Dean Hits Big Media...

[reprehensor]

This is the real reason why he was attacked so vociferously by the media. Clark can expect much of the same soon...

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117896500?categoryid=18&cs=1&s=h&p=0

Dean has expressed these views several times during the campaign, but never as strongly or as publicly as he did earlier this week. In an interview with "Hardball" host Chris Matthews, Dean vowed to "break up giant media enterprises." The candidate made the remarks on General Electric-owned MSNBC's show and, in his usual dogged style, Matthews pressed Dean to explain himself.

"GE just buys Universal. Would you do something there about that?" Matthews asked. "Would you stop that from happening?"

Dean stammered and tried to respond. "You can't say -- you can't ask me right now and get an answer -- would I break up X Corp. ..."

But Matthews refused to let up. "Are you going to break up the giant media enterprises in this country?"

"Yes," Dean responded. "That doesn't mean we're going to break up all of GE. What we're going to do is say that media enterprises can't be as big as they are today."

Dean then repeated the common refrain among media reform activists, that 11 companies in the U.S. control 90% of what people watch on television and read in newspapers, magazines and books.

"We need to have a wide variety of opinions in every community," he continued. "We don't have that because of (FCC chairman Michael Powell) and what George Bush has tried to do to the FCC."

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

Sure, he's angry. That's it.

[cprise]

1. I read that Clark rejected this stance

I think Kucinich may be the only other candidate to deal with this issue.

The current media is a Clinton/DLC/Republican creation. This is what Makes their attack dog (Lieberman) flat-out call Dean an "extremist".

[reprehensor]

3. Clark is next.

http://www.adage.com/news.cms?newsId=39479

WESLEY CLARK SLAMS MEDIA CONSOLIDATION

[blm]

2. Kerry was on the FCC last June with a Senate resolution.

This is why his candidacy was declared dead for so many months and he was portrayed as a loser by the press. This is why they gave all the media attention to Dean for so long.


Kerry Seeks to Reverse FCC's "Wrongheaded Vote"
Commission decision may violate laws protecting small businesses; Kerry to file Resolution of Disapproval

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."

[reprehensor]

4. Interesting.

I just thought he was dead boring. I respect the work he did on the BCCI Senate report. Left as many stones unturned as he could.

[buckeye1]

5. oh my

dean takes media money. aoltimewarner(my faverite),news corp.,viacom,sony,disney,and vivendi. the big 6,howard runs the table. howard is so cool.

[progressivebydesign]

6. Oh look.. another drive-by against Howard.

Lots of new posters today... all attacking Dean again. Why is he so threatening to Democrats? Hmmmm.....