Dean Seeks Media Blackout, Changes Mind

[Placebo]

Howard Dean, the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee, requested a media blackout of a debate with top Pentagon adviser Richard Perle, then quickly changed his mind Wednesday after news agencies complained.

"DNC Chair Howard Dean has declared a news blackout of his appearance and requested the media not quote, record, and/or paraphrase his remarks," event coordinator Gabrielle Williams wrote in an e-mail sent to news agencies Wednesday morning. "We apologize for the late notice, but we were just informed of this request."

Less than two hours later, Williams called to say: "We were told just a few minutes ago that it is now open" for media coverage. The decision to open Thursday's debate came roughly 30 minutes after an inquiry by The Associated Press.

Dean spokeswoman Laura Gross said Dean had decided the event would be closed before he was elected DNC chairman Saturday, but changed his mind because of his new job.

More...

[blm]

1. I am so glad he changed his mind. I'm sure he can catch Perle in a lie

or two.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

3. I agree, even though Dean is avoiding major new networks for local news

oh well for this instance I guess it's ok

[madfloridian]

9. And the major networks are furious with him for doing that.

They are livid. He has turned out a lot of national media for a while. It kills them.

[shance]

13. Why would the Guv want to black out what could be a home run?

Maybe Im not understanding the whole deal.

[madfloridian]

15. May have been before the election...this was set up long ago.

May have been afraid to have it public before Nov. 2 lest it affect Kerry. He debates a lot, no one ever wanted to cover it. LOL

[shance]

17. Good points Floridian. I didn't read all of it before posting.

Apologies.

Not to mention, Perle has quite the media machine behind him.

Governor Dean will blow Perle out of the water, but with the propaganda pushers at the White House, they can make anyone look good.

Even Richard Perle.

[Rebellious Republican]

22. Hey MF, was glad to see Dean take over the DNC, finally......

someone that will stand up to these neocons. Keep up the good work, its nice to know that you and others like you kept up the support.

I know you have not seen me around for awhile, I have been lurking, mostly in LBN.

Was feeling extremely burnt out, between campaigning for the party and working disaster relief for the hurricanes, it sapped me both mentally and physically.

You have my email, let me know when you and Mr.MF find yourself in my neck of the woods.

My offer is still good!

:toast:

[madfloridian]

24. Well, hello. RR.. I still have your kind offer in mind.

The storms were very rough, weren't they? I looked out and saw dark clouds the other day and saw the wind pick up...and I almost had a panic attack.

Silly things, like walking under a big tree and getting the feeling it is falling.

I know others are not over it yet either. There are homes with tarps for roofs, and mildew inside...and no end in sight.

Sad.

[Zhade]

41. Hey, welcome back RR! I enjoy your posts.

NT!

[Rebellious Republican]

43. Thanks Zhade N/T

:hi:

[ixion]

2. after news agencies complained

funny, ain't it? how when it's the GOP that wants a blackout, or total complicity, that the MSM doesn't make a sound, but if a Dem asks, the whining and back biting begin immediately.

[HuckleB]

5. Exactly.

The hypocrisy is enormous.

[Cha]

12. Oh Yeah! What's good for the Goose is

definetly not good for the Gander!

Dean's allowed to change his mind.

Fuck you!..Fascist media!

[mzmolly]

18. Note how they put that as THE reason rather than the reason Dean gave,

which is he wasn't DNC chair when he accepted the terms of the debate.

:eyes:

No wonder the media isn't allowed to "paraphrase" right on Dr. Dean!

[dhinojosa]

4. Damn, I wonder what he was going to do during the blackout.

"Sir down Richard, let me give you a close shave.....Like me new blade?"

[janx]

6. Good one.

The rest of the article is more interesting than the Perle debate, in fact!

[madfloridian]

7. Note Laura's comments on this.

They decided to request it be closed months ago, but now that he is chair...it is open.

Amazing....absolutely amazing....he does these debates a lot but no one ever covered them. Only a few mentions in blogs.

Now they are so damned irate....

[ProudToBeLiberal]

10. mad is dean good at debating? nt

[madfloridian]

14. I think better at debating than giving speeches.

Some of the stuff on the Canadian broadcasts forums was excellent. He is fast on his feet. Better speaking off the cuff. Boy, will they be watching for every word he says. They will twist words....

[NashVegas]

16. Kinda Makes Me Wonder

If it hadn't been on blackout from the beginning, would the media have even cared?

Maybe this is to our and Dean's advantage, especially if he does well.

[librechik]

20. Perle is a clueless greedy bag of slimey memorized dogma

a three year old could beat him in a debate--not that that will help Dean, who is doomed to be MURDALIZED by most of the MSM each time he opens his mouth. Expect the worst.

[NEOBuckeye]

27. CHOMSKY verbally kicked Perle's ass in a One on One debate

16 years ago at Ohio State. Surprising how little Perle has changed.

http://tvset.org/mp3/Chomsky%20v%20Perle%201988

Executive Summary: "This is a brilliant display of knowledge, logic and evidence used agaist insults, ignorance and arrogance."

Even if Dean does 1/8 as well as Chomsky, Perle will still look every bit as much the arrogant ass.

[screembloodymurder]

33. Maybe we need to do the "Dean Scream"

Don't just sit there and let them take your freedom. Scream with Dean.

[janx]

8. I've forgotten--

when is debate to take place?

[madfloridian]

11. Tomorrow night in Portland. Link

http://www.pacificu.edu/news_events/events/forum/

[mzmolly]

19. Will it be aired?

:hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

I would go...

but I would get kicked out for whooping and hollering everytime Dean sets Perle straight! Hey Perle! I dare you to start a sentence with "Some people say.." !!

[sandnsea]

28. Portland, the 17th

All the info is posted in the Oregon forum. That's all I remember off the top of my head.

[98geoduck]

21. I'm all for Dems to blackout rightwing MSM.

Let em show Iraq and Jackson 24/7

[dxdem]

23. I would have

been disappointed if he would have stuck with the blackout, and would have seen it as a strategic miscalculation on his part. After coming out strongly against the NY GOP Chair, a strong performance on his part at this debate bodes well for us!

[madfloridian]

25. Here is the really odd part....he debated Perle before...

And there was no coverage on it. It is series of debates, I think. I remember I posted about it months ago. Not any coverage of it.

But well, now, tomorrow night they will hang on his every word.

[xxqqqzme]

26. hope Howard pats him on

the back just in case perle also has a suit that fits poorly.

[candy331]

29. Can anyone tell me what is the point of this debate? The msn is

probably foaming and chomping at the bits to print an array of innuendos and complete fabrications. Now if the debate was Bush/Cheney then I'd say bring it on but Perle, is he worth it.

[madfloridian]

39. Here is the link to the forum.

http://www.pacificu.edu/news_events/events/forum/

This was set up months ago as a series of debates. Bet you never heard a word about the others.

[pacifictiger]

30. everyone seems to be missing the point

- he was private citizen when arrangements were made. The organizers default to a "no press policy" unless otherwise requested.
Now that he has been elected DNC chairman, things have changed. Headline is very misleading - but then what else is new from the "lets get Dean" motto of the MSM!

[Griffy]

31. TACTIC? tell someone they cant come to the party.. then..

send them an invite.. could be new people in the DNC trying to shake the media up right away! Dean knows the media is full of shhh... I mean, shills. He knows he can deliver our message to the confused americans that think bush is helping them, but he will need some sort of media to do it! We shall wait and see what kind of coverage he can garner!

[DU GrovelBot]

32. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

==================
GROVELBOT.EXE v3.0
==================



This week is our first quarter 2005 fund drive. Democratic
Underground is a completely independent website. We depend almost entirely
on donations from our members to cover our costs. Thank you so much for
your support.

[MAlibdem]

34. How is this a story?

Who gives a shit? This isn't a story.

[Placebo]

35. How is this NOT a story?

People give a shit. This is a story.

[MAlibdem]

38. if you say so...

this has no meat. it's all speculative. but there's no logical direction in which to speculate...what, he was worried perle would trounce him? He was going to be crazy ole Dean and call for world communist revolution? it just has no meat, no legs to stand on, let alone run with.

[Liberty Belle]

36. I think this is a Brer Rabbit trick by Dean. ;-)

"Please, oh please don' throw me into that briar patch!"

What better way to get the MSM to cover a DEM speaking out than to pretend you don't want them to air your speech?

[Dr Fate]

40. I HOPE he really is that smart- I was thinking the same thing...

I've been advocating for DEMS to "fool" the media into covering them using various methods myself- I hope this really is what Dean is up to!

[Guaranteed]

42. Oh shit...you're right. "No, no...please don't cover this, MSM...."

;)

Very perceptive, Liberty!

[Liberty Belle]

44. shhh...don't tell the media, please!

This could be a fun tactic to try out locally, too.

Have someone "leak" word to the media about a major progressive event that is being held "in secret from the media" because the group doesn't want conservatives to know what they're plotting.

Of course, you'd give the media an earful on what's wrong with the GOP and the White House, once they showed up in droves.

[KissMeKate]

37. he sought the blackout as a private citizen MONTHS BEFORE

this article makes him look crazy- he made the privacy decision months before as this was scheduled. Now hes DNC chair- and of course he should have it be public.