Robert Reich: Why the Major Media Marginalize Bernie

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/36061-focus-why-the-major-media-marginalize-bernie

The real reason the major media can’t see what’s happening is because the national media exist inside the bubble of establishment politics, centered in Washington, and the bubble of establishment power, centered in New York.

As such, the major national media are interested mainly in personalities and in the money behind the personalities. Political reporting is dominated by stories about the quirks and foibles of the candidates, and about the people and resources behind them.

Within this frame of reference, it seems nonsensical that a 74-year-old Jew from Vermont, originally from Brooklyn, who calls himself a Democratic socialist, who’s not a Democratic insider and wasn’t even a member of the Democratic Party until recently, who has never been a fixture in the Washington or Manhattan circles of power and influence, and who has no major backers among the political or corporate or Wall Street elites of America, could possibly win the nomination.

But precisely because the major media are habituated to paying attention to personalities, they haven’t been attending to Bernie’s message – or to its resonance among Democratic and independent voters (as well as many Republicans). The major media don’t know how to report on movements.

In addition, because the major media depend on the wealthy and powerful for revenues, because their reporters and columnists rely on the establishment for news and access, because their top media personalities socialize with the rich and powerful and are themselves rich and powerful, and because their publishers and senior executives are themselves part of the establishment, the major media have come to see much of America through the eyes of the establishment.

So it’s understandable, even if unjustifiable, that the major media haven’t noticed how determined Americans are to reverse the increasing concentration of wealth and political power that have been eroding our economy and democracy. And it’s understandable, even if unjustifiable, that they continue to marginalize Bernie Sanders.

[sorechasm]

1. When confronting Hillary supporters, I usually get: Bernie has no support on Capital Hill which

is supposed to mean something in the 'democratic' aisles of a democracy? The 'establishment' meme seems to elude them. Does 'of the people, by the people, and for the people' mean anything to them? They are either clueless of what a democracy is supposed to represent, or view life through cynical lenses as if they never really believed in democracy to begin with.

[noretreatnosurrender]

2. Yup

You nailed it.

[disillusioned73]

3. Ding..