatevs.

padfun

(1,787 posts)
15. "may have"?
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:54 PM
Jun 2016

Either they have evidence or they don't. "May have" means there isn't any, just supposition.

She "might be" pregnant.

reACTIONary

(5,772 posts)
61. I've seen a picture of the guy . ...
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:11 PM
Jun 2016

.... with the chair. I've also seen video* from the convention. What he did was irresponsible and threatening to the point of illegality, even under normal circumstances let alone the emotionally charged and agitated circumstances he was in.

* Have not yet viewed video of the incident posted above.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
76. And yet
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:46 PM
Jun 2016

None of that justifies the lying that was NOT true about more, nor the inflating of this issues, like Gore's sighs and Dean's yell, into the huge campaign attack issue that it was.

One guy picked up a chair and put it down.

How does that rate the massive national news reporting of 'riots' and attacks on Bernie? It doesn't.

reACTIONary

(5,772 posts)
150. As far as excuses go....
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 10:10 AM
Jun 2016

.... I'm sure you agree that the uncivilized hooliganism exhibited at the NV convention was completely unjustified and that it is wrong to make light of it as Javaman did.

Javaman

(62,534 posts)
154. you know you can just talk to me instead of using me as your tool.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 10:38 AM
Jun 2016

I still maintain this is nothing more than a making a mountain out of mole hill.

and yes, I will continue to make light of it.

reACTIONary

(5,772 posts)
179. I did....
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 05:33 PM
Jun 2016

..... I responded to your post. In responding to another poster, i thought it would be useful to point that out to him.

The behavior that I saw in the videos of the NV convention, including the chair incident, was shameful, irresponsible and uncivil. And it should not be defended, excused or made light of.

Javaman

(62,534 posts)
198. yes, the hoisting of a chair sooooo shameful.
Thu Jun 23, 2016, 07:59 AM
Jun 2016


what rises to "shame" these days is laughable.

I give you post #159 for a better perspective.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7941451

cheers!

Javaman

(62,534 posts)
205. my god, you are still obsessed by this?
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 03:40 PM
Jun 2016

it's time for ignore for you.

you have a very odd sense of priorities.

reACTIONary

(5,772 posts)
206. Answering a reply to a post is not obsesive....
Sat Jun 25, 2016, 04:09 PM
Jun 2016

..... unless, of course, you want to be considered obsesive yourself . Your choice.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
159. Well
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 12:40 PM
Jun 2016

I think the issue is that this was a hugely exaggerated issue for reasons of both careless journalism and partisan politics.

You refer to it as uncivilized hooliganism. Well, there are a lot of things we might not approve of, but they don't deserve to be national stories and used to smear a presidential candidate.

I can think of all kinds of cases where people don't behave great. One guy picking up a chair in anger, not targeting anyone with it, and within about a second having all the other Bernie supporters around him get the chair put down and hug him - no, not a scandal.

Of course there was some other bad behavior - a few people leaving terrible voicemail messages they regretted.

But on dailykos when I saw people willfuolly hyping the issue and using it for partisan attacks, I responded with the same sort of attack on their behavior. I posted that I'd just picked up a chair and put it down and demanded equal national coverage.

That's not to make light of anything that is wrong, but rather to attack the exaggeration and smearing.

BlueCaliDem

(15,438 posts)
78. Just ask yourself...if someone raised a chair at you, would you be so flippant?
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:49 PM
Jun 2016

I sure wouldn't be.

Javaman

(62,534 posts)
138. LOL
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:57 AM
Jun 2016

actually yes. LOL

because he didn't do a damn thing with it.

you try so hard to make this into something that it's not.

Howard Dean's yell is asking for you, do you want to answer?

BlueCaliDem

(15,438 posts)
142. Easy for you to "lol" sitting safely behind your desk. But had you stood in that atmosphere of
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 09:07 AM
Jun 2016

violence and mob-rage, as what happened at the Nevada Democratic Convention, I'm certain you'd have a far different attitude.

Howard Dean's yell is asking for you, do you want to answer?


This makes absolutely no sense.

Javaman

(62,534 posts)
144. LOL
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 09:22 AM
Jun 2016

1) you don't know anything about me.

2) I have been in protests that turned into riots and didn't feel any fear for my safety.

3) I have been in riots that were just plain riots and still didn't fear for my safety.

IF you are so afraid of someone holding a chair, then I think you honestly need to reflect more upon your life.

BlueCaliDem

(15,438 posts)
145. You "lol" a lot, Java. Maybe you should lay off the java.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 09:41 AM
Jun 2016

1) I don't care to know you, but I base my assessment on your silly "lols".

2) Yeah, right. I'm now supposed to take your word on that? Not likely.

3) See Response #2

IF you are so afraid of someone holding a chair, then I think you honestly need to reflect more upon your life.


Never said such a stupid thing. Perhaps a reread and a reread of that reread of my post might help clear up your confusion. Then get back to me.

Javaman

(62,534 posts)
146. I will continue to LOL
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 09:43 AM
Jun 2016

because your posts are filled with ridiculousness.

believe what you will, but the hoisting of a chair does not bother me, for it was not thrown.

I hate to see what you would do in a chair factory, I think you would freak out on shipping day.

Ta!

BlueCaliDem

(15,438 posts)
148. You continue to "lol" because you know you're wrong, basing your responses
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 09:58 AM
Jun 2016

on things you want to read in them rather than what I wrote because of your inability to read comprehensively while keeping things in context of this subthread that flows from OhZone's post. But if that gives you something to look forward to in your day-to-day because you have nothing else, so be it.

Javaman

(62,534 posts)
151. LOLOL
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 10:24 AM
Jun 2016

oh thank you for pointing out my inability to read. I honestly don't know what I would do if you didn't do that. LOL

As I wrote originally, "the chandeliers quaked with fear" and stand by that. Mountains out of a mole hills and all that.

And I am continually bemused by you letting your self righteousness rule your perspective.

because, it seems, that's all you have.

Ta!

(On a side note, I can do this all day if you like)

 

DisgustipatedinCA

(12,530 posts)
176. This is a personal attack on another poster. We have moved beyond that.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 05:26 PM
Jun 2016

You should probably consider editing.

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
183. Just ask yourself, if someone picked up a
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 05:56 PM
Jun 2016

Chair and didn't throw it at anyone, would you think it was pretty much the same as if they did?

BlueCaliDem

(15,438 posts)
196. The intent was clearly there. It was a volatile event. Thank god cooler heads prevailed and coaxed
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 10:46 PM
Jun 2016

the man to lower the chair. Were I there and had I stood in front of the man lifting the chair, I would've very much been afraid for my safety, and I'm assuming, so would you.

hughee99

(16,113 posts)
202. The report wasn't that someone standing near the chair guy feared for their safety,
Thu Jun 23, 2016, 01:41 PM
Jun 2016

or that someone intended to throw chairs but didn't, it was that chairs were thrown.

It didn't happen. It's not the same thing, it's not really that close. Pretending like it's pretty much the same thing, or close enough, isn't making an honest argument.

passiveporcupine

(8,175 posts)
115. Ralstons tweet said punches and thrown chairs
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 12:32 AM
Jun 2016

Not one word of truth there from Ralston. Another Bernie supporter (blue shirt) took the chair from him (black shirt) and set it down. In your video, it looks like it's possible that in wresting it from the guy in the black shirt, someone might have been knocked down (with the chair? Someone bumped into him? It doesn't really show how he got knocked down).

Still, the guy holding up the chair did not try to hurt anyone. He was waving a chair over his head, but did not attempt to hit anyone with it, or throw it at anyone.

 

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)
156. "Threw" - maybe not
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 10:54 AM
Jun 2016

To Throw:

1. to propel or cast in any way, especially to project or propel from the hand by a sudden forward motion or straightening of the arm and wrist:
to throw a ball.


Hmmmm.... no "maybe" about it. No one threw anything.... except words.

 

ciaobaby

(1,000 posts)
6. This is a sad reminder of all the lies directed at Sanders and his supporters.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:33 PM
Jun 2016

And none of them ever corrected or set straight. I always hope Jonathan Capehart will one day pay for his smear/lie about Bernie and his support and work done on behalf of civil rights.

 

Akamai

(1,779 posts)
16. Also the lies and outrage stemming from Capehart's and Joy Read's false statements of Bernie's
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:57 PM
Jun 2016

with protests in Chicago (e.g., "Those pictures are not of Bernie! Why does the school continue to say they were of Bernie?&quot have never been apologized for, I believe.

These two people both were filled passion at the things they said and which almost certainly influenced others at a delicate time.

 

peace13

(11,076 posts)
182. As they say there is a special place in &ell for a man like that but....
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 05:43 PM
Jun 2016

...as it turns out that place isn't so special. He can stay right here where we all know just what he is made of. So despicable!

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
7. Yes, flinging chairs up and setting them down again, implored by bystanders.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:35 PM
Jun 2016

So much better, normal human social behavior.

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
10. We are back to multiple chairs again?
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:37 PM
Jun 2016

I guess I'm an asshole because I refuse to answer for the actions of one guy

 

bunnies

(15,859 posts)
132. I'm sure the apologies will be coming any minute now.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 06:04 AM
Jun 2016

Last edited Wed Jun 22, 2016, 02:45 PM - Edit history (1)

(edit: apologies from the so called journalists.)

Aaaaany minute....

huh.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
9. Lies have consequences? Well who knew?
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 07:37 PM
Jun 2016

I bet he never lands a good gig like that one again, now he will be known as the guy that lied to make ratings. IE, just another joe nobody fighting for the MSM scraps.

DonRedwood

(4,359 posts)
93. Actually, his coverage of Sharon Angle in Nevada was pretty spot on
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:26 PM
Jun 2016

He was, for a while, the only one willing to go after her. If not for him it might be Senator Angle.

Raster

(20,998 posts)
31. His lies were such a staple in certain circles...
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:43 PM
Jun 2016

...on this very website, I resolutely pointed out no chairs were thrown and invited ANYONE to provide evidence to the contrary. It was even implied that I was the chair lifter in Nevada, because I ad the audacity to state over and over that no chairs were thrown and THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY.

I look forward to more of the 2016 liars being revealed from just what they are: liars who had no qualms about spreading lies and rumors.

 

RoccoR5955

(12,471 posts)
169. Don't count on
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 02:31 PM
Jun 2016

more than a few sacrificial lambs going down. The big ones actually OWN the country.

Response to arcane1 (Original post)

Snarkoleptic

(6,002 posts)
25. "I don't care how many chairs". The answer is zero chairs thrown.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:29 PM
Jun 2016

You are also mischaractarizing these Sanders supporters as "hooligans".

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hooligan
"Hooligan - a usually young man who does noisy and violent things as part of a group or gang"

No violence OR chair throwing at the convention.
Everyone here is for kindness and respect, but it's a two way street, that needs to be based on truth.

pnwmom

(108,995 posts)
22. Depending on the angle of the viewer, it could look
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:26 PM
Jun 2016

like this chair got tossed. Not across the room, but down. And it was a hazard no matter what. The man shouldn't have been holding that chair up in the air. The people around him obviously saw it as a threat, and that's why they tried to stop him.

In any case, the political reporter still has his job at the Las Vegas newspaper. He just doesn't have his side gig.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4c0yjb_new-video-of-nevada-dem-convention-shows-someone-may-have-been-hit-by-chair_news

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
32. Really? Depending on the angle someone might have thought something might have
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:44 PM
Jun 2016

happened. It didn't happen yet the Corporate Media didn't care and were more than happy to run with the lie.

The man with the chair was among friends and no one was threatened.

During the Bush Admin all Democrats agreed that the Corporate media was carrying water for the Powers That Be.

pnwmom

(108,995 posts)
34. His "friends" stopped him because they recognized he shouldn't have
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:53 PM
Jun 2016

been waving the chair around above their heads.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
48. He waved a chair around above his head among his friends. He was threatening no one.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 09:50 PM
Jun 2016

One man, one man and no chairs were thrown, no one was in any danger but the corporate media was more than willing to blow it into a huge deal.

pnwmom

(108,995 posts)
60. No intelligent person could think it was okay to wave a chair in the air in the middle of
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:08 PM
Jun 2016

a loud, excited crowd.

Snarkoleptic

(6,002 posts)
73. Goalpost moved, duly noted.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:36 PM
Jun 2016

Depending on the angle of the viewer, and in the right lighting, I could look like a unicorn.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
82. This thread is about a reporter that lied to gain favor with the Corp-Media. This is an old Fox
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:55 PM
Jun 2016

Noise tactic. Get some nitwit reporter to make a false claim and then report on it as if it was legitimate.

pnwmom

(108,995 posts)
85. Based on the video, it doesn't look like a lie to me. It looks like an understandable
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:01 PM
Jun 2016

mistake in the heat of the moment.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
110. He made the mistake of thinking he saw people throwing chairs? And reported on it?
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 12:09 AM
Jun 2016

The main point here is that the Corp-Media didn't need facts to blow this out of proportion.

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
137. Ralston losing his show is a victory for the corporate media
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:56 AM
Jun 2016

and the right wing billionaires who are buying it up. And for some bizarre reason, "progressives" are happy.

Ralston lost his show because Sheldon Adelson wanted him out. Chalk up another victory for money in politics.



 

LiberalEsto

(22,845 posts)
141. Except that Ralston wasn't even there
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 08:50 AM
Jun 2016

"While Ralston’s insistence of Sanders supporters throwing chairs was secondhand, as he left the convention early," (my italics)

He wasn't there, he didn't personally witness it, he had no basis for reporting what he did.

I worked as a newspaper journalist for over 25 years, 11 of them at a very large metro daily, and I would never have even dreamed of publishing something like this based on second-hand information. And if I had, I would have been canned, and deservedly so.

 

ciaobaby

(1,000 posts)
184. Great - and I will ask again
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 06:51 PM
Jun 2016

if it was a "mistake" he needs to acknowledge his mistake and publicly apologize.
Thinking that's not going to happen.

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
200. Ralston did acknowledge his mistake. A month ago.
Thu Jun 23, 2016, 01:12 PM
Jun 2016
http://www.mediaite.com/online/nevada-journo-john-ralston-i-did-not-see-chairs-thrown-eyewitnesses-saw-it/

I'll say it again. Ralston is one of the good guys, and anyone who thinks he tweeted with the intent of pleasing corporate media owners doesn't know anything about Ralston's 30 year career as a hard-hitting investigative journalist, his history of losing television gigs for honest reporting that displeased people in power, and the news monopoly that Sheldon Adelson is trying to create in his home state of Nevada.

And to be frank, anyone who continues to argue that this is a victory for progressive values, the first amendment, or an independent press will in the end get what they deserve: to be willingly played by right wing billionaires whose goal is to control and censor the news.


 

w4rma

(31,700 posts)
41. Just stop it, pnwmom. The lie has been exposed forever. You're just embarrassing yourself. (nt)
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 09:27 PM
Jun 2016
 

awoke_in_2003

(34,582 posts)
57. Facts dont matter
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:04 PM
Jun 2016

What matters is that multiple BS supporters (not one) flung (not picked up and set down) chairs. Who would be embarrassed by evidence?

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
83. Propaganda
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:58 PM
Jun 2016

It's important to understand that propaganda is taking a nugget of truth and inflating and distorting it into a lie that people are predisposed to want to believe.

Many Hillary supporters have blinders on - they're so 'for her' that they treat Bernie as an enemy more than a good Democrat and badly want things to attack him for, and so they really want a story where his supporters riot and throw chairs.

And that's why 'facts don't matter'. On dailykos where the Hillary bias is high, it was hard to get any word in about the attacks being exaggerated, against the sort of riot of posting attacking Bernie for it and attacking anyone who said anything different.

Response to w4rma (Reply #41)

DonRedwood

(4,359 posts)
95. She has a right to her opinion.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:32 PM
Jun 2016

Say lay off. If the guy hadn't picked up,the chair in the first place we wouldn't even be having this discussion. He made a bad decision--the outcome of that you can debate but he shouldn't have picked up the chair. You don't pick up a chair in a crowd unless you want people to feel threatened. He wasn't picking up flowers, or a sign or a balloon...

kiva

(4,373 posts)
111. If Ralston hadn't lied, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 12:20 AM
Jun 2016

Several of us who were at the convention have repeatedly posts that there were no chairs thrown, no violence. The fact that some posters refuse to believe people who were there, video taken of the event, and Snopes is indicative that the problem isn't that one guy picked up a chair then put it back down.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
123. He got fired for lying, probably have to put off getting a new car now etc..
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 02:10 AM
Jun 2016

I guess his integrity will forever be tarnished, serves him right.

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
135. Ralston lost his show because a right wing billionaire threatened to cut off donations to PBS
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:32 AM
Jun 2016

if a hard hitting journalist wasn't terminated.

But you are right about one thing. If Ralston hadn't offended the very easily offended Sanders supporters, you wouldn't be discussing him.

A right wing billionaire's efforts to control news outlets by buying them up, refusing to allow into print stories questioning the agenda of major state players, and dropping a dime to get the political news show of an investigative journalist cancelled...why on earth would that warrant discussion among "progressives"?

kiva

(4,373 posts)
157. I'm impressed that you can say the same thing
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 11:01 AM
Jun 2016

68 times, but maybe you should consider using a thesaurus to add some variety to your vocabulary.

Outraged: annoyed, fuming, livid, irate

DonRedwood

(4,359 posts)
165. if the guy didnt pick up the chair and threaten the crowd we wouldnt be having this discussion
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 02:24 PM
Jun 2016

Um....yelling at people and picking up a chair to threaten...I don't think you'd like it if I didn't agree with you and did the same thing.

If you are going to blame one person's actions why not blame the person who started the whole mess?

kiva

(4,373 posts)
197. Ralsotn was a professional journalist.
Thu Jun 23, 2016, 01:25 AM
Jun 2016

He lied and didn't admit the truth until he had no choice.

The other guy picked up a chair, allowed someone to take it away, and joined in a group hug.

Oh, and I never felt any fear of violence at the convention until Roberta Lange and friends called in Metro.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
122. I am just glad the guy got fired for lying about it.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 02:09 AM
Jun 2016

Sad that he had to have his integrity tarnished like that, hope it doesn't cost him his livelihood.

DonRedwood

(4,359 posts)
167. he was let go because PBS took a bunch of money from sheldon addles
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 02:26 PM
Jun 2016

then said they no longer had money for the show.

Read Ralston's on Hillary Clinton. He was just as harsh on her.

 

Bradical79

(4,490 posts)
161. She's being dishonest
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 12:46 PM
Jun 2016

Why should anyone lay off? Having an opinion doesn't mean you have a right to lie about an incident unchallenged.

 

SouthernDemLinda

(182 posts)
91. What's the problem!
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:18 PM
Jun 2016

So, what's the problem the whole group wasn't throwing chairs. The group stopped one man from throwing a chair.

One man lifted a chair as if to throw it and another man took it away from him. That's what I read, but it wouldn't make a very exciting story.

Or how brave the man was to get the chair away.

ozone_man

(4,825 posts)
24. Hopefully a career ending move.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:29 PM
Jun 2016

Perhaps he has a career with Wall Street. Liars and cheats prevail there.

 

rjsquirrel

(4,762 posts)
27. Very unlikely
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:34 PM
Jun 2016

No journalist knows more about the inside dynamics of Nevada politics. He's a regular on cable news and if Nevada is close by September you'll see plenty of him on Rachel Maddow's show in particular. He is and will remain extremely highly regarded by his colleagues.

Not stating any position on the chair incident, but the idea that Ralston is somehow finished because his show had bad ratings ain't likely. And Indont think anyone but a few Sanders supporters really care about the chair thing.

Ford_Prefect

(7,921 posts)
69. Once again money speaks a louder truth than fact.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:23 PM
Jun 2016

Last edited Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:02 PM - Edit history (1)

How could the Chair and the violence purported to occur with it have any real significance in the larger scheme of the Nevada party, or the party as a whole, since things are now settled and done? As Mr. Trump's recent experience has so aptly shown the internet is full of lies, half truths and other mysteries.

...and yes the sarcasm is very clearly implied.

Response to Ford_Prefect (Reply #69)

wallyworld2

(375 posts)
29. well
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 08:35 PM
Jun 2016

there's a glimmer of hope for PBS
and faux spews is about to hire another fair and balanced reporter

PatrynXX

(5,668 posts)
49. problem with PBS
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 09:52 PM
Jun 2016

is when they were forced to accept money. and two brothers quickly came in. so PBS is tainted by the Koch Brothers don't trust them anymore

Response to arcane1 (Original post)

Eric J in MN

(35,619 posts)
129. The Rachel Maddow Show promoted the chair-throwing
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 04:06 AM
Jun 2016

...story with images of chairs thrown at a professional wrestling match.

I'm glad she eventually came around.

Equinox Moon

(6,344 posts)
64. Glad to hear the truth... late, yet at least a few of us heard about it.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:18 PM
Jun 2016

His false reporting hurt a lot of people and slandered Bernie and his delegates.

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
67. Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:20 PM
Jun 2016

This isn't about Ralston's coverage of the convention.

It's payback for Ralston taking on Sheldon Adelson, a major PBS donor. Adelson doesn't want him on the airwaves, and poof! he's gone.

But go ahead and celebrate the fact that a seasoned investigative reporter who writes about corruption on both sides of the aisle lost his show on PBS because he pissed off a powerful, right-wing billionaire who is buying up media outlets so he can control what you read in newspapers.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/04/ralston-las-vegas-sun-editor-pulled-column-to-protect-reid-204868

https://www.ralstonreports.com/blog/where-does-harry-reid-draw-line-my-column-about-reid-and-his-mitt-romney-tax-attack-was-killed

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/business/media/sheldon-adelsonspurchase-of-las-vegas-paper-seen-as-a-power-play.html?_r=0

https://www.ralstonreports.com/blog/editor-columnist-cant-write-about-adelson-adelson-news

Response to lapucelle (Reply #67)

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
72. On losing his show, Ralston referenced
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:33 PM
Jun 2016

ruffling the feathers of PBS donors.

I don't think he was talking about the $27 a pop demographic.

The only thing more incredible than attributing this to the "chairs thrown" story is that any informed person who wishes to remain informed would think that this is good news.

http://freebeacon.com/politics/jon-ralston-recalls-shock-after-publisher-killed-column-to-help-his-friend-harry-reid/

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
89. The only people who think the chair stories were a smear are Sanders supporters.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:08 PM
Jun 2016

Everyone else has moved on.

But it is interesting that some people believe that revenge over imaginary slander is more important than an independent press and the people's right to know.

 

SouthernDemLinda

(182 posts)
96. How good a reporter can he be?
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:33 PM
Jun 2016

Well how hard would it have been to say one man tried to throw a chair and another man stopped him?

A bunch of people throwing chairs is pretty far removed from the facts.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
170. I imagine that's the most important thing to far too many people.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 02:31 PM
Jun 2016

I imagine that is indeed, the singular and critical thing to far too many people.

 

Craig234

(335 posts)
80. OK
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 10:52 PM
Jun 2016

That's a very important issue if true. It'd even outweigh the great support I have for punishing him for the Bernie lie.

But let's both oppose the Adelson issue of his money giving him too much influence, AND oppose Ralston's reckless action.

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
92. Ralston did not tell known lies.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:18 PM
Jun 2016

He's a reporter, and he reported what eyewitnesses told him.

And his work is important. He takes on corruption and big money in politics.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
171. "he reported what eyewitnesses told him." He reported what some people told him
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 04:01 PM
Jun 2016

and didn't verify it. The Corp-Media love that. They can repeat the lies with no responsibility. This is a typical Fox News tactic.

Did he qualify that he didn't see the chairs being thrown? He promoted the lie for personal attention.

Nevernose

(13,081 posts)
187. No, he diesnt
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:02 PM
Jun 2016

Although that's certainly the reputation he's created for himself. It's all hype. Jon Rslston is a salesman, and mostly what he's sold is himself.

He's had a few good stories now and then, but mostly he's a right wing-centrist hack. In person, the man is a genuine asshole, and on TV, he's never met a liberal or a woman that he liked. I gave up Ralston for good after watching/reading his reporting over the 2006 governor's race, both his weird antipathy towards Dina Titus and his lack of any real substance. He's Faux News Lite.

tl;dr
Ralston? Guy's an asshole.

lapucelle

(18,328 posts)
90. PBS and Ralston issued a joint statement.
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:11 PM
Jun 2016

PBS gave "costs" as the reason for the cancellation; Ralston referenced the influence of donors on news programming at PBS in his Twitter feed.

Person 2713

(3,263 posts)
106. Could have referenced the influence of false reporting on political primaries too
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:52 PM
Jun 2016

Exaggeration is a blood relation to falsehood and nearly as blamable.

L. Coyote

(51,129 posts)
94. I'm sure there will be lots of editorial board meetings over this, reforms will happen, apologies...
Tue Jun 21, 2016, 11:28 PM
Jun 2016

NOT! Business as usual and it will just happen all over again. One scapegoat fired and everyone feels much better while noone takes responsibility for not vetting the truth.

Eric J in MN

(35,619 posts)
133. Jon Ralston was too obnoxious to belong on PBS even if hadn't spread that lie.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 06:29 AM
Jun 2016

Last edited Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:39 PM - Edit history (2)

Jon Ralston's Twitter feed mocked Sanders supporters before-and-after the lie. It's not what I want or expect from PBS.

I would say the same thing about a PBS reporter who repeatedly mocked HRC supporters on Twitter.

Maybe Jon Ralston could have been effectively disciplined in a way short of firing, but I don't think PBS should have kept him if he continued being publicly obnoxious.

Else You Are Mad

(3,040 posts)
134. This is the problem with
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:05 AM
Jun 2016

...the MSM's irresponsible need to be 'first' in reporting stories. There is no fact checking beyond seeing if it is trending on twitter with the occasional man on the street interview of a person that will garner the most ratings not the most facts.

It is easier to release a retraction burried over the weekend when no one is watching than to waste time fact checking.

Every MSM outlet commits journalism malpractice each and every day.

 

sangfroid

(212 posts)
149. Nice? Sure.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 10:01 AM
Jun 2016

Last edited Wed Jun 22, 2016, 10:54 AM - Edit history (1)

But why should they be respectful? They had just been told the leadership had cut 'way back on the Bernie delegate numbers and hey, there isn't a damn thing they could do about it, and the next day their Party and the MSM falsely portrayed them as violent, furniture-throwing thugs.

Respect is earned.

Eric J in MN

(35,619 posts)
189. It's the Nevada Democratic Party which came up with three stage caucuses
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:45 PM
Jun 2016

...with decisions made by voice-vote. Delegates have to be loud in voice-votes.

Minnesota had a presidential caucus, but it was nothing like Nevada's. Minnesotans cast secret paper ballots in the first (and only) stage of determining how many delegates to the Democratic National Convention each candidate got.

 

RoccoR5955

(12,471 posts)
168. I wonder if
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 02:30 PM
Jun 2016

he was "secretly" working for an opponent.
You know, like China, or Russia...
That's all I can say here without being banned.

ladyVet

(1,587 posts)
175. An ethical person verifies something before they put it out as fact.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 05:22 PM
Jun 2016

He did not. And when confronted with the truth, he doubled down. I won't go so far as to call myself a journalist, as I have no degree, but I was a reporter once, and I would have lost my job so fast had I done something like this man did.

Good riddance.

 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
178. I'll never forgive Barbara Boxer for smearing Bernie's supporters.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 05:32 PM
Jun 2016

She sold herself out. Hope it was worth it, because many people who were her fans will never again trust anything she says.

 

peace13

(11,076 posts)
180. This man is responsible for slamming the breaks on a Presidential campaign.
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 05:39 PM
Jun 2016

This footage was everywhere and Sander's supporters were made out to be looters! It completely changed the focus of the event. Who repairs that damage? Thinking about the press gobbling up this story makes me ill! You know there was video with one chair lifted, one chair put down by words of human encouragement. Stories, lies and manufactured rage were the result of this man's lies! How will he repay the people he stole from. He stole future opportunity. What is the price. And what is the price that those who were there and let the lie live and grow will pay. There is so much wrong with all of this.

BainsBane

(53,071 posts)
186. Video shows a chair being held overhead
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 06:55 PM
Jun 2016
http://americablog.com/2016/05/video-shows-sanders-suporting-chair-thrower-nevada-dem-convention.html

Ignore the blog post, just look at the video. It doesn't show it being thrown, but they were held overhead in a threatening manner.

This Samatha Bee piece also contains a similar clip:

Nevernose

(13,081 posts)
188. Ralston hates women AND liberals
Wed Jun 22, 2016, 07:04 PM
Jun 2016

God only knows how he managed to keep it together for this long. He'd do well on Faux: he's got people convinced that he's an unbiased, political muckraker with the inside connection.

He's just a partisan hack who's better at disguising the fact. I think he even tries NOT to be, which is something at least.

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