Go-Along Media Ignoring Kucinich

[G_j]

Published on Tuesday, December 9, 2003

http://www.madison.com/captimes/opinion/column/nichols/62912.php">Madison Capital Times</A> (Wisconsin)

Go-Along Media Ignoring Kucinich
by John Nichols
 
Dennis Kucinich cannot get a break from big media.

The co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus is running a vigorous, intellectually adventurous, policy-based campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. He is leaping on issues before the other candidates recognize them, bringing broader perspectives to the debates and building a base of supporters nationwide that could play a significant role in debates about the direction of the Democratic Party. Yet, the political punditocracy steadfastly refuses to treat his candidacy with even a measure of the seriousness that is accorded the other members of the House and Senate who are seeking the party's nod.

But isn't Kucinich, who trails in the polls, simply getting the coverage he deserves? While it is fair to say that Kucinich falls short of front-runner status, the griping by his supporters about media bias against his candidacy has a ring of legitimacy, says John Green, director of the University of Akron's Ray C. Bliss Institute.

"It's a legitimate complaint," Green, a veteran observer of the media's impact on political races, told the Akron Beacon-Journal recently. "The media, particularly television, cover elections like horse races," he added, noting that in this horse race television reporters frequently dismiss Kucinich as the "fringe candidate" or the "long-shot candidate."

The absurdity, and the irresponsibility, of most media's approach to Kucinich's candidacy has been particularly evident in recent weeks.
...more...

[goodhue]

1. John Nichols

is on the money as usual

[redqueen]

2. Yep... he gets the most applause at debates,

takes action to help the American public (like this one), etc.

Yet he's still ignored, and not JUST by the media.

*sigh*

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

3. they admitted to ignoring Kucinich because he was "dangerous"

More than one "journalist" admitted they didn't want to give Kucinich any press because they disagreed with his ideas. There was more than one thread in GD not long ago - also the exact count of TV for Kucinich (nearly nothing) compared to others (Dean, lots) EARLY on in the campaign when neither were above single digits.

The corporate media have done a really good job marginalizing every issue that Dennis brings up - thankfully he got a few good shots in at the debate last night.

[Warpy]

8. Be fair

....they're all being ignored. The only place I can see any of them speak on the tube is PBS's Nightly News. Otherwise, they're just mentioned, barely, and usually for minor gaffes being blown all out of proportion.

The whore press is 100% behind Bush. They're determined to allow no one to see any of the alternatives.

[Ficus]

11. Warpy you have a point

however, I think that the press coverage of establishment candidates like Dean, Kerry, Lieberman, and Clark have FAR exceeded the others.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

18. FAR FAR FAR exceeded :)

Especially when you compare the one who has the most, Dean, and Kucinich.

Someone did a google hit count for media mentions and it was at a ratio of 30 to 1, favoring Dean.

TWL

[govegan]

4. What a sad commentary on the flaccid farcical media.

But this is a really good article. Thanks for the post. It helps to know that we Kucinich supporters aren't the only ones who hold our noses at the great putrefaction of American mass media.


Diebold quickly backed down. And Kucinich used the development to declare, "In a democracy where half the people don't vote and where the last presidential election was decided by the Supreme Court, we cannot tolerate flawed voting equipment or intimidation of those who point out the flaws. Diebold backing down from its intimidation campaign is a positive step. An open and honest examination of the flaws in electronic voting will lead us to only one possible conclusion: electronic voting machines are dangerous to democracy because there is no way of ensuring their accuracy. We have to have a voter-verified paper trail for every election so that any errors and irregularities caused by the voting machines can be recovered."

[grassroots]

6. no links . . .

in the posts.
Could ya'll post url's to the articles mentioned?

Thanks.

[G_j]

9. the quote in #4 is

from the article in the original post..

& welcome to DU!

[grassroots]

10. never mind

duh

I got it.
(was looking at the end of the article for a link -- where it says "more").

[newyawker99]

13. Hi grassroots!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[moosedog]

7. He is courageous !

Dennis makes chills go up my back when he talks because he is so courageous and truthful. He has the guts to tell it like it really is and not just say what he thinks the people want to hear. He is the only one that I don't doubt that he is sincere. I wonder if Jesus was like that and if Jesus did come back to save us....would he be just like Dennis and not one would even notice him or listen to him. That is what goes through my mind when I listen and watch him. He is a good man, and he wants to help the average citizen. I know he won't win, but by gosh, I'm gonna vote for him, even if my vote won't be counted.

[G_j]

17. I was for DK

after the debate, I am even more convinced he would be the absolute best
president.

[Zero Gravitas]

5. Kucini-who?

[otohara]

12. Crossfire Tomorrow

whole show is Dennis - I was really happy when they announced this at the end of today's show. He really was amazing lastnight, especially when he threw that zinger to Kopple and Ted didn't have the balls to respond.

[redqueen]

14. Send questions to crossfire

All Kucitizens should show their support and flood them with e-mails about Kucinich and his campaign.

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?7

[DUJunkie]

15. I did,

this is what I wrote. (Dennis Kucinich, if you were the president of the united state, would you fell it was okay to lie to the american people if it was in the best interest for national security.) I hope I didn't put DK in a spot, but I wanted to see for myself what seperates Dean from the rest of the pack.

[G_j]

16. kick

[sandnsea]

19. All reporting was crap

This is very true of Kucinich. Other candidates have certainly gotten more attention but all the reporting has focused on 5 or 6 words turned into major controversies, usually about things that aren't important. The issues that face this country and the world are barely discussed. Even on the debates last night, there's the talk about them raising their hands instead of the issues. And Dennis probably wouldn't be as big a story if ABC hadn't decided to recall his imbed today. We're deciding who to vote for based on nothing more than backbiting gossip.