April 26, 2002 - Special Crossfire Edition

Because the BuzzFlash Editorial about the Freeper attack on Crossfire seems to have generated so much email to CNN (see the update), we thought we'd share a few of the emails that BuzzFlash Readers sent (or tried to send) to Sue and Walt.

Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 7:28 AM
Subject: crossfire

Please keep Paul Begala and James Carville on Crossfire. We finally have a real debate of the political issues of the day. The other networks present only a one sided view of today's issues! I try and tune in crossfire now every day because you are presenting both sides of all the important issue's!

Thank You
Mike Aupperle
Las Vegas NV.

BuzzFlash,

Took your advice. Below is email to Sue Bunda. Before Begala and Carville "Crossfire" sucked.

Bob

----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Jewett
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 10:12 AM
Subject: re:Crossfire

Dear Ms. Bunda,

I recently began watching "Crossfire" again and I am encouraging all my friends to do likewise.

The addition of James Carville and Paul Begala has breathed life into a moribund format that over the years was increasingly dominated by Robert Novak's pomposity.
Sincerely,

Robert Jewett
Des Moines, IA

I thought you would like to see what I wrote to Sue Bunda.

Rob Englund
Midland, MI

* * *

Ms. Bunda,

Just a quick note to let you know I watch "Crossfire" on CNN because you have Paul Begala and James Carville as 2 of the hosts. It really is nice that you choose to have 2 outspoken people on both political sides unlike the Fox News Channel that does not offer equally strong liberal hosts as they do conservative hosts.

I am a liberal and proud of it but I also like to see BOTH sides of politics fairly presented to the American people, as you are doing on "Crossfire." The Fox News Channel purports a "fair and balanced" report, which I have often found is far from what they actually air, therefore I very seldom watch them.

Thank you for a refreshing change for the better with the new "Crossfire" and for taking the time to read this.

Regards,

Rob Englund
Midland, MI

[tried to send to regular crossfire email address but it wouldn't go thru]

Dear CNN:

I rarely watched Crossfire before you had Begala & Carville as regulars. I love them, especially james (Confidential Note to James: i love you, james - leave mary, she doesn't appreciate you the way I do ||| :>) JA). B&C may seem abrasive to the free republicans but imagine how we progressive liberals have felt about all those right-leaning big mouths on the Fox channel for the past five years. I wish the format of Crossfire were a bit less jarring - but as for James and Paul, they give great tit for tat with Tucker and Novak (boooooo!). I would not ask you to remove T&N just because I disagree with their misguided and loudly held views. I believe in free speech for BOTH sides. For too long, the
republicans (who only believe in hearing their own spin regurgitated back at them) have been talking to themselves. Too bad the Freepers do not believe in fairness and free speech. Thank goodness CNN does.

Janet Alfieri
Plymouth MA

[BuzzFlash Note: See the Editorial Update for directions on where to send your comments.]

David Dix, Waukesha, WI

Isn't it a shame that the Freeper goons are sniveling about Paul Begala and James Carville being "unfair" on CNN's Crossfire? It's such a pity that the Freeper right-wing goons don't have anyplace that caters to their twisted agenda. I know just how the GOP leaders' campaign to attack Crossfire will play out.

They'll go on:

The Rush Limbaugh show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Bill O'Reilly show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Sean Hannity show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Eva Von Zahn show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Beltway Boys where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Brit Hume show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Tony Snow show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Juan Williams show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Mara Liason show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The McLaughlin Group where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Chris the Screamer show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The G. Gordon Liddy show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Laura Schlessinger show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Michael Medved show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Sam & Cokie show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Meet the Press with Tim Russert where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The John Hockenberry show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Ollie North show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Neil Bortz show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Robert Novak show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Paul Weyrich show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Brian Williams show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Wolf Blitzer show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The Don Imus show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
The John Stossel show where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Reliable Sources with Howie Kurtz where they'll say Begala and Carville are "unfair."

Then,

David Horowitz will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Maureen Dowd will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Ann Coulter will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Laura Ingraham will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Peggy Noonan will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
William Safire will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Andrew (bareback) Sullivan will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
David Limbaugh will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Jonah Goldberg will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Mona Charen will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Linda Chavez will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
John Fund will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Paul Greenburg will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Jeff Jacoby will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Dick Morris will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Thomas Sowell will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Cal Thomas will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Walter Williams will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Mort Zuckerman will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Brent Bozell will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
William F Buckley will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Neil Cavuto will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
David Hackworth will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Charles Krauthammer will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
William Raspberry will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Phyllis Schlafly will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
George Will will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Matt Drudge will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Luci (The Bat) Goldberg will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Michael Barone will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Lawrence Kudlow will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Marlin Fitzwater will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Pat Buchanan will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Ari Fleisher will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Christopher Hitchens will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Rich Lowry will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."
Kate O'Beirne will write a column saying Begala and Carville are "unfair."

Isn't it a shame that the radical right-wing is so restricted by CNN's Crossfire that they have to boycott that show like babies because they have no way to get their radical right-wing message out? Isn't it a shame that their twisted right-wing agenda is so fragile it can't take the tiniest bit of scrutiny by someone who "might" not give it sycophantic deference?

Not.

Hey, right wing. "Get over it."

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minn.

What a great show! Very dynamic. Very unique. Nothing like it on TV. No one else is saying:

The Head of the GOP is a former Enron Lobbyist.
Gore got more votes.
Thirty people were indicted during Reagan, only 1 under Clinton
The 2 Trillion Dollar Surplus is Gone, thanks to the tax cut for the rich.
We had peace and prosperity under Clinton, War, recession and deficits Under both Bushes.

And the list goes on. These are important facts the public has a right to know, but you can hear hundreds of hours of cable political commentary without a single mention of this crucial information. Hooray for Crossfire for breaking the media silence!

I'm going to support your sponsors and buy their products.

Scott Davis
Stoneham, MA

Thank you for the *NEW* Crossfire! A year or two ago, I had despaired of finding anything resembling "fair and balanced" coverage on the mainstream broadcast and cable-cast media. (And I'm sorry to say I included CNN as a cause of that despair.) All I could see, as far as I could see, was ever-increasing pandering to the Right Wing.

But the new "Crossfire" with Carville and Begala is great!

Be honest: Did you finally figure out that progressives and liberals watched TV too, and that the dollars that we spend on advertised goods are just as green as Right Wing
dollars? :-)

Thanks again -- my wife and I will be watching any evening we can (via DirecTV)! Here's to a new day dawning at CNN...

Sincerely,

Atlant G. Schmidt
Nashua, NH

Thank you for finally having panelists on Crossfire that actually are capable of engaging in intelligent, spirited debate. I have yearned to listen to people talk about the various factors and views on issues rather than engaging in fallacious spin or personal attack. Government policies and actions do effect me, and the world, and as such should be debated in a thoughtful, forthright, and intelligent manner. An informed electorate is the cornerstone to a representative type of government. The new Crossfire contributes to that goal.

When I travel I turn to CNN, never to FOX. I consider FOX on par with Robertson's 700 Club in its efforts to present biased news and slanted viewpoints.

Thanks again for having Carville and Begala as panelists on Crossfire.

Regards,
Joseph Holder
Modesto, CA

Dear Buzz,

I sent an e-mail to James and Paul and told them to tell the GOP "If they can't run with the big dogs, stay under the porch". They know they can't hold their own when it comes to bare facts! They are such wimps!!!

Millie

Dear Sir,

I don't know how many of these emails you can possibly read with what I'm sure is an extremely busy schedule, but I just want to thank you for the revised "Crossfire". I stopped watching "Crossfire" shortly after Michael Kinsley left; not out of any animus towards the program, but because of my own busy schedule.

When I saw that Paul Begala and James Carville were to be added to the program, I knew I'd have to begin watching again. There are far too few progressives on television and those on other programs (like Fox's Alan Colmes) are little more than window dressing for a strict right-wing political agenda. I've never thought of CNN as having an obvious agenda, but there have been questionable episodes of late and less-than-stellar journalism regarding the ultimate direction our current administration is taking us...and why.

I understand that CNN is a corporate entity, and fundamentally is subject to producing dollars for AOL Time Warner, but towards that end, I think that "Crossfire" will become hot for CNN. As more and more people understand what John Ashcroft's religious fervor and the Bush Administration's corporate elitism mean for the future of this nation, they will be looking to the media for people who are not afraid of taking on the status quo. Progressive thought can and will sell!

Note the success of Michael Moore's new book and the phenomenal turnout wherever he speaks these days. Or of the revelations found in David Brock's book, "Blinded by the Right". The popularity of these books and speakers shouldn't be taken as an anomaly.

I've lived long enough, Mr. Isaacson, to realize how much of life is cyclical. For the past twenty years or so, the body politic has drifted rightward in it's identity, yet the irony is that most people still espouse progressive values; the essence of which is still yearned for by billions around the globe.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please continue to offer "Crossfire" to those of us who refuse to "boycott" the truth.

Sincerely,
Michael LaMartina
Racine, Wisconsin

Dear Crossfire,

At first, when you revamped your show and replaced Bill Press, I was upset. I then gave your show a chance, and man am I glad that I did. FINALLY! Our voices on the Democratic side are being heard by literally millions of viewers around the country. We have been exposed to a media that has been the bully pulpit of the GOP for way too long, and voters do not know what our views are on many issues that face them. NOW they do thanks to Mr. Carville and Mr. Begala.

When you have the head of the GOP Mark Racicot refusing to answer a very simple questions if he is for or against McCain/Feingold asked by Mr. Carville. That should clue the viewers of this show into whose side the GOP is really on.

It is not the job of a news network to be anyone's bully pulpit, but the seeker of the facts. Then the viewing public can make up their own mind, and not their mind being made up for them.

I am glad to see that Mr. Carville and Mr. Begala have not sold out their loyalties to our Democratic party and for it's past leaders to the almighty dollar. Like we have seen with George Stephanopolis and Dick Morris. To those latter men I say good riddance. We do not need you anymore.

Lastly, we Democrats have dollars and we do spend them. But we watch where products are being advertised. We have already launched a campaign against Fox News as seen on BuzzFlash.com where Fox's news head Roger Ailes has been totally embarrassed by us. Where he called Bob Novak in an email to me "the old man" and where he called Tucker Carlson also in an email to me, "the kid twit". And this is the network you wish to imitate? Just remember CNN, we are watching you as well.

Sincerely,
Mary MacElveen
Sound Beach, NY

My e-mail to CNN

Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 10:36:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: The NEW Crossfire

I would like to comment on the recent fury from conservatives in reference to Mr. Begala and Mr. Carville joining your "Crossfire" show.

It appears that those that support "the right" feel that their voice is the only voice that matters in this country. They couldn't be more wrong. I have not been tuning in to any news show for the past few years. The reason being is that I felt that moderates and liberals have been left out. Since Fox "News" has taken to the air with their "fair" and "balanced" reporting, it seems that all the other cable news networks have tired to copy Fox's right wing slant.

CNN has always been my favorite news network. But I feel that many news networks have been trying to stay ahead in ratings by appealing to more vocal right wing that has been complaining about the "liberal media". But that's all changing and I proud to see that CNN has the guts to produce a REAL "Fair and Balanced" show with "Crossfire".

Please keep up the good work. "Crossfire" has renewed my interest in CNN and is becoming a regular staple in my house.

Thank you for time,

Ronny Marshall
West Hollywood, CA

Dear BuzzFlash,

Here's a letter that I sent to the executive producer of Crossfire and CNN's chairman.

* * *

Dear Ms. Sue and Mr. Issacson,

I had almost given up on watching CNN because of what I thought was its one-sided political coverage and pandering to the GOP. That was until your network brought James Carville and Paul Begala to co-host Crossfire (mind you, Bill Press was good too, but he was a little overshadowed by Tucker). While I am still not convinced that today's CNN covers news with objectivity and straightforwardness (like it used to do in its earlier days), I am, nevertheless, glad to see two firebrand Democrats given an opportunity to counter Republican propaganda on your network. Now, I hear that top leaders of the Republican Party have told their members not to come to Crossfire because they feel co-hosts James Carville and Paul Begala are unfair to them and their views. I hope you will not be intimidated by their threatened boycott of the show. The only reason they are mad at Crossfire is because the show presents both sides of politics to the American people, and because with Carville and Begala they know they won't get away with their distortions and lies. My family and I will continue to watch Crossfire--that is, as long as Carville and Begala continue to CO-host the show.

Thanks for your time.

Ayo Ogundele

Dear CNN,

This is just a note to tell you that I enjoy the new "Crossfire," and especially that I admire your moral courage in going against the pack by having liberals who don't dry up and blow away. I am glad to have an alternative to some right-wing blowhard beating up straw-man liberals, and that I'm 100% with Paul Begala when he said, "If you want namby-pamby
one-sided arguments, go to Fox." I would not watch Crossfire otherwise.

I understand that some Republicans and the netizens of the Free Republic.com are complaining that Crossfire is "unfair." Like millions of others, I suspect that "unfair" means "no longer rigged in favor of my team." Exhibit A seems to be the cross-examination of Marc Racicot as he tried to evade answering a question about his support for campaign finance reform (at long last, he admitted he does not). Harsh? Perhaps. But Racicot's choices were either to answer the question, fight it out like he did, or stay off the program. If you can't stand the heat, Marc, stay out of the kitchen.

The Freepers are masters of coordinated e-mail campaigns intended to intimidate those (almost everyone) with whom they disagree. You are probably suffering through one now. Please don't cave.

Stuart Thiel

To: Mr. Walter Isaacson, Ms. Sue Bunda, and others whom it may concern:

The new retooled "Crossfire" is great! Paul Begala and James Carville add a lot of fire and life to an old classic format. Their presence is a direct reason that I (and many others that I know) tune in to watch.

I'm sure you'll get some heavy pressure from conservatives who feel threatened by the new excitement that Begala and Carville bring to the mix. Don't change a thing! These guys make current events and politics interesting subjects again!

You've hit on a winning combination here. More, more!

David Thometz
Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Buzz,

Thanks for the heads-up regarding the spineless GOP and their orchestrated "boycott" of Crossfire. I've never written to a TV programmer before, but I like the new Crossfire so much I thought I'd better send them my thoughts since I know it's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

You made it easy with the links you provided, and I hope I am only one of thousands who took the time to write.

Here's a copy of what I wrote:

---------

To the program manager(s):

Hello!

This is the first time I've ever written anyone about a TV program. But when I read that the GOP told its members not to go on Crossfire, I couldn't believe it. I wanted you to know I am disappointed in their trepidation, yet hopeful that there are still some Republicans with enough fortitude to defy their leaders and engage in a fair debate on your show.

I used to be a "sometimes" viewer of Crossfire before you launched the new format; now I'm a devoted "regular." Thank you for a wonderful new concept, featuring a civic-minded audience, and such articulate and well-informed hosts (on both sides).

Please don't let the nay-sayers get you down.

Sincerely,
Marcy W. Neilson
Rupert, Idaho

Dear CNN,

Thank you for having the courage to put these two on the air. I am enjoying "Crossfire" again, because they are able to convey a point of view that I have not heard since Bill Clinton dared to become elected President and defeat the elder Bush. Please, keep them on the air. I was devastated when your boss went to the republicans on the hill and essentially begged them to be nice to CNN. It seemed as if the right wingers had complete control of the media. But-- you surprised me and let two strong personalities on the air. I am, once again, watching "Crossfire."

Thank you,

Marie Pickert

Dear Ms. Bunda:

Much as I "hate" talking heads news shows, I have fallen in love with the new Crossfire. Previously, I didn't watch more than a few minutes of CNN a week, usually while surfing if a headline or image caught my eye. Now I watch every night, and have set the VCR to tape it if I'm out.

Now I have learned through multiple online sources that FreeRepublic has declared a jihad on the new Crossfire, and that the Republican Party has instructed prominent members not to go on the new show. I don't know whether to laugh or to cry?!

I gave up on the old Crossfire, McLaughlin Report and even the Sunday morning shows because I just couldn't stomach the gross imbalance of aggressive conservatives debating pants-wetting pseudo liberals. Carville and Begala are EXACTLY the kind of pundits I want to see representing liberals like myself. My ONLY critique would be that I think you'd improve the show by replacing Tucker Carlson with someone more willing to engage instead of constantly evading the topic or doing a bait and switch.

I've also been surprised by Begala's performance. He came on the scene after I stopped watching broadcast media news, and despite being very aware of his name, I didn't realize how good a debater he is. And Snakehead vs. The Prince of Darkness is the kind of matchup usually found only on MTV celebrity wrestling!

Everyone I know here in Minnesota is desperate for real political dialogue, and now, with the new Crossfire, we have it again.

Thank you.

Mark Gisleson