Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura has revealed that he
was effectively silenced for three years by MSNBC when the network
cancelled his show in 2003 after learning that Ventura opposed
the war in Iraq.
Ventura began the MSNBC show, Jesse Ventura's
America, in October 2003.
The show was originally planned to run five nights
a week, but MSNBC executives suddenly changed their minds and
it was only broadcast once a week, on Saturdays, before being
ditched altogether.
The ex-Navy SEAL has now told the LA
Times that he was forced out of the network and
prevented from appearing on any other cable TV or news shows.
"It was awful. I was basically silenced."
Ventura comments in the interview.
"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!" Ventura continues.
"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."
Ventura also states that he has a gentleman's
bet that his new show Conspiracy Theory scheduled to
air on Tru TV soon, will never see the light of day, a fact
he first revealed on the Alex Jones show last week.
Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura has revealed that he
was effectively silenced for three years by MSNBC when the network
cancelled his show in 2003 after learning that Ventura opposed
the war in Iraq.
