"Take Our Airways Back": By Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.

[madfloridian]

http://www.sitnews.us/HowardDean/101604_dean.html

October 16, 2004
Saturday

SNIP...."Last week, communications giant Sinclair Broadcasting announced that they would require all 62 of their television affiliates to pre-empt regularly scheduled programs and air a film that casts Sen. John Kerry in a very unfavorable and false light. Many of these stations, affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC and UPN, are in battleground states like Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan. This essentially becomes free advertising for the Bush-Cheney campaign in some very important and influential states during this election season."

SNIP..."Kowtowing to large corporations, like Sinclair Broadcasting, is President Bush's specialty. And, behavior like this will only continue to grow by other media conglomerates if President Bush is re-elected. He is clearly more interested in doing the bidding of big corporations than he is in jobs and health care for ordinary Americans.

"The media needs to be re-regulated and corporate ownership of media outlets needs to be limited in favor of independent and local family ownerships. But, we can make a difference today. If you live in a city with a Sinclair Broadcasting station, I encourage you to consider calling companies that advertise on that station. This is already working in some cities, like Madison, Wis. - a restaurant that was advertising on the local Sinclair Broadcasting station received numerous complaints and decided to pull their advertising.

Since the public owns the airways, Sinclair Broadcasting and other big corporations ought to be required to act in a way which supports democracy, not attacks it. Sinclair Broadcasting has violated the fundamental responsibilities they are accountable for in a democratic society...."

[goddess40]

1. I love Howard

Kerry better use him in his cabinet, a talent like Dean's shouldn't go to waste.

[Lefty48197]

4. It's not a cabinet job, but how about Chairman of the FCC for Dean?

Obviously, Michael Powell is the worst thing to happen to the airwaves, since Rush Limbaugh.

[Eloriel]

13. I don't want him in the Kerry administration

OR as head of the DNC.

He can do far more good by staying "unattached," footloose and fancy free. Besides, AFAIC, he's too good for a Kerry administration.

[mandyky]

19. I agree, BUT

can you imagine the media panic that would ensue if it was even rumored Dean was being considered for the Head of FCC? I think they'd poop their pants for every rotten time they "played the scream". LOL

[Voltaire]

20. I'm with you

Dr. Dean is more valuable out here with us than he would be in a Kerry administration where he would be neutralized. Dean should not accept a post of any sort inside the administration or in the Democratic Party IMHO.

[Andy_Stephenson]

22. Way too good

I agree Eloriel...Dean needs to remain an independet voice for the people and for change.

[madfloridian]

26. That is what I would like to see. An independent voice in politics.

I think that is what he does best.

[Andy_Stephenson]

27. Amen!

Howard to me at least is like an old time evangelical preacher. God I miss him in the campaign.

:cry:

[DebJ]

21. oh that's my favorite suggestion yet!

[TrustingDog]

12. I admire him as well... he was the introducing Match to get..

the dems fired up.
for a time I was dissapointed that Kerry took the baton...

but it all ended up the wellest. Kerry is awesome at what he is doing, Dean is at what he is doing. Teamwork. Good people... the best available in these awful times.

[Eloriel]

14. I certainly don't share your assessment.

Through the entirety of each of the 3 debates, I couldn't get my mind off Dean and how he would have beaten Bush like a drum and awakened the entire country.

Oh well. Maybe 2008.

[farmbo]

2. Bush has declared war on free expression...sound familar?

Ideas are far more powerful than guns. We don't allow our enemies to have guns, why should we allow them to have ideas?

--Joseph Stalin

[madfloridian]

3. I am glad he speaks out still on the media....using "reregulation."

The last time he said the words "reregulation", we know what happened.

[madfloridian]

5. Kick for Dr. Dean and " re-regulation".

:kick:

[Cha]

6. Dean was Marvelous on

"real time" with bill maher..he was lookin' good, too!

I'm so glad he's going after the media..him, Jon Stewart, Michael Moore.

[madfloridian]

7. You have to not be afraid of losing in order to win.

That is what Stewart, Moore, Dean and the others speaking out on the media have in common......they are just not afraid anymore.

[madfloridian]

8. Zidzi, he is on Late Edition tomorrow as well.

:hi:

[Cha]

9. Thanks, MadFloridian!

I will be watching for your report ..I don't get those channels but I do get hbo..and I almost canceled it And then the Dixie Chicks were on real time last week and this week ..The Dean! :hi:

[IHateFundies]

10. nice

go Dean! I hope there is a place for him in President Kerry's administration.

[oldtime dfl_er]

11. Just got back from the rally in Seattle where Dean spoke

and said the same thing. It was probably his second biggest cheer of the day, the first biggest being let's give smirky a one way ticket back to Crawford. Great rally!

[madfloridian]

16. Jealous....did you take pics?

Would love to see some.

[lojasmo]

15. Go Howard!

Ah, a politician who tells the truth and talks about important issues. *sigh*

I'd love to see a Howard Dean campaign in the future. It's nice to see a political figure exist in the arena without currently holding or running for office.

[madfloridian]

17. Yes, but he is having to be so cautious near the election.

I know there are things he wants to speak out about, but he looks like he bites his tongue.

[Andy_Stephenson]

24. "he looks like he bites his tongue."

Yes he does and often. But after the election...watch the gloves come off.

Go Howard!

[Eloriel]

25. In fact, he promised as much

Didn't he actually say he'd be Kerry's worst enemy after the election? Or something to that effect. And that's EXACTLY where I want him.

[NightTrain]

18. "Airwaves," not "airways."

[KoKo]

23. I can't wait to watch him tomorrow. His energy gives me hope...and he's

a very calming influence on my frazzled crazy psyche right now. I look to Dean for the future of our party and the Progressive Movement to replace the current structure.

Great article by him...THANKS!