Sinclair Broadcasting

[Chaerophon]

If "leftism" in your context involves establishing one's self as "anti-establishment", then it has different meanings in your context than it does in mine. In one respect, I suppose that it is true that, since CNN and Ted Turner are more prone to advocate a democratic agenda in their editorial perspectives that they are comparatively "leftist". However, whether or not CNN is anti-establishment, it exhibits a marked pro-capital, pro-globalist agenda when compared with domestic sources in my own country. I think that most Canadians would see the "CNN discourse" as right-of-center. That being said, Canadians are far from labour afficionados, and for the past fifteen years we have arguably been under a marked rightward shift in public opinion, not least due to the ownership of 60-70% of our national news outlets by some few (presently only one) idealogues intent on expounding on the overarching rationality of the right.

Basically, my point was that a "centrist" in my own country would most likely be considered a bleeding-heart liberal worst than a democratic senator from Massachusetts in your own. Pro-public health, pro-gun control, pro-welfare, pro-industry subsidization, and, depending on where in the country you are polling, anti-free trade. While it may be little more than a teenage popularity contest, it is telling that a socialist, Tommy Douglas, is poised to win the popular vote on this month's flavour of the week television miniseries "The Greatest Canadian".

For what it's worth, from a more issue-oriented perspective, CNN does not appear very 'leftist' in the global scheme of things. If for you it is more a matter of supporting a "more leftist agenda than the Republicans and neo-cons", then fair enough. In an American context, perhaps you are right. That was my point. However, it's not true elsewhere, and in an issue-oriented context, it is certainly a stretch to think of them as 'leftist' when you consider the potential extent of what really are 'leftist' ideas.