Council: Citizens shouldn't watch CBS news (resolution passed 9 to1)

[kayleybeth]

From the Times Picayune (Louisiana):
http://nolalive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1099728210146190.xml?nola

BAD NEWS: The St. Tammany Parish Council, at the urging of Councilman Barry Bagert, approved a resolution Thursday suggesting that all parish "citizens refrain from watching CBS news until such time they change their mode of operation and return to unbiased news reporting."

Bagert's handwritten resolution, seconded by Councilman Jerry Binder, contends that members of the network news staff, "did all they could to persuade the voters of this great country to vote for one candidate," John Kerry, in Tuesday's election, while ignoring their duty "to give fair and unbiased coverage of this election and deal in substantiated facts."

And "many citizens of St. Tammany Parish have expressed outrage to this despicable deed." Bagert said in the resolution, done half in jest and half seriously."

The resolution was approved 9-1, with four council members away from their seats when the vote was taken.

Bagert last month had prepared a resolution "requesting that CBS check their sources before doing a story," referring to CBS news anchorman Dan Rather's report, based on bogus documents, about President Bush's military service.

Bagert decided not to put the resolution on the floor but later said he had second thoughts. He said he took care of those second thoughts Thursday night.

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Unfreakinbelievable. How long before they start passing resolutions BANNING us from watching news programming that doesn't meet their approval?

[htuttle]

1. What kind of sheep live in that town?

Who would put up with crap like this?

If my own city council, itself somewhat reknowned for passing symbolic resolutions, were to pass a resolution like this but telling people not to watch Faux News, I'm pretty sure some seats would turnover next election because of it. A resolution like this is WAY beyond the purview of a city council, or any government body. Freedom of speech is not just a political strategy!