There is a difference between anger and passion,

[11 Bravo]

but in refusing to make that distinction, the media appear to be engaged in a systematic attempt to marginalize Dr. Dean. Although I have been and remain a strong supporter of John Kerry, if the press can get away with trivializing one candidate, what's to stop them from doing the same thing to others later in the campaign? I watched the now famous speech last night, and I saw a man wearing his emotions on his sleeve. But the press is tossing around words like "nuts", "out of control", "hysterical", and "over the top". That's bullshit, it's wrong, and someone needs to call them on it.

[Paragon]

1. That's obvious to everyone who doesn't want to destroy him.

To everyone else, he's free game.

[fishguy]

2. Kerry won't take that crap

DECORATED VIETNAM WAR HERO

Drill it into people's heads again and again.

[lastliberalintexas]

14. Oh yeah

That worked oh so well for Max Cleland. I mean, it helped him win a landslide victory against Chambliss. Oh, wait...

[AP]

3. The dichotomy Dean established for himself is between POLITE and IMPOLITE

Those were the words he used. Last night he said essentially, "I have to be polite for a moment because convention binds me to it." He was saying that his screaming was impolite, but that is his true nature.

Folks, he's running on this. If the TV features this theme, you only have Dean to blame. They're delivering the EXACT message Dean is trying to send.

[JI7]

7. but why would he do that ?

why would he want to send that type of message ?

[AP]

9. Either because he thinks that's why he was winning all summer

or because he knows it won't work and he's sacrificing himself so that a better Dem comes out of the primary whose message of hope and optimism has been put into great relief by it having beat Dean.

[BurtWorm]

10. I'd rather have an impolite fighter than

whatever is meant by this:




But that's just me, I suppose. ;)

[jonnyblitz]

11. I agree. n/t

[afraid_of_the_dark]

4. Thank you. :)

Eloquently put. As much as conservatives complain that liberals have hijacked the media, it seems to me that the opposite has indeed occurred. I'm worried about this alignment with the right that the major news stations seem to have, because Bush already has the campaign financing advantage. The news bias is just plain unfair to whomever the Dem candidate will be.

[asjr]

5. You are correct

about the media being aligned with the right wing. They seem all too ready to criticize the Democrats, but when have you heard them criticize Shrub? With few exceptions, the anchors and "journalists" on the networks and none on cable news have said anything about Shrub's shortcomings (and there are plenty). If it were not for the internet we would all be in the dark.

[On the Road]

6. One Down, Seven to Go

Dean is not any of the things he's being accused of.

And the next candidate who's a front-runner will suffer the same defamation.

The hope I had for Dean is that he seemed to be immune from attacks. That is no longer true.

[K-W]

8. Preception is perception

If Dean wants to win the primary and the general election he is going to have to live with the fact that it doesnt matter what he thinks hes saying, it matters how he is perceived by the voting public. Hes gotten himself into a good position in this race, he has to start being more careful and acting more presidential.

[Red State Rebel]

12. You are correct.... plus...

This is only going to get worse if he wins the nomination. If you think the BFEE isn't going to go after him tooth and nail you are wrong. Dean has to control the perception that the public has of him if he wants to win. This is just the first step on a loooong road.

[centrist]

13. I Disagree

Dean has gotten to where he is because of the way he is. If he starts to play their game he will slide into oblivion. Stay focused, stay on message and let the voters decide.

[lastliberalintexas]

15. I agree wholeheartedly

I was very sad to see the media do it to Kerry the first time, am sad to see it working on Dean right now, and I will be sad when they do it to Kerry a second time (since he's the most likely to be pegged as frontrunner for now).

However, I am even more saddened that many Dems apparently don't see that what they are cheering right now- the media's assassination of Dean- can very easily be turned on their guy. This is one area where we should all be united. But alas, getting our guy's name on the ballot is more important...