GE, CNBC, MSNBC Curruption

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O'Reilly Claims 'Corruption': GE Using CNBC, MSNBC to Promote Cap-and-Trade for Financial Gain

O’Reilly Claims ‘Corruption’: GE Using CNBC, MSNBC to Promote Cap-and-Trade for Financial Gain | shan.biz

According to the Hollywood Reporter, during the question and answer phase of the meeting, shareholders repeatedly brought up the company's far-left leaning network, and often had their microphones turned off as a result.

GE Shareholders Meeting: 'The Crowd Was Very Upset With MSNBC' | NewsBusters.org

Things got testy Wednesday at the GE shareholders meeting courtesy of several complaints about political bias at its media division, NBC Universal. [...]

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 say about politics.

During the woman's follow-up question, her microphone was cut off. Later, during the umpteenth question about MSNBC, another shareholder's microphone was cut, according to multiple attendees.

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

One specific complaint about MSNBC concerned Keith Olbermann's interview of actress Janeane Garofalo, who likened conservatives to racists and spoke of "the limbic brain inside a right-winger."

"They were upset that Olbermann didn't bother to challenge her," one GE shareholder said.

Immelt said 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 effectively.

"My biggest surprise was the open hostility to MSNBC," another shareholder said. "It was noticeable and loud. I don't remember any of this going on last year."

Makes you wonder if anyone on the board of directors is paying attention.

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GE Shareholders Cheer As Fox Producers Slams MSNBC


http://www.poligazette.com/2009/04/2...omment-page-1/

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Where's Andy???

He's diehard MSNBC

Originally Posted by chernmax

Where's Andy???

He's diehard MSNBC

I've said several times MSNBC has gone down the toilet.

All the MSNBC viewers who weren't diehard liberals started watching CNN a long time ago.

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Beaver-Cleaver

All the MSNBC viewers who weren't diehard liberals started watching CNN a long time ago.

What's the difference?

[chernmax (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Beaver-Cleaver

I've said several times MSNBC has gone down the toilet.

All the MSNBC viewers who weren't diehard liberals started watching CNN a long time ago.

I guess CNN reporting is a step up!!!

[vraiblonde]

MSNBC biased - well there's a freakin' shock.

I also change my opinion of someone after they tell me they watch Olbermann or really any MSNBC show for their news.

[daileyck1]

more manufactured outrage

[Tilted]

I hold a decent amount of GE and, for whatever reason, I don't think of them as the parent company of NBC and it's associated networks. Obviously, I realize that they are, but that is such a small part of what they do that it doesn't play into my fiscal feelings about the company. I doubt the majority of their stock holders judge them on the basis of NBC Universal.

And, if CNBC executives were directed to be less critical of Obama and his policies, it would seem that most of the on air personalities didn't get the memo.


EDIT: I just read the headline about using CNBC and MSNBC to promote Cap and Trade. That's preposterous. Perhaps MSNBC presents a pro-Cap and Trade perspective, but CNBC certainly does not. For every opinion or statement that I've heard in favor of it, I've heard at least 10 that were against it. A large number of their commentators have been outspoken in their criticism of it, and with regard to how harmful they believe it will be to businesses and the populace at large.

[chernmax (Premo)]

Originally Posted by daileyck1

more manufactured outrage

Which part?

GE Earnings Beat Consensus, Fall 35% in First Quarter Posted by: Jena McGregor on April 17

One year after Jeffrey R. Immelt’s quarter horribilis—when the General Electric Chairman and CEO shocked Wall Street with a wide earnings miss that left investors reeling—the GE chief beat analyst expectations this time around. The Fairfield, Conn.-based conglomerate posted first quarter earnings per share on April 17 of $0.26, beating analysts’ $0.21 consensus.

Still, that hardly spelled out stellar results. First quarter earnings of $2.8 billion were down 35% from the year prior and sales for the embattled giant were $38.4 billion, down 9% from the year before. The primary culprit: GE Capital, the company’s large financial unit, which weighed down overall results. While GE met its forecast that the struggling finance unit would be profitable in the first quarter, that outcome was helped by tax benefits. Earnings for GE Capital were $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter, down 58% from the year before. But on a pre-tax basis, the unit actually lost about $150 million, analysts noted. GE shares initially fell but were roughly flat in early trading.

Other disappointments included the company’s media unit, NBC Universal, where earnings were down 45% from the year prior. Struggling consumers aren’t queuing up at its theme parks or snatching up home videos, and pain in the company’s broadcast division offset strong cable performance. The healthcare and transportation businesses were down too, with profits down 22% and 15% for the quarter respectively. GE Capital, of course, posted some painful numbers, with commercial real estate and U.K. mortgage markets deteriorating.

The bright spots? GE’s energy, oil & gas and aviation units, which each posted double-digit profit growth. That’s good news given these businesses’ cash-generating power, which should help to quiet debates over further dividend cuts or needs to raise capital, analysts noted. Still, the recession is taking its toll, with orders for GE’s energy equipment down in the first quarter. Stimulus infrastructure projects should help, but most of the benefits to GE won’t be felt until 2010 or later, says Immelt, who sees $100 billion in potential opportunities for GE from global government stimulus spending. CFO Keith Sherin also noted that delinquencies in its North American consumer business were stabilizing, a good sign despite rising unemployment.

GE Earnings Beat Consensus, Fall 35% in First Quarter - BusinessWeek

Obama friend and campaign finance chairwoman Penny Pritzker also is on the board, as is Caterpillar Inc. Chairman-CEO Jim Owens and General Electric Co. CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt. Two labor officials _ Anna Burger of Change to Win and Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO _ also were named to the 15-member board designed to offer Obama advice as he seeks a way to rebuild the economy.

The new council is intended to be an economic sounding board for Obama _ an outside-the-Beltway group that will report to the president directly. It will meet regularly with Obama, perhaps once a month. Its mission will include responding to requests from Obama _ such as delving into a particular subject _ without competing with the National Economic Council or day-to-day, decision-making at the White House.