Go-along media ignoring Kucinich (Op-ed)

"The co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus is running a vigorous, intellectually adventurous, policy-based campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. He is leaping on issues before the other candidates recognize them, bringing broader perspectives to the debates and building a base of supporters nationwide that could play a significant role in debates about the direction of the Democratic Party. Yet, the political punditocracy steadfastly refuses to treat his candidacy with even a measure of the seriousness that is accorded the other members of the House and Senate who are seeking the party's nod."

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"Typically, Kucinich was ahead of the curve on an important issue. In November, he seized on concerns about the reliability of electronic voting machines produced by Diebold Inc., one of the nation's largest voting equipment manufacturers. Those concerns were stirred by the revelation that Diebold employees had expressed concerns in e-mails about the security of machines produced by the company."

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"All in all, this makes for a meaty story. A presidential candidate takes on a major corporation and wins in a fight over an issue that is fundamental to the functioning of our democracy."

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"Kucinich has been a good sport about the whole dating story. And, certainly, there is nothing wrong with major media doing a feature story on this quirky twist of the campaign trail. But there is something very wrong with a scenario in which this is the big story about Kucinich, while the story of his fight against Diebold barely gets notice."

Full text at:

http://www.madison.com/captimes/opinion/column/nichols/62912.php

He is getting better and better on the campaign and the little bit I saw of him in this boring debate was solid, and funny... he sure undressed Ted Koeppel....h

HE B*TCHSLAPPED HIM AROUND LIKE A/AN <add whatever>.

We just have to help them realize it.

Now I want to see it in the Times!

Dennis did a great job taking on the media in last nights' debate. And doing it for all 9, not just himself.

:kick:

You nailed that one! True, he wants to win but he did do that for all of us and for all 9 of them. Good, I had not gotten that far yet in my thinking.

he takes on the media in the debate. For himself and the other candidates on stage, as well.

tells the truth . . . just like DK

I mostly know him lately for his fawning pro-Dean pieces in the Nation, and had all but written him off. It's so funny, because in so many of his Nation pieces, he makes very persuasive progressive arguments, but then sums them up by saying why Dean is the one we should support, and giving only a line or two about how Kucinich has the superior position!?!?

Glad to see something positive from Nichols though. The tide is turning our way at last!

He has been riding the Dean/Kucinich fence pretty solidly, writing positive analytical pieces about both for some time now. It would be nice if he came on over to the Kucinich side of the fence but better on the fence than squarely with Dean.

One of my favorites was from last August
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0828-05.htm

Most of the people in the crowd at the carefully staged Dean event were white, generally trending upscale and suburban. The cars in the parking areas tended to be new, pricey and, frequently, foreign made. Pickup trucks were in very short supply, as were union jackets and feed-mill caps.

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Contrast Dean's one-size-fits-all approach with several of the other candidates.

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While Dean looks to be the Wisconsin front-runner at this point, Kucinich has gained traction in the western Wisconsin farm counties that will play a significant role in deciding next February's primary contest. And Kucinich is scoring by talking tough on agriculture issues. The Ohio congressman's farm plan proposes ending corporate-sponsored trade agreements that have undermined prices for farmers in the United States, using antitrust laws to break up agribusiness monopolies, expanding country-of-origin labeling, providing low-cost health insurance to farm families, and investing in programs to revitalize rural America.

Kucinich's farm plan has made a big impression on farm activists.

On the same night that Dean visited Milwaukee, Kucinich was in Dubuque, Iowa, just across the Mississippi River from southwest Wisconsin. At his side was country singer Willie Nelson, a regular on the FarmAid concert circuit. "Finally, we have a guy who's standing up for the small family farmer," Nelson said of Kucinich.

Kucinich's campaign is organizing concerts featuring Nelson in Iowa and Wisconsin. Wanna bet that there will be a few more pickup trucks in the parking lots at those events?

and just so true. It's astounding how few people know about the Diebold issue.

he's a legitimate presidential candidate and should be given full coverage along with the "so called" frontrunner(s).

Our mainstream media are pathetic.