For those who think RTE are FF biased

nesf

If you watch the 9 o' Clock News, they show a Cork native laying into Martin about screwing up the economy while showing no such negative interactions for the other candidates (quite possibly because Lab/SF/FG won't get very many of them, at least on camera).

Interesting considering the theories going around here about RTE bias.

ArtSmart

nesf wrote: »

If you watch the 9 o' Clock News, they show a Cork native laying into Martin about screwing up the economy while showing no such negative interactions for the other candidates (quite possibly because Lab/SF/FG won't get very many of them, at least on camera).

Interesting considering the theories going around here about RTE bias.

agree. mind you, had to switch off that cork guy. em, not the handsomest of beings...

pablomakaveli

FF are a posioned chalice at the moment and being biased towards them now is a bad idea.

It was kind of spineless the way the way Martin dealt with him though. Basically just said "i disagree with you" and walked off.

nesf

Can be watched here: http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0205/election.html#video

Also features Kenny's cringeworthy statement about his empty chair at the Leader's debate being a symbol for all those who've been forced to emigrate. I swear, I'll be voting FG through gritted teeth with him as leader.

pablomakaveli

It was a ridiculous statement. Is he trying to imply that all the emigrants would have liked to be on the televised debate as well?

I'd like to see him explain just why it will represent them.

ArtSmart

nesf wrote: »

Can be watched here: http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0205/election.html#video

Also features Kenny's cringeworthy statement about his empty chair at the Leader's debate being a symbol for all those who've been forced to emigrate. I swear, I'll be voting FG through gritted teeth with him as leader.

yeah, that was fcking crazy cringy. is he not listening to his handlers or what? he's made a gaff a day so far.

Inverse to the power of one!

nesf wrote: »

Can be watched here: http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0205/election.html#video

Also features Kenny's cringeworthy statement about his empty chair at the Leader's debate being a symbol for all those who've been forced to emigrate. I swear, I'll be voting FG through gritted teeth with him as leader.

Speaking as one of those emigrants, I'd much ff'in prefer he go out in public and engage his detractors and speak in person in the debates for us.

Holing up, ignoring the public and avoiding debate is an FF trait that has us here in the first fkin place!

Enda, your a muppet of the highest order, let us hope you management skill's are a little more polished then your debating skills or else Ireland is truly fked!

Eutow

Those two stupid morons at the beginning just make my blood boil. The first one saying "I've never voted for anybody else in my life" as if it is some badge of honour. A stupid stupid person and unfortunately we have at least 17% of these fools voting for that organisation. The second one is equally stupid and probably beyond saving as she probably has had one too many potholes filled in or has been bumped up the waiting list for a passport. They treat voting in an election like supporting a football team. Anybody that has not had a brain bypass that know these people please put them under house arrest on the day of the election for the good of the country..........

Also, Edna Kenny should be kept hidden for the duration of the election campaign with that statement before he turns more people towards the cancer that is FF. I don't understand how an empty chair symbolises those that have had to emigrate.

nesf

Eutow wrote: »

Those two stupid morons at the beginning just make my blood boil. The first one saying "I've never voted for anybody else in my life" as if it is some badge of honour. A stupid stupid person and unfortunately we have at least 17% of these fools voting for that organisation. The second one is equally stupid and probably beyond saving as she probably has had one too many potholes filled in or has been bumped up the waiting list for a passport. They treat voting in an election like supporting a football team. Anybody that has not had a brain bypass that know these people please put them under house arrest on the day of the election for the good of the country..........

Also, Edna Kenny should be kept hidden for the duration of the election campaign with that statement before he turns more people towards the cancer that is FF. I don't understand how an empty chair symbolises those that have had to emigrate.

Just because you disagree with someone's political views does not make them stupid. Please don't throw insults around.

skelliser

These debates are a sideshow.

The real crisis is happening now and for the last few months, that is, the flight of billions of capital from our banks.
At least 1billion euros a day is leaving these shores and nada, zilch, from any politician or from anyone in the media!!

Eutow

nesf wrote: »

Just because you disagree with someone's political views does not make them stupid. Please don't throw insults around.

I admit I don't understand why anybody would still vote for FF after all they have done and what they stand for but my post was mainly criticising those people for the reasons they vote for FF, i.e "I'm not voting for anybody else boy" or it is their "tradition" to vote FF. I would say the same for people that vote for any other party on the same basis.

nesf

Eutow wrote: »

I admit I don't understand why anybody would still vote for FF after all they have done and what they stand for but my post was mainly criticising those people for the reasons they vote for FF, i.e "I'm not voting for anybody else boy" or it is their "tradition" to vote FF. I would say the same for people that vote for any other party on the same basis.

That still does not mean you can throw insults around about them.

SkepticOne

pablomakaveli wrote: »

FF are a posioned chalice at the moment and being biased towards them now is a bad idea.

It was kind of spineless the way the way Martin dealt with him though. Basically just said "i disagree with you" and walked off.

Yes, RTE are more biased towards the ruling party whatever that happens or is likely to be.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Morgans

I have noticed a bias on RTE for the past few years. However, it wasnt for FF, it was for the government. To me they fulfill the role of government press office. It just happened that this was FF for the past decade. It is no surprise that the attitude has changed since the election was called.

deanh

nesf wrote: »

If you watch the 9 o' Clock News, they show a Cork native laying into Martin about screwing up the economy while showing no such negative interactions for the other candidates (quite possibly because Lab/SF/FG won't get very many of them, at least on camera).

Interesting considering the theories going around here about RTE bias.

Well, RTE could hardly ignore it as its been the most exciting moment of the election so far. Mehole says he wants to debate the issues but at first opportunity, he petulantly disagrees with the question before his minders move him away from danger.

Colm R

If he disagrees with this mans question, then what was his apology for?

Liam Byrne

nesf wrote: »

If you watch the 9 o' Clock News, they show a Cork native laying into Martin about screwing up the economy while showing no such negative interactions for the other candidates (quite possibly because Lab/SF/FG won't get very many of them, at least on camera).

Interesting considering the theories going around here about RTE bias.

Well Tubridy's track record and the dodgy editing of Ahern's Dáil-gate interview can't be explained away.

and its a fact that many in RTE have family in Fianna Fail

Monty Burnz

nesf wrote: »

If you watch the 9 o' Clock News, they show a Cork native laying into Martin about screwing up the economy while showing no such negative interactions for the other candidates (quite possibly because Lab/SF/FG won't get very many of them, at least on camera).

Interesting considering the theories going around here about RTE bias.

Would you blame RTE if they now moved towards an FG/LAB bias? Or at least towards a more neutral position?

nesf

Monty Burnz wrote: »

Would you blame RTE if they now moved towards an FG/LAB bias? Or at least towards a more neutral position?

If they showed FG/Lab bias I'd be annoyed with them. I don't really see that right now though. I don't think they (as an organisation) were overly FF biased either though, merely made some bad decisions in the past and gave some soft interviews.

Monty Burnz

nesf wrote: »

If they showed FG/Lab bias I'd be annoyed with them.

I would be annoyed too - but my annoyance with their FF bias didn't get me anywhere for the last decade or so, so don't hold your breath if it does happen.

Son Of A Vidic

OP - I'm speculating it's more a case of RTE pandering to the upcoming change of master. Rather than any genuine effort at balanced reporting.

nesf

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

OP - I'm speculating it's more a case of RTE pandering to the upcoming change of master. Rather than any genuine effort at balanced reporting.

I don't know, I look at things like RTE's Futureshock program on the housing market back when that ran way against Government opinion and find it hard to see heavy bias towards FF there. I think it's overblown really.

Einhard

nesf wrote: »

Just because you disagree with someone's political views does not make them stupid. Please don't throw insults around.

I don't think calling someone "stupid" is necessarily an insult. It can also be a statement of fact. Voting for any party because you've done it all your life, or because they fixed a pothole while screwing up the economy, is pretty stupid IMO.

nesf

Einhard wrote: »

I don't think calling someone "stupid" is necessarily an insult. It can also be a statement of fact. Voting for any party because you've done it all your life, or because they fixed a pothole while screwing up the economy, is pretty stupid IMO.

Please don't argue with me on thread about a moderator decision, do it via PM. Thanks.

Monty Burnz

nesf wrote: »

I don't know, I look at things like RTE's Futureshock program on the housing market back when that ran way against Government opinion and find it hard to see heavy bias towards FF there. I think it's overblown really.

That wasn't any sort of attack on FF though, was it? Just because it basically told the truth about what we were facing into.

It reminds me of the spoof that Will Ferrell did about George Bush, when he was warning people about listening to liberal agitators like "[liberal one], [liberal two] and the news".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkqrI3IibYI

nesf

Monty Burnz wrote: »

That wasn't any sort of attack on FF though, was it? Just because it basically told the truth about what we were facing into.

It went against what FF would have wanted though. If FF had a say over what was shown on RTE Futureshock would never have been aired at the time it was (when the property market was still "ok" looking).

Shea O'Meara

The Late Late show is 100% pro FFail.
It is the flagship talk show/current affairs lite/entertainment etc.
That is a big problem for RTE's political fair play in my view.

Einhard

I really don't understand this perceived FF bias on the part of RTE. As has been pointed out, the station has aired many programmes over the past few years which have been hugely critical to FF policies and decisions. Seems a strange sort of bias.

thebman

One or two programmes against the government and a multitude of examples the other way does not an unbiased state broadcaster make.

Anyway the main point I would make is why do we need a state broadcaster at all?

Shea O'Meara

thebman wrote: »

One or two programmes against the government and a multitude of examples the other way does not an unbiased state broadcaster make.

Anyway the main point I would make is why do we need a state broadcaster at all?

Ahhh....

Well it's supposed to make Irish orientated programmes for the Irish people. Which is a great idea. They are to counteract British/U.S. slanted shows in favour of home made. Again great idea.
The licence fee is to support this, the fact they advertise also is another matter.

Unfortunatley the core at RTE's center never changes, same people/families running the show generation after generation. So called independent programming made by the same people...
Outbidding TV3 for desperate housewives etc...
And of course a bias towards FFail and possibly a swing depending on who is ponying up the dough next year......
I could do without it.

Einhard

thebman wrote: »

One or two programmes against the government and a multitude of examples the other way does not an unbiased state broadcaster make.

Some of the biggest scandals involving the government over the past 15 years have been broken by RTE. In the past few months alone, they highlighted the shoddy standard of state funded care for the elderly. There have been many others. And there haven't been multiple cases of the contrary.

It's a tad unreasonable to blame RTE for a FF bias, when they have consistently exposed FF failings and skulduggery, and provided ample reason for the electorate to vote the party out, only to have the party returned election after election.

If anything, I'd argue that there is a FF bias amongst the Irish population!

Shea O'Meara

Einhard wrote: »

Some of the biggest scandals involving the government over the past 15 years have been broken by RTE. In the past few months alone, they highlighted the shoddy standard of state funded care for the elderly. There have been many others. And there haven't been multiple cases of the contrary.

It's a tad unreasonable to blame RTE for a FF bias, when they have consistently exposed FF failings and skulduggery, and provided ample reason for the electorate to vote the party out, only to have the party returned election after election.

When you take into account the bare faced two finger waving, nest feathering and incompetence of FFail, there could be a show every week on the crap they got up to.

Einhard wrote: »

If anything, I'd argue that there is a FF bias amongst the Irish population!

Unfortunately, just enough blinkered civil war memory lane folk.

Sir Oxman

I think the 'bias' bit is thrown about mainly in relation to the presenters of debates.

Personally, I would exclude Pat Kenny - I honestly don't think he is biased in anyway and funnily enough I haven't a clue who he would vote for in an election, which I see as a problem with the others who present debate on different formats on RTE like O'Callaghan, Finucane, Duffy, Tubridy.

I have time for Kenny, Richard Crowley and Sean O Rourke.
RTE's investigatory programs are excellent IMO.

lucozader

rte was channel fianna fail for the last 15 years

spineless the way they are changing tune now

steelcityblues

lucozader wrote: »

rte was channel fianna fail for the last 15 years

spineless the way they are changing tune now

But they haven't. DriveTime led with Martin's manifesto speech, even though they are now a clear third in popularity.

Mr.Micro

steelcityblues wrote: »

But they haven't. DriveTime led with Martin's manifesto speech, even though they are now a clear third in popularity.

RTE gave blanket coverage to the FF leadership, interviews with every FF TD they could find. Over the top and unbalanced IMO. Not once that I recall did soft and wobbly Dobbo ever get stuck into Biffo during the dire IMF/EU thing, the banking before that, all we needed was a soft focus in the pictures He even allowed Ahern off the hook and all his disgusting BS. When ever a story breaks re FF RTE are there to lovingly cover it. Even today there appeared to be far more emphasis on FF new( idiotic) political reform plan, it certainly seemed to get more time than any of the others.

RTE hopefully will have to adapt a new pet political party soon.

Shea O'Meara

And today...
...on the web page;

Fianna Fáil & Fine Gael clash on health plans

In the second week of the General Election campaign, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have criticised each other on the issue of health

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0207/politics.html

If you read this you'll see an article which begins that they disagree, explains why FFail disagree, with quotes. Then goes on to FFail's manifesto, then mentions Labour and SF as pretty much also rans.

Not forgetting, again, FFail are not even in the top two.
Seems pretty bias to me.

maynooth_rules

nesf wrote: »

Can be watched here: http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0205/election.html#video

Also features Kenny's cringeworthy statement about his empty chair at the Leader's debate being a symbol for all those who've been forced to emigrate. I swear, I'll be voting FG through gritted teeth with him as leader.

I shall be voting FG when I come back, but like you it will be through gritted teeth. I am a recent emigrant and for Enda to somehow use me and the thousands of others an excuse pisses me off now end

nesf

Shea O'Meara wrote: »

And today...
...on the web page;



If you read this you'll see an article which begins that they disagree, explains why FFail disagree, with quotes. Then goes on to FFail's manifesto, then mentions Labour and SF as pretty much also rans.

Not forgetting, again, FFail are not even in the top two.
Seems pretty bias to me.

Um, the core of the article is about FF and FG trading blows. Of course Labour and SF will be also rans in such an article...

Mr.Micro

Mr.Micro wrote: »

RTE hopefully will have to adapt a new pet political party soon.

hell no i dont agree with that either!!

Shea O'Meara

nesf wrote: »

Um, the core of the article is about FF and FG trading blows. Of course Labour and SF will be also rans in such an article...

That's my point. The core of the article is about FFail's responce to FG's announcment and the only link to a party's manifesto, is that of FFail's.
70% of the article is FFail quoted criticism against FG and details on FFail's manifesto, with link.

And today...

MARTIN AND GILMORE DEBATE ON TV3
In tonight's leaders' debate, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has accused the Labour party of chopping and changing its position in a number of issues.

Same bias. No mention of Labour other than how wrong FFail say they are. Why not, 'Gilmore calls Martin out on lacklustre career and state of the economy'?

nesf

Shea O'Meara wrote: »

That's my point. The core of the article is about FFail's responce to FG's announcment and the only link to a party's manifesto, is that of FFail's.
70% of the article is FFail quoted criticism against FG and details on FFail's manifesto, with link.

And today...

Same bias. No mention of Labour other than how wrong FFail say they are. Why not, 'Gilmore calls Martin out on lacklustre career and state of the economy'?

Next line says what Gilmore says though. They have to quote one of them in the headline etc.

I can see where you're coming from, but wouldn't agree it's bias though.

pvt6zh395dqbrj

Einhard wrote: »

I don't think calling someone "stupid" is necessarily an insult. It can also be a statement of fact. Voting for any party because you've done it all your life, or because they fixed a pothole while screwing up the economy, is pretty stupid IMO.

I'm sick of this. I'm the voter and I decide who gets my vote and for what reason. If I want to vote for the person with the best shoes, then thats my right as a democratic citizen. If I want to support a party like its a football team - thats my right too.

If you want to lay down the rules as to what is an appropriate reason to vote for someone then go for it, and while you are at it please tell me where you get the authority to lay down these rules.

If you don't like the reasons I have for voting a particular way then rise an army against this country and bludgeon all those who seek to stop you. You can start with me. I'll be the one giving you the finger.

Sir Oxman

Joe Round Chain wrote: »

I'm sick of this. I'm the voter and I decide who gets my vote and for what reason. If I want to vote for the person with the best shoes, then thats my right as a democratic citizen. If I want to support a party like its a football team - thats my right too.

If you want to lay down the rules as to what is an appropriate reason to vote for someone then go for it, and while you are at it please tell me where you get the authority to lay down these rules.

If you don't like the reasons I have for voting a particular way then rise an army against this country and bludgeon all those who seek to stop you. You can start with me. I'll be the one giving you the finger.

To be fair to Einhard, he is right though.

macannrb

Joe Round Chain wrote: »

I'm sick of this. I'm the voter and I decide who gets my vote and for what reason. If I want to vote for the person with the best shoes, then thats my right as a democratic citizen. If I want to support a party like its a football team - thats my right too.

If you want to lay down the rules as to what is an appropriate reason to vote for someone then go for it, and while you are at it please tell me where you get the authority to lay down these rules.

If you don't like the reasons I have for voting a particular way then rise an army against this country and bludgeon all those who seek to stop you. You can start with me. I'll be the one giving you the finger.

yep he has a point.

And thats why we have a rotten to the core present government who have drained the public finances.

And because people have happily voted for the local guy who fixes their potholes, we are in this mess.

We fully deserve it because most people have your attitidue

pvt6zh395dqbrj

macannrb wrote: »

yep he has a point.

And thats why we have a rotten to the core present government who have drained the public finances.

And because people have happily voted for the local guy who fixes their potholes, we are in this mess.

We fully deserve it because most people have your attitidue

Well that's the price we pay for living in a democracy. Why doesn't someone here put up a list of rules as to what I can vote for and what I can't vote for in terms of a politician?

We placed our trust in people who abused and manipulated that trust. The abuse of that trust was the incorrect thing. Not the trust itself.

macannrb

Joe Round Chain wrote: »

Well that's the price we pay for living in a democracy. Why doesn't someone here put up a list of rules as to what I can vote for and what I can't vote for in terms of a politician?

We placed our trust in people who abused and manipulated that trust. The abuse of that trust was the incorrect thing. Not the trust itself.

maybe introduce accountablity and transperancy so the people some of us trust can be trusted by the rest of us

And maybe if people who are convicted of fraud, deciet, lying etc (willie odea certainly comes to mind) are not allowed to run for election that might be a good start to a list of who you can or can't vote for

jmayo

nesf wrote: »

If they showed FG/Lab bias I'd be annoyed with them. I don't really see that right now though. I don't think they (as an organisation) were overly FF biased either though, merely made some bad decisions in the past and gave some soft interviews.

Fecks sake they made some really bad decisions, funny enough they are always pro ff.

There was the soft soap interview given to bertie by dobson.
Then bertie got to make a joke of it on the Late Late thanks to another ffer tubridy.
Then we had cowen, then we had mary o'rourke followed by none other than wille o'dea.

Compare those interviews to the way Kenny and gormley were interviewed.

RTE has for years been more biased towards ff.
Hell Frank Hall (another clean living ffer who happened to have a long term mistress on the side) used Halls Pictorial Weekly to hammer holes in the coalition government of 73 to 77.
His famous continous dig at Richie Ruin helped to cement opinion that ultimately led to lynch getting big majority.

Maybe you are too young to remember how he potrayed Fitzgerald and Spring, but it was usually less flatering than the potrayal of haughey.

Notice how RTE shelved Scrap Saturday because it got up the noses of one ff government ?

nesf wrote: »

I don't know, I look at things like RTE's Futureshock program on the housing market back when that ran way against Government opinion and find it hard to see heavy bias towards FF there. I think it's overblown really.

Who was the person who presented this but Richard Curran of SBP.
When did this show air but in Spring 2007 when it was plain to see the bubble was plateauing if not beginning to bust.

You really are pedalling that RTE are no way biased towards ff ?

The same week that we should be discussing the IMF/ECB deal we had Frontline dedicate an entire show to the future of ff.

This was before the leadership crisis, so care to explain why at such a momentous time this talk show should be about the future of ff rather than the future of the country ?

Dob74

nesf wrote: »

If you watch the 9 o' Clock News, they show a Cork native laying into Martin about screwing up the economy while showing no such negative interactions for the other candidates (quite possibly because Lab/SF/FG won't get very many of them, at least on camera).

Interesting considering the theories going around here about RTE bias.

Nearly everyone I know is planning to lay into the fianna fail candidates when they call to the door. Both FF surporters and non FF surporters.

On another issue, the last few nights after the 6 o'clock news there has been a propaganda FF video. it shows MM coming out of a Semi-d making you think that's where he lives. MM must be afraid to show of his mansion.