Author Archives: DB

TAX THE RICH!

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More revealing tweets from a BBC journalist, this time BBC Home Affairs correspondent Matt Prodger:

The Tobin tax is a good idea because of those who oppose it:


An appearance by the Taxpayers’ Alliance on Radio 4 drew this response:


He doesn’t dislike all lobby groups, though:


Taxing the rich is a recurring theme in Prodger’s tweets:


(The above one links to lefty “tax justice” campaigner Richard Murphy. See Guido for more on him.)

He seems to have a bit of an agenda, wouldn’t you say?

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CAMPAIGN AD BREAKDOWN

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The BBC has begun an online series of articles called Campaign Ad Breakdown in which wise Beeboid opinion will be brought to bear upon the campaign ads of candidates for the US presidency in 2012.

The first such report comes from Daniel Nasaw who, as we’ve pointed out before, used to be US correspondent for the Guardian. In November 2009, shortly before joining the BBC, he wrote the following about Sarah Palin:

Let’s focus our attention not on her legs but on her far-right political ideology, her baseless attacks on Obama, her attacks on women’s reproductive rights and her effort to purge moderates from the Republican party.

Not a fan of the American Right, I think it’s fair to say. And, it could be argued, not the first choice of journalist to be reviewing Rick Perry’s political ads with any measure of impartiality. For example, check out the section in bold here from Nasaw’s opening Campaign Ad article:

With the crumbling economy firmly linked in the viewer’s mind to Mr Obama’s actions – rather than the mortgage lending collapse of 2007-2008, debt crises in Europe, budget cuts in the US that have drained money from the economy, or political dysfunction in Washington – the frame fades to a calming black.

The highlighted segment is nothing less than Nasaw’s own political opinion. Remove it and one sees a straightforward description of that particular scene in the ad. Its inclusion turns the sentence into just the sort of Obama-defending propaganda Nasaw advocated in his Guardian piece in 2009. The difference now, of course, is that he has a BBC platform for his opinion/journalism.

Openly partisan journalists such as Nasaw should have the balls to work for similarly partisan news organisations. On that score at least he can’t be criticised.

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STARKEY FOR THE NEWS QUIZ!

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Is the staid cosy world of Radio 4 topical comedy really being forced into a tokenistic gesture to fend off criticism of its blatant political bias?

I don’t know how truthful that tweet is but it would be amusing to think that, after all these years, Hardy and pals suddenly found that even their smug little lefty enclave was not beyond the reach of the BBC’s Diversity Strategy with its commitment “to reflect the diversity of the nation accurately and authentically”.

If the “decree” is genuine, it will no doubt be good news for a handful of moderate centre-ground media types who are deemed acceptable enough to fill the role of “right-wing guest” each week (keep your Thursday evenings free, Hugo).

How much more fun to have somebody who really would shake things up. David Starkey, for example. I wonder what Jeremy would have to say about that?

Like most of Hardy’s material – not very original:

From fine upstanding citizen Piers Morgan to lefty R4 Front Row presenter John Wilson, people are queuing up to declare Starkey’s TV career over. A return to radio could be just the thing. The News Quiz should snap him up now. What’s more, Jeremy Hardy would probably boycott the programme. I believe that’s known as win-win.

Let the campaign begin – Starkey for the News Quiz!

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STANHOPE: F**KING LEAVE RICHARD F**KING BACON THE F**K ALONE, F**KING RETARDS

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Doug Stanhope is encouraging his adoring fanbase to contact the BBC to defend Richard Bacon. In trademark foul-mouthed style he rants against the “fuck-mouth” at the Down’s Syndrome Association who wrote Friday’s official statement, saying the person “is not fit to protect the retarded. Oh… and go fuck yourself in the head.”

He just doesn’t give a fuck, does he? In case you miss the point, he even says it: “I don’t give a fuck.” That’s his thing, not giving a fuck.

He offers this argument in defence of Bacon:

Imagine if Richard Bacon had actress Sasha Grey as a guest, someone who is known for her cross-over from pornography. He warns the audience over and over that some of her x-rated work would be upsetting. You race to your computer to watch, then blame Mr Bacon and implore folks to file complaints saying that Richard Bacon was “directing” you to do so?

For the comparison to work Bacon would tell his listeners: “Sasha Grey is here. Just a remarkable actress. If you haven’t seen her and want a flavour of what she’s like go to a search engine now and type “Sasha Grey Anal Cavity” [laughs] and get back to me.” I somehow doubt Bacon would feel comfortable about that, realising it might overstep a line or two at the BBC.

Here’s a more direct analogy. Stanhope describes his stuff as “flat out shock humour”. Imagine he’s got a shock routine, equal in depravity to the Palin one, only this time it’s about one of the Obama kids. On Stanhope’s terms it could be defended as a satire on politicians using their children in politics or something. For argument’s sake, let’s say it’s an expletive-filled violent pornographic fantasy revelling in the prospect of raping one of the young Obamas. Is that about on a par with fantasising about shooting Palin’s child in the head as it’s born? I don’t know, but we’re playing imagine so let’s imagine it is. Now, would Richard Bacon have said to listeners, “If you want a flavour of what he’s like, go to YouTube and type ‘Doug Stanhope Barack Obama'” knowing full well that’s what people would find? No, of course not. It’s the fact that Stanhope’s target was Palin’s child that made it OK to mention because hey, that shit’s cool and hip right there. Stuff about underage Obamas – man, that would be just sick.

Interestingly, if you do a YouTube search for “Doug Stanhope Barack Obama” it turns up a video which includes a clip of him discussing his choice for president in 2008. He says he’d like to vote libertarian but can’t bring himself to do so. His choice instead?

“Barack Obama’s my fucking dude. He’s fucking cool to watch, so why not? It’d fucking make us look better to the rest of the world when I go to play in fucking Norway next time or England or the UK. They won’t spit in my sandwich because they heard my accent and think I’m an asshole.”

For someone who doesn’t give a fuck he seems unduly worried what right-on Euroweenies think of him. Still, it’s one more reason for Richard Bacon to like him.

Oh, and before any Stanhope fans come on here and tell me I don’t “get” him – don’t bother. I do. So go fuck yourself in the head instead.

UPDATE 17.30. Apology to the DSA from BBC 5 Live and Richard Bacon:

The Down’s Syndrome Association has today received and accepted a full apology from Radio 5 Live and Broadcaster Richard Bacon following his show on Thursday 4th August. The official statement and letter are printed below.

Statement on behalf of 5 live:

“During a live interview on Thursday 4th August with American comedian Doug Stanhope, Richard Bacon made an unscripted comment referencing an online clip of one of his guest’s stand-up performances.

“Richard has apologised for referring his listeners to the video of his guest. At no stage did he or does he condone the offensive material in that sketch, none of which was broadcast on 5 live. It was still unacceptable to highlight the clip and he fully accepts that it was inappropriate. It falls below the standards our audience expects from us and both he and 5 live apologise unreservedly for any offence caused.”

Letter from Richard Bacon:

I am writing to apologise for any offence caused by my live interview with the American comedian, Doug Stanhope, on the 5 live radio show on Thursday 4 August.

In order to illustrate the comedic style of Stanhope’s stand-up performances, I referenced available You Tube clips. This was a poor recommendation and I whole heartedly accept that this reference was inappropriate because of the subject matter. I full well understand my responsibilities as a broadcaster and such a reference fell below the standards I set myself personally in my broadcasting.

I am sorry if the reference has caused offence to anyone in anyway. I shouldn’t have done it.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Bacon

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OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE DOWN’S SYNDROME ASSOCIATION

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Further to yesterday’s blog post, the Down’s Syndrome Association has issued the following statement:

DSA make official complaint following Richard Bacon’s Radio 5 Live Show

The Down’s Syndrome Association is shocked that a BBC employee has publicised the work of a comedian which is nothing more than a vile offensive rant and conflicts with BBC guidelines which state a responsibility to ‘protect the vulnerable and avoid unjustifiable offence’. During Richard Bacon’s BBC 5 show yesterday afternoon he directed listeners to a video of Doug Stanhope discussing the son of Sarah Palin on YouTube. The child was born with Down’s syndrome and Mr Stanhope’s comments about him were abhorrent.

As a public body the BBC should not be promoting the work of such an individual. Therefore the Down’s Syndrome Association has logged an official complaint with the BBC. We encourage everyone to do to the same using the link below –

https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/

On Twitter yesterday Bacon stated:

I don’t like what he said in that clip. And I don’t endorse it. I meant only for people to see his STYLE.

Make up your own minds.

Richard Bacon (mp3)

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RICHARD BACON: THIS STUFF ABOUT PALIN’S RETARD BABY IS HILARIOUS

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Here’s Richard Bacon introducing one of his guests this afternoon:

“Doug Stanhope is here. Just a remarkable stand-up comic. If you haven’t seen him and want a flavour of what he’s like go to YouTube now and type “Doug Stanhope Sarah Palin” [laughs] and get back to me.”

Bacon could have recommended any Stanhope routine, but it was the Palin one he wanted his listeners to hear. Here’s the meat of it:

Sarah Palin is the most fucking horrible, horrible [sic] – on so many levels…

Sarah Palin is this woman – she’s the mother of five, two of whom are retarded. One of them has Down’s Syndrome and the other volunteered for Iraq. She’s got a baby with Down’s Syndrome for Christ’s sake. How do you expect America to get behind her when even God hates her…

…after that last fucking retard baby came out of her – did you see the size of the head on that thing? The alien skull on that fucking retard baby had to tear her apart. Can you imagine the carnage, the violence of that thing coming out of her. It’s like someone stood at the foot of her cunt and yelled “Hey Kool Aid!” They [sic] bursting through her. That baby had to do more damage to her undercarriage than the Viet Cong did to McCain’s entire upper torso. I believe that if she were in the White House when she tried to deliver that child the secret service would’ve had to shoot it in the soft spot as it was crowning to save her… I think the Democratic Party is really dropping the ball if they don’t hammer the big cunt retard baby issues for the rest of this campaign and just stay on point. Don’t get distracted with all the other nonsense. Stay on point. Bring everything back to big cunt retard baby. They shoulda done that in the vice presidential debates and Biden dropped the ball. Everything shoulda come back to – whatever red herring she tries to throw at you – “Well I broke up the old boy network when I was the governor of Alaska” ” I heard the only thing you broke up was that sorry cunt of yours when you fucking threw that spastic out of your tard launcher, that’s what I heard.” And the moderator would’ve said “You have two minutes to rebut the big cunt retard baby allegations” and she’ll throw some other nonsense – “How’s your campaign equipped to deal with that proverbial 3am phone call?” And he goes “I don’t know but we’re not going to have some fucking waterhead running around kicking the phone of the hook so it goes straight to voicemail with his tongue on the button. I know that! What’s up with that?” And then the moderator would chastise the crowd to hold their applause to the end and remain seated. “What’s your record on earmarks?” “What’s your record on spitting out fucking bulb-headed [laughs] – I heard your fucking snatch is so split open they had to put a tent zipper on your snatch so your guts don’t shoot out when you sneeze. That’s what I heard.”

The routine ends with Stanhope saying: “Fuck you, go blog about it.” Thanks, I am doing.

This hateful shit is amusing to Bacon because it’s about Palin. The fact that he felt comfortable recommending it to his listeners speaks volumes about the groupthink that pervades the BBC/media luvvy world he inhabits.

This recent retweet by Newsnight’s Gavin Esler reveals the same mindset:


If anybody thinks the BBC’s coverage of the 2012 presidential election will be impartial I’ve got something they might like to buy.

(I read somewhere that Richard Bacon’s wife is pregnant. I hope she has a safe pregnancy, an easy birth and a healthy child.)

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PHANTOM FLAN FLINGER

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Newsnight gave the pie-thrower the briefest of mentions last night:

“There was an attack by a member of the public… A man was led away in handcuffs.”

A bit coy about identifying him there.

In January Newsnight commissioned a film – UK Uncut in their own words. Look who had the starring role:

I wonder why they didn’t mention that.

(h/t George R)

UPDATE 18:00. Newsnight’s Paul Mason tweets from America: “US networks are rolling with Wendi Deng. Endless slo-mos of pie attack. NOTW story sidelined.“

Ha ha ha ha ha!

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