Dan Rather on MSNBC this morning said it straight out: CBS needed favors from WH

[blm]

Legislative favors that would be in jeopardy if CBS didn't make them happy.


He said all this will come out in his case.

Here's a reminder WHY the CORPORATE NEWS MEDIA needed to distort Kerry and his campaign and diligently protect Bush and his campaign:



Kerry Seeks to Reverse FCC's "Wrongheaded Vote"
Commission Decision May Violate Laws Protecting Small Businesses; Kerry to File Resolution of Disapproval
Monday, June 2, 2003

WASHINGTON - Senator John Kerry today announced plans to file a "Resolution of Disapproval" as a means to overturn today's decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise media ownership caps and loosen various media cross-ownership rules.

Kerry will soon introduce the resolution seeking to reverse this action under the Congressional Review Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act on the grounds that the decision may violate the laws intended to protect America's small businesses and allow them an opportunity to compete.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerry expressed concern that the FCC's decision will hurt localism, reduce diversity, and will allow media monopolies to flourish. This raises significant concerns about the potential negative impacts the decision will have on small businesses and their ability to compete in today's media marketplace.

In a statement released earlier today regarding the FCC's decision, Kerry said:

"Nothing is more important in a democracy than public access to debates and information, which lift up our discourse and give Americans an opportunity to make honest informed choices. Today's wrongheaded vote by the Republican members of the FCC to loosen media ownership rules shows a dangerous indifference to the consolidation of power in the hands of a few large entities rather than promoting diversity and independence at the local level. The FCC should do more than rubber stamp the business plans of narrow economic interests.

"Today's vote is a complete dereliction of duty. The Commissioners are well aware that these rules greatly influence the competitive structure of the industry and protect the public's access to multiple sources of information and media. It is the Commission's responsibility to ensure that the rules serve our national goals of diversity, competition, and localism in media. With today's vote, they shirked that responsibility and have dismissed any serious discussion about the impact of media consolidation on our own democracy."

___________________ _______________ ________________ __________

The NEWSMEDIA OWNERS did NOT want a new sheriff in town who would actually protect the American consumers.

[softwarevotingtrail]

1. I think that's why Dan filed the lawsuit - to point out the complicity

There is information in the lawsuite alleging that CBS really tried to bury the Abu Ghraib so as not to piss off government regulators. And Katy Couric has the gall to slam "the bloggers." As if "the bloggers" work in kahoots with the government like CBS does.

[blm]

2. Yes - he said that again this morning. Bigwigs were mad Abu Ghraib story ran.

.

[zbdent]

3. You know, Rather was an investigative reporter ...

I wouldn't be surprised if he held onto a MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE suggesting this ... which CBS will seek to throw out because it was "illegally obtained" ... and failing that, they'll have some 50-year-old come out of his mother's basement to testify that he could duplicate the documents using his PC ...

[blm]

21. Well...they can pull that off on a talkshow, but not in a court of law.

And THAT will be a sight to behold. I will watch every minute of that trial.

[donheld]

25. You can be sure of it.

After he got burned the last time, I'll bet about anything he as ALL his ducks in a row this time.

[Cassandra]

4. As I said in the other thread...

Dean was also targeted after he said he was against media consolidation.

[blm]

5. Yes - his once positive coverage became more negative after that comment.

.

[mod mom]

6. I hope he gets a fair judge that is not a "loyal bushie" who serves * over the constitution.

[blm]

11. Judges serving the constitution over the powerful elite are a scarcity these days.

.

[mod mom]

15. Yes, bfee saw to this over the last 2 terms. :( Which is why voting machines MUST

be de-certified. The repuke judges will never allow contested elections to come to court, just like they prevented the '04 Ohio case.

[blm]

20. That's another aspect that many here are still unaware.

They haven't realized GOP judges and their role in Ohio election where they dominated almost every county.

[robinlynne]

22. neither will the dems in congress. There were 13 congressional "thefts" last election.

The committee in charge of investigating voted not to investigate, by one democratic vote....

[riqster]

7. Transcript? nt

[blm]

8. Will probably be up soon.

.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Try Google instead of simply using one word demands

That's rude.

[riqster]

12. It wasn't meant as a demand

I had already done some searches, Google and MSNBC, and came up snake-eyes.


I do tend towards short statements-partly because of my nature and partly because lung problems limit my speech, which shows up in my writing as well. Apologies to anyone who was offended by my admittedly terse request.

[blm]

14. That used to happen to me alot when I first started posting. I wrote the way I thought

and it ended up in broken sentences.

Earthquakes can do that to a person.

[riqster]

17. Seriously, folks

I write the way I speak; that's because so much of my writing is either songs or presentations. Saves a lot of editing if I write in my 'voice'. And since songs are short and good presentations likewise, that makes me seem very abrupt when all you have is text. Add that to COPD and you know why I have become a ruthless editor over the years.

[blm]

19. People here usually get accustomed to writing style after a while.

Trust me - I took a lot of hits for my broken sentences, but most chose to understand.

Same will happen for you - your brevity couldn't possibly annoy as many as my ellipses...heh.

[springhill]

13. Umm........

You are the rude one.

[rosesaylavee]

10. K & R

[bleever]

16. God bless Dan Rather for going right at the corrupted heart of corporate media.

Big K&R.

[blm]

18. It took him a while to get the evidence he needed - I hope he knows we will be here

for him every step of the way to get that truth out.

[robinlynne]

23. I sent him a letter yesterday thanking him, care of hdnet.

[chill_wind]

24. I remember that ruling and the huge Internet campaign that was fought against it, but we lost.

Big Corporate News Media is so much an entrenched part- even a major genesis-- of this socio/economic/political cancer we've been increasingly plagued with for decades now.

Who else besides Kerry, in the time since, has been this vocal? We need somebody in power who gets this---- really really gets this.

In the meantime, I will be riveted to Dan Rather's fight. I won't be able to get enough of it. He doesn't need the money at his stage in life. He said as much, and says he will donate a vast share of any award to what few journalistic bodies and watchdogs are still around with any integrity left, as a legacy that older era. I'm rooting for his effort with all that's in me. I hope he has the best legal team money can buy. I hope he brings CBS executives to their knees in a very exemplary and very public way. It's way time.

K&R.

[Guaranteed]

26. Don't forget the "no-call" legislation as well, which, indirectly,

was a way of raising advertising rates for media companies, since it made it more difficult for other companies to solicit business directly from customers.

[Vidar]

27. I'm hoping this ultimately goes well, and that Dan Rather is

given a lot of credit for restoring freedom of the press and free speech in this benighted cesspool of a country.

[blm]

28. I fear CBS will settle quickly - Rather should have gone for a billion.

.