LA Times Covers Citizen McCaw
The LA Times story on the premiere of Citizen McCaw was an excellent synopsis of the issues surrounding the News-Press Mess but also had some of the best spin I've heard in awhile from uber-attorney Barry Cappello on McCaw's reaction to the film.
"This is, literally, like water off her back," Cappello said of the film. "Barking dogs may bark, but the caravan moves on."
As of Sunday, the News-Press had yet to report a word about "Citizen McCaw."
Labels: Barry Cappello, Citizen McCaw, Santa Barbara News-Press
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 3/10/2008 05:11:00 AM
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16 Comments:
Interesting article Sara. Thanks for sharing.
This description is good:
"A reclusive and litigious animal rights-crusading blond billionaire libertarian divorcée with no journalism experience buys daily newspaper in upscale beach town and insists on doing things her way or the highway. Complications ensue."
There's a possible love story interest in the next version, if there's a remake.
I think by now we can say that unlike Wendy, Barry, the Hammer, Cappello is a dangerous meat eater.
Yawn, git the blonde; make her suffer. Great, satisfying plot line for the popular masses, but Barry's response is best: The Dance of the Gnats.
The Cappello comment is pure denial and wishful thinking just like the Travisty editorials that keep repeating an allegation with the hopes that it becomes true by simple force of will to change spin into facts with enough repetition and multiple publications.
I think it's strange that Cappello would make such a comment to the press. What kind of a person sits at home, knowing over 2,000 people are sitting in a crowded theater watching a film about her actions in the community, and feels that it is "literally, like water off her back"? His statement just emphasizes her lack of humanity. It's not any secret to us that she has no heart but why would her own lawyer draw attention to that?
There are 250,000 approximately in this south coast area. NP has approx. 30,000 subscribers. 2000 salivating for blood laced class envy is not news nor a particular statement one way or another.
Sure hope those 2000 pool their money and create the newspaper they really want.
2000 salivating for blood laced class envy is not news nor a particular statement one way or another.
Me thinks you're mistaking envy for pity - or disgust. Take your pick.
Envy? Huh? I can't speak for others, but I would not want to trade places with Wendy McCaw for all the $, yachts, diamonds and bon vivant lovers in the world. I don't see how anyone could imagine that people went to that film to salivate over Wendy's--wealth? good looks? Folks went to the film to celebrate the courage of the former New-Press journalists. It's easy to talk about refusing to sell your soul for a paycheck, but a lot harder to actually do so, especially when you have a mortgage and kids. They are my heroes, and I know I'm not alone in this. They give me a sense of hope in basic human goodness, whether it's 2 or 2,000 who stand up in support of them.
And of those alleged 30,000 subscribers, how many are Saturday editions delivered to schools that are not open?
The actual, long-term, voluntarily paid subscriptions is the figure to know and worthy of accurate comments here.
Here is another perspective:
The theater actually was at capacity and full with 2200 film viewers, plus quite a few hundred outside who could not get a ticket.
Thus, about 2500 interested people last Friday at Arlington Theater, representing a whopping ONE PERCENT of the entire south coast area, and that is just that one night, time, and place for their availability.
What other issue would draw a full ONE PERCENT of the South Coast population, besides a Democratic Presidential candidate or a big holiday parade?
Obama people claimed he drew 5000 people for a rally when he showed up between his Oprah parties. And he was ultimately no winner. So yeah, it is easy to get 2000 people to show up for a train wreck in this town.
Snow job, how many people do you think would show up for a Wendy fundraiser, even for a good cause? How many would want to be associated with her? Just the people she pays, or who would like to get a payday from her. That's about it.
Max - I've seen WM be generous with a few causes and I think that is something that is hard to criticize concerning how non-profits in our town are always looking for funds. Is it like oil money in a political campaign? -- maybe it would be wrought with some ethical issues but the SBNP still is read by many who don't see it the way we do here.
Lots of people show up for Wendy's Lifetime Achievement Awards every year. She is an important philanthropist in this town and I appreciate that.
Wish I did not keep having to say this, but a lot of people like what she has done with the NewsPress.
Yes, we know there is a group that does not like her and her paper. How many times do we keep having to go over this difference of opinion?
Create your own paper instead of bashing Wendy for making her own genuine choice to create her own with her own money.
Wendy, thank you so much for your very generous support for the Granada Theater. It is gorgeous and the acoustics are first rate.
You helped to fill a huge need in this arts community and we welcome you back from your travels and thank you for what you continue to do for this community.
Sara,
I readily concede that WM has some beliefs and causes that are for the general good, and she apparently supports them. No doubt some people would accept WM's money and use it for good, and I don't necessarily have a problem with people going to work at the SBNP notwithstanding the harsh atmosphere there; I hope people aren't accepting those jobs because they desire to support WM's miserable vision, but to improve on it. But at some point a person can become "indebted" to one's benefactor, and I for one wouldn't accept such money or agree to WM "naming rights" for a building or a room or a piece of furniture.
More generally, I think most people are well-behaved or don't give the rest of us a reason to dislike or object to them maybe 80-90% of the time. They don't drive dangerously, they don't cheat on their spouses, they don't lie incessantly, they do their work and their civic duty, pay taxes. But it's that other 10-20% that tells us a lot about them. And in this situation, WM has proven herself willing and able to inflict harsh and severe harm on others, largely through the tools of her power: the paper itself and lawyers. Whether she has the right to do those things -- and I'm talking about raw power here, not that her threats and lawsuits have any merit, which they almost never do -- doesn't matter in terms of judging her. Just as most people have some right to express themselves, the rest of us have the right to judge that person because of that expression. So, while WM can be praised for those instances where her generosity improves our community, the condemnation side vastly outweighs the commendation side, at least in the last two years.
Wish I did not keep having to say this, but a lot of people like what she has done with the NewsPress.
I'm sure all twelve of them are ecstatic.
Create your own paper instead of bashing Wendy for making her own genuine choice to create her own with her own money.
So if I get a half of a billion dollars in a divorce settlement, I, too, can destroy a Santa Barbara institution?
It's the American dream!!
Wendy earned her divorce settlement. And she is putting it to good use. Stop being so envious.
Hey Snow job,
Get your numbers straight.
There are currently 400,000 people in the entire county and only 200,000 total people living on the south coast.
since there are 3 people per housing unit there are 66,000 housing units on the south coast. 36,000 of these are in the city of Santa Barbara.
Now since each house only needs one paper for its occupants to share. Therefore 30,000 news press subscription represents around 50% of the south coast homes get and read the news Press Daily.
Therefore. like it or not, the News Press still has a huge influence in our community.
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