General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI had people defending CNN in a few threads the other day, here's how CNN reported Musk's Nazi salute.
In very odd and circumspect language, CNN’s Erin Burnett first called Musk’s action an “odd looking salute.” Her on-screen companion added, “it’s not something you see at an American political rally.” Newsweek Opinion Editor Batya Ungar-Sargon had another take. “This is a man with Aspergers exuberantly throwing his heart to the crowd,” the journalist said, calling Musk “a friend to the Jews.”Fuck all TV news media.
they are all corrupt and on the side of fascism
Yeah Jim Acosta and any good reporter should get the fuck out of there and work someplace better..

LetMyPeopleVote
(160,959 posts)no_hypocrisy
(50,992 posts)Even Mussolini was copying it before Hitler.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_salute
?resize=1200,1200
ForgoTheConsequence
(5,020 posts)And it was used by one today.
Evolve Dammit
(20,429 posts)ProudMNDemocrat
(19,560 posts)Yes. The Third Reich was modeled after the Roman Empire down to the use of the Eagle and huge banners.
karynnj
(60,188 posts)In popular culture from comedy to drama to documentaries, it is known immediately at least to people of a certain age.
Response to ZonkerHarris (Original post)
ForgoTheConsequence This message was self-deleted by its author.
ificandream
(11,087 posts)I would support CNN over Fox any day of the week. Where are all the complaints about Fox?
brush
(59,431 posts)Acosta, Keilar, Coates.
ificandream
(11,087 posts)It’s impartial. It’s not a cheering section.
brush
(59,431 posts)Like CNN reporting Musk's Nazi salute as Aspergers enthusiasm. That's called slanting the news to make magat actions not seem so fascist.
ificandream
(11,087 posts)It was commentary by someone looking for words to say. It wasn't smart, but it also wasn't news. The problem today is too much commentary is called news. Commentary isn't, no matter who does it.
News is factual and adheres to the who-what-when-where-why formula that reporters use in writing stories. Commentary is commentary, dumb as it may be.
Oh, and I worked at a daily newspaper for over 35 years.
brush
(59,431 posts)CNN swung way right a couple of years ago when Licht was in charge and pledged to voice more rethug views.
ificandream
(11,087 posts)One other point -- I don't appreciate pundits. Their views are all over the place in terms of commentary. There are a few good ones -- Lawrence O'Donnell is one. As is Rachel Maddow. I also like Chris Hayes. But too many people make their living off of commentary. It makes hard news hard to find sometimes.
brush
(59,431 posts)Dem4life1970
(760 posts)...and Neville Chamberlaining (my newest coined word).
brush
(59,431 posts)We're losing the republic. That bloviating, convicted, lying criminal is not worth it. That bastard is the best the rethugs could come up with.
We're fucked.
tenderfoot
(8,982 posts)It's being willfully obtuse.
0rganism
(24,943 posts)Today, it's very much a "cheering section", no serious attempt to hide it either.
ificandream
(11,087 posts)Again, it has to do with the use of commentary. News commentary is a little too prevalent for my tastes, but that's where the cheering is. But on the other hand, real news can include things we don't like -- as in comments from Trump. If you're looking for CNN to characterize Trump in a negative way, they do. Maybe not like Fox does or as often, but they do. The thing is real news outlets have standards they have to follow -- something Fox as a non-news station doesn't do. Real news is not the same as what Fox does. It never will be.
lapfog_1
(30,750 posts)which is so far right that France's Marie Le Pen will have nothing to do with them.. and is trying to divide the British government and create an far right wing takeover in Britain... and is the world's richest person by many estimates... gives an out and out Nazi salute to the new President of the United States... that is actual news.
And the "commentary" as you put it is the lame "Because he has a mental condition or he was awkwardly throwing his heart to the crowd" is not news... that is commentary on the motivation. The NEWS would be "Elon giving a Nazi salute to the new President"
ificandream
(11,087 posts)Yes, the Nazi salute is news. But the evaluations of it are commentary -- and nothing important. Commentary doesn't deserve the importance it's getting sometimes.
Dem4life1970
(760 posts)if Elon Musk stood up showed his middle finger up, all of his other fingers down and/or the two closest to the middle finger crouched slightly, a kindergartner could tell us he was flipping us off. I know a Nazi salute when I see one, esp. from a South African apartheid loving, ADF supporting, X ruining person like Elon. It's really not that hard.
ificandream
(11,087 posts)I'm saying the evaluations of it really don't mean as much as we apparently think it does. If some dumb commentator tries to stretch the meaning, it doesn't change the facts.
Evolve Dammit
(20,429 posts)erodriguez
(857 posts)These assholes helped bring about the situation we are in right now
underpants
(189,735 posts)MSNBC okay. Any other options? Realistic options?
brush
(59,431 posts)won't be around much longer. So many are rolling over for trump now. The nation is in bad shape and no telling for how long.
Magoo48
(6,147 posts)Cirsium
(2,184 posts)Don't do that. Do not set the bar that low. Being better than Fox, being better than MAGA, being better than Republicans - I should damn well hope so! That is a woefully inadequate standard.
We need to demand, and to do, much, much better. "At least we are better than them" has not worked. It is an excuse for poor performance, compromise and complicity.
ZonkerHarris
(25,577 posts)ecstatic
(34,703 posts)GMAFB! eLoon has zero emotional intelligence, but he is not an idiot.
tenderfoot
(8,982 posts)eom
thesquanderer
(12,551 posts)... because the only other two possibilities are that he's a nazi or he's a moron. It's a stretch, but it's all they've got.
mzmolly
(52,059 posts)'throw their hearts' around with Nazi salutes.
BoRaGard
(4,761 posts)expect more of this bullshit
La Coliniere
(1,356 posts)CNN stinks to high heaven and gets worse every day.
Klarkashton
(3,238 posts)Peregrine Took
(7,572 posts)Chris, Lawrence, Rachel and Joy. NO wavering!
SilasSouleII
(480 posts)Havent since 11/5 and still don't watch any cable news.
CousinIT
(11,189 posts)....the media all had a HISSY FIT (and the MAGAts too) over the Obamas' "terrorist fist bump"?
The double-standard is SHOCKINGLY obvious. Still.
Screw the MSM (for news). Other than a few MSNBC hosts, I don't watch them anymore. AT ALL.
ificandream
(11,087 posts)It’s going to be there whether you like it or not.
senseandsensibility
(21,543 posts)I don't think anyone said there wasn't. The point is there is too much rightwing commentary. And we criticize the networks for CHOOSING to air too much RW commentary. This decision is theirs, and calling it commentary does not absolve them.
brush
(59,431 posts)Evolve Dammit
(20,429 posts)osteopath6
(195 posts)People only have so much energy for such things. The throwing his heart out thing makes sense. He was excoriating racists over H1 visas, I don't think its a nazi thing
Aussie105
(6,931 posts)But Elon is just a bit suss using the salute, don't you think?
(Elon is offensive enough without it.)
state of stupid
(121 posts)LymphocyteLover
(7,679 posts)
SouthBayDem
(32,575 posts)and who (from what I’ve seen elsewhere) is a practicing Jew. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batya_Ungar-Sargon
Ungar-Sargon had been a liberal just 10 years ago but somehow decided to hop on the MAGA gravy train.
LymphocyteLover
(7,679 posts)another fucking sell out.
mamajudi
(62 posts)While I was in Australia this past October, I guy was convicted of using an obscene gesture. I thought it would be flipping off a cop, but nope! He was giving the Nazi salute... The guy earned himself some jail time giving it. Makes me sick seeing what Elon did.
SouthBayDem
(32,575 posts)LittleGirl
(8,631 posts)I consider myself informed but I did not know until today that what .musk did was that salute. Not to defend CNN but those analysts are young and may not know it either.
I’m disgusted by Musk. It looked intentional to me.
UTUSN
(73,692 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 20, 2025, 09:53 PM - Edit history (1)
rpannier
(24,683 posts)I'll go that far
alarimer
(17,071 posts)Worse even than the Vichy Democrats is the kowtowing media.
Baron2024
(1,492 posts)Good one. They really are. But who is in the French Resistance?
alarimer
(17,071 posts)I feel that most people will only be able to keep their heads down and get on with things and I can't really blame them. I hope it never actually comes down to actually fighting and that maybe some institutions will hold.
I don't think most Democratic politicians are up to the moment, either. I think they are still trying to play the usual game, like this is just some other GOP politician they disagree with. But he definitely isn't.
Baron2024
(1,492 posts)Playing the usual game doesn't work against someone who doesn't play by the rules. You are right.
ificandream
(11,087 posts)And thank the stupids who voted for him. The media didn't do that.
WarGamer
(16,756 posts)Silent Type
(8,850 posts)Just looked it up after reading your post.
“It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge,” the ADL stated.
"“In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath,” it added. “This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead.”"
This may be best piece of advice I've seen today.
LudwigPastorius
(12,049 posts)Hitler's invasion of Poland was just an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm?
Silent Type
(8,850 posts)ZonkerHarris
(25,577 posts)tishaLA
(14,588 posts)people everywhere caving like they're fine with all this mess.
Tickle
(3,810 posts)Elon Musk has reflected on his “Jewish roots” during his childhood in South Africa. The world’s richest man – who was born in Pretoria – shared his experience during the European Jewish Association conference, which took place over the weekend.
Musk – who is the owner of the X platform – emigrated to Canada and later the US as a young adult.