WSJ's Taranto...calls out Fox on their 2003 debate....racist question for Dean.

When you have James Taranto criticizing Fox's handling of the 2003 debate for Democrats...you know there were problems. Of course Taranto is wrong, Dean is not a liberal in most views...but at least he saw the unfairness of the Fox debate.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110003993


Wednesday, September 10, 2003 2:47 p.m. EDT

Juan Williams Smears Dean
TARANTO: "Howard Dean deviates from liberal orthodoxy on one issue: gun rights. Coming from Vermont, the state with the nation's least restrictive gun laws, Dean holds a genuinely moderate position. He opposes new federal gun-control laws, but he also believes the 10th Amendment trumps the Second and that states have the authority to pass whatever gun laws they see fit. Here is how Juan Williams, a journalist for NPR and Fox News Channel who was among the panel of questioners at last night's Democratic presidential debate, characterized Dean's position (note: Fox, which co-sponsored the debate with the Congressional Black Caucus, does not seem to have a transcript on its Web site, though the Washington Post does, but the transcriptions are our own, aided by TiVo):



TARANTO: "This didn't sound right to us. We've certainly never heard Dean cast his position in racial terms, and indeed it's hard to imagine any politician in the 21st century taking the position that Williams attributes to Dean. Dean's response convinces us we were right":



What can I say. It was pretty bad...and all the Larouche people yelling.
But I am sure Fox has gotten better since then. And they were allowed to go on yelling and shouting. Finally Al Sharpton told them off, someone asked where's Larouche...Dean said maybe in jail and everyone laughed.

I actually felt sorry for Lieberman, they were giving him the worst time.

Fox should have stopped the yelling out and removed them quickly.

The Nevada State chair posted a thread at Daily Kos. I found this comment in the thread. I agree that if you have to ask them to be fair, something is wrong.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/23/203348/727



Hey, I realize they are going to go ahead anyway. I fear it is setting a precedent in dealing with the grassroots groups. Greenwald's group is large, outstanding. MoveOn is millions. Whatever the intent, it is obvious they will do it anyway. Doing it anyway against opposition from our party to reach out to the other...that is getting to be a pattern.

People disagree with me here, and that's ok. But it is too reminiscent of how we went to war in Iraq. One of those things the party needed to do, just like this. It does concern me a lot.

This is lovely indeed, comparing the grassroots groups of the party to terrorists. Amazing.

Bloggers as terrorists?

First he posts Reid's statement.



Then he posts Move On's quote:



Then he rants on for a while and ends with these paragraphs.



The main thoughts that came across to me are reaching out no matter what. If the party "base" objects and you give in ...the terrorists will have won.

And if you have not seen Greenwald's Fox Attacks Obama, please view it. It links to the MoveOn petition.

www.foxattacks.com

It has to be everyone else; Dean risks the accusation of nursing a personal grudge if his is the most visible denunciation.

The NV chairman is stepping down or not running again (not sure), I hear, so it is not an issue with him.

I think Fox is giving free air time. Not sure of that either. It would just be nice to feel like it was not inevitable.

The war was inevitable, they did not listen to our side. I think they will not try to stop Bush's Iran attack.

So many things are now "inevitable", and the huge grassroots are shoved aside.

I think that is wrong.

You need to read this section. Just the highlights.

http://www.renodiscontent.com/2007/02/25/reno-and-beyond-everybodys-happy-nowadays/

"According to some sources, approximately 17,000 viewers would see a Democratic presidential debate broadcast by Fox than, say, by CNN. In fact, the cable news audience is nothing to write home about in general. Well, that’s not exactly accurate because more people would tune into Fox News just to see the debate. 1.7% of Las Vegas’ night time TV audience watches Fox News on any given night. Astonishing isn’t it? Are 17,000 viewers really worth a staunch defense by Howard Dean, the Nevada State Democratic Party, and the mysterious Western Majority Project? Chris Bowers has more on this subject at MyDD.com"

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/2/24/183711/862#readmore
Interesting post by Chris laying out the viewership....all this may not reach as many as thought.


Here is a comment about the site called the Western Majority Project:

"Off the subject but following your post re: Not Much Money.. of 2/22, coincidentally or not so coincidentally Alice Madden who signed the FEC PAC document is also the name of a CO State Representative (D) from Denver where the newly created and highly mysterious CommonCentsConsulting also resides. As you found out, Common Cents Consulting is just a name parked under GoDaddy.

It has to be taken for granted that getting Fux to do the debate generated some significant fees to the broker and/or the NDSP.
1. So what were the fees paid to the NDSP?
2. What's the connection between the NDSP, Alice Madden, and Common Cents Consulting?
3. Why are we using a newly formed (2/13/07) Denver firm for the broker instead of one from Nevada?"

http://votegibbonsout.blogs.com/votegibbonsout/2007/02/gold_mines_just.html#comment-61393762

I assume the newly formed group is Western Majority Project..no website yet.

I thought that headline was priceless. Just amazing. I mean Brit Hume was the moderator, for goodness sakes. But here is the best part, the first couple of lead-in paragraphs:



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,96889,00.html

Talk about an agenda?

Alrighty then...Unions take a stand with Fox against the grassroots.
This is just so odd.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/2/27/113240/777#commenttop

and Fox News in particular. And I thought Florida had problems.


http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=25197

Just a Nevada blogger, but interesting what has happened to our party in many states. Florida has many of the same problems.

I'm worried that Dean is being marginalized by the Brazille's and others who seem to have such a large voice in the DNC. Also worried that the State Dem Organizations are relapsing after using the "Activists" they now see the "Prize" in '08 and are ready to toss the Progressives who have been nipping at heels and biting ankles. Once the BIG MONEY comes in the "little folks" are told to "ship out." I see it here in my state. Signs of it.

--------------------------
from Taylor Marsh Website:


As I’ve said before, if you’re not on the NSDP State Central Committee then you’re just another jack ass that thinks it’s a true blue Democratic donkey.

To make matters worse, the NSDP state central committee list has just been scrubbed again of most of the supposedly disloyal dissenters and political progressives by Clark County chairwoman Liz Foley. Now there are only about 150 registered Nevada Democrats designated as royalty with the right to vote. It’s a monarchy at best and a dictatorship at worst.

It is not just about getting into the room or getting a chair at the table of power. No one’s voice really matters if he or she cannot raise their hand, be duly recognized, allowed to participate in debate and cast a vote. The sad reality is the Nevada “Democratic” Party is an illusion. It’s a political sham and a shame to democracy everywhere.

I know what I’m talking about. I was one of their loyal knights for years, but was cast into political purgatory by Clark County chairwoman Liz Foley for daring to do the right thing and stand up and fight to unite the north, south and the rural regions and objecting when Democratic Women’s ERA support was criticized and, as a person of faith, arguing that we must have a total separation of church & state within the Party, as well as for relentlessly insisting that the NSDP take a strong stand in opposition to the unjust war in Iraq, while sincerely supporting our troops and veterans.

It’s past time for the progressives and moderates in the Nevada State Democratic Party to rise up, organize and vote these traitors out of every leadership position and chairmanship. It’s time the registered Democrats of Nevada say enough is enough and we want change now in Nevada. I say, Viva la Revolution! and viva Las Vegas, baby. As I’ve said before, if you’re not on the NSDP State Central Committee then you’re just another jack ass that thinks it’s a true blue Democratic donkey.

To make matters worse, the NSDP state central committee list has just been scrubbed again of most of the supposedly disloyal dissenters and political progressives by Clark County chairwoman Liz Foley. Now there are only about 150 registered Nevada Democrats designated as royalty with the right to vote. It’s a monarchy at best and a dictatorship at worst.

It is not just about getting into the room or getting a chair at the table of power. No one’s voice really matters if he or she cannot raise their hand, be duly recognized, allowed to participate in debate and cast a vote. The sad reality is the Nevada “Democratic” Party is an illusion. It’s a political sham and a shame to democracy everywhere.

I know what I’m talking about. I was one of their loyal knights for years, but was cast into political purgatory by Clark County chairwoman Liz Foley for daring to do the right thing and stand up and fight to unite the north, south and the rural regions and objecting when Democratic Women’s ERA support was criticized and, as a person of faith, arguing that we must have a total separation of church & state within the Party, as well as for relentlessly insisting that the NSDP take a strong stand in opposition to the unjust war in Iraq, while sincerely supporting our troops and veterans.

It’s past time for the progressives and moderates in the Nevada State Democratic Party to rise up, organize and vote these traitors out of every leadership position and chairmanship. It’s time the registered Democrats of Nevada say enough is enough and we want change now in Nevada. I say, Viva la Revolution! and viva Las Vegas, baby.

I do see more effort the last month or so to contact with the people. At least we have been getting emails from them.

Yes, I think it may be too hard for one man to get change, especially since his goal was one million contributing 20 a month...or even two million contributing 10 a month.

Now that would have given him much more power to change things, but Democrats are not willing to fund it to get it out of big business hands. It was a nice idea, and it yet may work.

The essence of the Problem was those in the Dem Establishment that didn't want DEAN as head of DNC and the "stirring of the pot" where the Establishment Dems in State Parties had to suddenly deal with ACTIVISTS who had great "Internet/Blog Connections" but no ties to the DLC "Inner Party" that REALLY RUNS THINGS.

Now that Dems have CASH from LOBBYISTS pouring IN...they aren't looking past their Establishment nose to need the Activists or the DEAN People.

At least...that's how I see it. I see: Throw "Dean & Activists" Under the Bus...and they won't know what hit them. I even see them "dancing with pitchforks on our Grave."

They use us and discard us.

Problem is...that WE ARE OUT OF CONTROL! We have "OutGrown our OWN PARTY!" That's GOOD!