Kucinich refuses to play "Hardball" with Tweety – cites Dean comments

[pruner]

Kucinich rejects Harvard-hosted candidate forum

The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) - Democrat Dennis Kucinich won't be joining "Hardball" host Chris Matthews anytime soon.

The Ohio congressman is refusing to participate in a candidate forum hosted by Harvard University and aired live on MSNBC's "Hardball."

A Kucinich spokesman says "Hardball" host Matthews has tainted the show with a conservative and corporate agenda, and wrongly asserted that only former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean opposed the Iraq war.

"He's biased in favor of corporate interests over the public's interest," campaign spokesman David Swanson said Friday. "(Matthews) has made false statements about the campaign."

<snip>

http://www.projo.com/ap/ma/1067023107.htm

boycotting the show sure seems like a better idea than going on and "correcting" Tweety.

:eyes:

[Democat]

1. Good for Kucinich!

Every Democrat should boycott these right wing shows. The only reason they are invited on is so that the right wing media can make them look like idiots.

[trogdor]

12. Then there's the NAACP debate for FOX News

Boycott that one if you DARE. They'll figure out some way to get you to play ball with them.

[JNelson6563]

2. Well if you don't go on any of the

shows that are run by corporate whores then I guess we won't be seeing you DK. That's too bad.

Julie

[Racenut20]

3. It was his opportunity and no one elses.

Could have gone on the air and stood up for himself before the Nation. Perhaps dispelled some of the theory that he is a left wing kook that bankrupt Cleveland.

[Terwilliger]

4. did you see his last appearance on Tweety's show?

Twety could do nothing but laugh at DK, and DK should be itching to go back? Not likely.

And I've said this before...if so many Democrats think that the media is one of the key hindrances against them, why do they legitimize tin-pot little narcissists like Chris Matthews?

All Dems should boycott the show.

[caledesi]

5. No! Kucinich is being stupid. He should appear on Hardball.

Especially the "college tour"... Tweety is better on the college tour bec he lets the candidates speak more. Dennis is making a BIG mistake here.

[Nlighten1]

6. Good for Dennis.

Screw Tweety.

[ShaneGR]

7. Dumbest campaign mover, ever

How can Kucinich win over a majority of Americans if he can't even go one-on-one with Tweety?

[bearfartinthewoods]

9. i read, last nite, a thread about DK's style of campaigning

he needs an "enemy " to demonize and play goliath to their (corporate)david.

maybe this is a strategy? i still think it's a mistake though. tweety is very different on the college tours. both Kerry and Edwards did very well during their turns.

[cosmicdot]

17. oh, please

referencing to a thread re an article written in 1978 when DK was taking on corporate america in Cleveland and was being attacked through corporate shills isn't fair to suggest here as "strategy" ... can you provide any other sources other than that 1978 character assassination article that confirms DK needs an "enemy" to demonize and play goliath? so many here at DU say DK is little of nothing ... but, now, he's a goliath ...

thank God somebody is standing up to corporate america if that's the case

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=588241

[bearfartinthewoods]

21. i'm not criticizing and unlike you, i didn't link the article

because i thought it was a hatchet job. but like so many hatchet jobs, there is often a kernel of truth in there and i thought the strategy of DK being DAVID (not goliath as you said) against the corporations rang true.

i'll assume it's early and you haven't had your coffee and that's why you missed my meaning. or else i'll cope to not having enough coffee to make my meaning clear :grin:

i still think, though, it would have been a better use of that strategy to use tweety to get national ezposure.

[Bertha Venation]

8. embarrassed

". . . Matthews has . . . wrongly asserted that only former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean opposed the Iraq war."

I did that once. :eyes:

[JI7]

10. well, kucinich does have a good point

tweety is a whore who is biased in favor of corporate interests. and from what someone else posted in a reply to this thread, the last time kucinich appeared on his show all he did was laugh at him.

[KharmaTrain]

11. And Kucinich's Point Is???

OK...I don't think there's a thinking liberal/progressive/Democrat who doesn't think Tweety is a GOOP propagandist and delights in stomping on Democrats, and by not taking the chance to go mano-a-mano against what surely will be 60 minutes of gotcha sure couldn't hurt Kucinich. Maybe he could get a couple of well-deserved shots back at Tweety (I'm hoping Sharpton takes it to him). What's Dennis have to lose? At worst he's called a "wimp" that the Repugnicans have him labelled as already and at best he shows a national audience that he stands on his convictions and won't take shit from a media whore-monkey. He'd get a hell of a lot more respect and support than cutting and running.

This move makes Kucinich look weak and petty. Tweety or no, he should take the FREE 60 minutes of national airtime and show the same fire that I've seen from him in the well of the house. At least let's show some backbone and fight here.

[unfrigginreal]

13. Good move by Kucinich, it's already had an effect on Tweety

Did you see the kid glove treatment that he gave to Clark last night? Even Clark supporters were surprised, with many on the blog saying that they were going to write thank-you emails to Matthews.

Dennis will certainly not be the biggest beneficiary of his decision, and that makes it all the more impressive. If more of the candidates would join him in boycotting Matthews it could have an lasting impact on how Tweety treats Democratic guests.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Tweety's Been Spoilin' For Clark vs. Dean

That's why he's giving Clark the A-List treatment (generally reserved for Peggy Noonan) and then will turn on Clark to please his GOOP masters. He's great at the build 'em up, tear 'em down game...and probably is loving any buzz he gets from aggitated Democrats.

Again, this is a free hour of network time...valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, in front of a generally friendly crowd at Harvard (I'm surprised Tweety didn't do them at Bob Jones University) and any candidate who passes up this chance...even if Tweety spends the hour spitting on them...is worth far more than playing "martyr".

[revcarol]

22. You want to see how the media controls the debate?

Look at the time allotted to DK in the last debate, about FIVE MINUTES, compared to about 12 or 14 minutes with some of the others!!
And this was CNN who said they wanted to PLAY FAIR in time to the candidates.

IT'S PERFECTLY CLEAR. THE MEDIA WANTS TO CHOOSE OUR CANDIDATE FOR US, AND THIS CANDIDATE AIN'T A DEMOCRAT.

Thanks DK for telling him to take a flying leap over the nearest cliff.

[KharmaTrain]

23. Apples And Oranges

The CNN and other debates involved 9 or 10 other candidates, along with pontificating moderators in a 90 minute time frame. And that doesn't include commercial and the audience question, applauds, etc. The best to expect in a debate like this is a good soundbite...like Gephardt breaking the ice on calling * a failed pResident...or Sharpton and his one-liners.

The Hardball forum is 60 minutes without the other candidates or other "filters"....it's a means to reach voters and minds...and that if a candidate can't get a good 10 minutes about where they stand on important issues out, then they are a failed candidate, period.

Kucinich doesn't need to preach to his small choir, he needs to expand to the many who aren't watching C-Span or trolling every Kucinich thread here on DU. That's the "fly-over" world...it's where he elecions are won and lost.

Principals are important, but removing this regime is paramount, and to destroy it, you have to take it head-on. I get more and more of the feeling that there are ready to let the bastards win by playing "holier than thou". This is what led to the rise of hate radio and the subsequent whore media in the first place.

[cosmicdot]

15. who at Harvard Corp. chose controversial Matthews?

Why these series of debates can't find moderators who have a sense of mild-mannered decorum is not ~imo~ beneficial and/or fair to the process ... these controversial biased moderators distract more than help

Somebody has to stand up to corporate media ... and, others should show some gumption by standing in solidarity.

I, personally, can't even stand to surf pass Matthews grating voice.

Trying to correct Tweety ... with that motor and insulting mouth?

Good for Dennis - there are plenty of people outside corporate media who can moderate a debate.

[KharmaTrain]

16. Since When Do You Control A Debate...

With silence?

[cosmicdot]

18. Silence?

Since when does one control a debate? Who do you want controlling these 'discussions'? Who's campaign is it anyway? Our candidates should have much say in them.

I think you're missing the point of who is REALLY controlling a/the "debate(s)" (using the term very loosely)

The likes of enronite Pug Winokur serve on Harvard Corp's Board ... so, collaborating with MediaWhores like Matthews comes to no surprise

"This move makes Kucinich look weak and petty." for what, standing up to the corporate shills? The corporate MWs couldn't have said it better. We'll never turn the tide against corporate manipulation of our lives by siding against one of our strongest anti-corporate government servants.

[KharmaTrain]

19. Confusing The Media and The Medium...

We're looking at the same glass with one saying half empty, the other saying half full.

Yes, in the format, Tweety controls the debate, but the candidate has time within that hour to hit their points and get a message across to people like me who don't regularly follow a Kucinich or Gephardt or even Dean campaign.

Don't sell the viewer short...this is still a national forum that can be used to communicate to thousands of possible voters and to ignore this for some ego game is being too smart by half.

At least in the Harvard forum/college tour arrangement, it's one-on-one...not having a candidate on for 15 minutes and then coming back with a panel of whores like Noonan and Mike Barnacle telling us what "liberals" think...like they have some golden insight. Viewers of these shows are smart enough to know that Tweety's full of shit and what to listen for in a candidate's response.

In fact, I enjoy watching these shows to see the fight in the candidate (Kerry impressed in that area) and how they react in a combative or competitive situation...not some softball Press Conference like Rove will stage.

The only way to stand up to the corporates is to expose and engage them...in whatever way you can. Running away emboldens these self-rightous assholes and leads to even further "liberal bashing".

Al Franken mentioned in his book the gotcha game the media is playing...where they are tagged with the "liberal" label and have been fighting back to say it isn't so...a brilliant tactic by the GOOP and every time a Democrat backs down to the media machine, YES, they and Democrats look weak.

This isn't about preaching to the choir...it's reaching that 25% that will determine if this regime steals another election. Running and being silent guarantees that will happen.

[TennesseeWalker]

20. I agree

I don't think DK can win, I don't think DK thinks he can win. I do think he's done a tremendous service to the left by accusing the media of Corporate Bias. This will freak them out in the same way that the Liberal Label did, and maybe the pendulum will swing back to a more reasonable position.

Thanks, DK. You've done a great service for what's left of our country. You're a good guy.

[dkf]

24. I don't think Kucinich is being truthful about his reasons here

It's not because of corporate interests blah blah blah. Last appearance Tweety absolutely tore into Kucinich and Kucinich didn't respond well at all. That argument had nothing to do with corporate interests, it had something to do with abortion.

I was actually stunned at how badly Kucinich did as he usually seems like a real fire breather. Instead, it was like a verbal tko and Kucinich looked defeated.

IMO, that is why Kucinich isn't going on. I wish he'd just take Tweety on instead of complaining.

[UTUSN]

25. GOOD! for DK and These Reasons Are TRUE

whether we can peer into somebody else's motivations or not. That Tweezer TAINTS with conservative slant is TRUE and it's time anybody SLAPPED HIM DOWN. I saw the absolute hatchet job Tweezer did on DK, and it went FAR beyond "laughing" at him, it was a public execution. Tweezer is a FLUNKY PUNK. Here are the TRUE reasons as stated, again:

"Matthews has tainted the show with a conservative and corporate agenda, and wrongly asserted that only former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean opposed the Iraq war.

"He's biased in favor of corporate interests over the public's interest," campaign spokesman David Swanson said Friday. "(Matthews) has made false statements about the campaign."

True now, true in 2000, true forever.

[Cocoa]

26. I don't see why everyone sees Tweety as mandatory

Ever see the show?

Trust your instincts, it is as worthless as it looks. The reason Tweety is so famous is not because the show has any value, it's because of the dysfunction of the media.

Don't reinforce the myth that Tweety is a real journalist or that Hardball is important, let alone mandatory.

For chrissakes, at last count he has reviewed the Reagan movie on three separate shows. A movie he hasn't seen, and which none of the people he discussed it with has seen.

[UTUSN]

27. Kick for the Hilarious Last Paragraph

Everybody in the whore media who mentions Tweezer sez that he's a Dem, worked for CARTER and Tip, blah blah. But they apparently haven't watched him at all over the past 5 years. Here's the writer's mystification:

********QUOTE*******
.... Political insiders have long accused news show hosts of having agendas, but Kucinich's claim against Matthews seems to contradict the host's political background. Matthews worked for former President Jimmy Carter and former House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr., both Democrats.
********UNQUOTE********

[Pepperbelly]

28. Tweety's treament of Kucinich last summer was dismaying and ...

if I were Dennis, I would tell him to stick it up his ass because he is a rude fuck and deserves having his ass kicked rather than rewarded with additional opportunity to sucker-punch.

Do you guys remember how Tweety steamrolled him over the abotion issue?