Let's Blame CNN for the Real Balloon Boy Hoax

Without the overwhelming media firepower that CNN brought to his cause, Colorado nut case Richard Heene would have been just another guy in a tinfoil hat who believes our government is controlled by the Lizard People. 

Because his family's first call was to a local TV station that owned a helicopter, Heene's claims that his son Falcon had been carried away should have just made the local news and been one of those filler pieces where the anchors laugh that the "kid was hiding in the attic the WHOLE TIME!"

Instead, the national cable news network (with an assist from Fox News and MSNBC, loathe to be left behind on some ratings gold) blew up the story and wasted everyone's time last Thursday. 

No one wondered if a guy on put his family on a reality show called Wife Swap might have overwhelming desire to get himself back on television. CNN saw the pretty video and a chance to create the kind of manufactured drama that we usually see on Survivor or The Amazing Race.

Granted, everyone might have needed a break from cable news' endless bickering about the politics (not the substance) of the health care debate and the war in Afghanistan. If the kid's broken body had been in the balloon when it crashed last Thursday, who needed to see that live?

You really have to feel bad for the Heene's neighbors. The video below is a confrontation between a neighbor and the news crews blocking the streets and camped out in front of the Heene home. 

The sense of "journalistic" entitlement from the news crews is really the most shocking thing here. They get punked by a crazy man who tricks the news channels into giving him hours of airtime and they're not even a little embarrassed?

Seriously?

Comments

[#1 Posted by: Um Homem Qualquer]

The state & federal GOVERNMENT should FRY this family to learn we are in a financial crisis and in the name of FAME they used a minor to project themselves to stardom and WASTE our tax dollar.

Jail to the father, community service to the mother and send the kid to read books to cancer kids at a local hospital.

[#2 Posted by: El]

If the dramatic events were shown to have been a hoax compensation would be sought for the cost of the rescue efforts...

[#3 Posted by: Paul]

Despite the fact the author of this piece seems to be incapable of producing proper English among the words of this entry, I agree with him. There are all manner of stupid people every single day who cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars per city, simply because they can't be bothered to act like a human being, and they don't get charged thousands of dollars to pay for it. Why should this guy, Heene?

Okay, he was trying to make something sensational so he could win a contest to get the job of a mad scientist on a reality show; so what. How is that different from people rolling themselves off Niagara Falls in a barrel or crossing it on top of a unicycle and tight rope, or flying through a barn at high speed, or standing on the upper wing of a bi-plane as a Barnstormer.

People do stupid crap for attention every single day. The only reason this guy is even remotely in trouble is because CNN, Fox, and MSNBC got involved; had they sat back, this guy might have received a slap on the wrist and little other trouble, just like every other attention seeking idiot in the world.

Come on, guys, lighten up. I'm a tightass and even I can see the humorous side of this whole thing.

[#4 Posted by: LTCSTAN]

Another reason to reign in the out of control so called journalists and press corps.

[#5 Posted by: TLC]

Originally posted by: #3 Posted by: Paul | Oct 21, 2009 5:48 AM"

"Come on, guys, lighten up. I'm a tightass and even I can see the humorous side of this whole thing."

Are you serious? You don't think the cost of this search is an issue? The fact that part of the Denver Airport had to be shut down is an issue? ...The other issues you mentioned are typically in a controled environment where the proper people are involved and aren't being lied too about what really happened and pulling resources that could be used to help someone else that was really lost, hurt, etc. ...You don't see the difference? You don't think putting his 6yr old on television to lie for the family and the kid getting sick is an issue? There is a big differnce.

[#6 Posted by: RFrancis]

I agree with most comments about how the news networks (right and left) have so amped up there need to cover a story that it's gotten into the realm of what used to be called, "Yellow Journalism" and reporting like that has started Wars. As for that second video, not too sure who was at fault for the actual fight, but the newsies didn't help themselves by blocking the whole fracking street.

[#7 Posted by: Douglas Griffith]

CNN? Lizard People? Is the author aiming for a job with Drudge Report? This is irresponsible journalism that is even worse than the mainstream media. Even given the opportunity to put a military slant on the story due to the local national guard being involved was dismissed given the opportunity to jab at CNN. Not all veterans are blathering Fox News parrots. Sad.

[#8 Posted by: SadieSG]

All-righty...I think there's a consensus that the Dad has Issues (and I use that capital "I" with conscious forethought.) What's really pathetic here is that we've got enough putative adults to have previously provided this unique individual with an audience to _be_ on a TV show called "Wife Swap". When the culture at large rewards (or at least celebrates) infantile behavior, those who are predisposed to infantile behavior have no reason to abandon that behavior. The Dad in this case would appear to be a perfect example of this. My sympathies are all with the kids, who appear to be being used as stage props.

[#9 Posted by: CliffPA]

With the resources available to national media, coverage should have included a science trained reporter who could have determined that the craft was to small to carry even a small boy. Media no longer seems to feel obligated to investigate, but prefers to pass on anything that ups their ratings.

[#10 Posted by: letsblameourselves]

Maybe the mainstream media is just trying to make a buck. That's the only way they can survive and they're just playing system. Think about it - did PBS drop everything to cover this? No! So maybe it's our own fault, and if we stop watching these channels, they'll get the message. Right now, they're just giving us what we want...

[#11 Posted by: Larry]

>CNN? Lizard People? Is the author aiming for a job with Drudge

Actually Mr. Heene does believe that the goverment is controlled by lizard people- do a google on "Art Bell."

[#12 Posted by: SoCalGal]

Mainstream media is out of control. The ONLY thing they care about is ratings. If this were not the case, they would've carefully checked out this story BEFORE they stopped everything to report on it. Mainstream media's job is not to give us what we WANT but to give us what we NEED.

[#13 Posted by: carlos]

What, exactly, does art bell have to do with lizard people? I listen to Art, and I do not believe their is lizard people controlling the world. I may just have to say that the author and "larry" are the same guy.

[#14 Posted by: derek]

Comment to the video: Notice how they just keep filming the fight til dude actually starts punching. He had every right to beat that idiot in the yellow jacket's ass

[#15 Posted by: Colorado Taxpayer]

Liars, con-artists, child abusers, both parents, not just one of them in our opinion, but as someone who resides in the state of Colorado, I am offended that my tax dollars were used for something that was a "non-event", meaning they are not now available for an "event" when someone truly is in trouble this may be a life or death issue! Further, non-profit dollars (more difficult to come by than ever!) were used up on this mess. Reimbursement of all costs is an absolute must here. No question. End of discussion.