No mention of Clark on ABC news today and only passing mention on NBC

[cryofan]

They seemed to completely ignore him. ABC news shut him out completely just now. NBC just gave him the very briefest of mentions.

Kerry, Edwards and Dean all got lots of coverage today on both ABC and NBC.

Are tHey are trying to shut him out? He is leading in OK. However, NBC had a poll showing Kerry with 45%, Dean at about 20, Edwards at 11, and Clark only getting 5%. That was a national poll.

I cannot believe how the more liberal candidates are smashed this year. My first choice -- Kucinich -- was wiped out early. THen I went with Gephardt, who quit shortly thereafter. And then I went to Clark, the nest most liberal candidate in line. And now HE is dropping like a rock. I am like the kiss of death to a candidate.

If Clark fails, I guess I just don't have a candidate in this race.....

[Jack_Dawson]

1. If he wins a state, you'll hear about Clark again

Edwards has staked his candidacy on S.C., so that's where the news is.

[maddezmom]

3. When Clark Wins :)

we'll be hearing lots and lots from the media. :)

[cryofan]

8. please please don't do that....

you are now starting to sound like a "Kucitizen"!

[liberalnurse]

11. Well, I guess the DLC has made their choice and Clark is out....

They appear to be dealing with Clark by just discounting and ignoring him. I must admit, I feared he was a Trojan Horse.....I was obviously mistaken...my apologies to Clark..... my defense mode was on since he is new to the party...


I'm not okay with the DLC anointing our candidate then asking for my hard earned money to pay their bills. I won't do it.....

[Jack_Dawson]

17. Clinton loves Clark - and he's in the DLC, right?

I think some of us are turning into Oliver Stone. Yes the media coverage sucks right now, but the media loves drama. People coming out of nowhere to "front-runner" status, and "front-runners" crashing and burning. That's where the political drama is at the moment.

[MidwestMomma]

30. Apology accepted

:yourock:

[xultar]

2. No one is noticing that they are ignoring Clark here @ DU.

I can't believe it. They think it is in our imagination.

[maddezmom]

5. it's so obvious...just do a yahoo or google

mostly oldand new RW stuff, nothing new or positive.

[MidwestMomma]

31. Some people are in bed with the media right now ....

And hoping morning never comes. }(

[susanna]

37. I don't think it's imagination...

I don't post much, though I've been a member since 2001 (my star lapsed, $/job problems). I asked my Mom (reforming Republican) about Clark's coverage, in her eyes. She says, "I hear NOTHING about him. Absolutely nothing. If not for you, I wouldn't know he was in this race."

Since she's my mom and loves me, she has been listening to me and voted in her MI primary (absentee) for Clark.

One vote at a time...we are being heard by those that respect, admire and listen to us. Keep the faith...we may not win, but our inclusion in this race has forced far greater standards from our "politics as usual" insiders. (Dean AND Clark have turned heads.)

Does any of this change anything? I don't know. But feet were held to the fire. Let's hope we emerge a stronger force for all our temporary disagreement(s).

I personally love anyone that understands what * has done to my beloved country.

[janx]

4. I saw his wife on CSPAN this morning--very nice coverage.

.

[Maddy McCall]

9. She is great--reminds me of Lauren Bacall

her voice and her classy looks...well, I really like her!

[janx]

35. She was just as kind and genuine as she could be.

And she seemed very smart, too. I liked what I saw of her. I liked her laugh.

[janx]

6. Today's news was basically All Kerry All The Time.

Faux news seemed absolutely GLEEFUL about it all.

[NV1962]

12. Not sure if this is really true, but here is one explanation

Another DUer posted a link to http://www.sKerry.info/ and according to text posted on that site, Kerry received $70,000 from Murdoch's Faux Empire.

If that is true...

Whaddayamean, there's no intent of boosting Kerry among the RWer powermongers?

(Edited to correct link, must include the www bit...)

[MajorFlaw]

15. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

[NV1962]

38. It's apparently an incorrect summarization on that site

they add individual contributions up in their employer's "corporate" tally, regardless of whether that company has donated or not.

I was pointed earlier to the OpenSecrets site, which lays that out. So, the $70,000 can't be attributed to Murdoch - just to his employed muppets.

Other than that, no, I have no wish for corporate media whores to pay the Clark campaign.

Fair and accurate reporting would do just nicely.

[MAlibdem]

7. If you are the kiss of death...

Stay away from JFK :)

[arewethereyet]

10. he's a firecracker that didn't go off

he got attention early because he was believed to be a firecracker. He failed to impress and made himself yesterday's news.

[kayleybeth]

13. CBS ignored Clark tonight too

They did two stories on the presidential candidates and Clark was not mentioned in either one of them.

[liberalnurse]

14. Even Edwards is being demoralized by the media....

and in his home state too!

[texasmom]

16. Just heard a quick CNN update

Big comments about Kerry leading in two states, and the polling, and then nice pictures of Edwards and how he's leading by double-digits in S. Carolina, but NO mention of Clark and Oklahoma. No mention at all. It's really unbelievable.

[David Zephyr]

18. Clark Made His Life's Work Our Country & Is Now Snubbed By U.S. Media.

Last week end, Wolf Blitzer of CNN read an e-mail from a "viewer" that articulately pointed out that the media was ignoring General Wesley Clark's campaign in spite of the fact that, in New Hampshire, the candidate had just beaten John Edwards, the second place winner in Iowa from just a week earlier.

And rather than responding to the "viewers" salient point, I swear to God on a stack of Texas-size Bibles that Blitzer then turned to his awfully pretty male "guest panelists" and said the following with polished glib, "And just why is it, do you think, that Wes Clark's campaign has, for whatever reason, not seemed to catch on with the voters? His candidacy just doesn't seem to be generating much interest with the public. Why is that?"

CNN is merely Fox News without the makeup.

I feel very sorry for the Clark supporters who are witnessing the media black-out against their man. It's wrong. It's frustrating. And it must be heartbreaking.

I know. We who support Howard Dean saw the cleverly edited and manipulated video clips of the so-called "Dean Scream" shown with more frequency then the one of the U.S. soldier looking for lice in Saddam's hair. As the video of that night in Iowa approached any point where Dean was about to break out into a winning smile, the clip stopped. Couldn't let that smile be seen.

A smiling Dean can't be an "angry" Dean, can it? The smiles were counter to themessage that needed to be projected against Dean to destroy him. Smiles and joy conflicted with the image that had to be reinforced. Otherwise, the public might actually believe that this doctor who never raised his voice to his staff in Vermont for a decade, this physician/governor who provided real medical attention and healthcare to every living child in Vermont was a kind hearted, loving man.

The Kerry supporters are, deservedly, enjoying their bright moment in the sun and I'm happy for them. And while he isn't a candidate that I'll support, he certainly will not deserve the shitstorm that is in store for him from the Corporate Media. The stupid "botox" stories are only a taste of the brutalizing Kerry will have to endure...when his time comes. His supporters will be as upset as Clark's and Dean's are now.

General Clark grew up poor in Arkansas far away from the power magnets of Washington, D.C. and Wall Street. He gave his entire life as a soldier on our behalf and look how he's being thanked by the media for having done so. They are making this genius and patriot look like a warmed-over Ross Perot. It's heartbreaking.

For what it's worth, you supporters of General Clark are an inspiration to me. Your enthusiasm and love of this fellow is contagious, uplifting...and most American. I salute you from the bottom of my heart.

You and the General deserve so much better.

The lips of Roger Ailes, Tom Brokaws, Peter Jennings, Bill O'Reillys, Wolfe Blitzers of this world are not good enough to even kiss Wesley Clark's ass. David Zephyr says so.

[Auntie Bush]

19. That was beautiful. Thanks for posting. I feel your pain too!

[David Zephyr]

22. Thanks. Clark's Clearly Getting a Raw Deal.

It's shameful.

[Tatiana]

20. It is frustrating and heartbreaking and so much more.

What really aggravates me is that the media blackout is occurring at a time when Clark is really gaining grassroots momentum, has proposed a very interesting progressive tax plan, and is finally ready to talk about his domestic agenda.

When he was talking about the war, it was cool, but now that he wants to outline his plan for America's future (including reinstituting the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE that Reagan trashed), we get NO coverage of Clark. It was almost better when the media agenda was to attack and smear him (as they continue to do with Dean), because at least the mediawhores were obligated to cover Clark's response to attack in some capacity.

I'm still making calls and writing letters, but I have to fight daily against the hopelessness that threatens to overcome me. It's not fair. We're not letting the people decide based on the facts. The media is force-feeding the masses the candidate(s) they have annointed.

[David Zephyr]

23. Don't Even Think About Getting Down.

Keep at it. :hi:

[krkaufman]

29. Fairness Doctrine?

> he (Clark) wants to outline his plan for America's future
> (including reinstituting the FAIRNESS DOCTRINE

Seriously? I hadn't heard that. Now that's someone who's thinking at a strategic level. Without the Fairness Doctrine back in place democracy is screwed.

[Tatiana]

33. He was commenting on Rush Limbaugh.

Basically saying what crap Rush spews and said Rush's show is a perfect example of why the country needs the Fairness Doctrine back.

Tried to find an exact quote, but haven't been successful. Here's a cached link from the unofficial WC weblog:

http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:Rk2ZcUbsPaIJ:wesleyclarkweblog.com/archives/000427.html+%22Wesley+Clark%22+%22Fairness+Doctrine%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

[texasmom]

21. Thank you, David.

You actually made me cry. It's true, and it's just unbelievable to me. I expected it later, but the manipulation of our primary has caught me so off guard. No one is safe. I think Clark is alive and well, but it is stunning what they have tried to do to him.

The "Dean Scream" media frenzy depressed me for days. I saw then that we have no control, seemingly, over what is to come...unless we band together, as Democrats, to fight the media. We are consumers, too. That's the only way. There are too many people on our side, though, who still don't get it.

The other thing we have to do for next time regards the debates. The DNC surely can exert more control over the networks they allow to host the debates and the moderators. This year was unbelievable. Fox hosting two debates???

We also need to demand that Democrats "analyze" Democratic Party debates. I've been stunned at the proliference of Republican analysts--actual Republican party members and elected Republicans past and present, not just rightwing analysts. I hope someone high up in our party can start exerting some influence.

[MidwestMomma]

27. Thank you so much

You don't know how much your kind words mean. I'm so frustrated and sad about the media's demeaning and diminishing treatment of this great American.

Because he is a great American. An American that LOVES his country. That's why he's running. Because people went to him and said our country is in trouble and we could use your help. And like he's done ALL his life, General Clark answered that call to duty to serve his country.

And what thanks does he get? He's called a Republican, a rival officer says he has 'character and integrity issues' and worst of all, the talking pus-heads of the media either completely ignore him or ridicule him for thinking he has a chance at the nomination.

But post like yours help so much. It reminds me that some people do see the value of Clark and that makes me happy.

And for any Clark supporters reading this...I haven't given up. So no spankings. Just taking a minute out to rant a bit. Now back to candles and good thoughts.

I feel a shifting in the force.....

Go Wes!

[neverforget]

24. My wife and I noticed the same thing about Clark not being mentioned

on the major news shows. I checked out FOX this morning to see what the Right Wing talking points were for the day and I noticed that they showed all the candidates except Clark as a lead in to one of their shows. FOX has Clark on ignore like I have FOX on ignore.

[knight_of_the_star]

25. They will eat crow

When he wins smashing victories in Arizona and Oklahoma!

[John_H]

26. Piss off Rove, Brit, Rush and Wolf. Support Wes Clark.

[MidwestMomma]

28. Can I piss on them?

:evilgrin:

[mikehiggins]

32. He's not on network news, that's for sure

Local news and local stations are different, though.

And don't forget, an awful lot of Democrat voters don't even know there is a primary in their state, or care to vote anyway.

Clark will do just fine between now and the convention, and he'll still be in the running when the gavel comes town.

If you are still paying attention to polls at this point you should reconsider. National polls are useless.

Look around on February 4 and start totaling up delegates. Then you'll have a clearer idea of what is going on.

[Gloria]

34. I saw Wes today here in NM...and shook his hand....let me tell you,

he is a very modest man, not a glad hander. I thanked him for running. I talked to his National Hispanic liason, whom I had met before. We discussed the media problem. Wes Clark REFUSES to get involved in any badmouthing. His comments on affirmative action are due to the fact that that seems to be his passion because he saw it work in the army. In fact, he got one of his biggest applause lines today when he discussed it.

Even our local coverage was very poor. I was so disappointed. He met one on one with reporters and after all that, only one of the local stations spent about two seconds with him on base closings.

America is not ready to break away from the crap in Washington.
Wes Clark is fighting in his own way and won't sully himself. He is the epitome of dignity.

[Tatiana]

36. Gloria, thanks for that report!

Did Clark have any thoughts about this obvious media blackout? Does the campaign have any plans or strategy to counter it?