CBSNews.com Turns Off Comments on Obama Stories

(AP Photo)

Today CBSNews.com informed its staff via email that they should no longer enable comments on stories about presidential candidate Barack Obama. The reason for the new policy, according to the email, is that stories about Obama have been attracting too many racist comments.

"It's very simple," Mike Sims, director of News and Operations for CBSNews.com, told me. "We have our Rules of Engagement. They prohibit personal attacks, especially racist attacks. Stories about Obama have been problematic, and we won't tolerate it."

CBSNews.com does sometimes delete comments on an individual basis, but Sims said that was not sufficient in the case of Obama stories due to "the volume and the persistence" of the objectionable comments.

There has been a fierce debate about how news outlets should handle reader comments. Washingtonpost.com's Jim Brady, whose site, like CBSNews.com, does not have the resources to filter comments in advance, told Howard Kurtz that he'd "rather figure out a way to do it better than not to do it at all."

But Post reporter Darryl Fears told Kurtz that comments should be eliminated if they can't be pre-screened for offensiveness.

"If you're an African American and you read about someone being called a porch monkey, that overrides any positive thing that you would read in the comments," he said.

CBSNews.com has no plans to disable comments on stories about the other presidential candidates, according to Sims. As for comments on Obama stories, he said the site is open to eventually bringing them back.

"We'd like to be able to return to them, and I'm not ruling that out," said Sims. "But at this point it's not possible."

[M_Miles]

CBS is afraid of comments; and fears freedom of speech as that speech applies to the public in comments about articles relating to the President. This will cause CBS to loose readership and prominence as a news source outlet.

[westsidebob]

I disagree strongly with the direction the president is taking our Republic. However, my comments here refer to the journalistic practices of CBS itself.

In my fifty five years of watching many elections come and go, I have never seen the sort of biased news coverage that was afforded the president when he was on the campaign trail. I never witnessed the sort of complete and utter character assassination that was afforded Governor Palin when she was on the campaign trail.

Now CBS has denied WND advertising space on its bill boards. WND wanted to post a board that asks; "Where is the birth Certificate?"

Its obvious to anyone with an open mind, such a response from CBS to WND to valid business proposition in a down economy; smacks of political censorship.

In the end, I won't change hearts, minds, or business practices based on politics with this comment. However, I do wish that CBS would be honest enough to admit thay are in the propaganda business not the business of journalism.

[mattcat25]

"Perhaps the reason for this is to try to sweep under the rug the racial prejudice that exists with liberals and the Democratic Party in America, in order to promote a man of color within their party to the White House."
Posted by One_American at 02:31 PM : May 07, 2007

This is what Rush "the drugged up" Limbaugh said on his show in reference to his Magic Negro song%u2026 "by airing this song my friends (hick-up) I've exposed the drive-thru media for what they are folks". What I don't understand is why Rush Limbaugh, his listeners, and members of the Republic Party can't just consciously accept what they really stand for, it's not like it's a secret or anything.

[one_american]

It would appear (dare I say it) BIASED for CBS to be selective about which party's politicians they are willing to subject to derogatory commentary.

If heading off "offensiveness" is the objective here, then the more than abundant stream of venomous comments aimed at the President of the United States should have been turned off a long time ago.

But in fact, I am not advocating the elimination of "free speech", as CBS is; in fact I think CBS is making another serious mistake here, as the Imus debacle was shown to be.

Perhaps the reason for this is to try to sweep under the rug the racial prejudice that exists with liberals and the Democratic Party in America, in order to promote a man of color within their party to the White House.

[mattcat25]

People should have some sort of basic assembly of order, or etiquette when discussing and criticizing each other on blog issues. But, more so professional media outlets should restrict overt and unconstructive hate and discriminatory comments. The EIB radio network should be castigated for airing Rush the Magic Negro Hater everyday on hundreds of radio markets. And, like I've stated before it's not really what Rush Limbaugh, or Ann Coulter say that is damaging it's the fact that many people in our country follow them.

[ritaflynn1]

This is so sad. But CBS is doing the right thing to keep blatant racism off its web. If only more news organizations would follow suit.

[marie2233]

Bigotry is ignorant-Calling Bush names is ign orant. Anyone remember Hillary blaming the right wing for making up the story of her husband having an affair? Did she ever apologize?

[portrower8]

I think we should not block the comments. Get them out...expose them for what they are...
As the idiots out there post racist comments...the mass public can respond with the common sense and brain power lacking in the morons posting such comments.

There couldn't be anything better for Obama. I have heard so many people say he can't be electable because of his race -- let the racists post -- and then let's tear them a part.

-Obama supporter from Tennessee!

[graphictruth-2009]

You know, I think this is a huge mistake - and from two perspectives.

First, it's unfair to racists.
Second, it's unfair to those of us who would like to engage them on ground favorable to us.

Oh, wait, there is a third point. Racism exists and it is newsworthy. Pretending it doesn't exist, for the sake of the tender hides of those targeted and those who would like to believe we are now all better people is just denial. If you like, emplace a digg-like system where readers can mod down offensive comments, while preserving the record OF those opinions.

"Porch monkeys." Snort. Yep - and everyone in the South was a "porch monkey" before air conditioning made it possible to be an INDOOR couch potato.

I mean, God forbid people should sit on their porches and interact with their neighbors, as opposed to Faux TV on the Hi-Def.

That comment alone is a priceless example of the inherent stupidity and willful ignorance required to maintain racism in the face of reality, and I think all such remarks should be allowed to stand in all their awful majesty.

[markleiman]

CBS shouldn't allow a "heckler's veto." Why should the racists be able to deny Obama's supporters a chance to comment on stories about him? Spend the money to assign a monitor, but don't give in to the cyberthugs.