Andrea Johnson: Don't let media pick nominee by themselves

[redqueen]

Dennis Kucinich has placed third in the Maine and Washington primaries, and now second in Hawaii. And this gives me hope. There are thousands who can think for themselves and refuse to allow the media to dictate who should get their vote.

If the mainstream media had their way, Kucinich would have been out of the race before it really started. Consider the now-famous interchange between Kucinich and ABC's Ted Koppel during the first debate. Koppel ballyhooed Gore's endorsement of Dean (lot of good that did Dean), and asked Kucinich when he was leaving the race. Kucinich gave a brilliant response, which included this statement:

"We start talking about endorsements, now we're talking about polls and then we're talking about money. Well, when you do that, you don't have to talk about what's important to the American people. I'm the only one on this stage that voted against the Patriot Act and the war. I'm who's taking our health-care system to not-for-profit, single-payer, universal health care for all. I'm also the only one who has talked about getting out of NAFTA and the WTO and going back to bilateral trade conditioned on workers' rights, human rights and the environment. ... I may be inconvenient for the media. ..."

(snip)

Kucinich still gets the least amount of time in debates (yet consistently the most applause). He's even ignored by the Star Tribune. On Feb. 21, Kerry's and Edwards' photos adorned the cover of the Star Tribune. No Kucinich, even though Kucinich had electrified a crowd of 2,500 at Northrop Auditorium the day before.

continued...

[goodhue]

1. link

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/4634591.html

[redqueen]

3. Thanks, goodhue

Just noticed that I missed that. Thanks!

[jmoss]

2. I support edwards, but I really do like Mr. Kucinich's ideas

He impresses me time and time agian, at each televised debate.

[meegbear]

4. It's terrible how he and Sharpton are being marginalized

They should be getting the same focus and attention Kerry and Edwards are getting.

Polls be damned.

[sangh0]

5. Well, it must be true is a marketing communications manager says so

so I'm going to believe that until someone more credible, like someone on the Internet, tells me different

[redqueen]

6. What must be true? n/t

[sangh0]

7. The media is picking our nominee

.

[revcarol]

9. Your posts are always so insightful.

Thanks again for adding more heat than light to the discussion<heavy sarcasm>

..and thanks for kicking this thread.

[sangh0]

11. It doesn't take much insight

to know that it was Democratic voters who pulled the primary levers, and not the media

[Mairead]

13. Sure, and people spontaneously buy SUVs

uh-huh

[redqueen]

14. Don't you see, Mairead?

If the media is biased in your favor, then that's not bias anymore. Capice?

[Mairead]

16. {claps hand to forehead} Oh!

Jeez, I really missed the boat on that one, didn't I RQ!? I always thought bias was a nondenominational defect.

Do you suppose I should turn myself in for re-education or what?

[redqueen]

20. No need!

It's supposed to happen automatically after the Democratic convention. :)

[IrateCitizen]

15. I would expect someone who recognizes "propaganda"

specifically, Noam Chomsky's exhaustive studies on the subject, to recognize the nuances in the media's coverage of this race.

In case you forgot about how the media bubble works, here's a primer with which to re-acquaint yourself:
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Herman /Manufac_Consent_Prop_Model.html

[sangh0]

21. I would expect someone who remember's CHomsky and my interests

would remember that in IA and NH, the media wasn't telling people to vote for Kerry. In those two states it was "Dean, Dean, Dean" or Gephardt.

Here's a radical idea! The media doesn't TELL people who to vote for. They have an influence, but they do not give orders.

Why that sounds reasonable, so I'm sure the idea will be forgotten

[IrateCitizen]

24. You're right in that respect, but it's only half of it

The media also IGNORES those points of view that it does not find acceptably "mainstream". By their definition, then, "right" ends up being "far right" and "left" is, in reality, more like "center". The overall result is a perception of the center actually being center-right.

As someone who lives in NYC and has probably seen the NYT's almost complete NON-COVERAGE of the Kucinich campaign, certainly you can see where I'm coming from.

I don't believe that the media told anyone "who to vote for". But they certainly play an important role in helping to shape opinion through their coverage in a good or bad light (or little to no coverage at all). I'm not saying the media alone is responsible for all of Kucinich's poor showings -- but I am saying that it's kind of puzzling when the guy's stances are often found to be acceptable to people all over the political spectrum, while he was registering in single digits in many of the states.

[sangh0]

25. I have no problem with reasonable theories

It's the unqualified sloganeering I take issue with. You IC, are a resonable person, and when the details are discussed you are capable of giving them their due consideration. However, there are others who think pointing out facts that contradict their position is "pissing in the pool" so to speak.

I don't believe that the media told anyone "who to vote for". But they certainly play an important role in helping to shape opinion through their coverage in a good or bad light...

I agree, but you might want to take another look at this thread's title.

[no name no slogan]

8. We are ROCKIN in Minnesota

I opened up my local newspaper, and what do I see? Yet ANOTHER mention of DK on the editorial pages!

The Strib is really making up for its botched coverage of the Feb 21 rally. Yesterday, there was a pagelong Q&A with DK, and a column by the reader representative about how they did a crap job covering the Feb 21 rally and related events.

Even the state party director is calling MN a toss-up at this point! This is UNBELIEVABLE considering the 'party elite' at one time completely snubbed DK's campaign-- a high-ranking state party officer said the DK was going to bolt the party and run as a Green to many people, who took his word as a party position.

THANKS for putting this up! Everything's STILL coming up DK!

[MaggieSwanson]

12. Kick for Minnesota!

Keep rockin', neighbors; nice post, Redqueen!

-Maggie
:kick:

[Mairead]

17. Christ, it sounds like the Trib is finally doing

what they should have been doing from the off. Can't you just imagine what a different landscape we'd have if every major paper had played it straight like that?!?

[WI_DEM]

10. I agree but

the media and the party with its condensed primary schedule are the blame. Instead of two weeks between Iowa and NH there was only a week and that was not enough time for the momentum from Iowa to die down.

[cosmicdot]

18. Endorsements~Polls~Money

I endorse Dennis Kucinich and have contributed to his campaign. I DK as many polls as I can.

I think, but can't quite pinpoint the time frame, I (re)discovered him before the Peace Speech ... I say, rediscovered, because I remember hearing about the youngest Mayor 'way back when' ...

His House website has changed, but I thought the previous, which I adventured out to find, was progressive looking; and, plainly progressive. It talked to me.

It won me over, so when he began a campaign ... I was already there.


Dennis signs autographs yesterday after he was met by an excited crowd.

Dennis came into Cleveland yesterday to a surprise rally at the airport. Supporters cheered and sang for Dennis when he arrived. Dennis quipped, "I knew something was up when I saw the runway attendant holding a giant Kucinich sign."

Dennis will make appearances in Ohio Monday and Tuesday. Ohio's primary is Tuesday.

[Mairead]

19. I liked his earlier House website better too.

I saw that, I compared it to other politicians' sites, and I knew that DK, like Sanders, is on our side.

[goodhue]

22. kick

[redqueen]

23. Thanks again, goodhue!

:hi: