Hate to tell you, but the media IS and will determine this election.

[loudnclear]

The importance of breaking up media conglomerates and keeing media moguals from owning other corporations is never more apparent than during these Dem campaigns and election 2000.

The Republicans and their co-harts (Scaiffe, Murdoch etc.) were scared shitless about Dean winning the Dem nomination because they knew he would be a force to reckon with BUT they were also comfortable in assuming that Dean was too brash for the American public and that just a few "tweekes" here and there of his coverage could destroy him. They knew they would not be able to "control" Dean the way they hope to control Kerry.

Dennis Kucinich has all the right positions for any Dem who believe they are a true core Dem...the media knows this and hence they don't even bother to give much coverage at all lest he begin to sway voters his way. He is likeable, if not lovable...and he is tough but not in an offensive wa. Ever since he called Koppel on the carpet about how the media covers the issues he has been dead meat....Now i wonder why?
One thing, i hope that Kucinich sticks it out to the bitter end along with Dean. Otherwise the Dem party is done for, our issues are sunk.

So the media has decided to crown Kerry as the Dem nominee. I think in large part because they see him as someone they may be able to deal with if not control. Kerry has a lot of Washington baggage and it is going to weigh him down. But the Dem establishment and the Repugs feel much more comfortable with Kerry in...no poor boy from Arkansas he! He belongs in their "class."

Clark, is not getting deserved coverage either but I predict that he might be the stealth threat to Kerry...but then he really is a Republican in Dem clothing.

I say it again...Kucinich and Sharpton are the true Dems in this race, they have the issues squarely where they belong...ALL the issues. But it looks like we will have to settle on whomever the corporate media selects. I will still vote ABB!

[vi5]

1. Please...SAVE US..... SAVE USSSSSSSS...

Would you mind coming into the voting booth with me when I vote? Because clearly little old me is incapable of making an informed decision on my own without being brainwashed by the media. I'm afraid I might hurt myself or my country if I'm left up to my own decisions.

Here I was all this time thinking that if I listened to the candidates own words, and looked at their records and listened to them speak that I would be making an informed decision. I was wholly unaware that all this time I was being misled by the media.

I just hope there are enough of the enlightened ones to be able to accompany the tens of thousands of other people who are clearly misinformed and brainwashed because they didn't vote for one of your approved candidates.

[RichM]

6. Pathetic attempt at sarcasm. The lead poster is quite right, & your

not realizing it simply means you're clueless about the relationship between the media and modern society.

Have you ever noticed a phenomenon called "advertising?" Why do you suppose companies spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on it? Because it has no effect on the general public?

The general public is extremely susceptible to media suggestion. This is true, despite the fact that hardly anyone consciously feels that their decisions are being strongly influenced by the media.

[vi5]

9. Adver what? What is advertising?

I'm sorry, I got distracted by a catchy jingle on television accompanied by a scantily clad lady, so now I have to go out and buy some beer.

My point isn't that the media or advertising does have some impact. But I'm sick of people who are supposed to be on the same side as I am being even more condescending than I've ever seen any media or advertising person be. This whole notion of the idea that anyone who doesn't see things the way supporters of certain candidates do must be the result of media brainwashing is just flat out insulting.

So the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people who didn't vote for one of the original posters approved candidates are all gullible fools who allowed the media to decide their vote for them?

Spare me.

[eileen_d]

10. Exactly - it's insulting

and it's no way to attract more supporters to one's preferred candidate.

[eileen_d]

7. Me too! Me too!

Help, I'm being controlled by the media and I can't get up!

[amber dog democrat]

2. ABB no matter what!

But there is always a chance "the media" will get it wrong, ( as it often does ).
I am hoping for another "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline.
Twill make my day.

[Raya]

3. Yeah. That is why still boosting DEAN AND CLARK on Sunday Shows

Check the facts. Dean got about 5 times the media coverage as Kerry.
And still gets just as much.

I think the still can't get over the fact that their campaign to give
Dean the nomination is not working.

[MurikanDemocrat]

4. The voters are going to determine this election

The media anointed Dean the inevitable nominee for most of the last year. The voters decided otherwise.

[funky_bug]

5. Decided to stop complaining about the media

and counteract it. I just made my first ten phone calls to TN voters. The media may control the television, but they DON'T control the phones.

We got Wes into this race. It's our responsibility to pull him through the primaries.

[Cleita]

8. The National Enquirer is already starting on Kerry.

"John Kerry's secret life exposed...Affairs with stars...drug abuse...plastic surgery."

http://www.nationalenquirer.com/neo/newsstand.cfm

I guess they got scared of Dean because he has a pretty dull private life. So they want someone they can throw a lot of scandalous allegations at and hope some of it sticks. Then they will repeat the smear over and over again until he loses.

If you think the NE isn't a threat, think about Gary Hart.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[Moderator]

12. Locking.

2. Criticism of Democratic primary candidates, their policy positions, and their campaigns is permitted. However, extreme and inflammatory attacks against Democratic primary candidates are not permitted. The moderators have the sole authority to decide whether an attack is extreme and inflammatory. Inappropriate attacks include, but are not limited to, the following: Attacks involving swear words, long strings of negative words, comparisons to Hitler or Bush, unflattering graphics, etc.

Calling a Democratic Candidate a Republican is not allowed.

Thanks,

DU Moderator