|
 | 
Apr-20-2008China protests target CNN, French store(topic overview)
CONTENTS:
SOURCES
FIND OUT MORE ON THIS SUBJECT
Gulf Times ''' Qatar'''s top-selling English daily newspaper - Philippines/East Asia BEIJING: Beijing yesterday rejected CNN'''s explanation of remarks made by one of its commentators who called China a '''bunch of goons and thugs''' amid heightened tensions over foreign media coverage of Tibet. '''Their statement did not sincerely apologise for his remarks (so) we cannot accept it at all,''' foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters. CNN'''s clarification, that the comments were aimed at China'''s government not its people, was an effort '''to try to stir up the relationship between the Chinese government and the Chinese people,''' she added. During an April 9 broadcast, outspoken commentator Jack Cafferty slammed China for exporting unsafe products, which he called '''junk with lead paint,''' as well as Beijing'''s massive purchases of U.S. securities. '''I think they'''re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they'''ve been for the last 50 years,''' Cafferty said of China. His comments have caused a huge outcry here, with the domestic media widely reporting the government'''s view that the statements were '''racist,''' a '''malicious attack''' and '''slander''' against China and its people. [1] The building housing CNN is on the famous Sunset Boulevard in north-west Los Angeles, and is where the channel's veteran presenter, Larry King, is based. The Beijing government took CNN to task this week after outspoken commentator Jack Cafferty slammed China for exporting unsafe products, which he called "junk with lead paint," as well as Beijing's massive purchases of U.S. securities. "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years," Cafferty said of China in an April 9 broadcast. The Chinese foreign ministry on Thursday rejected a CNN explanation that his comments -- which caused a huge outcry in China -- were aimed at the government, and not the Chinese people.[2]
The People's Daily, the Communist Party's mouthpiece, also joined the attack yesterday, accusing CNN of engaging in "verbal tyranny". On the show, Cafferty slammed China for exporting unsafe products, which he called "junk with lead paint", and Beijing's massive purchases of U.S. securities. "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years," he said. CNN said Cafferty was offering his "strongly held" opinion of the Chinese government, not China's people, and added that "over many years, Jack Cafferty has expressed critical comments of many governments, including the U.S. government and its leaders".[3]
On April 9, Jack Cafferty, a commentator on CNN's "Situation Room," used the term "goons and thugs" in describing the U.S. relationship with China as host Wolf Blitzer compared today's China to that of 20 or 30 years ago. Cafferty issued a clarification of his remarks Monday, saying the comments referred to the Chinese government, not its people. In the comments, Cafferty referenced what he called billions of dollars in U.S. debt and trade deficits with China. "So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed," he said. "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."[4] Cafferty made the comments during an appearance on "The Situation Room" that aired April 9. Speaking about the U.S. trade deficit with China, Cafferty said: "We continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export, you know, jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we're buying from Wal-Mart." "So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed," he continued. "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years." A call Saturday seeking comment from CNN representatives was not immediately returned, but both Cafferty and a network statement earlier in the week stressed that the remarks were aimed at the Chinese government, not its people.[5]
" 'So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed," he said. "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years'." CNN reports, "He issued a clarification of his remarks Monday, saying that by 'goons and thugs,' he meant the Chinese government, not the Chinese people. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, speaking for the Chinese government said, "The statement issued by CNN on Tuesday not only failed to sincerely apologize for commentator Jack Cafferty's remarks, but also spearheaded its attack on the Chinese government, attempting to incite the Chinese people against the government."[6] Last night on CCTV (Central China TV) China's Foreign Ministry once again denounced CNN commentator Jack Cafferty by name, as well as CNN, for slandering China. This happened on an English-language news broadcast at 9pmET. Last week, Cafferty said of the Chinese goverment, "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years." On Monday he clarified his comments: "I was referring to the Chinese government, and not to Chinese people or to Chinese-Americans," Cafferty said on the Situation Room.[7] SHANGHAI -- The Chinese government has raised a CNN commentator's rant to the level of a diplomatic incident with the Foreign Ministry issuing a formal demand for an apology from the Atlanta-based news network. On a show called The Situation Room, Cafferty dismissed the Chinese government saying: "They're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years." Following the path blazed by Chinese bloggers, a government spokeswoman spoke out against the tirade earlier this week at a press briefing and CNN issued a clarification. "It was not Mr. Cafferty's nor CNN's intent to cause offence to the Chinese people and we would apologize to anyone who would interpret the comments in that way," the broadcaster said. It did not help. Late Wednesday, Beijing took its fury to a higher level.[8]
RUSH: We have an update on the CNN situation, the apology to the ChiComs. "China on Thursday snubbed an apology from CNN over remarks by Jack Cafferty as a wave of verbal assaults on foreign media raised concerns over coverage--" they might lose the CNN bureau in Beijing, Peking, Shanghai and Guangzhou. "Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu rejected CNN's explanation that commentator Jack Cafferty was referring to China's leaders -- not the Chinese people -- when he described them as 'goons and thugs.' CNN said it apologized to anyone who thought otherwise. Jiang said at a regularly scheduled news conference that the CNN statement lacked sincerity and instead 'turned its attack on the Chinese government to try to sow division between the Chinese government and the people.'" Can you imagine the executives at CNN, they can sit here all day long and they can literally trash any Republican, they can destroy the career of any Republican, George Bush, any Republican judicial nominee, they can just go out and they can do hit piece after hit piece, but now, their crazy uncle. You know, Cafferty's one of these guys -- you see them in New York all the time -- these guys who haven't shaved or washed their hair in like three weeks. They're in these cheap little trench coats on the corner shouting at people as they go by. CNN put him on the air, and so he's insulting the ChiComs, and these executives at CNN, they're scared to death, they've insulted the ChiComs. Cafferty could do a commentary in which he accuses people in the small towns in the Midwest of being no different than Al-Qaeda terrorists, and CNN will not bat an eye.[9] BEIJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a press briefing that "The statement issued by CNN on Tuesday not only failed to sincerely apologize for commentator Jack Cafferty's remarks, but also spearheaded its attack on the Chinese government, attempting to incite the Chinese people against the government," Jiang said. She added China could never accept that, referring to CNN's statement.[10]
The Olympic torch arrives in Nagano, central Japan, on April 26; and two Chinese flame attendants will run with torch bearers along an 18.5-km route, said an official of the relay's organizing committee in Nagano. Jiang yesterday again urged CNN to sincerely apologize and retract insulting remarks by one of its commentators who called the Chinese "goons and thugs" and Chinese products "junk". She said a statement issued by CNN on Tuesday "not only failed to sincerely apologize for commentator Jack Cafferty's remarks, but also spearheaded an attack on the Chinese government, attempting to incite the Chinese people against the government". She added China could never accept that.[11] BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) on Saturday asked U.S.-based. news network CNN and its commentator Jack Cafferty to apologize for his remarks regarding China. In an interview with Chinese media including Xinhua News Agency, a senior official with the ACJA strongly condemned Cafferty for his "insulting" words in a TV show on April 9 and asked him and CNN to make a formal apology to all Chinese as soon as possible. Cafferty said in the TV show that Chinese products were "junk" and China was "basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years" when the Olympic torch relay was going on in San Francisco.[12] The protestors crowded the sidewalks, holding placards which read: "No Racial Discrimination", "CNN, Don't Fool Americans," "No Media distortion" and "True Apology from CNN". Singing patriotic Chinese songs and shouting "CNN Liar, Cafferty Fire," the protestors demanded a true and sincere apology from CNN (Cable News Network) and its news commentator Jack Cafferty, as well as his dismissal from his post. On April 9, as the Olympic torch relay was underway in San Francisco, Cafferty said in CNN's political news program 'The Situation Room' that goods from China were "junk," and referred to the Chinese as being "the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the past 50 years."[13]
In response CNN issued a statement saying: "We are aware of concerns about Jack Cafferty's comments related to China in the context of the upcoming Olympics. CNN would like to clarify that it was not Mr. Cafferty's, nor CNN's, intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and (CNN) would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way. CNN said in a statement on its Web site that it is a network that reports the news in an objective and balanced fashion but as part of their coverage they also employ commentators who provide robust opinions that generate debate. On this occasion Cafferty was offering his strongly held opinion of the Chinese government, not the Chinese people -- a point he subsequently clarified on "The Situation Room" on Monday, the statement said. At the protest Saturday, Ke Ping, a Chinese filmmaker who has lived in the U.S. for 20 years and is a graduate of the UCLA Film School, said that as a naturalized American citizen she certainly took advantage of freedom of speech here. "I encourage more open speech in China," where she acknowledged such a protest against a news organization would not be allowed to take place.[14] As part of our coverage we also employ commentators who provide robust opinions that generate debate. "On this occasion Jack was offering his strongly held opinion of the Chinese government, not the Chinese people '''- a point he subsequently clarified on The Situation Room on April 14." "Their statement did not sincerely apologize for his remarks (so) we cannot accept it at all. "The Chinese people cannot be insulted or bullied so we request once again for CNN to take the issue seriously, take back its vicious remarks, and make sincere apologies to the people of China."[15]
"And Cafferty also disregarded a journalist's professional ethics to attack a country with insulting words," the official said. Despite having an effective mechanism to deal with false reporting, CNN issued a statement on its website six days after Cafferty's remarks, which not only pleaded for him, but also spearheaded its attack on the Chinese government, he said. CNN issued a statement on Tuesday saying, "It was not Mr. Cafferty's nor CNN's intent to cause offence to the Chinese people, and CNN would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way." The statement said that Cafferty was offering his "strongly held" opinion of the Chinese government, not China's people. "We hope CNN and Cafferty to realize that they have harmed the feelings of Chinese and apologize with a rational and responsible attitude," the official said. With the Olympic Games drawing near, the ACJA welcomed all foreign media to cover the event in an objective and balanced way, he said.[12] The spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the remarks and solemnly urged CNN and Cafferty to apologize to the Chinese people. He pointed out that the statement issued by CNN on April 15 not only failed to apologize for Cafferty's words which seriously violate the professional ethics of journalism and maliciously attack the Chinese people but shifted the spearhead against the Chinese government in order to continue to mislead the public opinion. Such a vile motive to deceive the Chinese people will never succeed but will only make people around the world to realize CNN has no professional reputation at all.[16] The Chinese Foreign Ministry took umbrage at Cafferty's comments, demanding an apology from CNN, AP reported. Cafferty himself later clarified his comments, saying he was referring to the Chinese government, not the Chinese people or Chinese Americans. Then in a statement, CNN also noted that the remarks only referred to the Chinese government, and apologized to those who thought otherwise, according to AP. "CNN would like to clarify that it was not Mr. Cafferty's, nor CNN's, intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way," CNN said in a statement Wednesday.[17]
Mr. Liu said the government "solemnly urge CNN and Cafferty to withdraw the vile remarks and make a sincere apology to all Chinese people." China Daily, the government's official mouthpiece for the English-speaking world, revealed earlier Wednesday the Foreign Ministry "summoned CNN's Beijing executives to lodge a solemn representation for failing to apologize for insulting remarks by one of its commentators."[8]
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao met with CNN executives in Beijing yesterday to deliver the government's criticism, according to the statement. ''This despicable scheme will not dupe the Chinese people,'' the statement said. ''It will only further make the world's people understand that CNN is without credibility.'' CNN has become a focal point of Chinese government criticism of Western media, which it accuses of bias in its coverage of violence in Tibetan regions of China and protests along the international route of the Olympic torch.[18] CNN has been the focal point for an outpouring of fury by ordinary Chinese against "western media" since the troubles in Tibet last month. A Mandarin-language website devoted to knocking the news channel -- www.anti-CNN.com -- is now one of the hottest sites for outraged Chinese netizens to sound off and CNN reporters in China have been harassed and threatened at their offices and homes about coverage of the situation in Tibet. Instead of dying down as the news spotlight moves on, the nationalistic rage is intensifying as the Chinese take issue with the protests that have disrupted the Olympic Torch Relay in London, Paris and San Francisco and particularly the western media's coverage of them. The situation has become volatile enough that the Foreign Correspondents Club of China this week issued security tips to its members and people are beginning to worry about what might happen when more than 20,000 foreign journalists descend on Beijing for the Olympics.[8] CNN's Beijing bureau chief was summoned to a meeting at the Chinese Foreign Ministry Wednesday night, and a ministry spokeswoman said the global news network needed to do more to "take back the vicious remarks." China's fight with CNN is part of a broader effort to challenge those who question its response to protests in Tibet last month or who criticize the Olympic torch relay, which ran through New Delhi on Thursday under heavy guard. Although Western media are a particular target, political figures such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are also fair game. CNN has been under fire since late March, when its Web site, CNN.com, ran a photo of the March 14 riot in Lhasa that was cropped to cut out several Tibetan protesters pelting Chinese trucks with rocks.[19]
CNN has been singled out by the Chinese government and unknown activists who have phoned and e-mailed death threats to Western reporters. Most of the criticism of the Atlanta-based network concerns a photograph posted on its Web site weeks ago which cropped out Tibetans throwing stones at Chinese security forces. CNN said Wednesday that commentator Jack Cafferty was referring to China's leaders ' not the Chinese people ' when he described them as a ''bunch of goons and thugs,'' and apologized to anyone who thought otherwise. CNN Beijing bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz said he met with Liu Wednesday night but gave no details. [20] Los Angeles, CA (AHN) -- Veteran CNN reporter Jack Cafferty is known for speaking his mind, but when he referred to the Chinese Government as "goons" and "thugs," he incited bitterness from the Chinese and Chinese-Americans. Cafferty's comments were taken as another slap in the face for the Chinese people, who are saying that the Western media has been treating them unfairly since the world spotlight shone on China after a Tibetan uprising against China last month resulted in the killing of eight Tibetan protesters.[21] The reaction in the west against what are seen as human rights violations by the Chinese government are often seen as evidence of bias against China. Reacting to the comments from Cafferty, Xinhua, in an editorial writes, "CNN's reluctance to make a sincere apology, however, further betrays some Western media's double standards in news coverage and their deep-rooted bias against China and the Chinese people".[6]
I think our relationship with China has certainly changed. I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years." Although it's implicit the "goons" and "thugs" Cafferty referred to are Chinese officials, not the Chinese people, perhaps Cafferty could have made it a little more clear, but the protesters also should have figured that out.' I knew what he meant; they should have, too. Calling Cafferty a 'liar", protesters want Cafferty's head stuffed into the mouth of a Chinese New Year's dragon or served up on a platter out of a Chinese restaurant to-go box and CNN to fire their fire-breathing dragon. We have a repulsive relationship with the Chinese government.' They own us lock, stock and chop sticks and our government allows them to sell us lead-tainted toys, dog food and medicines concocted in grungy rooms that are so filthy we wouldn't let our pets wander through them, but our government allows us to be injected with them.[22] CNN issued a statement defending the photo, saying it was clear what was happening. In the latest controversy, Cafferty on April 9 blasted Chinese exports as "junk with the lead paint on them" and lamented the large U.S.-China trade deficit as he described his view of the relationship between the two countries. "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years," Cafferty said. Following an outcry after the show appeared, Cafferty clarified that he was referring to the Chinese government, not the Chinese people in his remarks.[19] Cafferty issued a clarification of his remarks Monday, saying the comments referred to the Chinese government, not its people. In the comments, Cafferty referenced what he called billions of dollars in U.S. debt and trade deficits with China. "So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed," he said. "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years." In addition to Cafferty's clarification, the network also issued a statement saying the commentator was referring to China's government, not its people.[23]
So Asian anger -- on a low simmer -- absolutely boiled over the other day when a CNN opinion-commentator offered highly opinionated and unflattering remarks about China and its tainted food exports and its policy toward Tibet. They won't be repeated in any detail here; you can simply ask your favorite search-engine to find you "CNN, Jack Cafferty, China, Tibet" and you will get more than you need. It must be noted for the record here that the last line of the aired commentary about the Chinese and their government sounded thusly: "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."[24] In an international brouhaha, China Thursday rejected CNN's response to its demand that the network make amends for "goon" remarks made by Jack Cafferty, according to the Associated Press. During an April 9 appearance on CNN's The Situation Room, in talking about America's relationship with China Cafferty said, "I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."[17]
About 20 officers were sent to help with crowd and traffic control, Torres said. CNN commentator Jack Cafferty angered the Chinese government, and many of its citizens, on April 9 when he said Americans "continue to import their junk with lead paint on them and the poison pet food." "I think they're basically the same group of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years," Cafferty added. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)[25]
Cafferty, who normally flanks Wolf Blitzer in The Situation Room, was in a discussion with Wolf about China, said that goods from that country were "junk," and referred to the Chinese government as "a bunch of goons and thugs." Now American Chinese are up in arms, protesting at the LA CNN offices to call for dismissal of Jack Cafferty over his comments about goods from China.[26] BASHING CNN for its bias against China is one thing, boycotting Carrefour is another. It's rational to demand CNN and its big-mouth news commentator Jack Cafferty to apologize for having called the Chinese or the Chinese government "goons and thugs." It's irrational to boycott Carrefour, because there's no proof that the French company itself has been part of the anti-China conspiracy.[27] CNN is continuing to come under fire from the Chinese government for remarks made by commentator Jack Cafferty, who called the Chinese "goons and thugs." CNN apologized for Cafferty's April 9 remarks, saying he was offering a "strongly held" opinion of the Chinese government, not the people.[28] Cafferty on April 9 called the Chinese ''goons and thugs.'' ''Jack was offering his strongly held opinion of the Chinese government, not the Chinese people,'' CNN said. ''CNN would like to clarify that it was not Mr. Cafferty's, nor CNN's, intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way.''[18] The Chinese government in effect called for something approaching Cafferty's immediate guillotining, without sedation. CNN, mid-week, issued a sort of half-baked, conditional apology: "It was not Mr. Cafferty's nor CNN's intent to cause offence to the Chinese people, and we would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way." CNN added that its opinion columnist was, merely, offering his "strongly held" opinion of "the Chinese Government, not China's people."[24] "We understand free speech," said Lake Wang, 39, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., one of the protesters outside CNN's offices. "But what if Cafferty said this about other racial groups? I think he would be fired. I think he's jealous of China." A CNN spokesman told the Times Cafferty was "offering his strongly held opinion of the Chinese government, not the Chinese people." "It should be noted that over many years, Jack Cafferty has expressed critical comments on many governments, including the U.S. government and its leaders," the spokesman said.[29] Cafferty's remarks drew indignation from Chinese at home and abroad. CNN then issued a statement on Tuesday saying "it was not Mr. Cafferty's nor CNN's intent to cause offence to the Chinese people, and CNN would apologise to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way". The network stated that Cafferty was offering his "strongly held" opinion of the Chinese government, not China's people.[10] "We're in hock to the Chinese up to our eyeballs because of the war in Iraq, for one thing. They're holding hundreds of billions of dollars worth of our paper. "We are also running hundreds of billions of dollars worth of trade deficits with them, as we continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export, you know, jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we're buying from Wal-Mart." In addition to Cafferty's clarification, the network issued a statement saying the commentator was referring to China's government, not its people. "It was not Mr. Cafferty's, nor CNN's intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way," the statement said. CNN's Irving Last in Los Angeles contributed to this report.[4]
An article on the website for China's official Xinhua news, said that the Chinese people have not been comforted by the apology. Xinhua reporter Xu Zhixiao wrote, "From CNN's statement, people can hardly find the sincerity of an apology to the Chinese people, but only see a lack of sensitivity to the severe insult and humiliation inflicted on them by Cafferty's remarks. Last September, Cafferty told Time that the only time he'd gotten into trouble on the air was when he called Donald Rumsfeld a war criminal. In that same interview, called "Cafferty Mouths Off" he was critical of the American government. "I think that our government spends a good part of their waking hours figuring out what batch of lies they're going to tell us next.[21] "I came not for myself but for my son and daughter. They will live forever in the U.S., and I cannot tolerate this discrimination from a major news organization," Chen said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry demanded Tuesday that Cafferty apologize for remarks he made last week, in which he called the Chinese "goons and thugs" and said products manufactured in China are "junk." "Cafferty used the microphone in his hands to slander China and the Chinese people (and) seriously violated professional ethics of journalism and human conscience," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Tuesday, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.[14] Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu rejected CNNs explanation that commentator Jack Cafferty was referring to Chinas leaders not the Chinese people when he described them as "goons and thugs."[30]
"However, as part of our coverage we also employ commentators who provide robust opinions that generate debate." That apparently was not enough for China, as its Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao demanded that the remarks be retracted that CNN and Cafferty "apologize to the entire Chinese people," AP reported.[17] CNN's statement failed to apologize for Cafferty's April 9 comments, which were a serious breach of professional ethics and slandered Chinese people, according to a statement from China's Foreign Ministry.[18] The Chinese Foreign Ministry lodged a solemn representation Wednesday with the CNN Beijing office, condemning the network as being "without any professional reputation". Cafferty said in a TV show on April 9 that Chinese products were "junk" and the Chinese people were "basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years".[10] The ministry summoned the CNN Beijing bureau chief on Wednesday to lodge a protest. Cafferty said on a TV show aired on April 9 that Chinese products were "junk" and the Chinese people were "basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years".[11]
About two dozen people also demonstrated outside CNN headquarters in Atlanta. Some Chinese-Americans are upset about comments Cafferty made earlier this month where he called Chinese imports "junk" and said Chinese leaders were "basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years." Cafferty later said he was discussing China's government, not its people.[31] The minimum wage in China varies from each province but ranges from about $35 to $120 a month. Cafferty went on to describe the Chinese government as '''basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years.''' No one should ask Jack Cafferty to apologize for his words, doing so would be similar to asking an historian to apologize to the Nazis.[32]
CNN must apologize to China. It lies about China, it insults the Chinese and Chinese government with dirty words even the U.S. Constitution does not protect. There are brilliant American journalists who try their best to be objective, or at least fair and balanced about China. Jack Cafferty is not one of them. There are good news outlets in America, but CNN is not one of them. Many American "journalists" like Jack Cafferty have a common characteristic: They have violated the very American values that they lecture foreign countries to uphold.[27] CNN has already pointed out a clarification Cafferty made Monday on show. ''I was referring to the Chinese government, and not to Chinese people or to Chinese-Americans,'' he said of his ''goons and thugs'' comment. ''It should be noted that over many years, Jack Cafferty has expressed critical comments on many governments, including the U.S. government and its leaders,'' CNN's statement said.[20] "The statement issued by CNN on Tuesday not only failed to sincerely apologise for commentator Jack Cafferty's remarks, but also spearheaded its attack on the Chinese government, attempting to incite the Chinese people against the government," Xinhua quoted Ms Jiang as saying.[3] CNN pointed out that Cafferty has made critical comments of many governments, including Washington. '''On this occasion Jack was offering his strongly held opinion of the Chinese government, not the Chinese people,''' CNN said in the Tuesday statement.[1] CNN's clarification, that Cafferty was criticizing the government and not the people, made his comments much more heinous, and -- unless CNN is prepared to back them up with a parade of scholars and independent analysts -- showed either moderate cultural insensitivity or tremendous chutzpah. For those subject to the jurisdiction of the Beijing Government, you see, it is a potentially capital crime to suggest that there is any daylight between the policies of the central committee, Chinese culture, and the will of the Chinese people. In the run-up to the Olympics, some of those (like CNN & J. Cafferty) who do business in or with China are being given an opportunity to sample what it is like to live under a totalitarian regime. All people in China hate the Chinese government, but almost all are too terrified by the retribution that will be handed out -- not only to themselves, but to all members of their extended families, their loved ones, their friends, and a few innocent bystanders for good measure -- to speak out against it.[26] "We are aware of concerns about Jack Cafferty's comments related to China in the context of the upcoming Olympics. "CNN would like to clarify that it was not Mr. Cafferty's, nor CNN's, intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way.[15]
BEIJING Ratcheting up an active campaign against what it calls Western media bias, China demanded a "sincere apology" from CNN for statements made by commentator Jack Cafferty who last week called the Chinese "goons and thugs."[19] LOS ANGELES, April 19 (UPI) -- Thousands of Chinese-Americans rallied in Los Angeles Saturday, calling on CNN to fire commentator Jack Cafferty. Cafferty drew their ire for his April 9 comments in which he called Chinese goods "junk" and the country's government "a bunch of goons and thugs," the Los Angeles Times reported.[29] LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chinese-Americans rallied outside CNN's Hollywood office on Saturday to demand the firing of commentator Jack Cafferty for calling China's goods "junk" and its leaders a "bunch of goons and thugs."[5]
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chinese-Americans have staged a protest outside the CNN office in Hollywood. They want the news network to fire commentator Jack Cafferty for making what the protesters call insulting remarks about Chinese people. Police say 2,000 to 5,000 people gathered outside the CNN building for about 2 1/2 hours this morning.[31] On the evening of April 16, 2008, Director-General of the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry Liu Jianchao summoned CNN's Beijing executives to lodge a solemn representation for its host Jack Cafferty's vile remarks against the Chinese people.[16] CNN'''s Beijing bureau chief was summoned to the foreign ministry over the issue. '''The Chinese people cannot be insulted or bullied so we request once again for CNN to take the issue seriously, take back its vicious remarks, and make sincere apologies to the people of China,''' Jiang said yesterday.[1] China on Thursday snubbed CNN's apology. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the CNN statement lacked sincerity and instead "turned its attack on the Chinese government to try to sow division between the Chinese government and the people."[5] Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said on Thursday that the apology didn't go far enough. The state-run Xinhua news agency reports Jiang as saying, "Cafferty used the microphone in his hands to slander China and the Chinese people (and) seriously violated professional ethics of journalism and human conscience."[28] In a regular news briefing, Jiang Yu, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, has demanded an apology from CNN for the remarks made by one of its commentators last week. The remarks were made by Jeff Cafferty, one of the regular commentators on CNN's "The Situation Room," in a topic discussing China's change in these few decades.[33] BEIJING ' China rejected on Thursday CNN's response to its demand for an apology over remarks made by commentator Jack Cafferty after the Foreign Ministry summoned the network's bureau chief in Beijing the night before.[20]
Throngs of Chinese Americans protested outside CNN's offices in Hollywood on Saturday morning, calling for the dismissal of commentator Jack Cafferty, whose recent remarks about Chinese goods and China inflamed a community already angry about international condemnations directed at the host country of the upcoming Olympic Games.[34] Should CNN's Jack Cafferty be canned? Voice your thoughts. He should be fired, and CNN should drop further down in the ratings. They are the most biased news media next to NBC. It is obvious that all this is not coming from "Chinese-Americans" If you could trace the IP's of these posts you'll find they come from China. Most of these "protesters" are Chinese nationals or on the payroll of China. This is a big coordinated rouse.[34]
AP reported that yesterday 'throngs' -- estimated at between two and five thousand people -- gathered in Hollywood to protest comments made by Jack Cafferty on CNN Sit Room on April 9, about the Chinese government and our relationship with it.[22] CNN spokesman Nigel Pritchard said the network has no comment aside from the April 15 statement, which said that Cafferty's comments were meant to refer only to the Chinese government and not the Chinese people.[18] The Chinese government reaction and the front-page coverage it received in local media raised the squabble to a level akin to calling in a foreign ambassador to lodge a government-to-government complaint. Mr. Liu said in his statement that Cafferty's comments "maliciously attacked the Chinese people and seriously violated the professional ethics of journalism.[8]
Jin Jing, a one-legged fencer from Shanghai was given the name "smiling angel in the wheelchair" as she returned home to China after bravely protecting the torch from protestors in Paris. At one point, Jin Jeng shielded the torch with her body as a protestor wrapped in a Tibetan flag bruised and scratched her. Xinhua, the Chinese government news agency, praised her for her efforts in defending her motherland and also the spirit of the Olympics which so many people tried to spoil in the Paris and London torch relays. This episode of bravery was not publicized in the West, which reinforced the angry sentiments in China of biased foreign media reports. Many Chinese were upset and stunned by the protests around the globe, feeling humiliated and appalled that so many people would go through such extents to tarnish the Chinese national pride and destroy China"s turn in the spotlight.[15] The dispute between China and the U.S. channel comes at a time of increased friction between China and Western media over Tibet. The Chinese government and state media have repeatedly condemned what they call foreign press bias in its coverage of China'''s crackdown on Tibetan riots, which erupted in Lhasa on March 14 following days of peaceful protests and spilled over into neighbouring Tibetan-populated regions.[1]
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Up to five thousand people gathered Saturday in front of the Hollywood offices of CNN to protest disparaging remarks about China made by one of the channel's commentators, police said. The demonstration came as pro-China protests were held across the world against what they see as disinformation of the Western media over China's recent crackdown in Tibet, which has proved a public relations disaster ahead of August's Beijing Olympics. Police Sergeant David Torres said "between 2,000 and 5,000" people equipped with megaphones and signs were protesting Saturday, but said that despite turning up unannounced, there were no incidents and they dispersed by midday.[2] A CNN Hong Kong spokeswoman said yesterday the organisation did not yet have an updated response. CNN has been singled out by the central government in a wave of criticism against "biased western media" for their "distorted" reports of unrest in Tibet and other ethnically Tibetan regions last month, and the Olympic torch relay, which protesters disrupted in London, Paris and San Francisco. The resentment towards CNN and western media has gained momentum among ethnic Chinese - at home and overseas - who have vented their anger in cyberspace and public protests.[3]
CNN and other foreign satellite broadcasts can be seen only in hotels, offices and housing developments open to foreigners, meaning very few Chinese would have heard Caffertys original comments. Censors also block many foreign news sites on the Internet, pointing to an underlying irony of the ongoing protests that they profess outrage over foreign media reports that their government does not permit them to view.[30]
Cafferty made the comments during an appearance on The Situation Room that aired April 9th. China has snubbed an apology from CNN over the remarks, which Cafferty said referred to China's government, not its people. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.[35] The moment happened on the April 9 airing of "The Situation Room," Cafferty, discussing China, said that goods from that country were "junk," and referred to the Chinese government as "a bunch of goons and thugs."[26] "It's really unacceptable," said John He, an organizer of the event. "It maliciously attacks all Chinese. This would not be accepted if it was directed at any other ethnic group." On the April 9 airing of "The Situation Room," Cafferty said of America's relationship with China: "We continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export. jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we're buying from Wal-Mart.[34]
"We are shocked to hear the malicious attacks of CNN commentator Cafferty against the Chinese people and express our strong condemnation. Taking the advantage of the microphone in his hand, Cafferty vilified China and the Chinese people, seriously violated the ethics of journalism and human conscience. His arrogance, ignorance and hatred to the Chinese people have aroused indignation of the Chinese people at home and abroad, and will definitely be denounced by righteous people all over the world.[15] Jiang said Cafferty's remarks not only insulted the Chinese people, but also defied the conscience and justice of humankind. The Chinese people cannot be bullied and humiliated, she said. "We once again solemnly urge CNN to seriously deal with the matter, take back the vile remarks and make a sincere apology to all Chinese people", she said.[10] We solemnly request CNN and Cafferty to take back the malicious remarks and apologize to all the Chinese people."[15]
"The Chinese people cannot be bullied and humiliated. "We once again solemnly urge CNN to seriously deal with the matter, withdraw the vile remarks and make a sincere apology to all Chinese people", she said.[11]
While CNN has issued an apology, saying that the comments were not aimed at the Chinese people, but rather the Chinese government, many in the Chinese community feel the apology was insincere.[21] Web chatter fully supported the government's move and urged an even tougher stance. One reader on the People's Daily website commented: "No offence, but I think it is time for the Chinese government, the people it represents and the Chinese people worldwide to take punitive measures against CNN until it eats back its own vomit.[8] Mr Liu said CNN had not only failed to apologise, but also directed an attack on the Chinese government in a bid to "mislead public opinion" and "deceive the Chinese people".[3] "CNN's ulterior motive in targeting the Chinese government, continuing to mislead public opinion as well as deceiving the Chinese people, will never succeed."[8]
The righteous people and fair public opinion will be on the side of the Chinese people. He stressed that journalistic professionals should abide by their ethics and don't have the privilege to slander or rail at anybody or any government. CNN's recent reporting programs completely went against the principles of being objective and balanced that the network often claimed as its basic standards for news coverage and even the moral standards.[16]
CNN said it apologized to anyone who thought otherwise. Jiang said at a regularly scheduled news conference that the CNN statement lacked sincerity and instead "turned its attack on the Chinese government to try to sow division between the Chinese government and the people."[30]
China on Thursday urged the U.S. news network CNN to take back one of its commentator's insulting remarks about the Chinese, and to sincerely apologize.[10] LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- About 1,500 pro-Chinese demonstrators gathered outside CNN's bureau in Los Angeles on Saturday, demanding that a commentator apologize and be fired from the network over comments critical of China and the U.S. government's relationship with it.[4]
More than 1,000 ethnic Chinese protesters gathered along Sunset Blvd near N Cahuenga Blvd shouting "Liar" in front of CNN's Los Angeles office, demanding a "sincere apology" from political commentator Jack Cafferty for calling Chinese "goons and thugs" on the air last week.[34] On April 9, Jack Cafferty, a commentator on CNN's "Situation Room" program, used the term "goons and thugs" while describing the conditions in China years ago.[23] Word comes from Kenneth Tan at the Shanghaiist that " wo days after Danwei reported the unblocking of Blogspot," China has decided to block CNN.'' He reports that several of his readers, one at China Netcom in particular, have been getting connection reset, a tell-tale sign of China's decision to block a site. Kenneth theorizes that it's a result of the recent saga of Jack Cafferty, and his perceived biased reporting on the part of CNN. In fact, the reporting isn't particularly biased, but the commentary definitely has an anti-China bent to it.'' In a press conference on Tuesday, Cafferty more or less besmirched the entire country, saying " I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."[36] The famously curmudgeonly Cafferty had been speaking during an April 9 appearance on ''The Situation Room,'' according to a transcript posted on the CNN Web site. ''I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years,'' he said.[20]
I think our relationship with China has certainly changed. I think they're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."[34]
"Before we get to the question, a clarification. Last week, during a discussion of the controversy surrounding China's hosting of the Olympic Games, I said that the Chinese are basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they have been for the last 50 years.[15]
Cafferty's recent remarks about Chinese goods and the Beijing government was gasoline on a smoldering fire already stoked by worldwide international condemnations for the upcoming China Olympics. The Chinese are bristling at the constant criticism over their human rights violations and a vocal nation of angry Americans who blame them for the poison pet food crisis, toxic toys and other inferior consumer goods.[26] The Chinese government continue their efforts at damage control over protests against the government's handling of Tibet and human rights. However the efforts by the Chinese may have the overall result of only expanding protests against the Beijing Olympic Games. and the human rights issue in both Tibet and China.[6]
There is no reaction from the Chinese government to comments made by Conservative MP Rob Anders. It is hard to say what impact against Germany may be planned by China. One possible solution for the Chinese would be to grant a group of Canadian Senators and MPs visitor visas so they could see firsthand what is happening in Tibet.[6] Themantle of responsibility falls on the U.S. government along with the U.S. companies. The Chinese government has no responsibility to the U.S. consumer but the companies having these products made in China do (or certainly should). They appear not to be taking that responsibility as evidenced in the import of dangerous foods and goods and that should not be a surprize. They are manufacturing there to avoid that responsibility in the first place. Cafferty made another scatter shot on this one by ineffectively targeting the Chinese government over U.S. companies and the U.S. government.[22] While no western government is taking a really hard line against China, the reaction from the Chinese government is not unlike that of a spoiled brat demanding to be left alone to do as it wishes.[6] Perhaps China, which seeks to be a major player on the world stage has yet to realize that one of the costs of entry into the big leagues is that most western nations value human rights on a different level than the Chinese government apparently does.[6] The Chinese government has advised China Minsheng Banking Corp. to set aside more money to slow down lending. Top manage of ICBC Credit Suisse Asset Management Co. in Beijing Zhang Ling explains, "The economy outlook is gloomy, with rising costs for companies and high inflation both hurting the sentiment."[15] Real Han (Nan tse Han) oppose the Beijing government with vehemence equal to the Tibetans. Han Chinese living abroad (those in the U.S. are encouraged to refer to themselves as, 'Dragon's seeds') publicly rally to support a government which has oppressed them, their relatives, and their friends in the hopes that their work unit leaders back home will credit them and their relatives for their loyalty to the party. Were they ever to hear a fellow Chinese speaking out against the Government, any loyal or opportunistic overseas Chinese would report the dissenter so that the dissenter's family could be punished back on the mainland. This is how the Government of China keeps a muzzle on potential dissenters even when they are abroad.[26]
BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Protests against Tibetan independence have continued Sunday in several Chinese cities, according to the country's state-run news agency.[23] BEIJING - China on Thursday snubbed an apology from CNN over remarks by one of its commentators as a wave of verbal assaults on foreign media raised concerns over coverage at this summers Beijing Olympics.[30] China demanded that CNN make a ''sincere'' apology for comments made by its commentator Jack Cafferty, rejecting a CNN statement released April 15.[18] "Protesters gathered in front of shops of the French supermarket Carrefour in the cities, chanting slogans of "boycott Carrefour", "oppose Tibet independence" and others". China, this week has also demanded, and received an apology from CNN over editorial comments made by Jack Cafferty, a CNN commentator.[6]
The controversy over the recent comments made by CNN'''s Jack Cafferty about China is a bit puzzling.[32]
A much smaller gathering of about two dozen people protested Saturday outside CNN's corporate offices in Atlanta, Georgia. In his comments, Cafferty said that he doesn't know whether China is different than it was decades ago but that the United States' relationship with China is.[4] The road to the Summer Olympics is obviously going to be -- and indeed has been -- bumpy enough without CNN throwing firecrackers into the street. You might say, in response, that China has to learn and accept that our media culture is very different from theirs, that Cafferty spoke for no one but himself, and that half the things people sometimes say in the media they may not even believe themselves, they do it just for effect (especially talk shows).[24]
Of course, we now live in a world where the truth is almost always taboo. On April 9, Cafferty appeared in his usual role on CNN'''s Situation Room. He was asked by Wolf Blitzer for his opinion on the relationship between the U.S. and China.[32] Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the apology for comments by Jack Cafferty on the Situation Room programme on April 9 was insincere.[3] Jiang Yu's comments are available at the Chinese Foreign Ministry website.[37] Chinese Olympic torch escorts who put their lives on the line to protect the sacred flame should be commended, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday. "They protect the world's holy fire with their bodies to prevent disruption and sabotage by Tibetan independence forces. Such spirit should be praised and understood," Jiang Yu said in a regular press briefing.[11]
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao issued a formal statement rejecting CNN's "apology."[8] Los Angeles A noisy Trans-Pacific storm has blown up, starring the Chinese Foreign Ministry and CNN. That's a superpower squall if there ever was one.[24]
Thousands of Chinese Americans and overseas Chinese rallied Saturday outside CNN's studios in downtown Los Angeles to protest anti-Chinese remarks by one of the network's commentators.[13] HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Thousands of protesters stood outside CNN's Hollywood studios Saturday to protest comments made by one of its commentators that have angered Chinese Americans. Protesters showed up on Sunset Boulevard, just west of Vine Street, at about 9 a.m. "They did not have any city permit but they had some megaphones," LAPD Sgt. David Torres said.[25]
CNN should give apologize for what it conveyed. It should not hide behind its alleged intention. I think the person who wrote this have difficulties with English, he might be a new comer to America like many protesters. He claims that the Chinese Americans are upset because Jack (ass) said Chinese products are 'junk'.[26] The protesters lined Sunset Boulevard from Cahuenga Boulevard to Wilcox Avenue chanting "Fire Cafferty" and "CNN liar" and singing the Chinese national anthem and other patriotic songs. They waved Chinese, American and Taiwanese flags and directed their anger at the news channel's dark glass tower.[34]
"CNN and other foreign satellite broadcasts can be seen only in hotels, offices and housing developments open to foreigners, meaning very few Chinese would have heard Cafferty's original comments.[9]
Chinese will never allow Tibet & Taiwan separate from China. I will tell you why: If you have some knowledge about history, you should know why you have accomplished so much, because your comments united all Chinese people regardless where they are from, regardless their race, religion and political point of views for that matter.[26] Although, as a person, you have right to make and to defend your comments made toward China and Chinese people.[26]
Carrefour's China outlets employ mainly Chinese people and sell mostly Chinese products.[27]
CNN should immediately give an open, official and sincere apology to the ethnic Chinese people, a letter urging people to join the protest said.[3] Many Chinese people are enthusiastic about Beijing Olympic Games in August, and the government has been waging a loud propaganda war against the exiled Dalai Lama, whom it accuses of masterminding deadly riots in Tibet's regional capital Lhasa last month and other Tibetan areas in neighboring provinces.[38] In a sign that the Chinese government may want to cool public anger over Tibet and the Olympics protests, the official Xinhua agency called for "patriotic zeal to concentrate on development."[38] The move comes in protest of the protest against the Olympic Torch relay in France. The reaction from the Chinese is likely to attempt to send an economic message to governments to soften their stand on Tibet.[6] A letter taped to a door of the bureau demanded that Cafferty "openly apologize" and be removed from the air permanently, calling the demonstration "only our first step." A second letter slid under the bureau's door criticized CNN's coverage of unrest in Tibet and anti-Chinese protests that have followed the running of the Olympic torch in advance of this summer's games in Beijing.[4] In Germany there are now calls from politicians to blackout coverage of the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. The Local in Germany reports, "German MPs have called on leading television channels not to screen the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games in protest at China's Tibet policy, the Bild newspaper reported Thursday. "The public broadcasters should send a signal and refuse to give coverage to this propaganda event," said Kai Wegener, an MP for Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats".[6]
China has been in the spotlight as it prepares to host the summer Olympics. Criticism of its human rights record and unrest in Tibet have received widespread coverage, leading Chinese leaders to accuse Western media of smearing the country.[31] Chinese at home and abroad have heatedly accused Western media of biased coverage of violent anti-government protests in Tibet and across western China last month.[30] Chinese state-run media has called Nobel Peace Laureate the Dalai Lama a terrorist and accused Western media, which has been barred from open reporting in Tibet, of unbalanced coverage. Lin Chen, who learned about the protest on popular Chinese-language Web portal Sina.com ]] Sina.com, left his home at 7 a.m. and drove to Los Angeles from San Diego.[14]
The story so far: Some Chinese officials and many Chinese on the mainland are steamed over Western media coverage of the Tibet demonstrations. Their complaint (and a whole lot of people elsewhere in Asia agree) is the usual Asian moan about our media: That we portray world events that are inherently complicated, nuanced and sensitive as if they were simple black and white morality plays.[24]
China's criticism of the foreign media's coverage of Tibet continues to increase as the Chinese public also joined in condemning the "biased" reports.[33] The demand came amid increasing accusations in China against foreign media over allegedly biased coverage of violent anti-government protests in Tibet and across western part of the country last month.[20]
The editorial page of the English-language China Daily was two-thirds filled with attacks on Western media and exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama, accused by Beijing of orchestrating deadly riots in Tibet's capital Lhasa and elsewhere.[20] Much of the blame is being directed at Western media, which the Chinese American community has accused of bias for failing to show the violence inflicted on non-Tibetans during the recent unrest in the western Chinese province and of being too critical of China.[34] About 30,000 journalists are expected in Beijing for the Olympics and some have already been targeted in a campaign by some Chinese to denounce Western media for biased reporting.[33]
CNN has been singled out by the Chinese government and unknown activists who have phoned and e-mailed death threats to Western reporters. Most of the criticism of the Atlanta-based network concerns a photograph posted on its Web site weeks ago which cropped out Tibetans throwing stones at Chinese security forces.[30] In Chinese, the language that the Chinese government speaks, Americans are known as 'Mei Guoren' - Beautiful people.[22] To educate you, I would quote the following from WikipediA: 'The Opium War was known as the Anglo-Chinese Wars, lasted from 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860 respectively, the climax of a trade dispute between China under the Qing Dynasty and the United Kingdom. British smuggling of opium from British India into China and the Chinese government's efforts to enforce its drug laws erupted in conflict. China's defeat in both wars forced the government to tolerate the opium trade.[26] Even if your comments were toward Chinese government, you forgot the government was elected by the 1.3 billion Chinese citizens. You have no rights to even questioning, much less to criticizing them.[26] There has been no response yet from the Chinese government to allow the group of Senators and MPs to travel to Tibet.[6]
China's government ARE a bunch of thugs who are intentionally poisoning our nation with hundreds of products; persecuting anyone who disagrees with the loons that run the place; hacking into our Pentagon while admitting to it; engaging in espionage with plants employed in our government; possessing a history of murder that overshadows completely the nightmare of Nazi Germany; and the hideous, inhuman oppression of Tibet. Oh, AND, they have the Olympics. What baboon committee gave the Olympics to communist throwbacks? And CNN apologized, because their masters complained that they were offended. If you're a Liberal, your Communist masters do not want you to criticize them. Otherwise they'll unplug the brain pump on Howard Dean.[39] China is interfering with our own nation's freedom of speech. We're letting them. They cannot imprison and torture CNN for it. That is the only shame in this. There are those who have tried to argue with me on this from an historical point of view, invariably saying that Chinese civilization has been around for thousands of years, so, logically, they must know something. My reply is, invariably, that my grandmother lived to be 98 and she became senile.[39] Following earlier prominent state media reports, Chinese officials and citizens have also vented outrage at a commentator on CNN television who spoke of Chinese "goons" and "junk".[38] Saturday, some 1,500 pro-Chinese protesters gathered outside CNN's Los Angeles Bureau, carrying signs that said "Chinese Negative News," "Fire Cafferty" and "CNN Liar."[21] LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chinese-Americans have rallied outside CNN's Hollywood office to demand the firing of commentator Jack Cafferty.[35] Protesters gathered at CNN's bureau in Los Angeles, California, to demand the firing of Jack Cafferty.[4]
Protesters were also heard shouting anti-CNN slogans. This criticism comes after remarks recently made by CNN commentator Jack Cafferty.[23] CNN is having an eventful weekend, with reporter Richard Quest caught at 3 in the morning in a park with meth in his pocket, and now Jack Cafferty, the network's curmudgeonly commentator has landed in hot water too.[26]
Thousands of protesters stood outside CNN's Hollywood studios Saturday to protest comments made by Jack Cafferty.[25] Jack Cafferty, basically an idiot with nothing to offer but a smarmy attitude, working for the Marxist television representation in this country ' CNN ' by accident got it right.[39]
A crowd estimated by police at 2,000 to 5,000 gathered, chanting and holding signs that read "Fire Cafferty" and "CNN: Chinese Negative News."[5] Liu said that the insulting remarks of Cafferty drew strong indignation from the Chinese people.[16] The crowd was peaceful, and no arrests were made. Another two dozen people holding Chinese flags also demonstrated outside CNN's corporate headquarters in Atlanta.[35] Some communities have called on overseas Chinese to protest by each sending a letter to CNN's headquarters, and an online petition calling for a boycott of the network has collected more than 80,000 names.[3] Associated Press - April 19, 2008 4:24 PM ET LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chinese-Americans have staged a protest outside the CNN office in Hollywood. They want the news network to fire commentator Jack[31] More than 40 Chinese groups in the U.S. have been involved in planning a demonstration in front of CNN's Los Angeles office tomorrow.[3]
According to China Labor Watch, 80 percent of the $22.3 billion of toys sold in this country are manufactured in China. All of the major U.S. toy companies have turned to cheap Chinese labor to produce their toys.[32] It is a popular notion that the Chinese own us 'lock, stock' and whatever but China holds only half the U.S. debt that Japan holds. What also seems to be lost in this piece is putting some responsibility on the U.S. and other companies that do manufacturing business there.[22]
National Post A screen grab from anti-cnn.com, a Chinese Web site that criticizes the news network for its coverage of China.[8] Ours is an era of globalization, in which squishy emotions should give way to reason and wisdom. When Europe and the United States are increasingly embracing trade protectionism, with some people there calling for boycott of Chinese imports and blaming their economic woes on trade with developing countries, China should set an exemple of open and fair trade. If boycotting Carrefour is irrational, it's worse to boycott anything French.[27] Wal-Mart estimates it spent $15 billion on Chinese-made products last year, accounting for nearly one-eighth of all Chinese exports to the United States. If the company that Sam Walton built with his "Made in America" ad campaign were itself a separate nation, it would rank as China's fifth-largest export market, ahead of Germany and Britain.'''[32] Where's the lie?' Where's the slander?' All Cafferty did was to repeat what has been said a hundred thousand times in all the media. If these proud Chinese-Americans want respect as they claim the do, then they, too, should be shouting down the Chinese officials who are sending us poisoned products that' they and their children use along with us, and not demanding Cafferty's head be thrown into a pit of quicksand of their own making.[22]
"After years of efforts by some Western media to demonize China has failed, the ilk of Cafferty have come to the forefront to directly assault China, which reflects the utter frustration and despair of some wicked men and women.[15] The protesters are angry with Cafferty who called China's goods "junk" and its leaders a quote, "bunch of goons and thugs."[40] Well sorry to tell you there my new comer friend, the Chinese are actually upset because Jack (ass) there call Chinese 'a bunch of goon and thugs'.[26]
In attempting to turn the tide in what is becoming a growing human rights issue world-wide, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reports, "Protests against "Tibet independence" supporters in some western countries erupted in a few Chinese cities on Saturday.[6] Chinese Internet sites have been awash with calls to stop buying French-made goods and to stop shopping at Carrefour stores after Tibet protesters in Paris disrupted the Beijing Olympics torch relay.[38] "(Instead) The mobs which disrupt the relay should be universally condemned." She made the remarks when asked to comment on reports that Japanese Olympic officials have said the role of the Chinese torch guards in blue-and-white track suits would not be to provide security.[11]
I heard the comment myself. For those of you who think chinese are too sensitive, just replace china with isreal and chinese with jews and imagine the responses he'd get. It's always easy when the racial target are others.[22] "We understand free speech," Lake Wang, 39, told the Los Angeles Times. "But what if Cafferty said this about other racial groups? I think he would be fired. I think he's jealous of China."[5] "Cafferty stated on April 9, as CNN host Wolf Blitzer was comparing today's China to that of 20 or 30 years ago.[6] CCTV.com ]] CCTV.com is running special reports on the coverage with stories headlined, "China once again solemnly urges CNN's sincere apology" and "CNN's malicious attack." This morning, CNN spokesperson Christa Robinson reiterated CNN's stand on the issue.[7] CNN later issued a formal apology, but apparently, China is still not amused.[36]
The central government yesterday rejected an apology by CNN over remarks by one of its commentators, and demanded an official retraction of the "insulting comments".[3] A Web site called anti-cnn.com has been set up to provide special critique of Atlanta-based CNN. The Foreign Ministry has denied that the government has provided any funding or resources to the Web site.[18] Liu Jianchao, also from the Foreign Ministry, summoned CNN's Beijing bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz for a dressing-down late on Wednesday. "Those in the field of journalism should abide by their morals. They don't have the privilege to verbally abuse or slander other people or other governments," Mr Liu said on the ministry's website.[3]
The head of the ministrys information department summoned CNNs bureau chief in Beijing on Wednesday night to deliver a near identical protest.[30]
Likely a DDOS attack. From Beijing, this morning I tried simultaneously accessing CNN from within China and from my US-based shell account, and both timed out.[36]
Streamline your online life with a tour of sites and tools you don't know about, tips for using the ones you do, and sources for easy, free software. Fill out the following information and click on the Send button in order to send this post, Chinese Govt. "Urges CNN's Sincere Apology", to a friend.[7] CNN offered an apology Tuesday, but the Chinese rejected it as not good enough.[19]
The ChiComs have basically told CNN to take that apology and put it where the sun doesn't shine, and use Cafferty's body to do it.[9] If I am running a serious media organization, I'd put that kind of stuff on some cable comedy show. It's too easily misunderstood. The fact that Cafferty is being widely misunderstood across Asia is no reason to excuse the fact that CNN offered him the bullhorn on an issue like this in the first place.[24] Demonstrators also expressed their anger about what they see as biased reporting of the Tibet story by Western media organizations including CNN.[23] Chinese at home and abroad have accused Western media of unjustly criticizing Chinese security forces for cracking down on protesters.[20]
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese official media have sought to temper nationalist calls for boycotts of foreign businesses accused of supporting Tibetan independence, urging angry citizens to focus on economic development.[38] The native of Tianjin, the port city nearest Beijing, has worked for years as an engineer at Qualcomm. "I know both worlds, English media and Chinese media.[14]
While the anger continues in overseas Chinese communities, the government in Beijing has attempted to control the anti-Western rhetoric online for fear of marring the experience of countless foreigners visiting for the summer games.[34]
Jiang continued stating that "China could never accept that"." The overall message from China is that they are going to take action over comments or decisions taken by governments. That action right now is with words, and actions suggesting economic efforts are next. [6] The real message to China, perhaps from western consumers and governments could be for China to read "The Bear and the Dragon" a book by author Tom Clancey.[6]
China's crackdown on unrest in Tibet has led to protests in London, Paris and San Francisco, with demonstrators seeking to disrupt the Olympic torch's 21-city global tour. [18] I have elevated 'not giving a damn' to an art form when it comes to the Olympics. The mere idea that the United States ' or any civilized nation ' is going to even acknowledge this event in China calls into question not just what we really stand for as a people, but what does anything mean if it can, at the drop of a pin, mean nothing.[39] There are some French people who are hostile to China, but by no means all French are so.[27] Finger-puppet Cafferty accidentally spoke what most rational people would arrive at by mere thought. I'm sure his GED will be revoked. The mere fact that the fascist nation that has committed wanton chemical warfare on us gets away with getting an apology from their disciples should tell you volumes about where we are as a nation. What doesn't surprise me about this? They already have Hillary in their pockets, like they did Bill throughout the 90's. Our 'judicial system' has turned a blind eye to this. I use this overt, blatantly alarming example to illustrate my point: every ideal we hold to be a lofty goal; every axiom we propose to elevate as our roadmap to life; every moral value we can possibly place on any act, pretense or whim. all of these are potentially meaningless.[39] There is something else that's unfortunate: Jack Cafferty himself. To know him may be to love him, and many do, especially for his taxicab-driver style rudeness that makes fun of virtually everything and everyone. Jack the Hack once memorably opined about an effort in the U.S. Congress to ban gay marriages: "This is all being done by the Republican majority in an effort to appeal to right-wing nuts in the Republican Party ahead of the upcoming mid-term elections.[24]
Cafferty is right, our relationship with China is just like a married mans relationship with a two dollar whore. The two dollar whore has sweet kids who need monetary support so you can justify his actions if you like. America has in the last few years become obsessed with cheap labor and has become willing to ignore its own laws and principles to obtain near slave labor. Big business has fell in love with the cheap labor and lack of regulations in China because they can fatten their off shore bank accounts considerably.[22] Cafferty replied: "I don't know if China is any different, but our relationship with China is certainly different.[32]
I don't believe most of what I'm told by the politicians. I think virtually everything they say for public consumption is said with an agenda. I just don't think that we have a very honest relationship with our government in this country, and it makes me angry," Cafferty said in that interview.[21]
Some of the protesters Saturday said Cafferty's words reflected a growing unease among Americans over China's growing global profile. [34] China is an autocracy. Can anyone disagree? But It ishould be and is subject to criticism just like the USA. Cafferty was expressing an opinion. The demonstrators expressed theirs.[34]
A signed editorial in the Communist Party's flagship People's Daily attacked what it called Cafferty's 'verbal violence.' 'When people wake up and face the facts, there will be no more market for 'information terrorism,' the editorial said."[9] Police estimated the crowd at 1,500, but organizers said there were 10,000 attendees. A similar protest took place at CNN headquarters in Atlanta. "Most of these people are American citizens and legal resident aliens," said John Chen, a lead organizer.[34] Since the Lhasa violence on March 14, some foreign media including CNN had made a number of biased reports about the incident, the official said. CNN had violated the principle of objective reporting, and "this is not what responsible media should do," he said.[12]
Chinese Americans line Sunset Boulevard outside the network's offices to call for the commentator's dismissal. [34] We're in hock to the Chinese up to our eyeballs because of the war in Iraq, for one thing. They're holding hundreds of billions of dollars worth of our paper. We are also running hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of trade deficits with them, as we continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export, you know, jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we're buying from Wal-Mart.''' Because our Congress and president have deleted the federal Treasury and bankrupted our grandchildren's future with earmarks and the ongoing war in Iraq (which has already cost $500 billion), this nation is being crushed under our own debt. The National Debt now stands at $9.3 trillion.[32]
SOURCES
1. Gulf Times ''' Qatar'''s top-selling English daily newspaper - Philippines/East Asia
2. AFP: Thousands protest anti-China remarks outside CNN: police
3. SCMP.com - the online edition of South China Morning Post, Hong Kong's premier English-language newspaper
4. CNN commentator's comments draw protests - CNN.com
5. The Associated Press: Protesters take CNN to task over commentator's China remarks
6. NetNewsledger.com - Maybe the Chinese Should Read "The Bear and the Dragon"?
7. mediabistro.com: TVNewser
8. Chinese government wants apology from CNN
9. CNN Sad Over ChiCom Anger
10. China urges again that CNN sincerely apologizes over insulting words
11. Volunteers guard the sacred flame
12. Chinese journalists group urges CNN to apologize for "insulting" remarks_English_Xinhua
13. Overseas Chinese rally in LA against CNN's anti-Chinese remarks - People's Daily Online
14. Chinese protest CNN for Cafferty remarks
15. US-China Today :: daily update
16. Liu Jianchao Lodges a Solemn Representation to CNN's Beijing Office for Its Host's Insulting Words against the Chinese People
17. China Rejects CNN Answer On Cafferty Comments - 4/17/2008 2:32:00 PM - Multichannel News
18. China rejects CNN apology, demands'sincere' response - Daily Report
19. Nation & World | China demands better apology | Seattle Times Newspaper
20. China rejects CNN 'goons' apology :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: World
21. Chinese Community Takes Offense At CNN Commentator's Comments | April 20, 2008 | AHN
22. Where's the Lie in What Jack Cafferty Said About the Chinese Government?
23. China protests target CNN, French store - CNN.com
24. AsiaMedia Columns :: China versus CNN
25. cbs2.com - Thousands Protest CNN Commentator's Remarks
26. CNN's Jack Cafferty's Situation Room is SRO with angry Chinese - Smallscreen
27. Bash the biased media, don't boycott Carrefour -- Shanghai Daily | '''''''''''' -- English Window to China News
28. Chinese gov't steps up anti-CNN cries - Asia entertainment news from Variety - varietyasiaonline.com
29. Chinese-Americans rally against Cafferty - UPI.com
30. China snubs CNN apology over Cafferty remarks - International Business Times -
31. KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | SoCal protesters target CNN over China remarks
32. NBU: Jack Cafferty Merely Spoke The Truth by Dave Gibson , 04/20/08
33. US-China Today :: daily update
34. Protesters target CNN after Jack Cafferty's remarks on China - Los Angeles Times
35. Protesters take CNN to task over commentator's China remarks
36. China Not So Hot on CNN Either
37. US-China Today :: daily update
38. China state media seeks to contain nationalist anger | Entertainment | Television | Reuters
39. WEBCommentary(tm) - Boycott the Entirety of the Olympics
40. Chinese-American protesters rally outside CNN's Hollywood office | NECN
GENERATE A MULTI-SOURCE SUMMARY ON THIS SUBJECT:
Please WAIT 10-20 sec for the new window to open...
You might want to EDIT the default search query below:
Get more info on China protests target CNN, French store by using the iResearch Reporter tool from Power Text Solutions.
 |
|  |
|
