Dennis Kucinich: "Fox is a legitimate News Agency..."

[SaveElmer]

KUCINICH: I would say that I think we need a politics which does not condemn people. So I am not going to condemn them. But what I am going to say is that FOX is a legitimate news agency that has the ability to reach out to millions of Americans, so why not get that message out? That is what I want to do, and all Democrats should be capable of doing it.

FOX is a good litmus test because if you can stand the scrutiny of FOX, with what you stand for, and all of the FOX News agencies that gather the information, their anchors can ask you questions, well that is part of what the test is of leadership.

Again, we should be thinking about a campaign that unites people. And I am ready to reach out to conservatives.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258803,00.html

[Greeby]

1. Tell me he didn't say that

:crazy:

[SaveElmer]

2. Oh he did...nt

[Donnachaidh]

3. WTF?

oh NO he didn't say that. :grr:

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. KUCINICH Is Fatally Flawed

If he can't make this easy call, I doubt his decision making process.

[NDP]

70. This is what happens when the media starve candidates of publicity. They start hallucinating

and seeking publicity anywhere.

[havocmom]

5. Old Nader advisors working for Dennis now?

:wtf:

[PresidentObama]

6. I agree with standing up for yourself. BUT Dennis.....NO.....

Fox News isn't legit. I'm sorry, they just aren't!!

:banghead:

[WorseBeforeBetter]

7. I'm with Edwards on this one.

Conservatives are not willing or interested in being "reached out" to. They watch Faux because they are close-minded and it validates their belief system. We set the rules - phuck that 30% that is so far gone they will never be reasoned with.

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. What part of FOX WILL SMEAR ALL DEMS does he not get?

If the Democratic candidate debate had been held by FOX, I have no doubt that "news agency" would use any and all sound bites and video clips to smear each and every presidential hopeful.

[Cabcere]

45. What part of "Faux" doesn't he get?

:crazy: I like Kucinich and all, but Fox as a legitimate news agency? Has he ever WATCHED Fox? :shrug:

[gravity]

9. It's over. I WILL NOT vote for Kucinich

in the General Election if he is nominated

:popcorn:

[Lautremont]

10. That Touch of Kucinich.

[MADem]

11. One way to get free coverage for an invisible campaign!

:rofl:

He's trying to get coverage on the cheap. And making whorish statements like that is one way to do it!!

[PresidentObama]

15. By pissing off the base? I hope not. n/t

[MADem]

27. If they aren't watching, they won't notice....

He's going after the crank and contrarian vote with this move!! The "They all suck--I'm gonna vote for KUCINICH" Republicans!!!

:rofl:

[Donnachaidh]

26. now THAT'S Integrity!

NOT. :grr:

[MADem]

31. The guy doesn't have an ice cube's chance in hell. This is more about

raising his profile. If he starts a relationship with Faux, he might be their 'designated lefty' in his post-legislative career.

I'd pull the string on his latest wife; see if there's any Murdoch connection...

[Double T]

12. Give a person a microphone and they lose their head.............

Dennis is being played by fox noose as a specimen of the 'Liberal Scourge' that is infecting America.

[Demobrat]

13. Fox is a legitimate news agency

like Kucinich is a viable candidate.

[PresidentObama]

16. Behave. hehe. ;) n/t

[ShortnFiery]

34. Oh .... snap!

:rofl:

[RedEarth]

14. Sorry Dennis, I don't come close to agreeing with you on this.

[Atman]

17. Oh no...et tu Dennis?

Oh, wait...this story is on FOX NEWS? There has to be some missing context. Was O'Reilly clutching DK's balls or something? I can't believe DK could be so naive.

.

[MGKrebs]

18. Is National Enquirer legitimate?

That's what I would compare Fox to.

[pink-o]

39. The Enquirer

...has been fairer and more accurate than Faux for the last 6 years!

Faux Noise is to Amerikkka as Pravda was to the Soviet Union: a mouthpiece and propaganda machine. Or if you like, Roger Ailes is this decade's answer to Josef Goebbles--the "information" meister of the Third Reich. Anyone who doesn't recognise that is either fooling themselves, or just a compleat idiot.

I've taken Dear Dennis with a grain of salt ever since a reporter asked him about health care, and why it is that members of Congress get taken care of for the rest of their lives, while most of us peons have to scrabble for pennies to pay Big Pharma if we want to live another day. Kucinich said something like Well, it's an incentive, we need good people to serve in Congress, so this is like a carrot to them.

Anyway, it was all very glib and politician-ey.

[MetaTrope]

47. And fairer and more accurate still before the BFEE targeted them with anthrax

[Solo_in_MD]

19. Considering it may soon have the largest viewer base, its not a bad idea

[PresidentObama]

21. So what? CNN and MSNBC get great audiences as well. Fuck FOX. Dennis is wrong n/t

[ieoeja]

33. And all three combined don't compare to ABC, NBC or CBS for audience numbers. n/t

[Bob3]

23. their viewing base are troglodyte mouth breathers

who wouldn't vote Democratic if Jesus and George Washington came to their home and told them to. They'd assume Clinton had something on them. And fox news would tell them that.

Fox is propaganda and talking head entertainment - the Democratic party was able to retake the House and Senate without their 'help' I don't think they are needed for 08.

[PresidentObama]

25. VERY good point. We took back the Congress without them, we can take back the WH without them n/t

[rox63]

20. This is a disappointing statement from Kucinich

But at least Murdoch isn't raising money for him, as far as I know.

[Donnachaidh]

30. not YET, you should say

Rupert will be soooo grateful for this comment he might even throw a fundraiser or two for Dennis.

:grr:

[Ninja Jordan]

22. Kucinich has officially jumped the shark

He needs to bow out now.

[bearfan454]

24. That just changed my opinion of him

for sure.

[RaleighNCDUer]

28. Did anybody here read the interview?

Or is this just the Clinton crowd piling on?

Kucinich did not concede a thing to Gibson - and the OPs snip does not show the context of what he was saying in the general thread of the interview.

If you're going to reach Fox's audience you have to go on Fox - otherwise, all they will hear is what everyone ELSE on Fox is saying.

But by all means, lets all just pile on to one of the few somewhat progressive voices in our party - we all know he's just Fruity McMoonbat and he is just drawing attention from the real, DLC candidates.

EDIT TO ADD:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x416953

EDIT to spell EDIT correctly

[PresidentObama]

32. I have, I'm not a member of the Clinton crowd. You can't change what DK said.

No matter how much you want to. The OP was fair, and the OP left open the option for others opinions. SaveElmer didn't go after DK from the get go, he let us make our own opinions. That being said Kucinich, whom I like and respect, was wrong. Dead wrong!!

EDIT: And why we would we want to tap the FOX audience? We're the Democratic party, not the GOP. MSNBC and CNN will do just fine, thank you!! I wasn't against the FOX News debate, but I understand why it was cancelled. FOX News viewers aren't the audience we should be going after.

[rinsd]

36. But that's really the point.

Foxnews only posted a partial transscript in which Kucinich endorses FoxNews as a legit news org while letting Gibson slam his fellow Democrats as cowards and MoveOn, Kos and Soros as some nefarious puppet masters controlling the Democratic Party.

[RaleighNCDUer]

40. The OP posted only a snippet of a partial transcript

and in the transcript DK deflected Gibson's slams on Soros and dems and MoveOn.

I ask again, did you read the interview?

He knew he was going into enemy territory there. He knows that Fox is a hostile propoganda tool. As in jujitsu, you can use the opponant's power against him but not if you don't engage them.

Maybe it's too subtle -- Fox: moonbats like DK are traitors who cannot tell the truth; DK: Fox is a legitimate new source; Fox: ????

How can Fox continue to say that DK cant be trusted if his own words legitimize them? Do they claim he is a liar, and thus delegitimize themselves? Do they say he is being honest and should be listened to, when everything he says is in oppostition who their party line?

ON EDIT: changed "confronted Gibson on his slams" to more accurate "deflected".

This is no different than Dean's "reaching out to the guys with the confederate flags on their trucks" - not pandering to racists, but campaigning as a populist. Saying "I hear you" is not the same as saying "I agree with you".

[rinsd]

42. I was reading the partial transcript to base what I said.

I also just watched the video. http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?031307/031307_bs_dennis&Big_Story&Dems%20vs.%20FOX&acc&Politics&-1&News&344&&&exp

Eye of the Beholder and all but I just don't see any jujistu on Kucinich's part. He came off ok but that is because he wasn't the subject of ire. He was Colmes brining legtimacy to FoxNews attacks on their critics.

"This is no different than Dean's "reaching out to the guys with the confederate flags on their trucks" - not pandering to racists, but campaigning as a populist."

But Dean was talking about directly speaking to those people not having his message filtered thru a propaganda organ

"Saying "I hear you" is not the same as saying "I agree with you"."

Very much agree with that. I have no problem with "I am here to govern for the all the people" messages but that is definitely not what came across.

[Hippo_Tron]

59. There's no need to reach Fox's audience, they are the loyal 27% that still support Bush

I'm all for reaching out to the red states voters but we don't need deranged right wingers to win an election.

[pampango]

67. If Reagan could reach out to conservative Democrats, is there

some reason why we cannot reach out to disaffected Republicans? The 27% support for Bush would indicate that there are a lot of Republicans who might want to look elsewhere.

If we want to go into 2008 saying, "Screw anyone who ever voted for Bush!" that will be a politically very pure approach. We can try to win, and may succeed, without sullying our vote with any tainted voters. Our pulling a debate from a FOX affiliate in Nevada is not going to sink the network (well, we can always dream that it will), but the added exposure to nontraditional Democratic voters would not necessarily a bad thing. I understand where the Nevada Democratic party was coming form.

[Hippo_Tron]

72. I'm saying that those who get their news ONLY from FOX will be voting Republican

No matter what we do. Some people watch Faux News but it is not their only source of news. Lets get our message out to those people in other ways so that it won't be spun by the GOP propaganda machine that is FOX News.

[dansolo]

73. Fox's audience won't be voting in the Democratic primary

This is a Democratic debate for the primary. The only people who will even be paying attention will be registered Democrats. That is not Fox's audience, and Dennis knows this.

[Telly Savalas]

79. But maybe if an unfiltered Democratic message could reach Fox's audience

with any sort of regularity, they might rethink a few things and be voters in the 2012 primary.

[deutsey]

29. I think I understand the logic behind what he's saying but

it's incredibly naive and misguided nonetheless.

:thumbsdown:

[Norquist Nemesis]

35. Well, good for him!

A Democratic Candidate for President reaching out to Conservatives for votes in a primary! Somehow, I don't think the Conservatives are ready to cross over.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

37. Dennis Kucinich is not a legitimate Presidential Candidate

Love ya, Dennis. Really. But if you can't keep to the liberal/progressive message, STFU.

[lpbk2713]

38. Oh sheeeit.

Guess what's going to be prominent in Faux's advertising for the next several months until the prez election is over? WTG Dennis. :eyes: :eyes:

[Adelante]

41. Tell me this (not you, Save Elmer)

Do you really believe we will not see every single Democratic candidate making their campaign stops on Fox News?

[ieoeja]

51. We might now.

Obama banned FNC from his plane several weeks ago. And now we have the Nevada boycott by all the serious contenders. This may be the beginning of something.

[Adelante]

53. Then we're going to have to boycott CNN, too, now

AND the local New Hampshire press - who needs them anyway? :shrug:


via email:

CNN AND LOCAL NEW HAMPSHIRE MEDIA IMPOSE CENSORSHIP AND TRASH FAIRNESS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES

Washington, D.C. March 17, 2007

CNN, the Manchester Union Leader and the Hearst-owned WMUR-TV have formally decided to exclude Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Mike Gravel from the debates they will be sponsoring in New Hampshire.

This decision calls into question media censorship and goes against a fundamental American belief in “Fairness,” which is especially critical in the political process.

The Senator said, “By denying me the same opportunity afforded to other presidential candidates to discuss in public debate the major issues that confront our nation, the sponsoring media outlets–– CNN, The Manchester Union Leader and the Hearst- owned WMUR-TV––are exercising censorship, unbecoming in a free society. They are dictating whose political voice they will permit New Hampshire and American citizens to hear.”

“These media outlets are depriving the people the right to hear a voice they may very well want to hear, and in my case, a voice with some new and different ideas not expressed by other candidates–– not ‘politics as usual.’ This amounts to denying the people the right to an informed choice from among all the declared and legitimate candidates, not just those deemed worthy by a few media organizations.”

The Senator continued, “It is not CNN’s, the Manchester Union Leader’s or Hearst’s WMUR-TV’s place to decide whose voice should and should not be heard in a debate between legitimate and qualified presidential candidates for the nomination of their political parties. When my staff inquired as to why I was being barred from participating in the debate, they received the Orwellian response that my candidacy did not meet certain criteria––a criteria that the media organizations refused to divulge when asked.”

A poll of political scientists and speech specialists in Nevada rated Senator Gravel the third most effective presenter at the debate/forum sponsored by ABC, AFSCME, and the Nevada Democratic party in Carson City last month.

The Senator concluded, “In short, this action is an insidious form of censorship that injures the American people and its political process, already compromised by the corrupting and excessive influence of money, while seriously eroding the concept of fairness so central to the American ethos and culture.

The actions of CNN, The Manchester Union Leader and Hearst’s WMUR-TV set a dangerous precedent and are more akin to totalitarian tyrannies than the world’s greatest democracy, particularly in a state with the motto: “Live Free or Die.” We can only wonder what is behind such inappropriate intervention in our political process that does not let the people decide.”

Mike Gravel, a resident of Virginia, is a former two- term Senator from Alaska with a distinguished record that includes successfully ending the military draft with a five-month filibuster, releasing the Pentagon Papers risking both prosecution and jail, playing the leading role in making the Alaska pipeline a reality, and ending nuclear testing in Alaska. He is the driving force and author of the National Initiative for Democracy, a proposal to bring the ballot initiative lawmaking process––already proven in many states as an effective and necessary check on unresponsive representative government––to the Federal level.

Learn more...

Gravel For President 2008
Elliott Jacobson

[DemGa]

43. I hoped this was a joke

My non-opinion of Kucinich just took a downward turn.

[Forkboy]

44. Love the guy but he's wrong on this,imo.

Fox should be shunned like the plague.

[Dr Fate]

46. I used to defend DK- no more. Sorry buddy. n/t

n/t

[Bronyraurus]

48. I wonder where

the Patrick Henry crowd is on this one. You know, all those posters who are really the same person?

[Czolgosz]

49. I believe that is the first thing I have ever heard Dennis say which I couldn't agree with.

[cobaindrain]

50. Dennis Kucinich is a legitimate candidate

untrue and UNTRUE!

[Breeze54]

52. Murdoch to host fundraiser for Hillary Clinton

Murdoch to host fundraiser for Hillary Clinton

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/61faabde-deb8-11da-acee-0000779e2340.html

By Caroline Daniel in Washington

Published: May 8 2006 21:01 | Last updated: May 8 2006 21:01

Rupert Murdoch, the conservative media mogul whose New York Post tabloid savaged Hillary Clinton’s
initial aspirations to become a US senator for New York, has agreed to host a political fundraiser
for her re-election campaign.

The decision underlines an incongruous thawing of relations between Mr Murdoch and Mrs Clinton,
who in 1998 coined the phrase “vast rightwing conspiracy” to denounce critics of her husband,
such as Fox News, the conservative cable channel owned by Mr Murdoch’s News Corporation.

Mr Murdoch will host the fundraiser, due to be held by July, on behalf of News Corp.

---------------------------------

Clinton: Vast right-wing conspiracy is back

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17593375/

Updated: 12:48 p.m. ET March 13, 2007

WASHINGTON -

The "vast, right-wing conspiracy" is back, presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton
is warning, using a phrase she once coined to describe partisan plotting.

Once derided for her use of the phrase, Clinton is now trying to turn the imagery to her advantage.


:rofl: :rofl:

[NYCGirl]

54. Looks like if Murdoch wanted to fundraise for Kucinich, he'd take it. NT

[Breeze54]

61. Looks like he hasn't!

At least Kucinich wasn't stupid enough to vote FOR the IWR!

Unlike Clinton!

[NYCGirl]

62. But then, she's always been pro-choice. So I guess no one is perfect. NT

[loyalsister]

55. I am with him here

Even a dem president will represent Fox viewers.
It is simply petulent to demand that our candidates boycott because we don't agree with the positions and methods of their talking heads.
DK is right that candidates need to be able to handle themselves with any ass**** out there.
It is a fact of the presidency that our president will be dealing with a significant number of people who do not agree with them. We should hope that the difference between this one and the next is that the next will show some respect to those who do disagree.
Calling FOX news legitimate speaks of the viewers as well as the talking heads. Candidates should not show contempt and disregard for those who disagree. It's very bad politics and hopefully not how they will choose to govern.

I also dispute this idea that only the radical conservatives watch FOX. I think that they have quite a few more viewers than that and that candidates should respect them all as voters. That does not mean pandering just communicating to them.

[Breeze54]

56. I agree with you!

And I think more DUers watch faux suxs then they care to admit!

He's just using honey...as do all politicians! ;)

[Adelante]

60. Absolutely right

:toast:

[hughee99]

57. There's nothing wrong with FAUX...

as long as you're looking for stories on Anna Nicole or Brittney Spears. Their stories are pretty much the same as any other "news" agency that reports on such things (based on my limited exposure to it, anyway). It's just the political issues that get all F'd up.

[BootinUp]

58. Good for Dennis

He's got more balls and brains than some.

[fooj]

63. He may have balls and brains, however, he is way off base on this one.

Fox IS NOT a reputable news organization. They LIE, DISTORT and PROPAGANDIZE continually. Very bad call, imo.

[BootinUp]

65. read 55

she said it better than I can.

[fooj]

68. "legitimizing" propaganda ISN'T a good thing.

I don't view it as being "petulant". I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. That's what it's all about, eh?

[BootinUp]

69. yeah

its ok to disagree. :toast:

[Breeze54]

66. He said 'legitimate'...not reputable.

They do have a broadcasting license, don't they, currently?

I realize it's been challenged world wide though. ;)

[Ethelk2044]

64. And I am Queen of England!

[Clarkie1]

71. This is what I have been staying about Clark!

He's not afraid to take them on!

Good for Kucinich!

[David Zephyr]

74. Kucinich will be quoted by every Fox anchor for years. Thanks, Dennis.

It will be the gift that will keep giving.

[CGowen]

75. better be on fox than have dinner with Rupert Murdoch nt

[ncteechur]

76. No, Kucinich is wrong on this one. While he might be correct in

saying that we have to be able to stand up against Fox, he is wrong by characterizing them as a legitimate news agency. They simply are not.

[LittleClarkie]

77. Naive little bugger, isn't he.

Dennis, Dennis, Dennis....

[rocktivity]

78. We also need a MEDIA that does not condemn people

I'm glad the the Dems have decided to stop rewarding Fox for disrespect, degradation, and abuse which have nothing to do with journalism in the public interest. And I'm certianly glad that it's finally dawned on the Dems that they owe Fox NOTHING, and there is certianly no reason to believe they'll conduct the debates in a fair and balanced manner.

:headbang:
rocknation

[FrenchieCat]

80. Fox is just as legitimate as CNN and/or MSNBC and ABC, et.c..

They are all media conglomorates! They all stink like shit!

CNN AND LOCAL NEW HAMPSHIRE MEDIA IMPOSE CENSORSHIP AND TRASH FAIRNESS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES
Washington, D.C., March 17, 2007

CNN, the Manchester Union Leader and the Hearst-owned WMUR-TV have formally decided to exclude Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Mike Gravel from the debates they will be sponsoring in New Hampshire.
http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/3636

[rocktivity]

81. Legitimate news agenices admit, apologize for, and retract their mistakes

Until Fox and Washington Times-owned Insight magazine formally retract their madrassah smear, Hillary and Obama dont owe them the time of day!

:headbang:
rocknation