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Stossel - 1/10/13 - Business of Bad News

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    How to respond to negative publicity and the big business and profit made from bad news

  • Duration 41:13
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What do you do -- hit with bad publicity.

This morning Lohan was escorted from the tenth precinct there are specialists who deal with bad news could they have -- after the big oil spill.

When the company boss at this -- -- my life back there may help you curing a disaster.

South one of the call what is the business do -- -- CEO gets sick.

What do libertarians do quarter candidate -- -- -- -- and our weather sure is getting strength.

What's bad news just make -- -- -- 250 million people and final.

Do we want.

-- bad news actually be good news save you may skills they march -- -- and signs that business of bad news.

That's our show.

Today.

When bad news hits what do you do -- your company -- at the center of what if you manufacture.

The bushmaster rifle.

What if you run the oil company that spills a huge amount of -- What if you're famous CEO gets sick.

Frazier site -- and roll hit -- jobless say they don't want to do they specialize in crisis management.

Frazier is the author of rethinking reputation how PR trumps market.

And -- it's the author of light -- so.

Let's start with the three examples like just mentioned you you run bushmaster.

What do you do.

-- anti it's it's a real conundrum that is extremely different it's a lose lose situation.

In the bushmaster case of course that horrible new town.

Tragedy.

Serene risks which owned the company private equity company sold -- said we're gonna sell it immediately.

Dick's Sporting Goods said we're not gonna sell bushmaster.

What bushmaster did it's a rifle companies said nothing.

What they could have done.

Was expressed humanity first -- when you tell people the first thing you do is express empathy with the victims -- is a horrible.

Tragedy.

He's talk about the fact that these rifles were never meant for this purpose.

And then what you try to do.

Is get off the screen it's a lose lose you get off the radar estimates -- those -- those but -- sales are sharply up which is the reason why.

You try to express.

Empathy expressed sympathy expressed humanity and then -- off the front page.

BP oil spill.

Hey you know the.

The BP oil spill is one of those examples where.

You start off in the same with a lot of crisis response starts off which is you get a talking head up there and they read from a pre scripted line and nobody believes -- And finally what happens and what happened in the BP case what happens in a lot of these cases when those companies realize that.

Needs to be real action and real people actually doing something.

Then you can talk about it.

That's when they actually start to change people's minds and that's what happened -- BP.

Where they made the mistake.

As -- said is they put this sputtering.

Spokesman.

This CEO knucklehead.

Tony Hayward his name was I want my life back as he -- it has its -- He wind -- that I want my life back.

He is the reason that DP today is known as battered petroleum because he was awful.

Now we still they were smarter than the Exxon was after the Valdez oil spill.

Yeah they excellent was a really interesting because now he had and he had a lot of other factors he had it in it in a different location and you had.

Issues of people being being drunk and and sort of negligent behavior.

And they didn't say anything for longest time.

And that was a huge hated the singing and I don't blame on the media so hostile to business they said we're not ever gonna try to clean this up we have not talk.

You know what that did not talking thing is little so many companies are missing you know what we don't really know what to do so we'll just not seeing anything.

Wouldn't amount any trouble if I say something what would Lincoln -- but you know what other people are making your story for -- The appointment if I speak Frazier is gonna call me and -- it -- I don't know I would never do that to you however I think that they Taylor however.

The accident public relations and silence -- the point.

Today's Exxon has learned from that.

And they're very communicated company they have blogs -- -- -- -- on Exxon programs they talked to the enemy and Rex Tillerson is the enemy us.

The enemy -- you that's right.

Rex Tillerson the CEO.

Is a much more communicated person why because they learned this Valdez was terrible for their reputation they have today and BP is now paying for commercials that tell people it's great to go vacation on the golf.

Vacation spot on Aaron.

Levy in Mississippi outdoors but -- for -- Florida beaches -- -- this Louisiana.

Support -- vacation this year.

Front and body heat.

I can't believe this works this is so corny.

You know works the key to it is is a public relations what I say to people is -- -- it is for performance.

Recognition in other words.

The -- to the whole -- people understand it is action.

Are they cleaning the gulf if they are.

Then they communicate this stuff and people believe it.

Right your to your book titled how PR trumps marketing I thought marketing was the big thing.

People don't believe commercials I don't believe advertising and marketing as much simpler ours should believe our content ethnic -- -- -- the commercials here that's right.

So what we say in the book it's character you've got to stand for something and you've got to stand up.

That is communicate for what you stand for public relations therefore today in our view.

Trump's marketing and haven't I hate BP not because of the oil spill -- can happen any company but they branded themselves -- Beyond petroleum we're here for touchy Feely solar power alternative energy.

Which is nonsense and can't power the world -- -- Pete they're.

Still -- and today -- a result of the crisis they're not beyond petroleum their battered.

Thrown.

-- talk about apple.

It's a big deal when you have -- significant CEO in the stock buyers say I'm in this company because of this guy and he gets sick.

If you tried to write your PR -- -- based on what apple did.

You would have an entire complete failure because they break so many rules so called rules of the PR industry they don't talk about anything that they do.

There openly hostile to media they say we're gonna do we're gonna do and you -- -- cover of every coverage and you know it works for them because they've had enough innovation.

To be able to get -- way up until now.

Steve Jobs was a terrific marketing guy but he was a lousy PR.

And they refused to say.

How ill he was that he's this -- he -- he's the CEO of the company so it's a material piece of information and what happened was.

It sounds terrible but he stayed alive with cancer long enough.

For them to build up his successor Tim Cook and build bench strength so that when he died.

The stock.

Didn't go down.

Occasionally bad news can be.

Good for business and one example of this is the tragic killing of Trayvon Martin that may have helped the sales of the candy skiffle.

-- had no weapon you remember but a bag of Skittles on him and that became the theme of protests that found.

Yeah.

The march mosquitoes and signs supporters of seventeen year old trade on Martin rally in public square wearing -- in holdings.

-- -- -- That a Skittles company well.

Comments.

They told us we've refrain we respect the family's privacy it's inappropriate to get involved in said only one thing.

They said we are -- -- by the death.

Our condolences go out to all involved.

But we're not -- -- exploit this for commercial purposes by eight making that statement and then going off the screen.

Is precisely the way they should.

In you know I think that that's also one of those examples where sometimes -- company over thinking their PR.

Gets in the way of what's going to happen through word of enough.

There's no real powerful.

There's no more powerful thing -- word of mouth people talking other people without the company involved.

After Michael Jackson died after Whitney Houston died sales went up sharply.

Michael Jackson the week he -- his album whose albums occupied the top three on the best seller list.

-- sales increased more than forty times from the previous week Whitney Houston.

Her greatest hits sold 600 copies the week before she died 64000.

The next week.

-- any of those sorts of -- as.

All of a sudden people think -- you know maybe I need to going and get this there's nothing that the company needs to do.

In order for that to happen that's gonna happen anyway.

People are ghoulish -- as -- said.

They want to buy -- when the star does so Michael Jackson's case they sold the movie rights to the movie.

They sold the musical rights emitting half a billion dollars since his debt so they got to get out in market.

But at the same time -- gonna be sensitive.

That they can't not look.

Empathetic.

Let let's end on the story of how PR began in 1914 with John.

Yet there's this -- guy.

Seems IV Ledbetter leave and he realized that if he put out press releases.

The media would start to report based on what he put out there and he could control story what he suggested to rockefellers still an iconic moment in US history today said.

-- on the streets carry a bunch of -- in your pocket which is about two dollars in today's money.

And just handed out to people on the street and we'll make sure the photographers -- there.

And by doing that you're gonna change your image so the people don't see you -- this guy who takes bubble -- -- in cash and -- instead -- He's hey if somebody did that they wouldn't see in that way the media environments changed it's a much different media yeah I was -- -- -- got her real well didn't they don't do that today because they're they're much more parts Simonyi is but the other thing -- -- -- Was to mr.

Rockefeller he -- look.

Tell the truth because sooner or later people -- gonna find it out that still modern day public relations.

Thank you Frazier site tell rocket -- out about coming up a hundred million people are gonna -- From global warming.

Well that's -- bad news the media reports stupid media tricks.

-- then when bad behavior like getting wasted in public even beating up your girlfriend can be good for your business.

And that happens if you're in show business.

A hundred million people are going to die because of global warming.

That's according to a recent study from an international environmental group says in the next eighteen years global warming will cost over a hundred trillion dollars.

And kill a hundred million people.

The report got plenty of news coverage a hundred million deaths should.

So are we all gonna die.

Well yes actually but probably not from global warming.

Danish environmentalist Bjorn Lundberg is a left wing -- he worries about air pollution global warming are.

Says it's a problem but -- you say this study in coverage of it is just junk science.

It really is an an a in a sense very harmful junk science because what it does this it tells us.

Five million people gonna die every year because of global warming.

But what they failed to tell -- was it had nothing to do with global warming the three million people just a three million people.

Was from indoor air pollution is nothing to do with the about global warming actually if anything it's probably something to do with the opposite.

Because what happens those.

Lots and lots of poor people in the Third World.

Burn wood or car -- don't.

And they dying from burning that inside there house's and so if we can do something about it perhaps give them.

Fossil fuels cleaner fuels they would actually be much better off.

So not only are they telling us the wrong story but they also telling us the wrong solution to help the people they allegedly want to help the particulates.

They kill people global warming killing people is theoretical.

They're basically telling us cut carbon emissions to help people from not -- -- from air pollution no.

What you need to do is to make sure you don't -- don't.

Inside your house -- the reason why we never think about indoor air pollution is because it's a hundred years ago that we had really dirty fuels inside.

And the developing we in the west that serves the same thing.

Yes and they pay under in disgusting ways they talk about that big storms they say they -- caused by global warming here's Al Gore after hurricane sand.

This storm -- was related to global warming this it was the second.

Once in a hundred -- -- and in fourteen months here.

In this city but -- don't know that 2012 was below average for major hurricanes.

-- -- go up and down there may be some effect as the water gets warmer but not yet and if you look globally on the hurricane any Chindex it's lower than it's ever been since the late 1970s.

So parent partly.

Reality doesn't play along but also partly they didn't tell us if you can help future victims of hurricane sandy -- Hurricane Katrina.

You should cut carbon emissions.

No the -- why you have problems with hurricane Katrina and hurricane sandy was because these cities were unprepared.

It's not about cutting carbon emissions it's about building better levees in New Orleans it's about making New York more prepared.

It's not about cutting carbon emissions and about allowing people to -- so they can move away from storms and react to them.

Other environmental scare stories last year headlines screamed about how genetically modified foods cause tumors in rats.

And look at these scary pictures it looks like.

And the debt would terrify me.

But what the irresponsible media didn't say is that the kind of rats that were studied usually.

Developed tumors -- 80% of the time and what they basically told you was we fed rats gave them GM foods.

And they develop these tumors are obviously works on a psychological level.

But forgot to say if we feed them -- normal food they also developed tumors.

And that's irresponsible it's a great way to get attention.

But not only does it misinformed you but again it also focus you on the wrong solutions and -- some countries to reject it.

Hurting poor people.

Let's end with your favorite scare story -- Mexico Newsweek warned us about the end of hot stuff.

It said social unrest will could exploded China where -- -- -- the main staple.

If we humans want to keep eating -- we will have to take much more aggressive action against global warming.

Kids like -- to me but they're serious.

Had to -- -- almost can't believe they made.

Which is absolutely ridiculous what they're telling us and and and again these are typically have a grain of truth and they telling us that -- and -- a bit.

Wheat is the most heat intolerance species of all of all the main major -- that's true and so they're worried as temperatures rise from global warming.

We're essentially not going to be able to prudent produce any week mark -- only we've seen that in the last.

Thirty years that's been totally -- -- because temperatures -- risen and we've dramatically increased production of -- why.

Because we -- really good at doing that.

Farmers is Smart they have better -- they have.

More irrigation and they have more pesticides and fertilizer if anything we're gonna see probably -- 40% increased to mid century.

Of all the major grains which of course means.

-- -- -- So we're not all gonna die from global warming -- Newsweek -- and given their bad reporting that maybe that's okay.

Next they -- -- thank you.

What -- disaster mongers are right what -- bigger storms are -- and other disasters like more pollution are you prepared.

Those who are in the business of bad news they're prepared.

And I'll show you what they'll sell us.

Bad news is bad -- for most of us but not.

For our next guests are at least not for their businesses.

-- Edwards runs a company called danger shield.

His web site offers things like your own emergency survival plan.

Disaster resistant home -- Janet Nelson runs a company called the epicenter which sells disaster survival supply slight -- Memories freeze dried long term food storage water supply -- anything you might meet in the event -- an emergency business is good.

If it is right now 2011 was the best year ever.

Because of the tsunami and Haiti earthquake.

Haiti earthquake arts theater you sell these foods like these -- reasons she callebs meals ready eat.

And I mean I wouldn't want to really.

Eat this stuff why -- I just buy a can of food or something quite allowing media.

Well it really gross look at it.

It -- -- -- it but it tastes better than outlooks and emergency food is survivable.

There's calories -- nutrition.

At the military actually is a -- as well so.

There are definitely taste value is better -- than if you sell these full -- shovel.

Little trifle it's what what you need a shovel -- -- -- that compact ability and carry -- easy storage.

And it's.

Useful for many situations.

-- so.

-- -- you go beyond this thing you give personal instruction to -- yet I I'd I'd train people to deal with like the full range of different types of agencies -- we encounter so people have to have the training.

So that they can argue whether this -- a 120 bucks an hour all depends it depends if your corporation you know more -- I mean generally speaking that there's a lot of work involved -- this is is not easy to do by the way it's not something that you can just learn overnight.

Now the National Geographic channel has a show called doomsday preparers where.

Europe technical consultant and in this clip you advise someone who wants to know how to escape -- escape Manhattan in case of the disaster.

And first you have -- steel bicycle but then what -- the attackers try to take the bicycle you say make sure you have your bear deter.

-- -- There's Jack I want -- -- move down.

-- -- -- Our forgive me a time but I hate this stuff this this is scaring people to death.

That did you know what I'm an insurance salesman meant at the end of the day.

People have insurance for everything they have to ensure -- cars they have to ensure their homes if they're actually different things.

But there's no real insurance for dealing with disasters and emergencies and you Richard -- to turn NN -- but I'm not gonna give it to you because -- you gonna try to sprayed me with him at a -- with -- -- any -- terror well yes you know you figure that if it's gonna stop a bear that it'll probably stopping human needs just as well.

And I -- look at this ad for this National Geographic show with everybody wearing gas business.

There is real stuff what really kills people in America is house fires -- falling down the stairs.

Driving recklessly being promiscuous drinking too much.

And if you worry about this stuff he can't worry about the stuff that's more likely to kill -- A man preparedness comes in all forms that's obviously television advertisement -- trying to promote.

But the fact is is that yes -- you've got rid of that -- reality is is that people need to be prepared for disasters and emergencies and what we do right is -- that Janet.

This is something else -- sell what's this it says.

Another item that's really important stuff for -- for for people's cars.

This cat is wonderful because there's food and water that is us durable and any kind of the temperature -- -- memories and -- straight through should be stored cooler temperatures for longer shelf life but -- in the water.

It's horrible a bottle.

Fight yourself like for best fit for this water passing for the food.

As the shelf life and Apollo one.

One to two years.

So yes.

You also sell these glow sticks.

Which you -- -- and then.

Shaken and it.

Flows -- throwing a flashlight.

And flashlights at batteries Wear out.

Look at this this wears out after twelve hours.

So when bad news happens you see a pick up right in sales right afterward after a hurricane.

Any disaster.

Before and after better to be aware and be prepared them to be scared and -- carefully.

Now when when I get scared I think my money is gonna be any good and I was told by jokes silver.

Which is simply dimes and quarters made before 1965.

Which coin dealers sell and then.

What they -- take your dollar bill in the cash for Shimon work in there -- after the Fed inflates our currency in the nothing.

You can go to the bakery with an old diamond -- know what it's worth and -- -- loaf -- -- People have to be realistic about these kinds of things we get to a situation -- -- money isn't -- gotta bear out ahead -- that's not realistic that is realistic and you you -- you hit the streets and you go into the wrong place the wrong time and it won't situation.

And you'd better have a way to defend yourself when you talk about.

Silver and gold listen.

-- when people come to me about silver and gold until you've been allowed to grow tomato people need to eat people need to live and that's what you need to learn how to -- and you prioritize.

So I I that's what I tell my clients.

We'll -- your risk okay this is my bandit -- basically you know people solely rated kids.

That's my -- survival -- I've got like everything that I need to survive what's -- there I have little multi tools I have little tiny lights I have.

My watch I have -- I have -- Your life is my diminished by carrying this heavy thing around -- your risk I -- people carry around I pay heads ipads iPods always different technological devices.

It's no different it's a watch if something would happen right now.

And there was some sort of a catastrophe -- emergency then the both of us right here apple -- I don't know what you have been Euro risk but you know we -- -- general election.

I'm glad you guys are here but probably.

It's not gonna happen but that in mind and that might -- you eight times and Janet.

You -- say one more thing Canty gold and silver but you can meet store and he's I don't want to.

The -- keeps them coming out whole ten bad news and its famous people where they call they call the Hollywood spin doctor.

That's.

The most potent cancer causing agent in our food supply and who was most at risk.

Children who -- somebody develop cancer from this one chemical.

That was the scare that educated me.

The most pan potent cancer causing agent affecting children.

-- sixty minutes ran a story -- believe that environmentalists said alar chemically used to keep apples fresh killed kids.

The results schools across America band Apple's moms poured out apple juice apple growers lost billions.

But the scare was -- there was no good evidence behind that Apple's even apples with -- -- -- good free.

Today we have new scare.

The water may be fine but you might need to worry about the bottle instead.

The bottle may contain a chemical called BP A which activists say can cause cancer hyper activity all sorts of problems.

And it's in the year total these kids.

Another chemical damages kids livers and kidneys and -- and backpacks and other school supply.

So to lead to unlock his young children so you check that out here with the independent women's forum and you'd like to check out stuff like this would you find.

There's over a thousand study's.

Independent studies that have said that BP is perfectly safe for common years.

So EPA is easily vilified and after -- invisible.

And people tend to say -- chemicals -- scary so.

You know I'll just trust what some activist organization -- consumer rights organizations has.

And I'll avoid it but there's no reason to avoid -- so let it for the activists in this so called consumer rights groups which -- used to believe it.

Right there's a lot and it -- -- money.

They sell fear a lot of them get money on newsletters at -- felt.

And this is to not just for these organizations.

But the mainstream media that reports on that.

The biggest environmental group is the NRDC the natural resources defense council they sold -- -- alar scare.

They now have a 185.

Million dollars in assets and on their website we can do it.

We can get the BP A had a baby -- Right this is an -- -- -- -- they say.

There's that there's chemical out there that's scary that's dangerous and we are looking out for you we're going to tell you know that these.

These chemicals are scary.

And so they issue these reports that don't even meet that the basic scientific standards and yet the government respond.

And -- -- -- EPA is now banned in Baby -- that's right and what happens as.

Actually they issued his report it generates a number of headlines.

-- the public is scared and demands that lawmakers and regulatory agents.

Solve this problem FDA commissioner said we're we're banning it based on the preferences of consumers did not reflect concerns about the safety of BP -- When you argue this issue with people they -- often cite all the government banned BP -- The funny thing is many of these governments have actually certify the safety of EPA but due to public pressure they ban at all the saying.

So -- -- so what so they've -- that power we hurt.

What were hurt us and this is BP A free right but we have a substitute for once I had self and I noticed my goodness -- -- many things.

That I should be afraid of enemy not things I really should be afraid of like loose nukes but my garden -- -- Campbell sukuk.

And my baby's bottle -- And this seemed absurd to me and what I really looked and I dug deeper into this issue I realized a lot of these claims are based on junk science and very badly done scientific studies and Campbell -- is gonna phase it out to that is I and we don't think it's dangerous but we got -- -- wouldn't as a scare we have to respond and and this is.

This is one of the examples of the cost to industry.

Campbell's soup doesn't happen alternative there is no safe alternative to get it right now stopping botulism which does kill -- and industry and now Campbell Soup is -- as under incredible pressure.

To phase it out so imagine how much money Campbell Soup -- spending on research and development instead of expanding their business.

Jobs I mean these are the things that -- seems to be doing particularly in this economy not trying to find a replacement for a product that's completely say.

This other chemical they're freaking out about -- right.

It soon saw -- pressed right like rubber ducky.

School supplies school supply -- liver damage -- you -- scare you.

That's right.

Every year around when school starts up in the fall a you'll start to see these reports.

You killer backpacks and murdering three ring binders.

That the -- says and actually the CDC has said the only way that you could see that you get.

Without -- into your body at Trace levels if you consume.

And Sally C -- -- so if your child is eating their retreat I'd -- or their backpack.

That's the real concern but until they're actually eating their backpack you don't need to worry about that it.

Even and it probably would have been a bunch of exactly acts -- how you think Julie -- -- of the independent women's forum a great group coming up.

What are libertarians do -- -- bad do.

And also what happens when celebrities screw up.

She was arrested after his wife Brooke called 911 on Christmas Day accusing him of threatening her and holding a knife to her growth.

And bad news actually be good for celebrities business.

If I got caught shoplifting.

And arrested for assault and was seen snorting cocaine I assume that would hurt my career.

But Lindsay -- ended almost things and she's still working he listed a movie where she got to play Elizabeth Taylor.

The rules in Hollywood are different.

Howard Bragman of reputation dot com understands that he's public relations man in Hollywood represents performers including in the past.

This shows special correspondent candy.

Kennedy lives in LA and has worked in TV and radio you've noticed that what's bad news for normal people is okay for celebrity.

Yeah I I think that -- and -- hasn't had assigned to many morality clauses.

But Charlie Sheen did -- work and still got tens of millions of dollars for his work on two and a half men and he's got a new shout.

He lost Two and a Half Men but he landed on its feet with the show that he militant eighty million dollar to help you knew that in no embarrassment.

Who.

Fear about the stuff now that he's -- and understand why bad news for someone like that is very profitable because that's so entertaining and it does sound magazines.

And yeah I -- slap in Gypsies and stealing necklaces from.

Jewelers in Venice Beach.

I don't be too -- employed -- for someone like Lindsay low end.

Anyone who employs or whether it's it's Playboy or if she's gonna play Elizabeth Taylor on and -- -- -- for life time.

They know they're gonna get hundreds of publicity maybe -- but people will watch.

Our.

Howard you call your called -- Spin Doctors so I assume.

You do try to spin it for the better.

You know this spin doctor comparisons one I happen to like because.

Like -- doctor somebody comes to be and they say I have this problem and -- the Spin Doctors really my job to take the pulse do the tests and and really ascertain is this a true crisis.

Or is it just a controversy is -- something that's going to be damaging to the career.

Or something that will blow over we just ignored for a few days and that's what the doctor comparison comes in John.

Not many years ago if you were okay -- your career was so.

-- I think that's true fortunately for me I'm gay and I've been alongside people when they come out and it's not a big issue anymore we we have openly gay stars of many TV show is openly gay people and many news channels.

And that we've gotten beyond that and I think that's a good move for society.

By contrast Rock Hudson.

Kept his sexuality secret for years Canada's leading and they would -- into brothels send them to brothels to just say -- I -- straight -- -- but they would they would do that error of the you know of the girls who work there c'mon -- do you think they -- doing when they got emotional attachment to.

So what.

There are few things that get your punished in Hollywood today hate speech -- racist -- and I'll get senator Michael Richards and they're not working anymore Chris brown and this is actually relief and -- story to me.

Chris Brown.

Beats up his girlfriend and that you know perhaps it was within an inch of her life she didn't get out of the car who knows how far that would've gotten he put her in the hospital.

He had record sales are higher than ever and so -- -- and there are back together -- card issue.

Let's say he's married this is such an incredible story she's married to a -- she got married in California and -- got pregnant with another -- baby.

But because she's married her husband is the presumed father and he can actually make -- money out that bad news even though she dumped him.

After making fifteen million dollars on her own wedding.

And.

Howard -- your last thing really brag commander did you make this up -- working in the PR dollars.

Was born that way just got lucky equipment I worked with a guy name Paul -- years ago true we could have quite a PR firm mom.

-- -- -- And -- That's perverse idea that in show business acting out -- -- work and make you money is now -- well known enough that a website did this parity video with.

Former child star Ralph not TO member him he was the Karate Kid.

But he hasn't had success like that since now he's 48 so his.

Wife arranges an intervention.

I'm -- loved ones -- here.

-- manager and your family.

-- -- -- One -- They think -- card collection gentle sweet and one time my publicist told me.

-- -- -- career he's not an alcoholic doesn't prostitutes.

Fewer degenerate.

So.

-- if it's really not that bad right.

Howard you know let me.

Let me let me just say let me clear some things up people like.

Kim in Paris Hilton were discovered in ways that would ruin people's career twenty years ago oil and then both of them have made tens of millions of dollars out of it.

But let's be clear about somebody like a Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Lohan does not have a very good career now she had a much better career before.

She's considered quote unquote -- insurer -- -- -- which means.

They insurance companies have to.

Her movie she did about Elizabeth Taylor.

Didn't do very good ratings and this was a girl who is a movie star who's now doing cable TV movie so it's certainly a downfall.

Shares higher expenses -- legal fees she's not winning and Charlie Sheen may have landed on its feet quote unquote.

But he had the best job in TV he was the highest paid actor on TV and I doubt very much that he's match that success with his new show.

So there is a price to pay in some cases.

And everybody has their own DNA some people have controversy.

And they come out of it stronger some it rooms their career.

And although three million people watched that.

Karate Kid that he video that is that is -- As Howard says Tom Hanks Denzel Washington Sandra Bullock Taylor Swift lots of the biggest stars -- Well and but Justin Bieber is one of the biggest stars in the world.

And they announced they have been doing little womanizing that the and that -- -- but Victoria's Secret models how though he has been on an -- with this family are.

Yeah that he -- just that photograph by TMZ smoking wheat.

So what does he do to -- -- smoke.

-- -- Kennedy smoking weed among eighteen year -- five and eighteen year old who hasn't smoked we.

Number one -- I'm I'm there like marijuana I don't front of an eighteen year old smoking -- number one up until that a lot of people think it should it harder.

Thank you Kennedy thank you Howard Bragman coming -- how we in the media make bad news worse.

And also speaking of bad news why do we libertarians.

Do now that Ron Paul is not president.

No way they're going to stop the momentum that we have started.

We in the media obsess about bad knows it's our drop.

We've got to cover the plane crash if you -- plane crashes into this studio that's nice but it's not news.

Shouldn't make it's kind of miraculously today thousands of planes landed without smashing into each other remarkable.

But it's not news.

News is usually bad news.

Nobody is out by the back fence gossiping about who's being faithful to his spouse.

So news coverage distorts life.

People watch lots of TV news think there's more crimes suffering in the world than ever.

But the -- true people live longer than ever around the world fewer people are hungry than ever.

In America the divorce rates falling -- teen pregnancy in teen violence it was pure panic.

-- -- or is like -- shooting in Newtown Connecticut make S fake our kids are in more danger today.

But the opposite is true America overall is safer today again nice.

But not -- At seven point 8% America's unemployment rate is when usually -- But seven point 8% unemployment does mean -- 82% of Americans who want work find it.

And entrepreneurs overcome stupid government rules to create new jobs one point eight million last year.

Not enough to keep up with population growth that would require more than two million new jobs.

But still despite -- terrible politicians -- crazy regulations.

Entrepreneurs didn't create.

Almost two million new jobs.

OK there is real bad news the national -- going through the roof and I hate most of what politicians do but still.

When it comes to the stuff that really matters.

Here family friends your health what you can do and where you can do it.

For most people so far things are better.

And I should keep that in mind when I cover politics because I see the bad news and the last presidential election -- lots of that for us libertarians.

Mitt Romney offered big government republicanism.

The winner promises even bigger government.

One of my candidates attracted thousands of passionate young people but at his party's convention Republican leaders scheme to exclude it.

The rules said the nominate a candidate delegates from five states must submit petitions so Paul supporters got six states.

The Republican leadership -- change the rules on the spot said he needs eight states.

So Ron Paul delegates were even allowed to vote for Ron Paul he withdrew after getting only two point one million votes in the primaries.

Wait a second there I go again.

All late two million votes they do focused on the bad news like I should be excited that two million Americans who.

Voted for freedom sound money and peace.

That's new.

Now this is a show about the business of bad news and what to do about it so with that in mind I'm inspired by the words of Ron Paul supporter -- -- steps.

She told this crowd of 101000.

People.

There was one man carrying the message but now millions of us will spread the message that we live better when we live free.

Our leaders are not in congress are leaders are in neighborhoods discussing ideas with coworkers family and neighbors.

We practice living free.

We trade with each other teach our children to be self sufficient and to live freight.

We may run for City Council -- township board not to exercise political power but to recapture liberty.

We must change the hearts and minds the political land will file.

You are a leader -- -- finish her -- speech don't settle.

Bit better.

-- -- -- Now more than two million that you understand that so let's go and spread the work.

That's our show good.

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