'Dean Scream' clip was media fraud

[candy331]

Read this in the Tallahassee Democrat today, it was a big article in the editorial section of the paper. A good read with absolute truth.

'Dean Scream' clip was media fraud

The news media got an unusual bashing during last year's bitter electoral campaigns. They got slapped around from all sides, and everybody argued about how the media tried either to undermine Bush or discredit Kerry or both.

Still, it's never clear why some media wrongs are made into a big deal while others slip by. Take the CBS "60 Minutes" report on Bush's military nonservice: The story itself was old, the dubious evidence was of dubious importance, and the broadcast had no discernible effect. It became a major scandal anyway.

On the other end of the scale is an instance of clear-cut media wrongdoing that involved unquestionably fraudulent evidence and had dramatic consequences. This one, however, has gone largely unremarked. It is the famous incident involving Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean that is known as The Dean Scream.

And with Dean's recent appointment as Democratic Party chairman it's being hauled out as constituting the ceiling on whatever political ambitions he might still have, proof that he's shaky, unstable, unfit to serve - Howard Dean's Chappaquiddick.

You've seen the clip. After Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" at the Super Bowl, it's the most famous news video of 2004. Dean is addressing campaign supporters after he lost the Iowa party caucuses in January. He's screaming for no apparent reason, practically shrieking, ticking off the states where he's vowing to continue the race. His face is red, his voice breaking. He looks deranged. It's a portrait of a man out of control. It's documentary evidence that Dean lacks the temperament for high office.

In fact the Dean Scream was a fraud, probably the clearest instance of media assassination in recent U.S. political history.

-more

www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/opinion

[Eric J in MN]

1. Chris Matthews' played it so many times,

Matthews descrbied himself as 'wallowing" in it.

Don't forgive Chris Matthews.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

28. Tweety will roast with DAS Fuhrer in HELL!

:argh:

[lojasmo]

2. The media conglomorates need to be dismantled. EOM

[Skidmore]

42. Yup, that comment led to the set up. It was corporate

media's revenge for Howard, who understands the role the media plays in politics these days. They took him out.

[mattclearing]

47. Sad too. You'd think even the executives would realize it by now.

As Jon Stewart said, they need to Stop. Hurting. America.

[Cha]

3. Proof Fucking Positive!

"That's because the Dean Scream incriminates the entire professional mission of television news, which is built around the primacy of the picture. TV producers don't profess to offer meaning and context; they get you the visuals, unless they're gory or obscene. The notion that great footage would be not shown just because it's profoundly misleading - that's a possibility few TV news executives would entertain."

Dean's going down in history for all the right reasons!

[dsc]

4. It just makes me sick

The media wound up deciding that race which they had no business doing.

[tinanator]

6. I disagree

that certainly is their business

[dsc]

10. the press should decide our nominee?

are you kidding?

[LynzM]

21. I *think* that poster was implying

Not that that's how it should be, but sadly, that's how it IS. That is, the M$M do, to a large degree, determine exactly what many people see and therefore believe about candidates...

[Selatius]

39. It's true. If you control what people read, hear, and see, ...

You'll have incredible influence over how they vote. It's a far more subtle form of coercion than simply beating you over the head with a billie club like it's 1933 all over again.

[Cha]

8. And people including DUers still

claim..it wasn't the media who had a hand in turning the tables on Dean.

Dean is turning all this into lemonaide, though..

My wish is for Dean to lead in the battle to get back our media and then we'll get back our country.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. Of course

Kerry was a pretty good canidate but had flaws in his campaigning (not fighting back and all that). The neocons knew that the dems would get more votes then Kerry with Dean so they had to get rid of him (he'd be president now I think if that didn't happen). More people have returned to the party and even some crossed over. Even though now learning about this I am pissed I do think everything happens for a reason. I don't know why but look what has happened now. We are getting back, slowly but surely, and I think this is one of those things that will come back and bite them in the butts because of what Dean is doing now. :)

[indie_voter]

5. Fabulous!! Impeach the CORP. MEDIA! n/t

[cestpaspossible]

7. It was a gaffe.

Overblown and taken out of context, and no more than a gaffe, but, a gaffe nevertheless. I hope future candidates will learn the lesson that there is a right way to give a concession speech, and a wrong way.

[Cha]

9. Dean was fine..it's the fucking media..

I read that bush gave a simliar rallying call when he lost in Iowa but ya didn't hear the media going Apeshit then.

[candy331]

11. I suppose anything he had done would have been used especially

when the enemy is looking with a magnifying glass, just glad he didn't even think of blowing his nose or shedding a tear.

[FreedomAngel82]

33. That's what they're doing now

Trying to get him and everything. *sigh* They're determined.

[rodeodance]

17. good article--much much too late--as the media should self-govened

itself (but of course it is not happen!!).

[cestpaspossible]

20. Remember, they are actively on the side of the GOP.

When you start giving the media the benefit of the doubt, you are just lowering your guard in the middle of a fight.

[xxqqqzme]

38. beg 2 differ - not a gaffe!

It was pure Howard Dean. I had seen Dean 4 or 5 times by the Iowa caucus. He takes energy from his supporters; turns it around in his speech. I saw him deliver that same enthusiasm...the same arm punching the air...the same 'scream'...@ Union Station in LA and @ the House of Blues in Hollywood. I saw the Iowa 'scream' and thought nothing of it. Still don't know why it was such a big f*cking deal, Xcept the whoreporate media wanted it. I think the DNC/DLC was more than a little pleased as they wasted no time in piling on.

[cestpaspossible]

55. In the context of trying to win the Presidency

we must judge an action by its results.

[demwing]

66. Then every lie of Bush's is a victory

Every dead American soldier, every mutilated Iraqi, every tortured prisoner, ever vanquished civil right, is a stunning success.

After all, we must judge an action by its results.

[Eloriel]

63. No gaffe at all, and anyone who claims it was STILL doesn't get it.

I don't know if you need to see it in context, or understand more about campaign speeches, and large (3000+) crowds and the noise they can generate or what, but that was no gaffe. It was a CAMPAIGN speech -- an excited, exuberant, passionate, thoroughly appreciated-by-supporters CAMPAIGN speech.

It was shown completely out of context, completely without the background noise, and made into something it never, ever was to start with.

Not a gaffe, an opportunity by the media to misrepresent and thereby demonize and politically assassinate.

[cestpaspossible]

64. Denial is not a river in Egypt

I judge campaign actions by their results. Judged by the results, Dean committed a gaffe, an error, and I have no doubt that if he had to do that speech over again, he'd do it differently.

Because Howard Dean knows how to learn from mistakes.

[demwing]

65. And the results were that Dean so pissed off the Media

that they killed his campaign.

Still, of all the Dem candidates, Dean is the only one (other than Kerry) in a position of any power.

This is due to Dean's common sense, enthusiasm, and honesty.

You think he made an error. I say he did exactly the right thing. If Dean wasn't Dean, he wouldn't have the support he has, or be in the position he is in.

Why don't you judge by those results?

[cestpaspossible]

67. Your false, knee-jerk assumption that I am anti-Dean

makes further discussion pointless.

[demwing]

69. Your false, knee-jerk assumption that I believed you to be anti-Dean

says more about you thant it does about me.

What I thought about you was that you were stuck on this concept.

You insist that Dean made an error. I don't think he did, nor do I think that you would believe such if you examined all of the facts--instead of merely tossing about the ones that fit your presumptions of a Dean error.

As far as whether you are anti-Dean?


You said it, not me.

[cestpaspossible]

71. I really don't get it. Do you really believe, even in hindsight

that Dean did the right thing, gave exactly the right speech that night? It really wasn't something that could have been improved on? In other words, an error?

Get real. Yes, the media distorted, overplayed it, took it out of context and so on... but if he hadn't done it in the first place they wouldn't have been able to, would they?

[Be Brave]

12. After that media invention, I convinced myself that

the media chooses this country's president just as much as the voters do. The media is a very powerful entity.

[ZootSuitGringo]

59. Of course the media chooses this country's president

and does so by manipulating the voters via their disingenious polling and relentless pushing of who they decide should be "it" and who is "out".

I agree that the Dean scream was manufactured news, but I disagree that it solely cost Dean the nomination. Please remember that Howard Dean received positive agressive press from the Summer of 2003 all the way until the 1st week of January 2004. Then the media started reporting the negatives; Iowa caucus comments, refusal to release Govenorial records, lack of foreign policy/national security experience, etc...

The bottomline is that Howard Dean got more of his fair share of positive press for an extended period of time, notwithstanding the fact that good press does little good if not timed properly.

Because he began being scrutinized at a crucial moment right prior to when voters start to really pay attention, the positive press was wiped away and replaced by much more critical reporting. That shifting media scrutiny and voters conversation on what "electability" might be is what made Dean come in 3rd place at the Iowa caucus and that became the catalyst to his primary demise. The scream sealed his fate, but was not the initial debut of a downfall.

The moral of the story is that the press in this country is more powerful than it should be. what the press decides to giveth, it can, at anytime, decide to taketh away (witness Edwards who prior to being chosen VP had the press in his back pocket, but afterwards the meme was "where's is Edwards?}

The media decides what the issues should be, what analysis should take place, and what will and will not be covered. Let us take note and not ever forget. We need to work on media reform, or I fear, the manipulation with continue and become even more blatant.

[d.l.Green]

14. It may be too late, but it would be great if we could somehow have it re-

visited for the fake it was. I don't want to distract the thread from this issue but I think Dean was unfairly thrown out of the running on purpose because he was a real threat. In that respect he was by far the best choice for the party for President. The danger of continuing to mention this scream I think may actually give the other side and the dying press reason to solidify its credibility unless it comes with strong commentary rejecting it as invented "news". With that in mind, hopefully these blogs will become the press and direct attention to real stories...

[Maccagirl]

15. I am not a Deaniac

but he is a good, honorable man and he deserved much better than he got. I'm very pissed off right now.

[98geoduck]

16. I have a right wing uncle that figured the media DESTROYED Dean.

He doesn't even watch cable news, just local (NBC,ABC, CBS). I told him I had supported Dean, and his first remark was "the media did a number on him".

If a noneducated, lowermiddleclass, republican can figure it out, I wonder about many democrats...

By the way he HATES Bush!

[Cha]

18. So many people..

know what the media is doing..I'm hoping it's just a matter of time before the media has to change or die.

Good on your uncle!

[mogster]

41. That sounded like one of the real republicans speaking

Like in the old days.

How I miss the rep. party that was based on REASON and ...kinda common sense :-D
The state it's in to day, it's almost too much to take in.

But it is so long since, you'd have to back to the days before Reagan to find those roots, I guess.

Tell your uncle to keep his Bush attitude!

On topic:
I totally missed the Dean Scream, but got it referred by our local media. Personally I think Dean rocks!
Dean in the chair and Kerry, or for that matter Clarke, as president - that must be something of a dream team.

[zulchzulu]

19. Why fuel the fire on this?

I thought it was a sense of passion that Dean saw in doing the "Scream". It was also a very bad political move to have done in a small hotel ballroom in Des Moines with TONS of cameras and microphones looking at why a candidate had lost a double-digit lead in the polls to a far-behind third place in a matter of weeks.

Dean had a shitty campaign manager named Joe Trippi who had managed to blow nearly $39 Million in sloppy media distribution and other buys as well as wasn't returning Dean's phone calls. That would have made me scream too.

So Trippi was there in Des Moines and gave Dean the great tip to "be passionate" in light that he just got his ass kicked.

Dean "screamed".

It wasn't the actual act but the reasons behind the act that made the "scream" not only significant, but also probably a text book example of what NOT to do when you lose a race you were figured to win easily a week before.

Now, can we get past the "scream"? Dean is another person with another role now.

[Skip Intro]

23. The media should answer for it, that's why. They screwed Gore and Dean.

Gore with "the sigh" and Dean with "the scream."

Who else?

How long have they been at it?

Why?

I hated that this happened to Dean, but it really isn't about Dean. Its about the power of the media to usurp our Constitutional role, right, and responsibility to choose our nation's leaders and direction. And its about the willingness of the media to use that power.

Again, why?

What is the real agenda, and who is really calling the shots?

That's why its important. To me. Imho.

Its more than just the "scream" and Dean.

[zulchzulu]

25. Your wish will never, ever, ever happen

If you think the media will somehow "take away" or revisit the Dean "scream" and say it was their fault, you may as well wait for money to grow on trees.

If you think Dean's scream was not a foolish political act in the light of his failure to win in Iowa with poll numbers showing him the clear winner a week before he performed other gaffes leading to the caucus, then I can only offer you hope that you get past this and move on.

This is a tired, old discussion. We need to focus on newer things.

[Cha]

31. elshiva says it best..see post #26

"Media doesn't know what to do with a candidate who doesn't have some kind of sex scandal. So they go after stupid verbal ticks, real (Gore) or faked (Dean)."

We are discussing this because the Talahassee Democrat did a story on it..and more than a few have been saying the same thing for months..so it's a confirmation.

"Dean Scream' clip was media fraud"

By Edward Wasserman

"SPECIAL TO THE MIAMI HERALD"

It's all about the media fraud..

We'll talk about it here and there as we see fit.

[elshiva]

26. I'm tired of the sigh and the scream already!

Media doesn't know what to do with a candidate who doesn't have some kind of sex scandal. So they go after stupid verbal ticks, real (Gore) or faked (Dean).

[FreedomAngel82]

34. They tried to do that

with Kerry and his looks. Remember the whole fake faux transcript from a debate they made it on their site? A bunch of Kerry supporters saw it and they had to issue a public apology on their site. :eyes:

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blm]

75. Horseshit. The press talked about the SVLiars since April. I dare you to

PROVE that the media didn't mention them till late August, especially considering they ran their first ad the first WEEK of August and by their own bragging rights claimed they received FORTY MILLION DOLLARS worth of airtime off that first ad.

Did the 24/7media acknowledge the Nightline investigation IN VIETNAM that proved O'Neill was lying through his teeth?

Did the 24/7 media acknowledge that a Tribune editor wrote what occurred on HIS swft boat that he was actually ON with Kerry?

No. They merely repeated SVLies ad nauseum.

And SO ARE YOU.

[Skip Intro]

22. Absolutely! Our democracy came under attack from the media in this

The media destroyed Dean's camapaign in a blatant, shameless act. That travesty was enough to piss me off almost as deeply as I've ever been pissed off. But when you think about it - it wasn't just Dean that was attacked with careless disreguard and crass egotism, it was our very democracy that was attacked by the media. The right of the people of the United States - beacon of a democracy of, by, and for the people - the right of that very people to weild its mighty and sacred power of choice; to keep our constitution alive and active; to choose not only its representatives but the future of the Union, was trampled upon and stomped upon by the media in doing what they did to Dean with that fraud.

The media superseeded the Constitution, and corrupted our most sacred of democratic rights and responsibilities.

If that's not treason, then what is?

The question is, why? Why did they do it? Did they think Kerry would better beat bush? Did they think that Dean would better beat bush? Was their intent, in subverting our democracy, to make sure bush, and whoever or whatever he works for, retained his grip on power (all kinds of power)?

Is there an answer that does bode well for a democracy just realizing it has been wounded, yet unsure of how badly, and if the attack has even stopped?

Because this isn't the first time.

Remember Gore's sigh????

[Grooner Five]

24. He'd already finished third...

...by the time he screamed. His ship had already been torpedoed by the "electability" ticket.

[Larkspur]

50. Yes, but NH Primary was a week after Iowa Caucus and the "Scream"

made it very difficult for Howard to "comeback" against Kerry. Dean was freefalling below Clark and Edwards, who were 3rd and 4th in NH before IA, and it was Dean's NH campaign directe, can't remember her name, who really did a great job getting Dean to get back to 2nd place. Unfortunately, Dean finished 13 pts, I think, behind Kerry in NH.

If Dean had gotten closer to Kerry -- under 10%, the Media, at least according to John Nichols, would have touted Dean as the new "Comeback Kid."

[John_H]

27. Bingo. So now every Dem surrogate will go after every host that plays it

for playing a doctored tape, right? Or will they "defend" the scream itself? Hmmmmmmmm.

[pen dragon]

29. Bush debates for over an hour with

a disgusting spit bubble in the corner of his mouth, says nothing intelligent once, has a mysterious hump on his back that reeks of him being wired, and the media goes out their way to not pick on him. Dean shrieks to his supporters with some passion like any High School football coach might do to rally his boys and the media hammers him like a nail. Once the GOP got control of the media it was all over for the world

[TryingToWarnYou]

30. Better link...

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/opinion/10964305.htm

[98geoduck]

32. I like the analogy (praying or talking to yourself insanely)

[Bhaisahab]

35. Yeah, it was pretty obvious...

i closely followed the democratic nomination process, because i really wanted bush booted out. altough i had no say (i'm not an american), my favorites were kucinich and then dean. those dudes were saying the right things, and i knew if they could lead the US, the whole fuckin' world could become a better place.
but then i noticed the media, and many DUers too, describe Kucinich as "way too liberal" to be president. i failed to understand why - one just had to read one of Kucinich's speeches to realize the man should be an American Idol (no puns). Anyway, then Dean got ambushed with this scream business (i never saw the scream in the international electronic media). the reactions that i read to that scream made it evident that even democrats considered him "deranged". i once again failed to understand why. the bloke had SOLID, WORKABLE solutions to America's (and the world's) problems, he had the personality and bearing of a man who loves America and understands the seriousness of governance, unlike bush who treats governance like a Lego toy set. And he's being sidelined because of a scream? it was really ridiculous!
so in the end, turned out it was John Kerry who benefited from the dean scream. i was disappointed with the choice. as many here have pointed out, Kerry is "bush lite".
finally, the manner in which Kerry capitulated just PISSED me off. If it was Dean, i am willing to bet all i have that he would have WON the election.

[phish420]

36. anyone know of a copy...

..of the second tape mentioned for download?

[phish420]

37. n/m...i think I found one

on shareaza...if its it, Ill post a link here and on my site

[phish420]

40. here it is...(video download link)

http://www.truthstream.org/video/deanscream.wmv

warning though - the crowd is in front of dean at the time of the scream, and the scream is unexplainably gone - some say it is the crowd noise, but you can hear every other word but not the scream...sort of questionable...but I believe this is the recording in question. Judge for yourself. Regardless, I agree that is was more of a great motivational speech by a true patriot than a deranged pychopath like he was portrayed by the media.

[demwing]

60. This is the Dean Scream

and you can hear it, especially if you keep you eye on Dean. You can see the scream as he pumps his fist.

The difference is the crowd noise. The people are screaming louder than Dean.

I guess that makes the people unfit to lead as well.

Thank god the Constitution says differently.

[Freebird12004]

43. "Yellow Journalism"

Waaay back when I was studying writing and journalism in high school - we were taught to be aware of news that presented only part of the truth to slant the story - it was called "yellow journalism".

"believe only 1/2 of what you see and less of what you read" is the way we were taught to view the news - nothing much has changed - except that "we" were taught to THINK for ourselves {what an incredible concept}

[cthrumatrix]

44. Dean said on the Tweety show that he would look into breaking up media

and diversifying opinions.

You saw the what happened.

[midnight armadillo]

49. That's EXACTLY right

Dean torpedoed his campaign when he declared he would seek the breakup of the media conglomerates. After that, there was no way MSM would give him a fair shake, and when they got a chance to execute a character assassination they took it.

[JNelson6563]

45. To the delight of the Kerry cabal

Anybody ever wonder why the reich-wing press worked so hard to get Kerry the nom?

Julie

[dbt]

46. And the Democratic Party did exactly WHAT to defend Dr. Dean?

*six million crickets*

:mad:
dbt

[cestpaspossible]

56. The party is prohibited from helping a primary candidate.

Are you really saying the party leadership should back candidates in primaries rather than letting the voters decide?

[dbt]

57. Think party as a (w)hole.

[cestpaspossible]

58. What are you talking about?

Hello?

[Ashamed_American]

48. Son of a....

Well, all I can say is thank God Rupert Murdoch's publications aren't seen, heard, and read by a third of the world. Oh wait.


www.BlackEyedSundays.com

[Toots]

51. There used to be an opposition party and opposition media in this country

Now there is neither. Which came first? The sell out of the Democrats or the sell out of the Media? I say the democrats led the way. Once the Media realized they were alone in voicing opposition they gave it up. Granted there are a few real Media sources left just like a few real Democrats left but not enoughh to make any noise. Just like a tree falling in the woods and no one around to hear it. It makes no noise. The deserts are taking over the world and all the trees are falling noiselessly.

[Larkspur]

52. Context is everything

The second clip was the same speech taped by a supporter on the floor of the hall. The difference was stunning. The place was packed. The noise was deafening. Dean was on the podium, but you couldn't hear him. The roar from his supporters was drowning him out.

Dean was no longer scary, unhinged, volcanic, over the top. He was like the coach of a would-be championship NCAA football team at a pre-game rally, trying to be heard over a gym full of determined, wildly enthusiastic fans. I saw energy, not lunacy.

The difference was context. As psychiatrist R.D. Laing once wrote: We see a woman on her knees, eyes closed, muttering to someone who isn't there. Of course, she's praying. But if we deny her that context, we naturally conclude she's insane.

The Dean Scream footage that was repeatedly aired rests on a similar falsehood. It takes a man who in context was acting reasonably, and by stripping away that context transforms him into a lunatic.

But I think that Howard Dean will defeat this Media Lie by doing what he is doing now -- going out and meeting with average Americans, especially in Red States, and promoting core Democratic values. Being DNC Chair is the best format for him to defeat the Media mis-portrayl of him and rehabilitate his image with non-Dean-ocrats.

[KittyWampus]

53. Newsflash- Dean Was Supposed To Do A CONCESSION SPEECH

not a rally.

And yet again, Dean supporters ignore the fact his entire speech even absent the "Scream" was outside the norm of politically appropriate behavior.

You don't go to a funeral and roast the dead.
You don't go to a wedding and tell dirty jokes about the bride.

You don't go to a nationally televised Concession Speech on the eve of the first Primary in a national campaign when you'll be appearing before a national audience where many will be seeing you for the first time- AND DO A RALLY SPEECH DIRECTED ONLY TO YOUR SUPPORTERS IN THE ROOM!

Every other losing candidate that night managed to do a formal speech.

[demwing]

61. I'm sorry, I guess I lost the rule book

You know...the one that says that all candidates must behave according to a code, that there is only one way to behave in a given situation, that any deviation from this behavior will be construed as "weird" or "abnormal," and just in case someone acts up regardless of these rules, the media will be sure to assassinate said candidate's character, without regard to truth or factuality.

Thanks for reminding me about that rule book...

BTW - of all the candidates that "lost" that night, how many are now chairing the party?

[madfloridian]

68. Two hands clapping for your statement. Thanks.

Dean is not like the others, he never was. We are not ordinary, those of us who supported him. Most of us don't fit a pattern either.

Rules are made to be changed.

:)

[phish420]

54. Agreed...

...with a national chair position, they can only ignore him so much. Plus, like you said, the media can't distort his face to face meetings like he is doing now....the people who see him face to face will see the media distortiona..

...btw, anyone know of any plans for Dean to come to FL? I wanted to vote for him in the primaries, but of course he was out of it by the time super tuesday came around. Ive been inspired by him over the internet in the past...I want to be inspired in person. lol

[gulfcoastliberal]

62. Dean is is a fine man.

A damn shame what they did to him.

[deadparrot]

70. I knew that, too.

I wonder why the librul media didn't mention it.

[Eric J in MN]

72. I watched the speech live and thought it was fine.

More upbeat than I expected, but fine.

[INDIA]

74. More dirty tricks from KKKarl? nt