Dean on the Media. He "gets it." ....Does Kerry?

[Armstead]

Once again, Howard Dean is speaking the truth that otehr politicians seem to avoid with a ten foot pole (ecept for Kucinich.).

Will Kerry ever come out and be this honest about the mess the media has become?


From The Nation
By John Nichols
http://www.thenation.com/thebeat/index.mhtml?bid=1&pid=1250


Excerpt:

That does not mean, however, that Dean does not think about how he would handle media issues if elected. "I figure I'll win, and then I'll really complain about the media," he says.

What does Dean mean by that? "I think democracy fails under a variety of conditions and one of the conditions occurs when people don't have the ability to get the kind of information they need to make up their mind. Ideologically, I don't care much for Fox News. But the truth is that, as long as there are countervailing points of view available on the spectrum, it doesn't matter," says Dean, who began speaking last year about the need to reduce the power of big media companies.

"Now, the last time I saw a statistic on this, I think that 90 percent of the American people got their news from a handful of corporations," he adds. "That's not very good for democracy, and that's not very good for America. If I become president of the United States, I'm going to appoint a whole lot different people to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) so that we start to make the media more diffuse, more responsible. I'd also like public airwaves devoted to some public services – so that every single station serves the community where it is located."

Dean dismisses the notion that proposals to break the grip of media conglomerates are radical. "That's not radical at all," he says. "That's what we used to have. The right wingers have undone that over the last 15 or 20 years, and we need to go back to what we had to have a sound democracy."

Dean also dismisses the notion that it would be difficult to get the American people to go along with a challenge to big media. "I think the public would love what I was doing," he says of a presidential assault on media monopolies. "The public doesn't particularly like the media, which works in my favor."

[EXE619K]

1. Alert!

You are being watched by the ABB Police.

Desist at once, or you will be "purged", flogged then, arrested.

[still_one]

2. You have to get elected first

If you attack the media you will not get elected. It may not be right, but that is reality. They will protect their interest. A candidate must get elected first before they can clean things up. I only know one thing, if Bush gets elected for a second term this time, the country will take a hard right that will last at least for 20 years...

[rucky]

5. So let's review how much of their agenda we're conceding to remain...

"electable"

- Iraq
- Media Consolodation
- "free" trade
- bloated defense budget
- tax cuts for six-figure earners


Even if we win, we've lost. You say Kerry will clean it up, if elected, but how am I supposed to know that - or trust him - if he won't even speak out about it? And do you really think the media won't turn on him as long as he keeps playing nice?

Hey, if he's elected, I'll have no choice but to support him. But this is still a primary, so I'm sticking with my guy: Playing it safe is the most dangerous of plans. Bravo for Dean!

[Monte Carlo]

7. Kerry has said that the strongest power of the President...

... is the bully pulpit. The President gets to steer the course of the nation. We are not conceding anything, we are just trying to get elected first. Things change after that.

[Armstead]

6. I'll put you in the "No" column

The elections are the only time we average schmucks have any bargaining power. So we should give that away?

[Anwen]

3. Nope.

Dean takes another one for the team. Kerry won't address this issue because he's too busy being "electable"

[eaprez]

4. This is exactly why...

the media turned on him. He tipped his hand!

[Straight Shooter]

8. Once again I am assured that Dean would be our best president

One more time, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Damn the political torpedos, Dean, full speed ahead!!

[depakid]

9. I hope he keeps quiet

until after the election- then JUST HAMMERS THEM. The way administrative law developed while Reagan and the Bush were dismantling responsible regulation at the FCC, it would be a fairly simple to reinstate most of the rules we once had on everything from the Fairness Doctrine(s) to limits on commercial time to broadcast ownership. All they'd need to do collect evidence (which is legion) put together a report, do notice, comment & public hearings (which would enjoy overwhelming support) and institute the rule(s). The courts have both hamstrung themselves (by their narrow standard of review) and Congress (via the Chadha line of cases requiring Veto proof majorities to overturn the most administrative rules).

Clinton could have done this too, of course- but Mr. Triangulation would rather pander to the media (which ironically turned on him and his party with a vengence).

[dawn]

10. No. Big media execs line his pocket.

I doubt he'd want to say anything to offend them.

[stickdog]

11. Ummmm .....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=329427

[ibegurpard]

12. Yeah he gets it.

Big push in the media about Bush's AWOL (which was swept under the rug in 2000) coinciding with Kerry's rise. I'd say he gets it just fine.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. Kerry has fought media conglomeration

KERRY SEEKS TO REVERSE FCC’S “WRONGHEADED VOTE”

COMMISSION DECISION MAY VIOLATE LAWS PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESSES; KERRY TO FILE RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL

Monday, June 2, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry today announced plans to file a “Resolution of Disapproval” as a means to overturn today’s decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise media ownership caps and loosen various media cross-ownership rules.

Kerry will soon introduce the resolution seeking to reverse this action under the Congressional Review Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act on the grounds that the decision may violate the laws intended to protect America’s small businesses and allow them an opportunity to compete.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerry expressed concern that the FCC’s decision will hurt localism, reduce diversity, and will allow media monopolies to flourish. This raises significant concerns about the potential negative impacts the decision will have on small businesses and their ability to compete in today’s media marketplace.

In a statement released earlier today regarding the FCC’s decision, Kerry said:

“Nothing is more important in a democracy than public access to debates and information, which lift up our discourse and give Americans an opportunity to make honest informed choices. Today’s wrongheaded vote by the Republican members of the FCC to loosen media ownership rules shows a dangerous indifference to the consolidation of power in the hands of a few large entities rather than promoting diversity and independence at the local level. The FCC should do more than rubber stamp the business plans of narrow economic interests.

“Today’s vote is a complete dereliction of duty. The Commissioners are well aware that these rules greatly influence the competitive structure of the industry and protect the public’s access to multiple sources of information and media. It is the Commission’s responsibility to ensure that the rules serve our national goals of diversity, competition, and localism in media. With today’s vote, they shirked that responsibility and have dismissed any serious discussion about the impact of media consolidation on our own democracy.”

http://kerry.senate.gov/high/record.cfm?id=204465

[Armstead]

14. Sorry that was too easy

Trent Lott even opposed that FCC abonomination. It was an easy stance, and certainly a way to burnish himself before the election.

But where was he 5 or 10 or 15 years ago? Where is he now on things like ABC Comcast -- which is today, right now?

I hope Kerry does take a stand and mean it. I would love to be proven wrong.