The media is going after Dean and Clark

[WI_DEM]

I'm for Dean and Clark is not even my second choice, but I have to say that I have found it interesting the way the media is playing it this time around. For months prior to Iowa they daily attacked Howard Dean and as a consequence Dean suffered for it. They didn't really go after any other candidate the way they went after Dean--even after Iowa they made a rally speech into a major controversy--finally he stopped the bleeding due to a solid debate performance and even more so because of his Primetime interview with Diane Sawyer.

So now the media decided to pick another target. They choose Clark. They began by the orchestrated attacks on him for Michael Moore's statements about Bush being a deserter. They attacked his debate perfomrance. Now they are disecting why he was fired from NATO--trying to be all things to all people, ect.

It is beginnng clear to me that the media is trying to drive the two non-Washington candidtes (who have a legitimate chance for the nomination) out of the race so that it comes down to a choice between the same old Washington insiders club--Kerry vs. Edwards. The media likes to create events and beat down on candidates until they get the results they want. Now if it does come down to Kerry vs. Edwards (sorry Joe, the media loves you and you might score better than expected in NH, but you have no money and no place to really go afterward) then which of those two will the media try to defeat so they have the candidate they want to go up against their real favored choice--the boy King--George W. Bush?

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Yep

You're getting it!

[pacifictiger]

7. The corporate controlled press wants Bush to run against Kerry

because he has a really liberal fiscal record. Dean is their worst nightmare because he speaks the truth on his feet well and would devour bush in the debates. They're going after clark because he has military and diplomacy credentials. I agree that Kerry has the "presidential" image, but I actually suspect the smoke and mirror bush campaign will be able to out-image him. Everyone is going for Kerry at this point mostly because they think he his the only one to beat bush. I think Dean has just as good a chance because he has been able to genuinely connect with so many people on the issues, and he usually comes up with the great new ideas before any of the other candidates catch on.

[creativelcro]

16. I don't think Kerry will beat Bush. At the core, Kerry is a wimp, in my

opinion.

[pinkpops]

8. I agree as well.

I watched Clark on NBC this morning. Asked about Moore he said voters are not asking, just the press. Then he went on to use his precious air time to talk about issues that are important, not an uncommon tactic. Later in the show the roundtable skewered him for not answering the question, but I say good going, Wes. Similar action on "when do you believe life begins?" He did have a hard time hedging, but they know he's pro-choice, just trying to trap him. Pro-choice means what you think is not as important as what the person who is pregnant thinks. So yes it's a set-up and he was expecting it, but had to go and take his chances in order to get his face on TV. Then they wait until the interview is over so they can slander them, tiny little hateful gnats that they are.

[pnziii]

2. Dean is the outsider

The media spent a day and a half talking about the rumor that Dean was brining in wringers to vote for him in the Iowa Caucus.
They even interviewed Iowans about it and they said they wouldn't vote for Dean for pulling such dirty tricks.

IT WAS A RUMOR!!!!
No proof. It was started by Gephart and Kerry also got a few shots in.

IT WAS A RUMOR!!
They spent a day and a half on it.

IT WAS A RUMOR!!
And it helped kill Dean in Iowa!

[maxr4clark]

3. I have an opinion

which I will keep to myself. I support Clark, I'm not out to disrespect any other candidate. Not even Bush; he does that well all by himself.

[AP]

4. I don't know how any rational argument can be made which

claims that the media attacked Dean for months. For months they advertized Dean and his website, and played him up exactly as the person he claimed (at the time) to be: anti-Bush.

This helped Dean become the most popular, richest Dem candidates.

In the week before the election, NPR was still working for him. Even that night, they wouldn't cut away from TOM HARKIN at the Dean rally to hear from John Edwards who had just had a stunning second place. Even the NPR reporter was audibly shocked that her producer didn't cut to Edwards. Harkin hadn't even started speaking and they stayed to hear him.

The media is only ridiculing Dean now because he lost. They're punishing him for not winning and they're smearing the primary poster boy as a way to discredit the whole process.

If the media couldn't elevate a patsy for Bush to run agianst, now they will try to smear all those who remain.

[Eric J in MN]

5. Dean's words were twisted re Saddam, Usama, and more before Iowa vote (nt)

nt

[blm]

9. The media helped dry up Kerry and Edwards' fundraising by declaring them

irrelevant and dead for months.

They ENRICHED Dean in every way possible for most of last year.

[Bread and Circus]

15. AP, wouldn;t you agree they have beens balls on to get Clark...

lately?

[blm]

19. I agree with you. That's the same pattern they followed with Kerry.

Too many didn't care when it was Kerry being maligned by the press and the media ignoring Edwards and Kucinich.

Well, we see what's happening, and sympathize, but the supporters shouldn't pretend it's Kerry's fault. Kerry and Edwards got where they are in SPITE of the media.

[adamrsilva]

6. They are trying to destroy the two best candidates

Plain and simple.

[anti-NAFTA]

10. Dean is a martyr of a politician.

I have never supported his campaign at all, but his crucifixion by the media is heartrending to say the least. I guess that's what happens when the media has a vested interest in a certain candidate winning

http://www.rense.com/general48/topten.htm

[THUNDER HANDS]

11. um...I'd hardly say the media were attacking Dean

months before Iowa.

Maybe days before, but certainly not months before.

[anti-NAFTA]

12. The higher you climb

the harder you fall.

[NashVegas]

13. Dean and Clark Both Make Contrarian Arguments

that our corporate masters are uncomfortable airing for debate to us unwashed masses.

they'd much rather we discuss Michael Jackson than whether or not we want our nation to be a soul-sucking empire.

[Bread and Circus]

14. You are very astute. It has been all out assault on Clark and Dean...

Believe it or not, it has been an all assault or all out ignore
on Clark since September.

[Loren645]

17. The outsiders. With no track record of compromising in congress

They know Kerry and Edwards and Lieberman will go along to get along.
They did just that on IWR and Patriot Act.
Gotta boost the boys in the club.

[Padraig18]

18. I've tried to tell Clark people it was coming.

Sadly, many chose to believe it wouldn't happen to him. Now I would like to tell the Kerry and Edwards folks the same thing--- they WILL be coming for your guy NEXT! *sigh*