Repeat a lie enough...

Ta, Josef. You knew your stuff.

Newsnight - Monday, 20 October, 2008

Didn't watch so can't comment on the context, but might one enquire if the person to whom the comment was directed was indeed lying? And did the moderator assist the viewer to a conclusion?

If Mr. Robinson was not economical with the truth then Mr. Redwood's response would indeed reflect poorly upon him.

However, if the show is merely to allow voice to any old Pol's Porkies without being held to account, then I'd say it is both Mr. Robinson AND the host who need a bit of... um... help.

Frankly I am wondering what value most on-air interviews have these days when rampant untruths and/or errors of omission and/or selective claims are allowed to be made that demand immediate and total refutation by those who are paid, and should know enough of the actual facts, to put such things squarely in their places.

And if not at the time for whatever reason, then if demanded there should be follow up. Which is why I like the Ch4 Fact Checker, though 6 and 3/4 folk probably see it vs. the millions who get served a whopper and swallow it thanks to the 'integrity' of the medium it emanates from.

When it comes to holding those in power to account, I could therefore live with fewer displays of 'charm' if being sold a pup is the alternative consequence.

Allow a lie to be repeated enough...

Addendum - I have asked the man himself. We'll see.

What is the point of an interview if no question get answered

I almost switched off the Andrew Marr show this morning for the most bizarre selection of guests to review the news.

One was basically Gordon Brown's best mate to fight his corner.

Then there was some batty lady who was so determined to plug her book despite an ineffectual BBC ban on such things that, well, she did. And then told anyone who didn't share her personal loathing of Sarah Palin that they are idiots and should not be allowed a vote.

However, I stayed on and, towards the end found Andrew Marr 'did not quite understand' during an interview with a Government Minister.

And as he asked and didn't get any answer, neither did I.

Hence I have to wonder what this woman was/is/will be for, or such as him, other than to suck up pay and guaranteed pensions that few others will enjoy.

Addednum:

Mine didn't make the cut. These did:

Kick off all the pundits ...retain Simon Wolfson ('Next' CEO), he is all you need, if you really want sensible assessment. Saw him on 'Question Time' two weeks back, again this morning - he is spot on.
Having seen Robert Peston floundering to justify his own performance (and hopefully no longer glorying in the misdirected hype of his over-egged 'scoops') how refreshing it is to have a "non-journo' pouring scorn on the 'huge media fest'" which we have to tolerate.
When will you chaps realise the damage you do?
Colin Burn, UK


Listening to Yvette Cooper wax lyrical about 'what we want to do. what the banks ought to do...what government does not want to end up doing' on today's show. If they (HMG) are going to bail-out/rescue or whatever else they will call it tomorrow then the British taxpayer certainly deserves to be protected against any CEOs of defaulting banks, insurance companies and 'get-rich-at-someone else's expense' organisation from taking a 'golden parachute'.
Raymond Batkin, UK

Really to listen to Yvette Cooper MP talking about the global credit crunch and going on as if all this is out of the hands of politicians and is the result of the USA's financial dodgy dealings is false.
For over ten years the New Labour government knew what was going on and encouraged capitalism. Now she goes on desperately trying to do the 'right' thing makes one more than cynical about their behaviour. If they don't have power what is their point!
For what a vote is worth New labour won't be getting mine!
Clem Alford, UK

Why did you not ask Yvette Cooper where the money for the bank bail out was actually coming from.
Is the government lending the money from the banks and then lending it back from them.
Gary Armstrong, UK

The comparison between Brown and Churchill made me livid. Churchill saw the looming threat from the Nazis well ahead and was working to galvanise people. Did Brown see the credit crunch coming?
Did he ever for one moment even stop to wonder where all the credit was coming from? From our houses?
Richard, UK

My Sunday mornings are too short to spend them with Ann Leslie. The rest of Andrew Marr's programme may well have been most interesting and informative.
Who in the BBC thinks she can offer any apposite contribution to intelligent debate ?
John Batey, UK

I thought that Ann Leslie's contribution to the programme today was similar to a judge in a reality show. If I wished to see Strictly Come Dancing or X Factor then I would watch them not them.
Part of Andrews's job is to ensure that other guests' voices are heard and not continually interrupted by someone obviously looking for more fees from the BBC.
Duncan Gillespie, Scotland

Have I just heard one of your guests describe Barack Obama as an "uppity black"? I don't know the name of the guest but she appeared alongside Ken Follett reviewing the paper.
Her general attitude seemed to be one of narrow-minded ignorant bigotry. Is she a Mail/Express journalist?
Jon Gomez, UK

I think my asking how the BBC found these goons was not to their taste.

We feel you pain..ish

I have just watched the BBC Breakfast News with one of the blondes, Sian Williams, conducting an incisive, in-depth interview with David Cameron.

Frankly I was moved to write in with a pithy comment to them, but decided against as there is simply no point, a feeling which the entity I co-fund might like to ponder.

Basically it surrounded/s her use of 'vox-pops' (with the good folk of Brum) to form the basis of her questions, which pretty much were as follows:

"What people are saying..."

"What I got from.."

Now those two in sequence are in their own right interesting. How the heck do I know who these catch all 'people' are? Who selected them? So far I have seen about a half dozen, over and over. How many were interviewed in total. Why did these make the cut and not others? Why? Who selected? Was it to help towards 'What I got from..?' as opposed any accurate reflection of public mood? I don't know, because of the unique way my national broadcaster is funded, and run, and overseen, no one is going to tell me honestly.

I'll leave others more qualified and with more resources to assess such things as matters of balanced reporting, but I now seriously question the value of these vox pops other than to add public voices to assist editorial agendas.

Then, speaking of 'the people' we get onto matters of empathy. All politicians will seek to convince us that they feel 'our' pain. Just as most media luvvies seem to think they are there to and do speak for 'us'.

Along with or Gordon Brown or Vince Cable, I very much doubt David Cameron really can know what most are going through. He's an MP, and they are not short of a bob or two. He's also a party leader so he has layers of 'people' in between him and any domestic, down-to earth reality. Or gets a lot from those Fiesta-driving, mortgage-lumbered, Tesco-shopping guys in our London media... not.

So I have to wonder why this lady dragged up Mr. Cameron's educational background (how often are other MPs' subjected to their schooling, as if this has any bearing on their financial situation now), rather oddly by saying she wasn't going to bring it up but others (unspecified) have...so how about it?

Mr. Cameron and his party have a lot of convincing to do, but when I hear soundbites that match Labour speeches coming out of pensioner's mouths and broadcast nationally as 'representative', and interviewers dragging up failed digs at background not applied to my hearing with anyone else, I sense something akin to the 'Get Palin' from certain quarters on this side of pond, and am starting to react accordingly. And not in a way the masterminds in our public propaganda system might be intending.

And if their efforts do backfire as I suspect they will, I truly hope those in power will take heed that I don't take kindly to any government/media axis of weevils telling me what to think, on what... and when.

Phew, Friday Fun at last

Hardeep Singh Kohli radio interview shock revelation

Take it away, Les: Hardeep Singh Kohli terminates BBC radio interview

Brains, facts... and guts. A novel change.

Pity it is but for one day.

Just caught The Andrew Marr show, and and example of why you don't let go of your slot if you can help it.

From cosy fireside chats with mates to a real interview, but temp Zeinab Badawi.

I doubt it will get printed, but:

Wow... you go girl!

I guess you have not been moving in the 'right' circles enough... and certainly might not get invited to the 'right' cocktail parties, but that's how I like my political interviews to happen... even on a Sunday morning.

And as we're on the subject of changes for the better, though still on moving in the 'right' circles, why is Ms. Toynbee the only default pundit of choice? Her stances and opinions over the last year have been so devalued as to make anything she comes out with meaningless.