Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) is still not happy about the Comcast-NBC Univeral deal. Waters was critical from the onset during all steps of the merger approval process, even grilling Jeff Zucker about the lack of minority programming last year. If you remember, even 30 Rock got in on the anger, parodying Waters with a character played by Queen Latifah. Now Waters has taken aim at the actual conditions stipulated by the FCC, which okayed the marriage last week. As revealed by the commission, Comcast agreed to certain things that would indicate that it’s a kind-and-gentle corporation. Among the promises: more content for minority groups and more local news and childrens programming. The company also said it would create more of an equal playing field – that it wouldn’t withhold programming from online competitors — and that it would launch new independent cable channels. But in her statement, Waters said, “I do not believe the American public can have much confidence in Comcast-NBCU’s commitment to launch 10 new independent channels when current networks have had so many challenges negotiating reasonable carriage terms with the cable giant.”


Everyone knows that this merger will do nothing good for the public no matter what ‘promises’ Comcast made to gain approval.
Get over it, Maxine. You are a part of the government which has approved this deal, and crying foul after the fact does nothing at all.
Yeah her statement confuses me too. The Obama administration is responsible for pushing this deal through, so did Maxine not get the daily talking points memo or what? Maybe she’s complaining because she didn’t get her cut.
Exactly! She’s as corrupt as they come! She’s part of the Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson “shake ‘em down”, crowd!
Let me guess, Ms.(I’m being investigated for ethics violations) Waters, wants more black programming and more blacks hired.
Wow, I knew there’d be a racist remark posted. You are an idiot Jon. If she were a white male would you’ve had anything to post at all?
Idiot!
No, you’re the idiot Arse. Jon wasn’t being a racist, he was rightly pointing out that Maxine is notorious for pulling the race card anytime she has a problem with something, which is to say, pretty much 3 times a day. On a good day. Maxine is the Congresswoman who cried “Blacksploitation!” Even people who vote for her know that. This is no different then pointing out Clinton loved to bite his lip, or Bush had a problem with saying “nuclear.”
Get over yourself dude. You’re just a bored agitator desperate for a cause. Any cause. Go macramé or something, or finger paint.
Well Jon, what’s wrong if she happens to want a greater black presence? Maybe you feel blacks should just vanish into “thin air” or perhaps “go back to Africa?” More and more I go to the theater to watch films that don’t even have a black extra. Black Swan comes to mind. The King’s Speech is another. We know there won’t be any black writers on those projects because one way of excluding us is through subject matter and content although the reverse is never the case. We rarely get the opportunity to write our own stories or offer our perspective, and to make matters worse, even when the central figure is black, as was the case in The Last King of Scotland, the industry finds a way to make a fictitious white character the focus.
There is a conscious, concerted effort to keep white writers, actors, producers and directors working, even when they’re not the best fit, through the consistent selection of the most lily white content available. Boardwalk Empire anyone? There’s now a Chilean miner story about the Anglo who led the rescue drill team. I mean how entertaining and interesting can any story be without a white protagonist who saves the rest of us from ourselves?
Am I upset? Not at all. It is what it is. I understand why things are like this. You see, the ugly truth is there are more whites with disposable income, not to mention POWER, and the industry must cater to them. Actually, the industry exists for them and the rest of us better be glad with whatever morsel we get. That is your point isn’t it Jon?
Leave it to the likes of you to pretend as if you competed on a level playing field your entire life and become cynical when someone else seeks a fair shot.
“The King’s Speech” can get away with no black extras, I think, but “Black Swan” – a contemporary ballet drama, had NO excuse. There was plenty of room in that one. Would it have killed Aronofsky?
I know what you are saying – the lack of presence of people of color in all these lauded movies makes one go “hmmm.” There was at least one black woman in “The Kids Are All Right” – who was beautiful, by the way. Of course, she played Mark Ruffalo’s f— buddy, but it’s better than nothing, I suppose.
And what’s wrong with more Black programming or Blacks being hired????
Anyone? Anyone? Jon? Jon?
Rep. Waters isn’t being investigated for anything.
This is another situation that exposes the government as incapable of protecting the ignorant masses (who are staying silent or simply don’t understand what’s happening) Cable is already an elitist game in todays economy.
Now that’s HILARIOUS!
You’re right! We must uphold the 28th Amendment to the Constitution – the inalienable right to free cable TV! And the Government MUST protect us from shows we don’t like and boring plots and one-dimensional characters! IT’S OUR RIGHT!
As opposed to people like you, jon, who want to see the same racial exclusion persist. And don’t tell me how you think only merit should matter because that would eliminate half the white people at the networks and the studios. That argument always implies that minorities just aren’t good enough (blame the victim). Really? No African Americans, Hispanics or Asians can do these jobs? It’s amazing that White people can look at the entire network television viewing landscape and the executive offices and barely see anyone who isn’t white, and it never even occurs to them that anything is wrong. That sort of grotesque narcissistic self-absorption and willful denial is at the heart of racism.
White people are allowed a learning curve, minorities don’t even get in the door to start learning. Just like Hollywood is always looking for the next Julia or Brad, but no one is looking for the next Denzel or Will. No one is grooming any young minority execs at these networks. Change doesn’t happen by itself, you have to actively make a change.
If you listen to the “I Have a Dream” speech, I think MLK was talking about a colorblind society where only excellence mattered.
Where has that thinking gone?
If a white person quotes that, then up goes the cries of racism.
What we have in the US is not ideal, but it is not the worst social stratification & tension in the world. Go to Zimbabwe, India, or China. Live among the people and you will see even greater bias & tension underneath the surface.
Lots of promises. Notice “same or lower rates is not one of them.” want to protest, cancel or reduce your comcast services. My comcast bill went from a ridiculous $212/mo to a ludicrous $245/mo This month. I took my cable boxes to my local comcast location, now I watch tv on the Internet. Do the same and show this monopoly who’s boss.
Poor Maxine. She’s probably upset she didn’t get them a bailout and make some money off the deal.
I’m guessing Maxine didn’t get her usual kickback on this deal.
There is probably so truth to this…
Comcast has been arranging an urban film fund with considerable equity invested for quite some time. Months before the merger was approved.
Anyone else besides screen gems and melee making urban pictures?
RnsW
Maxine did stimulate opinions but the results of the merger will be measured by the increase in your cable bill.
Maxine should worry about all her legal troubles and stop trying to make an extra illegal buck off of something.
Greenmail.
The FCC could care less about the public interest. More and more these media companies are doing whatever they want and the FCC continues to allow it. There’s not point in believing in fair competition and localism anymore.
To Cash- The Obama administration didn’t push anything through. Please get your facts straight before making a statement. The FCC (by law) has an equal amount of Democratic and Republican commissioners and BOTH sides voted to approve this deal. The only thing the White House to do with this matter is the Justice Department had to review and approve it. However, at the end of the day the bipartisan FCC makes the final decision.
Actually, US law states that the FCC must be somewhat split among party lines. That means that the party in power at the FCC must also control either both houses of Congress or either chamber and the Presidency. As a result, the Democrats control the FCC by a 3-2 vote. If both President Obama and Vice-President Biden were to die, then John Bonehner would become President and the FCC would change to Republican control.
What really needs to happen is that the FCC needs to be a 50 seat chamber with the chairman nominated by the President to preside over meetings and vote only if there is a tie.
Maxine is one of the best fighters for the people in congress. There is not much not to like, unless you are a criminal.