ABC News pulls Kucinich campaign reporter

[raysr]

Reporter off Kucinich CampaignFor Immediate Release: December 10, 2003The day after Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich took ABC debate moderator Ted Koppel to task for avoiding questions that would be useful to voters in favor of questions about endorsements, money, and polls, ABC pulled its fulltime "embedded" reporter from the Kucinich campaign, a reporter who had been given no warning that such a move was coming and who had discussed at length yesterday with the Kucinich campaign staff her plans and her needs for the coming months.ABC has reportedly also pulled its reporters from covering the presidential campaigns of Rev. Al Sharpton and Ambassador Carol Mosley-Braun.This appears to be another instance of what Kucinich criticized at the debate, namely the media trying to pick candidates, rather than letting the voters do so. In a democracy, it should be voters and not pundits or TV networks who narrow the field of candidates.This move, before any state's caucus or primary, appears based on a belief that viable candidates can be predicted 11 months prior to an election, a belief that flies in the face of the historical record. Time and again candidates dismissed as "fringe" have wound up either with the nomination or with a significant impact on the convention and in the primaries.This action by ABC, as well as Koppel's comments during the debate, can only serve to disempower Americans, communicating to them that someone other than they is deciding elections and that their votes don't mean much.This action also seems to conflict with the network's interest in boosting ratings and Koppel's expressed interest in making the debate exciting, given that Kucinich received the loudest applause of the evening.ABC presumably has no vested interest in discouraging voting or in lowering its ratings. It may, however, have an interest in whether Koppel's prediction of the viability of various candidacies proves true.TELL ABC NEWS WHAT YOU THINKEmail [e-mail] or call [phone] or fax [phone].

[minkyboodle]

1. Here is a copy of my letter (this is ridiculous)

Dear Sir or Madam,
It seems that Mr. Koppel's plan to make the most recent Democratic debate more exciting was to prod the candidates with questions specifically designed to fire them up. In reality, this translated to 30 minutes wasted on "horse race" questions and too few policy questions. Endorsements, polls and money dominated the questions of this debate. Speaking as a viewer I found this to be distasteful and tedious. However, it did elicit the excitement you desired; this excitement came to a head with candidate Kucinich's well received outing of Mr Koppel's and indeed the mass media's tactics in its campaign coverage. It was by far the most dramatic moment of the debate. Mr Koppel even took credit for it himself afterwards. Why then do I read today that the embedded reporters from Rep Kucinich, Al Sharpton and Carol-Mosley-Braun's campaigns have all been suddenly removed. One can only guess that some sort of personal animus or grudge has caused this. It is ABC's responsibility to give their viewers the entire spectrum of ideas and opinions present in this race. I find it sad and telling that you have chosen that the three most progressive candidates are no longer worthy of the same coverage as their competitors. All of this before a single vote has been cast in the primaries. I will be switching my station to another source of news, unless something is done to correct this transparently obvious tactic. I shall also take every opportunity to inform others about this problem and make my decision concerning ABC known to them. Thanks in advance for any response.

Gordon Scott Grant
Alexandria, VA

[twilight]

32. the truth hurts and ABC can't take it

Totally disgusting. I did not blame DK one bit and I noticed that both Clark and the other candidate next to DK both patted him on the shoulder as if to say, "good for you!". I wonder how the other candidates feel about this? Is this truly nothing but another "old boys" club or what?

As a Kucinich supporter, this only reaffirms my devotion to this candidate. He is the best candidate with the best message.



:dem: :kick:

[qanda]

2. I wonder if any other "news" organizations will follow...

I know MSNBC and AOL are laying people off. I'm sure they could use that excuse.

[Khephra]

3. Well, I'm through with getting any news from ABC

Screw them! Everyone deserves a place at the table until they drop out.

[bluestateguy]

4. I'm running out of stations to watch

NBC: Obsessed with health news and "feel good" stories.

CBS: Still on my shit list from the Reagan cowardice.

ABC: This whole deal.

MSNBC: Unprofessional

FOX: Do I need to explain?

CNN: Best days are behind it. Now they just try to be more like FOX.

[piece sine]

10. that still leaves PBS and BBC

which are, when combined, sufficient. Especially if one also reads.

[Bozita]

63. Reading is critical. Foreign TV networks will soon be swallowed by...

...the bigger media conglomerates.

It's like a big joke, but nobody's laughing now.

Look at Italy. Now we're gonna see the American "Big 6" spreading their tentacles into the world's media outlets.

Free trade, ain't it great?

[R Hickey]

74. And we still have Comedy Central's Daily show...

So we have around two hours of biting satire each week.

[newsjunkie]

97. Zel Miller will be on Daily Show today

I hope Jon rips him the DINO a brand new asshole.

[0007]

14. PBS has it all with no commercials - One hour news with Jim Lehrer

makes more sense than 24 hours of nothing from the whore networks.

[UpInArms]

23. I watch just to count the cover-ups and lies

I get my news from the net - foreign papers - reliable reporters - you know the drill

I will say that this is shameful and inexcusable behavior -

The messages that these true candidates bring to the debate are important and should be heard by every citizen in this country -

It is abysmal that so few of the debates have been carried on mainstream television to begin with -

they have to run their stupid worthless vacuous claptrap 7 days a week - yet the most important duty and responsibility - an informed electorate - has been totally disregarded.

I am disgusted. (no appropriate icon available)

[Voltaire99]

71. You want Newsworld International (NWI).

Carrying CBC, ITV, DW, as well as French and Asian broadcasts. I relish the Canadian news: how unaccustomed am I as an American to the news being reported by and for adults!

Ask your local digital cable monopolist - it was an extra $5/mo. here, yet worth every penny.

[cyclezealot]

88. Drop cable.

The news on networks is a waste of time. I suggest getting a satellite dish..Deep Dish carries great stations such as Free Speech TV, Link, BBC.. Real news..Real investigative reporters.
For the sake of Free Speech, we need do something..How about picketing down at the local ABC affiliiate.? I would like to..

[lostnfound]

98. You are right but the highspeed cable internet is convenient..?

So what is the best alternative? Satellite TV plus GTE internet?

[Racenut20]

5. Damn, another whole net work I can no longer watch

First Faux, then NBC morning show, Now all of ABC. I may have to get someone in pRes's office to read the papers for me since we NASCAR dads are all ignorant and don't know how to read anything other than a Budweiser label on a can...... Yes, thats can folk. Sissies drink out of bottles and women drink out of glasses...Ya gotta have a can to drink real beer out of. So you can crush it and stomp it when it's empty.

[dweller]

6. Do you have a link raysr?

i haven't searched DU yet, but will.
thanks
dp

[tlcandie]

7. Llink ...

http://www.kucinich.us/pressreleases/pr_121003.php

[raysr]

8. Link

Yeah, I got e-mail from the campaign. R

[jmatthan]

9. My letter to nightline

"Dear Sirs,

I am not an American, I am not white, I am not even an European.

Yet I watch the American Presidential campaign as it has a bearing on what will happen in the world. I watched the debate yesterday on CSpan.

Your decision to pull your embedded reporter from Mr. Dennis Kucinich campaign (as well as Rev. Al Sharpton and Ms. Carol Moseley Brown) is one of the most despicable decisions that I have witnessed in recent years of my 50+ years as a journalist.

It puts your CEO on par with your President George Bush and "his" decisions.

Mr. Kucinich represented the ONLY voice which was concentrating on issues in yesterday's debate rather than trivialities as was being forced on the candidates by a Moderator who seemed to be sitting on a high horse rather than understanding the reason for these debates.

What Mr. Kucinich said which showed up your correspondent poor integrity and for what he was, seems to have touched a raw nerve on your part.

At least we now know that your organisation is as "fair and balanced" as FOX NEWS.

Regards

Jacob Matthan
Oulu, Finland"

[Dr.Phool]

11. Make Calls and faxes now!!!!

I want to start out by saying that I am a Howard Dean supporter.

ABC's ACTIONS ARE UNCONSCIENABLE!

I SAW THE "DEBATE" LAST NIGHT AND DENNIS WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!

I'M CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE BOYCOTT OF ANYTHING ABC-DISNEY-ESPN-ETC!

THEY ARE USING PUBLIC OWNED AIRWAYS TO UNDERMINE THE DEMOCRATIC, POLITICAL PROCESS IN THIS COUNTRY!!

E-MAIL [e-mail]
phone [phone]
fax [phone]

IMMEDIATELY and tell them you will boycott all of their shows, and ALL of their advertisers if they continue to meddle in the political process!

We have a goddamn hard enough time getting our message out through their biased reporting, but this has gone too far. They've also reportedly pulled reporters off of the Sharpton and CMB campaigns.

Call the FCC.

Who the hell do they think they are, to tell us who legitimate candidates are, and who's not?!!!

Start calling and e-mailing their advertisers. Stop this shit in it's tracks right now!!:wtf:

:spank:

:kick: :nuke:

[kimchi]

16. Kick to make our disgust heard loud and clear!

[Pastiche423]

22. Thank you for ABC's e addy

For months now, I have been watching only one program - Nightline. I was pleased that it was showing , what I thought, was a more tempered view of the occupation. I gave props to Koppel.

Until last night.

My disappointment, then outrage sent those props out the window. By late last night, Koppel had already realized that he had royally fucked up.

But that is not enough. Koppel's/ABC's inbox needs to be crammed w/emails, letting them know their actions will not be tolerated.

[PaDUer]

29. Wonder how much they

paid ABC and Koppel? Now we know why Koppel was throwing out the questions he did last nite..He was trying to railroad the candidates!

[pinto]

25. kick.

This is shit. Also Koppell is no "reporter". Scam job.

I'm a Dean guy.

[IndianaGreen]

12. ABC is trying to dictate to us who the candidates ought to be!

This is an issue that affects all of us, regardless of which candidate we support for President.

:mad:

We should play hardball like the rightwing does and flood the FCC and the FEC with complaints about ABC's illegal intrusion in the electoral process.

I am alerting everyone I know about what is going on.

[ibegurpard]

13. Unfuckingbelievable.

:puke:

[Dr.Phool]

15. a little more.

I called the phone # for nightline and they refered me to another line where you can leave a message.

it's 818-460-7477

You get 30 seconds to leave a message, so threaten to boycott all of their programming and advertisers and start calling their advertisers!!!!

[BuckeFushe]

17. Remember who owns ABC, and also remember who the largest

conservative talk radio network is owned by. Now you know what is going on. The Con-Web is injecting itself into the race, and it's not good.

[psychopomp]

18. I loved hearing what DK had to say

His pointed comments to Mr. Koppel directed at the irrelevance of his questions was one of the finer moments of the debate. DK really did try to elevate the conversation.

Should I be surprised that ABC did not pull its reporter(s?) from the Kerry campaign despite the fact that Sen. Kerry told Mr. Koppel that he would tell him where he can put his question if he were less polite?

[TexasPatriot]

19. that's total BS

The Iowa Caucus has rules for viability - ABC should not. If the candidates are covered by the Democratic national party and website equally - they should be covered by the press equally.

Those 3 are real candidates with real supporters. We hear people say 'every vote counts, and every voter counts' - but ABC sure isn't acting like it. If only a few non-voting Disneyworld employees had gotten out of work early enough to vote in the last election, we might not be in the freaking mess we're in right now. This is unacceptable.

[Muddleoftheroad]

37. Question

So, suppose there were still 350 candidates (sort of like California was), should a news organization cover all equally?

[tinanator]

39. answer

yes. of course.

[Muddleoftheroad]

41. LOL

Are you serious? So where would a news organization get that money from?

[dweller]

44. answer

a. the *moron
b. Mickey Mouse
c. John and Jane Q. Public

okay, trick question, but give it your best.
dp

[Muddleoftheroad]

45. D

None of the above. No news organization can afford that kind of coverage and still be profitable.

[dweller]

49. wrong answer!

for there are not 350 candidates, there are 10, including the *moron in office.
They have the $$ for every fluff bit they seem to think you and i have to know and hear 24 hours a day concerning Kobe, Peterson (east or left coast) and michael jackson's latest.
What is of more importance to you?

dp

[Muddleoftheroad]

51. I am a bad example

As are pretty much all the folks here at DU. Ask most Americans if they'd rather hear about Michael Jackson or Al Sharpton and it is hands down Michael.

Ten candidates is a hell of a lot to staff. News budgets are not huge and even one travelling reporter is expensive. When you throw in the massive Iraq staffing, all of the news orgs are having a hard time of it.

[dweller]

54. Wow, you think the economy is that bad?

can't expense 10 reporters for a major news organization?

they should take it up with a: the *moron.

bet they don't, and thus you and i and many other Americans are the poorer for it. But not ABC.
I guess it's not the news, but the new...$.

dp

[Muddleoftheroad]

56. It's not 10 reporters

That's not how TV works.

Every reporter travels with a producer. They also have to be staffed with camera crews. A simple TV truck for one event can run several thousand dollars. One month of coverage for one candidate can be a couple hundred grand. That's real money.

[dweller]

59. yeah it is to me

and maybe you too, but to ABC?
NBC?
CBS?
CNN?

Let's include FAUX too?

What news organization does not have the $$ to cover these 9 candidates?
And which one has the right to disregard any of them before we have a primary, much less an election?
Perhaps the head honchos should refigure the budgets to bring the American people...REAL NEWS?

so many questions, so few answers coming from them...
dp

[tlcandie]

62. Dunno they had the $$$$ to embed them in Iraq and pay for

how much regarding that LONG stay....??? But they can't do this?! If you can't do a thing right then don't do it at all!

They have the ability to see if they can or can't do this thing and know from the start if they had the funds or not. Ridiculous to think otherwise.

So, if anyone thinks this is okay... then how do they make their decisions? Oh, I get it follow the money...forget the voters and the truth and democracy! :O

[Dhalgren]

93. The question isn't one of total coverage,

but of equal coverage. If you cannot afford to cover all of the candidates with individual reporters (and crews), then you devise a plan to cover them all equally with the resources you have. Equality of coverage is the point.

[Muddleoftheroad]

105. Nope, that's not the point

If one candidate is polling at 80% and two others at 1%, sorry, but they don't get equal coverage. The other two would qualify as gadflies -- just like Rev. Al.

[Efilroft Sul]

100. ABC has the money

If the network can shell out nearly $4 million for Trista and Ryan's wedding, the funding is there to follow Kucinich, CMB, and Sharpton on the campaign trail.

All ABC has to do is shuffle funds from one account (entertainment) to the next (news) if it is serious about representative democracy.

I don't buy the network's argument about lack of funds. Cry me a river.

[TheWebHead]

64. Should all the networks have an embed with Lyndon LaRouche?

[tlcandie]

66. If you are going to embed .. then embed them all ... or none ...

[Muddleoftheroad]

76. Sorry, they have an obligation to run a business

And, in so doing, they have to make tough choices. If a campaign is not viable, then that is the one they have to cut loose.

[blindpig]

86. viable?

let's have some primaries first! Or do you disagree with Dennis's critque?

[Muddleoftheroad]

106. I don't consider DK viable

[dweller]

67. Is he your candidate?

then fight for his word to be heard.

dp

[tlcandie]

68. ?

Really confused by your post ...

[info being]

91. Yes, they should.

.

[Dhalgren]

94. If LaRouche is a ceritfied candidate

for a major party and there are "embeds" with the other candidates, then yes for fairness and equality he should be treated the same.

[Jim Sagle]

102. LaRouche is certifiable, not certified.

He ain't nuthin' but shit and neither are any of his followers.

[TexasPatriot]

82. I'll drop trow

sorry i didnt see the question till now... looks like i started something.

ok. What i suggested in my post was that since the Democratic Party continued to cover those candidates officially at the national level - through their website and press offices - that the news outlets have a responsibility to cover them appropriately.

DK is getting a lot of positive momentum from the debate the other night, and pulling the embed not only hurts his campaign's visibility, it hurts his ability to continue to get his message out - a message that, if it were to resonate, might do what a lot of non-frontrunning candidate messages have done in the past - and that is make shifts to the party platform.

IF the DNC wants to refine the field, and make the case to the voters that they need to be picking from a smaller group then they should do so. But right now, only Big Al is saying something along those lines. The DNC determines who the real candidates are...
http://www.democrats.org/whitehouse/candidates.html
You cover them, or you dont.

IF you're going to have embeds that cover the democratic primary campaign candidates, and the DNC says there are 9, you really *should* have 9 embeds. They should at LEAST set up a 'pool reporter' embed system with other outlets, so the candidates are covered (even if they arent covered by an exclusively ABC reporter).

Our party is a big tent. I want to hear everyone's voice.

[Muddleoftheroad]

83. They will still get coverage

But few posters here seem willing to address the fiscal realities of the situation. If a news director decides a candidate is not worth spending the money on, that is his/her job to do so.

[TexasPatriot]

84. ok... but

what i'm saying is that if the DNC says they're viable, then you have an obligation to either cover them all or cover none.

the news director shouldnt be in the position of culling the list that has been culled by the democratic leadership.

IF they feel that the DNC is being too liberal in it's determination of who is or is not worth voting for, then i'm sure there are other news organizations that feel the same way. They should at the very least create pool embeds, rather than what they've done.

Generally speaking, telling the african american community that the 2 african american candidates that the DNC says are viable are unelectable and not worth talking about is NOT RIGHT.

Do I wish the field were smaller? Yes. Do I wish we could focus on a few candidates? Yes. But that's me. Nobody cares about what I think. ABC matters - and they shouldnt do this.

Maybe an NAACP boycott of Disney will make them realize that spending a little money on fairness is the right thing to do.

[Muddleoftheroad]

85. It's still a for-profit enterprise

And the DNC or the RNC don't mandate coverage.

Yes, it sucks that both the African-American candidates get axed, but neither has a snowball's chance.

[Kool Kitty]

108. Please-do you really think that the

Disney Corporation is strapped for cash?

[David Zephyr]

20. Shameful!

First, Dennis Kucinich shames General Electric's very own Chris Matthews by refusing to particpate in his corporate showcasing of "liberals" to the American public.

Now, Dennis has made a complete fool out of Ted Koppel in front of the whole world by scolding him for his trivial "questions" during ABC/Disney's corporate show debate.

Good for Dennis!

By the way, Dennis won the debate hands down.


"Smile for Ted Koppel, Officer Martin." -- from RENT by Jonathan Larson

[Devlzown]

21. Here's my letter......

To whom it may concern:

Thank you so much for doing everything you can to quiet the more subversive voices in the Democratic Party (like Braun, Kucinich, and Sharpton). There's a lot of folks out there who listen to the candidates "positions" on the "issues." If you and the rest of the media can help get these weirdos out of the way, maybe we can get all the Democrats to start looking at the really important things -- like who's raised the most money or who has the most celebrity endorsements.

[area51]

26. The way ABC acts ...

... I think the irony may escape them.

[frank frankly]

24. emailed those POS POS POS fucks

The big media is well past possible redemption. Fortunately, the Internet has made you obsolete.

Words fail me, but fortunately they did not fail Dennis Kucinich last night.

That was the worst moderated debate I have ever seen. You people literally do not have a clue what is real and what the human mind is capable of examining through discourse and analysis.

Goodbye ABC/ESPN/DISNEY and whatever else you've become. I hope you understand somewhere in the recesses of your minds what you have done to our country.

Sincerely,
Eric Sisak

[DemonFighterLives]

46. That's a great letter

n/t

[Le Taz Hot]

27. As a Dean supporter

I would just like to add my condemnation for the media's attempt to try and dictate OUR presidential primary race. The last I checked, there are still 9 viable candidates and each and every one needs to be heard. I'd boycott ABC but I've already been boycotting TV news (network and cable) since the Clinton witch hunts. I will, however, write a letter to ABC and let them know my views.

Kucinich, Mosely-Braun and Sharpton voluteers, please know that I am just as angry as you are at this king-making tactic. This is dispicable!

[PaDUer]

30. Don't be surprised if

the freepers were a big part of this..Has anyone checked their site?

[leesa]

28. The RW media really do NOT want Kucinich's message out there

I'm going to have to listen more carefully to what he is saying if they want it suppressed so badly.

[PaDUer]

31. The truth always

hurts..This is a total disgrace!

[Dover]

33. HA!! A good friend of mine who was still holding a lot of GE stocks

sold the whole kit and kabootle today! He is a Dean supporter and said he stood up and cheered when Dennis and Sharpton took Koppel to task.

Now THAT's what I call ACTION with a bite! Walkin' the talk!

[dreamvision]

34. my letter

TO ALL ABC STAFF and MANAGEMENT

I am terribly disappointed at your decision to pull the campaign reporters for Dennis Kucinich, Al Shapton, and Carol Mosley Braun. It shows a preference for candidates, a distained mistrust towards the American voters, and a poor political move. I was as amazed as was, Dennis Kucinich, who’s well thought and pointed response to Ted Koppel’s open questions relating to polls and endorsements was warranted. I say amazed since I have in the past found Ted Koppel to asked intelligent questions which gained us knowledge vs. personal information. The particular question Ted Koppel ask, seem personal and humiliating to me, that is how I felt when I watched the debate. Also, when Ted Koppel ask Kucinich, Shapton, and Braun about their lack of funds to continue their candidacy, it was out right rude because he stated in such a means as to say, you have lost , so when are you going to drop out. (He actually said that, “when are you going to drop out”). It is the American people who decide who their next President of the United States should be, and it’s not fair to any candidate not to be covered fairly by all press organizations in the USA. I will boycott your station and any affiliations associated with your ABC company, unless you decide to reverse you decision. It does not matter who someone likes or dislike from the media statements, that is up to the voters. When you go out of work to vote for your candidate, its when you leave the office on election day, not before. Grow up and let all the American citizen use their voice for a change.


To TED KOPPEL

I have always enjoyed your shows, and you as an reporter, and I was really taken back by those poor posing questions that had nothing to do with polices, but everything do with who is the winner and/or loser right now. I can’t imagine you being so sensitive toward Dennis Kucinich’s remarks that you had the power to have ABC pull these fellow reporters from covering these candidates. Surely you can request that this does not happened, since I think your sharper than that.

[Dover]

38. Nice letter and welcome to DU! I'm so disappointed in Koppel.

He seemed to be trying to get these underfunded candidates to give up before the primaries! That's outrageous! And it is not his place or his decision to make or even suggest. It was SO disrespectful of those individuals and the democratic process.

And what kind of condition is Kerry's campaign in? He is favored by the Washington insiders and I'm guessing they will work hard to bump off the others including Dean.

[Scott Lee]

35. Respectfully, I think they were pulled because ABC foresees

the soon coming end to all three campaigns (Kucinich, Mosley Brown and Sharpton). This is not a flame, only an observation. News agencies hate to spend money and they certainly won't spend it keeping an embedded reporter in the camps they see as soon folding.

[tinanator]

36. are the primaries over already?

wow, that was quick. News agencies, you say?

[Muddleoftheroad]

40. They do have budgets

And this many candidates means lots of travel, hotels, etc.

[tinnypriv]

47. Maybe

They shouldn't have blown it all on satellite time for MICHEAL FUCKING JACKSON.

No pun intended.

[Muddleoftheroad]

52. They are FOR-PROFIT enterprises

They deliver content that viewers desire, not just what viewers might need.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

69. Aw, come off it, Muddle

The commercial media have been relentlessly dumbing down the American public for at least twenty years.

I can remember when all news broadcasts were dignified and full of actual news, instead of scandals, disasters, and cute kitten and puppy stories.

If the American people "don't want" serious news--and we could argue about that, since news viewership has been going down since the "happy talk" format became fashionable--then the media have only themselves to blame.

[Muddleoftheroad]

77. Financially, this move could save them $500,000 a month

As a business decision, it's hard to justify that expense for three campaigns no one in his right mind thinks has a snowball's chance. And, if they turn out wrong, they can always readjust.

[dreamvision]

42. another email to send letters to

For ABC's Primetime and Daytime shows, as well as our Movies and Specials: Audience Relations Department at

[e-mail]

[DemonFighterLives]

43. What will they think of next?

ABC has decided who they want to win and has dissed basically all of the Democratic candidates. Koppel who is usually pretty good, sounded like a drip and their little plan to smoke out the democratic frontrunner will backfire. This on top of their reaffirmation of the Warren Commission 2 weeks ago says a lot about them. I used to like Jennings too, but now I'm litening to C-span and thinking NBC and Brokaw may be better. He was attacked with anthrax afterall, just like a couple of good democrats.

[greyowl]

48. Media Whores Know no Boundaries

Absolutely disgusting. I sent off a quick letter to the editor letting them know just how I feel about this obvious discrimination. But not surprising. This is the kind of action (or maybe retribution) we can expect from media whores like Ted Koppel. I'm glad Dennis put him in his place in the debates yesterday. It is not up to the media to tell us how to vote but up to us to make the decision. Marginalizing and silencing the opinions and contributions the other candidates have only further marginalizes these media outlets as I and a growing number of Americans rely less and less on them for information. They will be the ones who are irrelevant in the long run.

[Oilwellian]

50. Koppel's first 19 questions

We're certainly not missing much with these debates when you consider the stupid ass questions they ask.

Debate Questions

How long will it take before we get to a question about policy?
1st
Things are going very well for him in the polls. Things are going very well for him in terms of raising money.
So I would like all of you up here, including you, Governor Dean, to raise your hand if you believe that Governor Dean can beat George W. Bush.

2nd
Tell me, Senator Kerry, why didn't you raise your hand?

3rd
Congressman Gephardt, you didn't raise your hand, either. None of you did.

I'm not really asking you -- at least, I wasn't then -- whether you think you're the better candidate. I was simply asking you whether you thought that Howard Dean could beat George W. Bush. Not a one of you raised his or her hand.

4th
Senator Lieberman, you've got a bit of a shot to the solar plexus today... Have your chances received a bad shock today?

5th
Reverend Sharpton, you were raising your hand before. In response to which part of what happened?

6th
Ambassador Braun ...he implication was clear, that somehow Al Gore may be able to transfer some of the allegiance that he has within the African- American community to Governor Dean. You buy that?

7th
Senator Edwards, what I was trying to get to with Ambassador Braun was whether loyalty can, in any way, be transferred by an endorsement from one politician to another. What do you think?

8th
General Clark, you're relatively new to the process. It is rumored, however, that you are a favored candidate by the Clinton family. If Mrs. Clinton, Senator Clinton, or former President Clinton were to offer you his endorsement, would you take it?

9th
Congressman Kucinich... I'd like to hear your thoughts on what endorsements like this mean or don't mean.

10th
Governor Dean, what is it that makes me think that while there may be eight people up here who aren't crazy about that endorsement and who think it trivializes politics, that you probably don't?

11th
General... Like Ted said, you're new to this. You started later than everybody else. Do you believe that you're actually listening to the voters out there that are telling you something different than you're telling us tonight?

12th
Congressman Gephardt... Given what you said, do you believe that you're any better than George Bush in terms of changing the tone of the debate in Washington?

13th
Governor Dean said recently that religion does not play into his policy decisions. Contrast that with President Bush, who has made it clear that religion plays into his policy decisions. From your perspective, do you believe that this could hurt the Democratic Party's chances in areas of the country, like the South, where politics and religion tend to go very much hand-in-hand?

14th

Nevertheless, as far as your visits are concerned, you have been here far less often than your colleagues here who have gone through the paces, met with the voters, done the grassroots style of campaigning that the voters of New Hampshire are expecting and looking for.

Why shouldn't those very same voters not think of you as disrespecting them by not coming here and doing the same thing?

15th
Ambassador Braun, I effectively put the same question to you: How do you anticipate winning the New Hampshire primary, winning over the hearts and minds of these voters watching tonight if you're not here?

16th
Senator Edwards, in two polls in the last few weeks, 27 percent of likely Democratic voters headed to the polls in January still say they have no idea among the nine of you whom they are going to choose.

Tonight, on this stage, at this point, what can you tell us that makes you the better choice, that if by choosing you, you get something that the rest of them cannot offer?

17th

My questions are this: Can you elaborate on what that was that made you change your mind on an issue like this?

18th

A statement like that, don't you see the possibility of some Democrats being nervous about statements like that leading them to the conclusion that you are not right for being the next commander in chief?

19th
You have a jobs plan that talks, in part, about public-private partnerships. That sounds like that's going to take a long time for the people that are now struggling to find jobs.

How specifically quickly do you think you can provide actual jobs with a plan like that?

DINGDINGDING.

It only took 19 questions before something resembling a policy question was asked. Our wonderful media.
http://atrios.blogspot.com/

[Skip Intro]

53. Unbelievable - intimidation?

DK got some notice last night. He rips bush harder than anyone. Clearly, someone has heard enough.

I wonder if this is some intimidation tactic from the regime.

This is OUR - every single American's - supposed monumental action. Our nation is built on the power of the people, and how that power is channeled thru elections. Media's role is to inform!

There should be a clear boundary between media and government. A clear separation.

DK should file some kind of equal-time complaint. So should AS and CMB!

[Muddleoftheroad]

55. Honestly

The problem is that none of them would win anywhere -- probably even here and this isn't exactly representative of the general population.

News organizations have budgets just like everyone else. They have to make choices.

[dweller]

57. And so now the true questions come up.

so tell me muddleo'the road, are you an ABB voter?

are you just here to impugn a candidate other than your own choice, be it D or R?

have you just misunderstood the point this thread was about ie. media manipulation of the next election?

Does a Kucinich presidency won by a landslide give you cause to lose sleep?

okay, the last question is loaded...but you get the drift don't you? I got it from _your_ posts.

take your time, i have to leave the room for a bit.
no cheating.
dp

[Muddleoftheroad]

79. Not a total ABB

I won't vote for Sharpton for example. He is entertaining, but no.

But I am here as a former journalist and I understand the business reason for doing this. I know the DK folks are upset, but that is life. The networks are already wildly over budget because of Iraq and the pot of gold is not infinite.

A DK win by a landslide doesn't make me lose sleep. It does make me laugh however.

[Skip Intro]

58. Well then take a "reporter" off the Michael Jackson "story"

This is our Constitution in action - the process of the people of the US deiciding who they will chose to lead them. Not to mention how extremely serious many, including myself, view this election. I believe our nation is in danger. I fear for a second bush term.

But dangit, the media's job, newswise, is to inform me. There is supposed to be that interest above all. That is why they exist - to serve us. I allow them to insult my intelligence nightly with what they call "prime time." When the "news" comes on, I expect the whole story.

If the media is going to censor certain views, during an election cycle, censoring views from a deemed "fringe candidate" - then they serve no purpose.

It doesn't matter if they meet thier budget if they fail in achieving their goal.

If they were going to report anything - the future of our country takes priority. Cut somewhere else.

[Muddleoftheroad]

80. When you run your network, you can forget about viewers

Alas, they cannot. They have to be concerned with what people WANT to see. And, like it or not, people want to see scandal and sex and infotainment. Viewers mean advertising rates. And ad rates mean bills get paid.

You complain that the media is, "censoring views from a deemed 'fringe candidate.' " Of course they are. They have for decades. LaRouche gets virtually no coverage. Nader got little. It IS a horse race and if they think you aren't in it, they follow those who are.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

87. What the viewers WANT to see is what the media moguls decide

The broadcast networks have steadily and purposely dumbed both their news and entertainment offerings down. If this is what people want to see, why are the networks losing viewership far more than can be accounted for by the rise of cable? People are flocking to HBO and other intelligent channels, and the brainless network execs (like the guy from NBC) talk as if the only reason anyone watches HBO is to hear actors say "fuck."

Nobody held a gun to the heads of the network execs and told them to stop covering the workings of our government and news of countries that the U.S. isn't at war with. Nobody told them to cover the OJ trial in mind-numbing detail or to make every child abduction a national story or to run what are basically commercials for movies made by their parent company. Nobody forced local news stations to stop covering city council meetings and concentrate on shootings, fires, cute kitten and puppy stores, and high school sports. Oh, and don't get me started on the "commercials disguised as news stories" that come out over the AP wires or that companies deliever fully produced to radio and TV stations. (I used to volunteer for a radio station that used AP news, so I saw these stories and fielded offers of fully produced 2-3 minute segments touting a company's products--they were not compatible with the format, so I was instructed to refuse all of them.)

Broadcast news programs are now practically unwatchable, and a lot of people are unhappy about it.

There are always slack-jaws who will watch anything that's on the tube, no matter how pointless and boring, especially if it's hyped in all the mass media outlets at once (e.g. "Survivor").

If the media have deliberately dumbed the American public down, they can certainly smart them back up, but then they wouldn't be such suckers for whatever mindless crap the commercial sponsors use to sell their products.

[Muddleoftheroad]

107. Competition

There is more competition for media time now than anytime in history. We have literally hundreds of TV channels. Tons of newspapers of all types. Niche magazines covering every topic. Videos, DVDs and CDs for all tastes. The Internet to look at, read, watch or listen to anything you wish.

So, if people are distracted and not looking at news channels, that might have something to do with it.

Or it might be their view of the way country has been run. They might just have collectively disengaged. But give them a juicy scandal and they tune in.

American life is busier and more complex than most people care to handle and you criticize people who aren't engaged. Be thankful they aren't more disengaged.

[farmboxer]

60. Hitler Would Be Proud Of His News Media!

The people of Nazi Germany cheered when Hitler got rid of the free press and the people of Nazi Amerika allowed the "Fairness Doctrine" to go unreported by the Republican right wing, corporate mainstream news media!

[TheWebHead]

61. well what are the other networks doing...

While I know MSNBC has an embed with each of the candidates, they have a 24-hour news netwoork to justify it. I'm surprised that ABC has the resources to allow a reporter with each of the candidates, including ones who see their support not even in the margin of error... which are the bottom three candidates.

FYI, Kucinich was on CNBC on Wednesday complaining about it.

[dweller]

65. Complaining?

Complaining? Are you sure it wasn't outrage against the audacity of a major news organization to silence a valid and viable candidate's voice against the present joke in the white house?

I've never heard Dennis Kucinich complain. He speaks truthfully about issues that matter to me, and to you too if you can open your mind wide enough to listen.

I don't buy the excuse ABC doesn't have the $$ to cover any Democratic candidate running in this campaign.

should i search their website to see if they had a story about the turkey in Iraq for Thanksgiving?

dp

[Media_Lies_Daily]

72. Yeah, I'm sure that ABC lacks the funds to support a reporter on...

...a political campaign.

By the way, I have this nice bridge to sell you.

[FredScuttle]

70. An absolute disgrace...

as a Dean supporter, I'm disgusted by ABC.....first for Koppel's behavior during the debate and now this. DK was right on the money last night and now I guess ABC is punishing him for telling the truth.

F*CK ABC NEWS!

edit: added "him"

[Voltaire99]

73. The other Dem candidates will rejoice!

...since it's in their interests to see the field narrowed ASAP.

Blame not only ABC, as we are doing here, but also the power brokers in the Democratic Party who ensure that it marginalizes voices belonging to politicians such as Kucinich, Sharpton, and their predecessor, the late Paul Wellstone.

The fix was in on Kucinich from the start -- seldom quoted, scarcely covered, merely mentioned as a participant in print coverage of the debates, diminished in every possible way. The next step will be to tell him he's no longer welcome at the debates.

You may look at this any number of ways -- of course, including viewing it as perfectly benign, should you be romantic enough to regard the primary race as a fair and natural competition. I prefer to read it as just an instance of the media doing what it does best: serving the money power.

[aneerkoinos]

75. Al Giordano is fuming

...

"In fact, ABC has just inadvertently given my thesis - that the Democratic nominee must run against the media (see below) - new life.

And if Kucinich wants to take this to the limit, I'll be here reporting it, even if ABC and the rest of the corrupted Commercial Media does not.

My first advice to the Kucinich campaign: Use your paid advertising in the New Hampshire-Boston market to show the confrontation with Koppel and tell the story of WMUR Manchester's flagship - ABC - getting revenge on your candidate for having told the truth that all Americans and New Hampshire citizens know is the truth:

KUCINICH: ...and I can tell you, Ted, you know, we started at the beginning of this evening, talking about an endorsement. Well, I want the American people to see where the media takes politics in this country...
Dennis: You've GOT $750,000 in the bank, more than enough to saturate the New Hampshire media markets with such a message. If WMUR bans your ad, that will be a national story. If ABC's Boston affiliate WCVB Channel 5 bans it, well, you've got yourself a lawsuit, plus an FCC complaint, in the town where the Democratic National Convention will take place next summer."

http://www.bigleftoutside.com

And much much more...

[bobthedrummer]

78. Retaliation for not taking any shit on "Nightline"?

Dennis got on Ted Koppel pretty good that night. ABC show.

[bushisanidiot]

81. This Is Total Crap

I'm a firm Dean supporter, but I agree with Kucinich that the networks should not be deciding who the top candidates are.

I love that so many talented, respectable democrats are running. It's a GREAT field. I would prefer that all the candidates were neck and neck until the last state primary is over. I don't want the repukes to have any extra time planning their attack on the front runner anyway.

[dweller]

89. another glaring factor

New Hampshire's Union Leader online edition:

“How did Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton and Carol Moseley Braun get into this thing?”
Koppel asked. “Nobody seems to know. Some candidates who are perceived as serious
are gasping for air, and what little oxygen there is on the stage will be taken up by
one-third of the people who do not have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the
nomination.”

Koppel then voiced his apparent disdain for Kucinich, Sharpton and Braun, asking
whether they would eventually “drop out” or continue a “vanity candidacy.”

http://www.theunionleader.com/prez_show.html?article=30103
requires free registration

dp

[Logansquare]

95. Oh, great king-maker, Ted Koppel

I actually wasn't pissed about his questions, because it gave the candidates an opportunity to rip into him, but that takes the cake. He was miffed because he was wasting his coronation skills on candidates he believes are also-rans!

[info being]

90. OH, I'm fired up now

Its about time for a full-fledged campaign against the media. Its his only chance at credibility. If he plays their game, the house wins.

Here's a slogan: "Listen to your heart, listen to your concious, turn off the TV."

He can take this anywhere now...Al Franken style.

[sendero]

92. So much for...

... 'integrity'.

I think I'm gonna puke. :(

[info being]

96. How about a little reverse psychology

I sent this letter to nightline:

"Your decision to stop covering his campaign only proves what he said in the debates. You're only legitimizing him and a lot of Liberals are celebrating. You're going to make him into the next Al Franken and before you know it he'll gain momentum and threaten the very order of things you are trying to uphold.

Get your act together and start giving him equal time. You'll only take the wind out of his sails."

If you use it, please edit quite a bit.

[Rex]

99. Why all the shock?

Some of you act as if we still lived in a Democratic society (as if the main characters still cared about those values) and not a corporate owned nation. Well here is your wake up call.

DK was a business loss to ABC so they axed him like a bad sitcom. And this suprises you? WAKE UP AND SMELL THE DIET PEPSI! We live in a corporate paradise! Do you honestly expect a company to take a profit loss for the expense of Democracy?!?

[info being]

101. Good point

Sometimes things get a bit naive here. We shouldn't waste our energy on shock...but on strategy to deal with the powers in this country the way they actually are.

I'm sure Dennis didn't lash out at Ted without expecting something like this. Maybe its part of a larger strategy?

[Rex]

103. Could be, DK might have been trying to 'rock the boat' last night.

Something that just struck me as funny...we always hear about media bias, specifically LIBERAL media bias (a favorite term used by the VWR) and here we have the LIBERAL'S POSTERBOY (DK). Alas, how do his supposed (remember, the 'liberal media' has been validated as being real by papers like the WSJ)liberal friends in the media treat him? That's right - like fly shit. Liberal media my ass! Use this as an example next time a RW calls the media liberal!

[eridani]

104. More contact info

Hit 'me with email and snail mail, fax and phone.

Email [e-mail] or call [phone](some people have been reporting being hung up on here) or fax [phone].

ABC News
77 W. 66 St.,
New York, NY 10023

Or call ABC News at 212-456-7777, where you’ll be able to leave a message and ask for a written reply.

West Coast number 818-460-7477 (from KOMO)

http://www.abcnews.go.com/service/Help/abcmail_news.html (web page direct comment)

Don't forget your local ABC affiliates, also

ABC News Political Director Mark Halperin at [phone] or Mark
[e-mail] or fax [phone]

ABC News President David Westin at [phone] or fax [phone]

ABC President Alex Wallau at [phone] or [e-mail] or fax [phone].

[e-mail]

[GregD]

109. User Unknown

Your message was not delivered to the following recipients:

[e-mail]: 550 5.1.1 <[e-mail]>... User Unknown

The Walt Disney Company and its affiliates are in the process of an e-Mail system upgrade. The person you intended to send this message to may have had their Internet e-Mail address changed, or it may be unavaible for a short time as part of this process.

If you feel that you have received this non-delivery notice in error, please contact the intended recipient by phone to confirm their address.

[imax2268]

110. I got my email off...

I really let them have it to...heh...keep sending in those letters people...