DNC needs to coordinate ALL Dems to attack media bias against them.

[blm]

Kerry is blowing the doors wide open in this radio interview with Schultz yesterday. He comes right out and says that in DC the Repubs BOAST about controlling everything including the media.

He also states openly that the heads at GE and other corporations have a vested interest in keeping the Republicans in power.

He even says that some media folk have told him they received memos from the top brass saying to lay off on some stories. (I immediately thought of how Matthews didn't air his expose' on the WH swiftboating of Murtha)

If you have not yet heard this interview, you really must do so. Dean needs to get ALL Dems on this page - all spokespeople, pundits, and lawmakers.

THIS is the battle we NEED to take on before the fall elections.

http://audio.wegoted.com/podcasting/20906Kerry.mp3

If you are a member of the DNC, please send this link to DNC headquarters and also your own congress folk.

Dean can lead this battle - he knows damn well what the media does - we need to back him up in this battle.

[400Years]

1. what? you mean being effective?

that's crazy talk. :crazy:

[Greeby]

2. That'll never happen

So long as Lieberman is allowed on the air to do for Bush what Monica did for Bill :eyes:

[blm]

3. We have to FORCE the more aggressive stance regarding media bias.

This is OUR JOB. Dean can handle it - but we have to help MAKE it happen.

[laheina]

9. I have full confidence in Dean.

He has shown that he can make big things happen. He'll need our support to deal with the nay sayers in Washington, and the rest of the party, where the old ways are entrenched. And let's face it, the old ways don't seem to be doing much for us these days.

[blm]

14. The old ways don't factor in GOP control of media.

Carville won't even acknowledge it exists. He's THAT far up their ass - cuz HE makes money off of this media set up.

[laheina]

20. Exactly!

And unless we start doing some thinking outside of the box--the kind of thinking that the repugs apparently started doing a decade (and more) ago--we're sunk.


We need to start with the media and the voting machines. Campaign finance is something else we should address. What else? Anybody?

[bloom]

4. Yesterday and Today - Mary Mapes on Democracy Now!

talking about the National Guard Story - that got her fired. She stands by the story and has a book out.


Just one example of Media control - and what can happen when people air negative stories about Bush*.

[blm]

6. It will continue to happen until Dems expose it to American people.

Most really have no clue how corporate the media has become in its NEWS COVERAGE.

I'll bet Mapes has talked to Kerry by now and gave him an earful.

[fooj]

5. Great. What a nice message to put out there two years after the selection

Peace.

[blm]

8. I wish the DNC had acted on this AFTER the media bias against Gore was

so blatant.

[laheina]

12. They seem to be in a huge rut.

They are just going down the same road, with the idea that it will all be better if we get more of our base out to vote. That may all be well and good, but lots of our base *won't* vote, because they see our position as an untenable one. We need to start fighting back and to give our voters a reason to fight too.

[AtomicKitten]

25. The Dems should have nipped this in the bud in 2000.

The criticism of Gore was so harsh, according to the Weekly Standard, "If Gore walked
on water, people would deride him for not being able to swim."

[blm]

26. Exactly - and after 9-11 it became ten times worse in its proBush bias.

.

[Uncle Joe]

49. I agree AtomicKitten,

I cannot think of anyone in recent history to do so much good for the people and to be trashed so much by what passes for American Journalism. I also believe we need to take it up the food chain, too much attention or criticism is aimed at the red flags and not enough at the matador. We should not criticize NBC without mentioning G.E. in the same breath, the same goes for the other media conglomerates.

P.S. If I remember correctly it was the CEO of G.E. that pressured NBC to call Florida early for Bush.

[blm]

53. Exactly - but too many Dems are intimidated by the media and fear making

it an issue. Gore and Kerry figured it out because they were the most targetted by sheer lies, and woe the Dem who doesn't heed the truth of their words now.

[madfloridian]

7. Oh, like what was said in 04 by Dean on Hardball.....or was it Dec. 03

Just before he was blasted out of the waters? Yeh, that media.

The other day he said the media was lazy, was that on ABC. He was on VPR last night for an hour, I posted in my own little thread all by myself.

He called for re-regulation of the media, but that was counter to the Clintonian view...and he had to go.

[madfloridian]

10. Yeh, and he also said something I just loved last night on VPR

Regarding the way Carville and Begala were talking about the party needing a spinal transplant...(Dean's words)...those two helped blast him them.

Then he went further on VPR last night...he rather jokingly suggested that they should give him royalties from their new book Take it Back.

I wanted to applaud.

[blm]

11. Kerry said similar in 03 and media pulled his press coverage down almost

to zero until Jan 04.

That's how they shut our guys down. We have to fight back as a team. And we have to be on the same page to do it. Dean has GOT to lead this battle within the DNC.

[madfloridian]

13. Have you heard any of his interviews at all?

He has been doing this all along. Blasting and zinging. Actually he said last night that they were all getting on the same page about message...so maybe they are.

[blm]

17. I think you missed my point - DNC spokespeople need to be schooled

on this along with Dem lawmakers. Dean needs to get THEM on the same page regarding media bias - the ones out there now are still the same crowd schooled in defense of Clinton but knowing LITTLE about other lawmakers and their positions.

Dean shouldn't have to do it by himself. He needs a team attacking the media to corner the rats now so they can GET their positions and issues discussed fairly.

[madfloridian]

19. I don't think he gets to control that yet.

Have you noticed the ones who are getting out there now? They are not ones Dean as chair would likely pick.

[blm]

21. Then he needs to know more of us will back him on this - Slaughter and

Kerry have both been blistering towards media and pointing out their RW bias recently, and Dean needs to know we will fight this battle with him and any Dem lawmakers ready to charge the corporate machine.

[laheina]

15. I've come to think that

that is one of the fundamental changes that needs to take place--media reform.

But I've always loved Dean. :loveya:

[flpoljunkie]

16. Would love to have access to those "memos" sent down to warn media folks

to lay off or done down criticism of Dubya and company. Nothing this folks do surprise me. Nothing!

Thanks for the link. Heard it yesterday on Ed Schultz show, but caught more on second listening.

We need "Big Eddie." He is turning around and waking up folks in the heartland. I was among those letting him know that he was wrong about John Murtha. He seems to have absorbed the criticism and learned from the experience.

[madfloridian]

18. Well, let me know when he quits spinning lies about Dean

and his efforts in the DNC. He got massive amounts of mail then, and he just kept on telling untruths.

[flpoljunkie]

22. I have not heard him talk about Dean, but am a recent listener. Let us

know when he is "spinning lies' about Dean again. What lies did Schultz tell about Dean?

I think Dean has done a great job organizing the states for the upcoming mid-term elections this year, and much prefer Dean to former DNC chair Terry McAuliffe, who was yet again on CNN yesterday representing the Dems. I finally broke down and sent the DNC some money--because of Dean. My other donations are going straight to various Dem candidates around the country, and to Bernie Sanders, the independent from Dean's own Vermont.

[madfloridian]

23. He said Dean needed to get his head out of his ass.

Then when Dean was on the show he berated him for being on a cell-phone and not a land line. He got huffy, Dean got huffy back. He told Dean he needed to be on the radio. Dean listed for him the radio he had been doing...Ed kept it up, Dean finally said he was upset because he had not been on HIS show. I was glad he said that.

Then Big Ed kept saying Dean was not doing his job fundraising, so we sent him all the info on that...lots of us. We were told big Eddie would never apologize.

Then he said more about Dean not doing anything, where was he? Dean was traveling in Red State 5 or 6 days a week, we sent him that info. He ignored it.

They had one interview where they were decent to each other, but that was it.

[flpoljunkie]

24. Ed recently wanted to give Dean a hug when he stuck it to Wolfie.

(01/12/2006) Ben Brandzel, MoveOn.org Political Action Advocacy Director, on the Alito nomination, filibustering, and what Democrats should do.

Ben Brandzel, MoveOn.org Political Action Advocacy Director, joins Big Eddy to talk strategy following the questionning of Alito. "It's clear beyond a The president expands his vocabulary as the Alito hearings get under way. Which is he, Sammy the Bull or Super Sammy? Ed gives you his "dignified" response and a bold prediction. Why does Ed want to give Howard Dean a hug? Howard Dean sticks it to Wolf Blitzer. What every leftie in America needs to hear! The administration is on shaky legal ground says the research arm of Congress and the world premiere of America's most corrupt love story...

http://audio.wegoted.com/podcasting/11006Opening.mp3

I get what you are saying. Eddie trashed Murtha, too. I think in part for not only not appearing on his show, but for not taking his calls to be on the show. Sounds like Dean held his own with "Big Eddie" and good for you for setting him straight on the fundraising.

[sandnsea]

28. Ed Schultz isn't the point here

And neither is Dean or Kerry. The point is the information that came out about the media, which I'm certain Dean is well aware of. So okay, Dean and Kerry are on the same page on that, good good good. Let's just put the past behind us and get on with exposing the media. BOTH the right wing control AND the "Dem establishment" who plant shit about Dean and other Democrats. Believe me, Kerry people see all of it and are sick of all of it.

[madfloridian]

33. And look who CNN is using daily now...

Carville, Begala, McAuliffe, and Brazile.

Guess who still has the power, my friends, to get the spokespeople they want on the media.

BLM and you are both right about this....that the pressure will have to come from all of us that we want the old spokesmen gone and new ones put in.

One thing Kos did that I approved of. He sent a warning to Dean to get rid of Steve McMahon as an advisor...He was kind enough to recognize that brother Tom was not the problem. McMahon was on just before Dean on ABC the other day saying we need to sound just like them on national security.

That is why I get furious when so many here won't stand together...or when Ed Schultz and Raw Story dis our Democrats...with one article saying withhold support from the DNC.

It blows my mind what we could accomplish if we get off our butts on our own little turf and work together.

[blm]

38. Absolutely. I think it's becoming clear our side of the divide needs to

get even louder.

[madfloridian]

39. And a divide does seem to be forming..

I don't think it is my imagination.

[blm]

30. Heh - Schultz used to crap on Kerry all the time, too. The problem with

alot of the Dem punditry class, imo, is that they absorb too much of the lies that media spreads, too. They need to shake it off and find the facts because the NYT and the WashPost that they usually quote are NOT on our side.

Dean should get in the studio with Schultz and get him straightened out.

[karynnj]

55. The point is that he changed his opinion when Kerry sat down and spoke

to him. Kerry said the same things he has been saying consistently - but which didn't get through even to someone in the media. It was that his message changed, he became more articulate - it was JUST that he WAS HEARD.

I agree that Dean sitting down with him will change perceptions.

[blm]

60. No kidding - most media people believe the OTHER media people and that

is their biggest mistake. Dean should DEFINITELY sit down with Schultz.

[sandnsea]

27. "top brass"

Pictures and names. Expose them. Lump them all together and force them to deny the charges of media and political manipulation, or suffer the consequences along with those who are doing this. Public shaming, that's what we need to do.

[blm]

29. Oh boy - I would LOVE to do that - maybe MediaMatters needs to do a

sitdown with Kerry - I don't think he'd be saying this in public unless he really had the information.

[sandnsea]

31. Erik Sorenson

Is he still MSNBC President? If so, we need to hound him on every story and non-story, why did you bury the Murtha story, how many letters did you receive on man-overboard, do you receive calls from GE, does the White House threaten to stop giving stories to your reporters, bla bla. We need to find bloggers who will be respectful, but relentless.

And pick a few others on this list that I just found.

http://www.linkcrusader.com/contacts.htm

[sendero]

32. One of the not so secret.

... reasons for Clinton's success is that he did not let bullshit RW talking points stand. He responded to them forcefully, and quickly.

We have to do this. A charge unanswered is an allegation believed.

[blm]

34. That was in 1992 - by 1997 he was on the way to being impeached BECAUSE

media gave the GOP all the airtime it needed.

Clinton was also blamed for 9-11 and for being asleep at the wheel on terror, even though it was patently untrue. The 9-11 commission report and his book tour and all the promotion failed to make much of a dent in that perception.

Anyone who thinks the media Clinton faced is the same as the one faced by Gore and then post 9-11 by Kerry isn't paying attention, imo.

[madfloridian]

36. In 96 Clinton did his share of harm on this with deregulation of media.

That is something I had so much trouble with...that this was part of his administration.

[blm]

37. True - but I remember them saying that whatever part of it turned out to

be not working for the consumer, that it would be revisited and debated. Some Dems who voted for it DID want to revise the act after a few years, but then Bush took over.

[sendero]

42. I agree the media has changed....

... but then again - it's not like the media was friendly to Clinton. And even through the impeachment fiasco, his poll numbers remained very strong.

The media gives the Repugs an edge, not a guarantee. If the media spin worked as well as some would have you believe, Bush would not be polling in the high 30s.

[blm]

46. His poll numbers were strong because of WHAT he was being impeached for,

but after he left office, the GOP defined him as a slob who trashed the WH and AF1 and did so SUCCESSFULLY - it was many months before the investigation proved differently, but the positive outcome didn't get 1% the discussion that the trashing did.

As for Bush's poll numbers now, that reflects 3 things the media COULDN'T spin - Bush's Social Security grab, Fitzgerald's indictment, and a category 5 hurricane.

[radio4progressives]

43. exactly blm, you just beat me to it. The 1996 Telecommunications Act

de-regs did Clinton in. He should never have signed off on that - i think HE THOUGHT the media would be his friend for signing off on a document that would stab in the back and our entire democracy.

The Media IS the issue, and it IS the enemy of the people and our democracy.

It is solely in the hands of the Right Wing Fascists - it must not be allowed to stand any longer.

[ChiciB1]

35. I'm In... But Forget About Contacting MY Reps...

They aren't too friendly to my point of view! Cruella the Witch nevers returns mail, then Mel Martinez, jeeeeezzz and last but not least Billy Boy Nelson!

[Larkspur]

40. Dean's been leading this battle. It's the other Dems, including Kerry, wh

are behind the times. And Dems like Lieberman and Cuellar would rather stab Dean in the back than attack Repukes.

[blm]

41. Is THAT what this thread is about for you? GET REAL.

You are welcome to post a new thread about all the charges Dean has leveled against the corporate media and how everyone else is way behind him if that's what you think this is about.

Please post the transcripts, too....if you think that's what it's all about.

If you think Kerry should just shut up and not say anything about GE and corporations having vested interest in keeping Republicans in office, then send him an email and tell him his voice is not needed and that you want only Howard Dean to speak out.

I suppose you're disappointed that Kerry investigated and exposed more government corruption than any lawmaker in modern history, too. Or did he just follow others on that, too, in YOUR mind?

The point of the thread is that Kerry went for the jugular on this issue and called the media out for their RW agenda. More Dems should do it in this same fashion - you don't like it coming from Kerry - TOUGH - I'd bet that Dean was high-fiving him all the way.

The other point is that Dean needs to get ALL Dems to see media bias as a problem to get them on the same page. If he's been leading on this issue, then I must have missed that memo.

I know he KNOWS it, but I haven't seen confronting it revealed as an ISSUE for the DNC. You are welcome to provide the media strategy outline from the DNC that I may have missed.

[radio4progressives]

45. personally I'm thrilled to be informed that Kerry did this...

i haven't heard the piece yet, but i'm looking forward to it vis a vis the clip provided here - and if Kerry is leading the pack on this - that's fine by me - if he is committed to following this all the way, we will have his back, and it will go along way to restoring faith in his ability and INTENTION to take a leadership role in something as significant as this fight.

The media IS the issue.

[blm]

47. Slaughter and Kerry have been naming names - both went after Matthews a

few weeks ago.

[OzarkDem]

52. They need to work as a team

not use an opportunity to grab the spotlight for themselves under the guise of trying to get something done.

[radio4progressives]

44. exactly... but when you're a member of the club, you don't want to

get thrown over board... ;)

[OzarkDem]

51. Agree, Dean has the right strategy

the rest of Dems in leadership need to get on board.

[janx]

59. Some of them have. I've noticed a continuity of message

recently. But some of them have not.

[Totally Committed]

48. Great idea!

Anyone ever seen the Democratic Party coordinated, though? Think of trying to herd cats....

This Party needs to get more disciplined and on a coordinated message soon or we will losr 2006 AND 2008.

TC

[blm]

50. Listen to the piece - it's quick and needs to be spread - if we get ALL

the Dems who we know have the crust to take this battle on, then we'll at least have a great start. The interview is VERY tough on media.

[AX10]

54. 100% correct. Also, that was a stellar interview.

.

[AX10]

56. Recomended!

"He (Kerry) even says that some media folk have told him they received memos from the top brass saying to lay off on some stories. (I immediately thought of how Matthews didn't air his expose' on the WH swiftboating of Murtha)"

[ProSense]

57. Excellent post! n/t

[Dr Fate]

58. Ask your representatives to openly talk about media bias. n/t

n/t