Conspiracy theorists awaiting Wednesday night’s premiere of “Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura“ might take interest in a curious comment Ventura made in the Los Angeles Times this weekend. Ventura, who has been doing the media rounds promoting his new venture on TruTV, told the paper that MSNBC cancelled his show “Jesse Ventura’s America” in 2003 because he did not support the Iraq War. He said the network “in essence” paid him to be silent, which allowed him to purchase a house in Mexico.
This is not your first venture into TV hosting since leaving the governorship. What happened to “Jesse Ventura’s America,” which ran briefly on MSNBC in 2003?
“It was awful. I was basically silenced. When I came out of office, I was the hottest commodity out there. There was a bidding war between CNN, Fox and MSNBC to get my services. MSNBC ultimately won. I was being groomed for a five day-a-week TV show by them. Then, all of a sudden, weird phone calls started happening: “Is it true Jesse doesn’t support the war in Iraq?”
My contract said I couldn’t do any other cable TV or any news shows, and they honored and paid it for the duration of it. So in essence I had my silence purchased. Why do you think you didn’t hear from me for three years? I was under contract. They wouldn’t even use me as a consultant! When you live in Mexico, your houses all have names. I almost named my house Casa MSNBC because they bought it. I was paid like a professional athlete, and I got very wealthy. For doing nothing.”
#34 geez, just when I thought Alfred1 set the gold standard on loonie, along comes you.
I enjoy DU for this reason, it’s like fishing in some weird sewer where DU drops some bait blog. Occasionally some strange creature comes forward to facinate my curiosity for the bizarre.
So where are you from? Please share your background.
If true, it would just go to prove that ALL the corporate owned broadcast media, controlled what was said about the war. Regardless of what side they pretended to publicly take. And buying off former public officials, with a media job, isn’t something new. Remember Marcia Clark? The L.A. county prosecutor who “failed” to get O.J. Simpson convicted of murder. After that she took an indefinite leave of absence (later resigned), got an advancement of $4 million for writing a book about the trial, and is now a “special correspondent” for Entertainment Tonight. Yeah, she was well paid and set up for losing the world’s best known murder case.
Then there is the infamous G. Gordon Liddy, who has had all sorts of media jobs, since leaving prison. It seems the crazier they are, the more NBC and the Fox News Channel wants them.
Sarah Palin, not even a full term governor, before leaving that job and running for the republican VP spot. Gets a huge book deal, worth millions. There was a mention, earlier, of a Tv show deal. Maybe she’s being paid to shut up too. About what? Whatever dirt she knows about the Alaskan oil biz, I’m sure.
A some local officials, in my own state, have ended up with cushy media jobs, after leaving office out of disgrace or dismissal. Our last State Police Chief, who lost his job, now has a radio talk show. And no doubt, if Mayor Dixon ends up losing her job. She’ll too get offered something in the media, to keep her mouth shut. I’m just waiting for the book deal, or radio talk show, to be announced. If not here, then in Chicago or Atlanta.
Even Oprah, had a short career here, on a local Tv talk show. Before leaving town in disgrace, after insulting Frank Purdue (and being insulted back). Then it was onto Chicago and mega-riches. She prefers to erase parts of her early career, in her bio. Especially that one. But here, that onscreen insult remains famous. And some of us still can’t understand why she’s worth billions, in Chicago.