What's Really Important Democracy Or Media-ocracy?
I heard a news pundit just today characterize the way the media took some recent remarks by Bill Clinton about Barack Obama, and out of context, as simply being “what the media does.” This woman appeared quite young, and in her defense perhaps it can be said she doesn’t know any better, and doesn’t have a memory reaching back to a time when reporters actually reported facts instead of misreporting and twisting people’s words to sensationalize rather than inform -- a time before media was controlled by a government owned by corporations.
The latest fiasco is NBC’s decision to renege on their invitation to Dennis Kucinich to appear in the Las Vegas Democratic primary debate. I find this rather outrageous. It should not be up to the media to determine the voter’s access to all candidates, and, Kucinich had already met their criteria (being the fourth contender), been invited, and then informed they had decided to change their mind about allowing a four candidate debate. I say @#*$@& to NBC! I wrote to them, as did several others I know, and spoke of my outrage, telling them Kucinich should be re-invited. Good luck!
Dennis Kucinich may not be a frontrunner, or be in a position to take the Democratic primary, but it is not up to a media conglomerate to make that decision for the people. The primary is not over until it is over, and it is not NBC's role to decide when it’s over for a candidate. There happen to be a lot of people in this nation that like what Kucinich represents, basically, honesty, telling it like it is, and not just being another political mouthpiece. He is the person most needed in a debate because he will bring forward the questions and honest answers that those qualifying as frontrunners have begun ignoring, as they compromise their true positions in order to appeal to everyone, rather than just actually say what is truly in their minds and hearts. Kucinich has kept previous debates grounded and more honest, just as Ron Paul has in the GOP debates. Whether or not they will, or even can win is not the point.
Some apparently don't want honesty and forthrightness to be part of the primary process, but prefer "politics" as usual.
As it turns out, Kucinich filed a lawsuit against NBC-TV in Las Vegas yesterday. His lawsuit claims, “Kucinich is a credible and serious candidate in Nevada, where he is actively and vigorously campaigning and has statewide headquarters in Las Vegas.” This might threaten tonight’s debate, and I surely hope it does. I’m equally outraged that the Democratic party has agreed to NBC's decision, and I’d love to see it blow up in their face. I grow more and more aggravated with the Democratic Party with each passing day, but that is another story. They still appear to offer some hope compared to the absolute debacle known as the GOP.
One of the gravest threats to our nation at present is a crooked media. And if they aren’t “totally” crooked, they are at the very least mediocre, uninformed, and biased, a byproduct of a self –serving corporate directed misinformation machine. Controlling the media, the major source of information for the citizenship, is usually one of the first steps taken by a dishonest government, their servants, and/or their true masters.
Is it just a cowinkydink how frequently so much "stuff" seems to always reflect back on corporations, in one form or another? Hmmmm.
As I see it, our nation is in grave jeopardy. Our Republic /Democracy/Whatever, is rapidly in danger of becoming a thing of the past. For how long this process has been actually occurring, I don’t know; but I’m assuming it has been going on for quite some time. There is one thing, and only one thing, for which I am grateful to the Bush Administration, and that is making all this more obvious than it would have been otherwise -- talk of blessings in disguise. Phew!
It’s a shame that Americans still do not act. We should be marching on Washington DC by the millions, and boycotting almost every large corporate owned conglomerate in sight. I agree with the old axioms: “every people have the government they deserve” or “deserve the government they have.” All the more is the pity when it is realized too late.
Comments
Judge Grants Kucinich Entry to Nevada Debate
The Associated Press
Monday 14 January 2008
Las Vegas - NBC News said Monday it will appeal a judge's ruling rather than include Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich in a candidates' debate in Nevada.
"We disagree with the judge's decision and are filing an appeal," said a statement provided by Jeremy Gaines, a vice president for MSNBC, sponsor of Tuesday night's debate. Gaines said the parent network would seek an immediate hearing before the Nevada Supreme Court.
Hours earlier, Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson ruled that Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, must be allowed to participate. If he is excluded, Thompson said he would issue an injunction to stop the televised debate.
Kucinich's lawyer had argued that MSNBC at first invited him to participate, then last week reversed course and told him he could not.
A lawyer for the network said MSNBC decided to go with the top three candidates after the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries.
Thompson called it a matter of fairness and said Nevada voters will benefit by hearing from more than just top contenders Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.
The cable network and the Democratic Party have promoted the debate as a chance for the candidates to be questioned about issues from Nevada's minority communities. Tim Russert and Brian Williams are the scheduled moderators.
Kucinich learned of the judge's decision when he was handed a note during an interview with Fox Business Network's Neil Cavuto.
"Holy smokes! I just found out. I have to get off the phone now. I have to make plans to go to Nevada," Kucinich said.
Posted by: Stephen | January 15, 2008 11:38 AM
Dear Steven,
While I'm delighted that Kucinich's voice will be heard, I'm curious about his decision to throw his votes to Obama instead of to the more progressive Edwards. Obama, like Clinton is heavily tied to AIPAC.
As long as we have candidates who are beholden to AIPAC, the US will continue to fund the highly dangerous mercenary corporations such as Blackwater. He did the same thing last time round in Iowa by throwing his votes to Kerry instead of the more progressive Dean.
On another and only obliquely on topic issue:
I suspect that the young generation currently in college that has never known a time without computers, doesn't get their news from newspapers or even television. I'd be curious to know if they even watch Fox News. Their fathers certainly do and I suspect it's their fathers who supported Dick Cheney and Karl Rove. It's going to be interesting to see how this generation matures and how it finds information for its decision making. The sons, unlike the fathers, have little or no anger about women's rights. They've really never known a time when women didn't have the rights we have now. They won't be perfect, but they will be different; Part of the difference is likely to be political. I think the topic is worthy of a conversation.
tikkun
p.s. Just got back from Ecuador.
Posted by: Harriet | January 15, 2008 12:47 PM
I too was outraged by NBC’s withdrawal of their invitation to Dennis Kucinich to participate in the Las Vegas debate. And I also wrote, to NBC and MSNBC voicing my strong objections to their action. The judge’s ruling in favor of Kucinich is great news. MSNBC’s appeal of the ruling is stupidity personified. I would rather see the debate cancelled than to have it go on without Kucinich. If the American public stands silently by while corporate media continues to claim the right to decide which candidates’ views we get hear, then the public is saying it is OK with them.
Why is it, when so many people (75% according the latest poll) think our country is going in the wrong direction, that so few seem to do anything about it? The unprofessional, unreliable, and frequently downright dishonest, mainstream media is a major player in leading us in that wrong direction. Yet we continue to support their actions by tuning in to hear their misinformation. It is time to stop. And when we stop tuning in, we need to take the extra step to let them know we are turning them off and why. All it takes is a brief email or phone call.
If we don’t get off our collective duffs and start objecting loud and long, every time we catch the media manipulating the public, twisting the truth, or telling outright lies, then as you said, Stephen, we deserve the government we have.
Posted by: Trish | January 15, 2008 02:02 PM
Trish, your statement, "Yet we continue to support their actions by tuning in to hear their misinformation." made me stop, as a thought flitted across my mind. What if some powers to be want people to tune out? Take people out of the process and those who are part of the political machine can just do what they want.
I had an interesting conversation the other day with a person who said he stopped watching the news because it made him so mad. Another person I recently spoke with said he was so fed up that he might not vote. I hope it is not another "strategy" to make so many irate that they become disinterested, and just drop out. Perhaps I'm just seeing shadows where they don't exist, but I do find these days that I'm suspicious about a thing till it is proven okay. What do you think?
Posted by: Stephen | January 15, 2008 03:55 PM
Stephen, I did not mean to suggest that we should “tune out” on news, the political scene, or voting. That in essence is choosing to ignore the problems. There are certainly some who would like that. We know that a large voter turnout and an informed populace are the last things a secretive and imperial administration wants. And that goes double for the corporations who are running the government.
It is unfortunate when people opt out rather than digging in their heels. It is an easy out but what is it they say? If you aren’t part of the solution then you are part of the problem. That is particularly true in this instance. An uninformed and uninvolved public gives those in power free reign with that power.
There are many sources for news so we have the option of boycotting some and still not cutting ourselves off. But that all important second step is a must. Unless we let them know, in this case NBC/MSNBC, that we are no longer going to be regular viewers and did not watch the debate, and explain why, then we accomplish nothing.
Posted by: Trish | January 16, 2008 06:57 PM
Steve,
In my own mental defense I have tuned out all this nasty game playing politics.
I watched two debates at the beginning and figured that was done. The remarks back and forth were not worthy of people wanting to govern us.
I am sad, as an American,that our country has come to be what it is today. Even I could make better decisions than all these people involved. It is just one more point, wherein, we as americans are shown the door to find a wall.
We became terrorists the day we went into Iraq. Now, our own country and people are paying the price. They call it recession. Look it up, recession=depression. Even I have become a victim of bush allowing big corporations to charge any amount of interest.
Today, as I write to you, I am crying for my country that was. Being an American still gave us choices before they put the nitwit in big seat.
No one should be denied the right of free choice to run for office, or to be denied their right to speak among the rest.
You know Steve, at least two or three years ago I told you this was going to happen. Probably much further back than that. My visions, my feelings, have been too clear and painful.
OUR FREEDOMS ARE GONE! Unless you are wealthy, you might lose your house, skimp on eating, and wonder how to fill your gas tank.
Years ago, I entertained the service men. I saw them with no arms and no legs..i made them laugh, my heart cried.
One beautiful man on a cart was smiling at me through the whole show..I went over there to thank him. Then I realized,my god he smiled at me when he was the hero. I went and asked how many soldiers could not get to the auditorium. At that point I made a decision that I would do every single room until I had made them all laugh. I must also say, no other entertainer, or my own mother stayed with me......
As long as my much older brother's body is lost over somewhere in war, I will not stop fighting these last years and what is to come.
I think what they did was against our freedoms.
I will shut up now, since I wasn't going to write in the first place.
Posted by: BENITA | January 19, 2008 12:59 PM