John Kerry: It's Time to Reign in the Spin

[kerrygoddess]

Yesterday I posted a piece about Grover Norquist’s control of the media message. Norquist and his cabal right-wing lobbyists, journalists and conservative groups meet weekly to coordinate policy and develop talking points that are sent to the “conservative media via a sophisticated fax tree.”

While this is not exactly the prepackaged news that Senators Kerry and Lautenberg are targeting with their Truth in Broadcasting Act, one cannot help but wonder if the Norquist’s cabal does not exert their powerful influence of the prepackaged news produced by the federal agencies. Today, John Kerry is saying “It’s Time to Reign in the Spin!”

The Truth in Broadcasting Act, authored by Senators John Kerry and Frank Lautenberg, will require all prepackaged news stories produced by a federal agency to clearly identify the United States government as the source of the story.

Below is a statement by Senator Kerry on his legislation:

"The American people have a right to know they're not only watching the administration's spin on their local newscasts, they might be paying for it too. It's one thing to watch Jon Stewart on television, but it's another to imitate him with Americans' hard-earned tax dollars. We should stop this abuse of the public trust and waste of taxpayer money.

"It's hard to believe that in the greatest democracy in the world, we need legislation to prevent the government from writing and paying for the news. It runs counter to everything we believe as Americans. I hope Congress will stop the legal hairsplitting and end this dishonest practice."

Links on LUTD: http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=882

[TayTay]

1. Thanks KG

I plan on catching up on this hearing after the whole Bolton thing. Too bad they have to be scheduled concurrently. Sigh!

[LoZoccolo]

2. That's funny that they use a fax.

Step into the nineties already!

[MADem]

6. Faxes are big in DC, still

First of all, there is no computer footprint, which can be problematic if you don't want your opponent to see what you are doing. Remember that incident where the GOP hacked into the Democrats' computers and read all of their strategizing memos? If you want to dish out talking points and not leave a trail, fax is the way to go.

It's also the way to go if you want to send a letter to your rep...if you send it via mail, count on a two week delay, unless you know a staffer and can send it to their home for hand delivery.

[ohtransplant]

3. He's everywhere! n/t

[MADem]

4. Was that a clever play on words???

Reign as opposed to rein? They certainly do behave like kings, who do not have to answer to anybody...so it certainly is appropriate!

[karynnj]

8. I bet it was

Wouldn't he or someone on his staff have caught it if it weren't. Also, it lets him pretend innocence if it's pointed out, possibly while not discouraging the question of whether doing these things is autocratic. Although simply using the correct homonym (rein) could still be wordplay.

[Daphne08]

19. Kerry is too bright -- it must be intentional

Yes, it's a great play on words... sends a definite and appropriate message!

[karynnj]

27. He might have dictated it

[MADem]

29. It was written by two volunteer bloggers who support Kerry

...not Kerry himself.

[Mass]

31. No it is written this way on his web site as well.

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=237541

Dont know if it was intentional or not.

[MADem]

33. That tells me that he is either being very subtle, or those kids are

...writing his stuff!

[FreedomAngel82]

12. I think so too

Great idea. :) So what does that mean for fox?

[ginnyinWI]

21. rein vs. reign

it might be a simple mistake by a staffer. Chances are that he dictated it to someone. That's my guess. Spell checkers don't catch those homonyms.

[MADem]

30. He didn't write it, it is a blogger's interpretation (see original cite)

n.t

[Mass]

32. No (See my post #31)

[sendero]

5. This sounds...

... like legislation that we shouldn't have to have (should already be covered), but need very badly.

Any ideas of what the chances of getting this passed are?

[carnie_sf]

7. Kerry's on fire

lately, isn't he?

[politicasista]

9. he is.

Thanks KG.

[EvolvedChimp]

13. Hell of a man

But i find it kind of ridiculous that he plans on running for the presidential candidate in 2008. He bent over backwards to try and get republican votes and still wasn't elected. I just don't think he's the man that can get it done. Some may argue that no "man" can get it done. Rice vs. Clinton 2008!!

[politicasista]

14. KG wasn't posting this to talk about 2008

She is doing her job by keeping us up to date on Kerry's activities.

[EvolvedChimp]

15. I'm so sorry

I came to this site in hopes to find a good debate. Arguing sometimes is the best way to learn. But everyone here seems to rather agree to everything then to respond to other's differing opinions. I figured that arguing that Kerry wasn't the man for the job would start something. I like all these progressive thinkers but I think I will have to move on to a different board where some debate may still linger.

[LittleClarkie]

17. You're new

So I'll explain the acrominity toward bring up 2008 every time Kerry does something that could be considered positive or useful. The original poster was letting us know about legislation. It would be refreshing if the discussion could be on the legislation. If you would like to discuss Kerry's chances in 2008, it would be nice if you could either find a thread or start one that's discussing that issue.

When someone mentions Kerry's name, it doesn't automatically mean that we want to discuss everyone's disappointment in him, or how they don't think he should run in 2008, or how he didn't fight, or how much they hate his abortion/gay rights/Iraq stance.

Often the discussion is taken over with those issues. For once, some of us would like the discussion to be about the OP's original topic. Is that really too much to ask?

If it is, then I guess we'll be seeing you around. :hi:

[EvolvedChimp]

23. I understand

It's just this is the first time I am surrounded by people who know and care. I can not post my own threads yet and just wish I understood all this more. I didn't realize i was being inappropriate.

[LittleClarkie]

24. It's okay

Some of us are just getting a bit touchy. I know what you mean about being around folks who know and care. Please stay.

[Jo March]

18. Debate does not equal arguing

There are already too many arguments around here. If you came to argue, then you should leave as many of us are weary of arguing.

If you came to debate, then you are in luck as long as you stick to the facts and don't call anyone names.

Either way, it's up to you.

I've debated many times on this board with some very intelligent folks - you know, "progressive thinkers."

Welcome to DU, BTW. :hi:

[EvolvedChimp]

22. Thank you

I'll try to post mo appropriately from now on

[ailsagirl]

25. Hi evolved chimp-- I like your avatar -- welcome

(in case you haven't been welcomed yet)

:hi:
:kick:

[kerrygoddess]

36. "Arguing sometimes is the best way to learn."

Well that attitdue is certainly not going to get us seats in Congress and the Senate. We need to stop arguing over woulda, coulda, shoulda and start being proactive if we want to gain ground.

And, this was posted as news not as a Kerry will run thread. Kerry has not confirmed he will run and the thread said nothing about him running.

Progressive thinkers need to learn to work together and stop squabbling like chickens over feed.

[Sparkly]

39. "everyone here seems to rather agree to everything"

"then to respond to other's differing opinions."

Stick around. There's no shortage of arguing and disagreement here. (And no, that's not always a bad thing.) :hi:

[Patchuli]

26. No offense but

gag...No Clinton, we'll lose for sure. Sadly, I really don't think this country is evolved far enough for a female president yet. If it were though, I would vote for BOXER!!! She's for the people, not the corporations! She's also got 'bigger stones' than most the Democratic male senators, all five feet of her...

[carnie_sf]

28. One hundred percent

with you on that one. Barbara Boxer is my senator, and lives about thirty miles from me. I don't think I could be happier with her. She is everything I thought Nancy Pelosi would be when she was elected minority leader in the house.

[desi826]

20. Maybe.....

carnie_sf wrote:

"Kerry's on fire lately, isn't he?"

that's because he finally realized that Bush is squatting on his land: The White House.
Des

[rniel]

10. How are republicans going to fight this

It's so reasonable and simple "say anything you want, just let us know who it is coming from"

How can they argue against that. It applies to both parties. It's very reasonable idea.

[sellitman]

16. They will have another "terror alert".

That's how they handle everything.

[second edition]

11. I am glad Kerry is addressing this situation!

As I understand this, this type of "news" started out as a Clinton idea and of course, Bush has to take it over to the dark side. I for one don't like being fed propaganda passing as real news. It is bad enough what we get from the MSM, we don't need this spoon feed junk too! Thank you Kerry and Lautenberg. (sp)

[jfw9999]

34. I distrust the sincerity

I am sorry.

But to here of John Kerry NOW defaming the airways and speaking out loudly for injustice, when in his campaign he was milk-toast at best - is simply indegestible.

John Kerry's long intoned speaches were reminicent of William Jennings Bryant or other's of his ilk.

It was truly impossible to contemplate what was in the man's heart - he refused to reveal it.

This - Prick Bush has no problem revealing himself as a rodeo, sixpack, asskicking, fratboy who wants to show the rest of the world whos boss.

Well............. We all know what we got. Who the Hell is John Kerry? We need someone who kicks ass. He or she (outside of Boxer) doesn't seems to be around at the moment.

[GetTheRightVote]

35. Yes, we need truth and justice, real justice in this country

:kick:

[Dr Fate]

37. "Normal people-talk" translation: "Bush pays the media to LIE for him."

n/t

[kerrygoddess]

38. Yes he does...

I think these days a lot of people are paid to spin...

[Dr Fate]

40. This legislation is a step in the right direction- I fully support this.

I hope Kerry keeps fighting ALL the media propaganda- there is a hell of a lot more to it than this...