Drama at GE shareholders meeting

[classicman]

'Hostility' over MSNBC

company brass were hit with questions from shareholders critical of an alleged leftward political slant at MSNBC.

But one of those questions came from Jesse Waters, a producer on "The O'Reilly Factor" whose criticisms were cut short when his microphone was cut off, according to several attendees. Waters apparently did not publicly identify himself as a Fox employee.

Waters has built a reputation as an ambush interviewer, specializing in on-the-street confrontations. But this is arguably the boldest move by a Fox newsie to utilize the tactic inside their chief rival's tent, as it were.

Attendees who spoke to THR said shareholders asked about 10 politically charged questions concerning MSNBC as well as one about CNBC.

First up was a woman asking about a reported meeting in which Immelt and NBC Uni CEO Jeff Zucker supposedly told top CNBC executives and talent to be less critical of President Obama and his policies.

Immelt acknowledged a meeting took place but said no one at CNBC was told what to say or not to say about politics.

During the woman's follow-up question, her microphone was apparently cut off. A short time later, Waters asked a question and his mic was cut, too.

"The crowd was very upset with MSNBC because of its leftward tilt," one attendee said. "Some former employees said they were embarrassed by it."

When he got the floor, Waters focused his question about MSNBC on Olbermann's interview of actress Janeane Garofalo, who likened conservatives to racists and spoke of "the limbic brain inside a right-winger."

"He (Waters) was complaining that Olbermann didn't bother to challenge her," another GE shareholder said.

Immelt told the assembled he takes a hands-off approach to what is reported on the company's news networks, which prompted a shareholder to criticize him for not managing NBC Uni more effectively.

"My biggest surprise was the open hostility to MSNBC," said Tom Borelli of the Free Enterprise Action Fund and a four-year critic of Immelt. "It was noticeable and loud. I don't remember any of this going on last year."

"Any time MSNBC was mentioned, there was a rumbling in the crowd of 400 people," he added.

The company made available a webcast of the event, which contains prepared remarks.

I hope this is as ridiculous as the source.

[TheMercenary]

First up was a woman asking about a reported meeting in which Immelt and NBC Uni CEO Jeff Zucker supposedly told top CNBC executives and talent to be less critical of President Obama and his policies.

That is pretty damming.

[classicman]

I thought so to, but we also have to consider the source AND the "supposedly" in that quote.

[sugarpop]

It is hysterical to me how the fanatical arm of the right criticizes the left so vehemently when they use even worse tactics themselves. In fact. Jesse Waters, the above mentioned producer who infiltrated the GE shareholders meeting, stalked Amanda Terkel, a blogger for Think Progess, on her vacation. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_178468.html

This is what she said about the incident:
Bill O’Reilly was trying to show that he cares about women who have been victims of crime. So to make that point, he sends two men to find my home address and to follow me on vacation? I mean, it was incredibly disturbing. The rest of the weekend, I was constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering how long they had been following me, if they’re still following me.

[classicman]

huffpo is on the banned list sugar - you might as well link to a Faux artticle

[sugarpop]

Well then google her name. There are other places you can read about it. That doesn't negate that producers actions stalking her.

And why is huffinton banned anyway? I happen to like Arrianna Huffington.

[classicman]

I'm sure you do and I couldn't care less.

Its not banned, I was teasing, its just about as biased as Faux.