Here’s Why the Democrats’ Gun Control Sit-In Isn’t Being Broadcast on C-SPAN
Last week, lots of political junkies were glued to C-SPAN due to Chris Murphy‘s gun control filibuster. But the Democrats’ House sit-in on gun control today isn’t being broadcast on CSPAN:
You won't see us on CSPAN but we are still here. #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/44HOBT25WQ
— Janice Hahn (@Rep_JaniceHahn) June 22, 2016
CSPAN cameras turned off for House Dem sit-in, but they've got a rapt audience outside. pic.twitter.com/N0aaUgxL2T
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) June 22, 2016
Now, you’re probably wondering why C-SPAN isn’t covering this big event happening in Congress. Well, a recess was declared earlier, so the cameras were turned off, and that’s not something C-SPAN has control over:
If you are watching developments @uscapitol in House, remember, @CSPAN doesn't control cams, @HouseGOP do – blame Congress not CSPAN
— Steve Scully (@SteveScully) June 22, 2016
C-SPAN has no control over the U.S. House TV cameras. Here are some tweets from Members of Congress during sit-in.https://t.co/vCI7C4fhUL
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 22, 2016
So basically, the House majority controls the cameras. (And for the record, the Democrats did this to the Republicans in 2008.) Paul Ryan is saying that House Democrats are violating the rules of the House.
So C-SPAN’s coverage (clipped below) has been interesting, to say the least. They showed footage from the House floor announcing the sit-in before the recess was called, showed some tweets from members of Congress, and eventually just brought the focus to the Democrats speaking outside Congress about the sit-in.
One House Democrat is Periscoping live from the floor, and you can watch here.
You can watch above what C-SPAN did cover before they called recess (the moment where they call the recess is at the 8:10 mark).
UPDATE –– 3:02 pm EST: As of this posting, C-SPAN is currently broadcasting the Periscope video. That has never happened before.
[image via screengrab]
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