Media Defeating Kerry. Dem_Strategist is Right

[volosong]

No question in my mind, Bush will win courtesy of the media unless we do our own "Shock and Awe" on them and do it repetitively.

First, I suggest we devote much less time to message boards preaching to the choir.

Second, get those letters to the editor in print in your local newspapers ASAP and keep 'em coming. Send letters, faxes, and lastly e-mails.

Third, start hitting the online news services and online sites for the political talk shows. Pummel them with complaints and comments.Be imaginative, use multiple screen names. DO NOT STOP THE ATTACK

In the aforementioned, the link noted by Dem_Strategist is great

http://congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

Here is an example of one letter I wrote and sent to about 25 news agencies. Write you own, or use what you please. We are all a team.


NEWS MEDIA SUFFOCATING DEMOCRACY

It is evident that the honored and traditional roles of the reporter and news services are dead. Out of the ashes of the golden age of journalism, an anemic albatross rather than a phoenix has risen.

Empowered yet impotent, timid reporters repeatedly fail to challenge and expose the duplicities of ALL our political leaders. When Bush split his crotch on Kerry’s war record, no one seemed to notice. An objective examination of the Bush blabbers shows 2-5 times more flips than Kerry. Many regard Bush as a total FLOP whose stupid policies are killing people and wasting billions while Americans suffer.

Kerry-Edwards were greeted by the largest crowd in Portland history estimated between 40,000-60,000. This was ignored by most major US news services. Instead, we saw Bush with a crowd of invited guests, many looking embalmed, listening dutifully while Bush stammered and slandered.

If you don't know for whom to vote, all you have to do is look in your wallet, and then look into the eyes of your children. Do you want four more years of a man (who in my opinion has a “cognitive disorder” and is unfit), who has his hands in your pocketbook, his finger on the nuclear trigger, and his head down kissing up to big business and corporate polluters all at your expense?

The third party candidate is effectively not Nader, but the media who are in fact running as a “parasitic appendage” prostituting themselves to Bush in the manner of John McCain. The result is the loss of journalistic integrity, a violation of the public trust, and suffocation of democracy.

I am a veteran and a gun owner. I am not formally affiliated with any candidate. What is notable is not my Doctorate in Political Science, or my Medical Degree, but the fact that I am old enough to remember when reporters and news services used to be a class act: They were aggressive, incisive, and fair instead of court jesters and palace eunuchs.

[liberalnurse]

1. Someone mentioned protesting various Media headquaters...

I think that may have some merit. At least the sound of it feels good. I'd be quite motivated!

[Cheswick2.0]

11. Unless they are proposing to infiltrate and take them over

It won't do a damn bit of good.

Kerry or someone in his campaign has to go out in public before the cameras and dispute this nonsense or it will not stop.

[KittyWampus]

13. 10,000 People Massing At CNN Headquaters Would Make News

People hate the media. Left, right and center.

A massive protest could be more effective than letter writing.

[liberalnurse]

16. It certainly would be icing on the cake!

A way to get attention and reinforce our disgust!

[liberalnurse]

17. I just had another thought....

Wasn't it the repug big mouths like the "ditto-head" types who screamed liberal media? I think it is time for us to scream in our protesting fashion.

[Karenina]

25. It is so long past time

But NOW would do fine! Call them out as the LIARS they are.

[AndyTiedye]

15. I've Got My "WHO OWNS THE NEWS?" Bumper Stickers

PM me if you want one.

[NeoConsSuck]

2. Thank you so much..

for that excellent link at congress.org. In a few minutes, I was able to get email addresses of all local papers in my area.

[lebkuchen]

3. Check!

[asjr]

4. That is one terrific letter and I thank you for it.

We must all start a blitzkrieg against the Media. Truly, they are the ones doing the propagandizing and are a collective shill for the Bush administration. Why? I haven't a clue, but they must be getting something out of it. It can't be because Bush is such a magnificent president. He is the pits.

[volosong]

21. You're Welcome for the letter suggestion

It was just the first draft. I'm sure any of you can do better.

Just remember that Kerry-Edwards will never win unless their information gets to the masses. Voters will think that the one-dimensional information provided by such organizations as FOX are fact, unless we are constantly challenging and telling them otherwise.

The Bushies have monopolized the political talk show arena, and that is an extremely potent vehicle of propaganda. We don't have the time to undue that fact.

But we can focus on printed news and major news services.

If you get tired of doing this, just remember that somewhere there are groups of Repukes who aren't tired and who won't stop.

We shouldn't either.

[molly]

5. Potent and well written!

Doctorate in PS and MD? Impressive!

[patdem]

6. I agree...We need the addresses of the news agencies..

Should we include Faux news? or just ignore them?? AND...we need to SEE the pro-bush* propaganda. I come here to read GOOD NEWS..but maybe use the 'Media' forum to post those pro-bush* propoganda to which we will respond with letters?

There is MUCH that needs to be answered..and DONE!!!

[volosong]

18. Suggestion on Targets

First, I live in Massachusetts. I can't get a letter published in the Indiana or Iowa newspapers.

I would make it a priority to get letters, as many as possible, published in your local newspapers. Hit the mainstream media. Short and sweet. You may wish to Use data from DNC site

http://www.democrats.org/news/list.html

Second, I would also try to get published, or at least let them know how you feel, in the major news powerhouses in your state usually located in your state capital. If you e-mail, use multiple screen names and be inventive.

Third, I would e-mail or fax (numbers available from the Congress site I gave you) the really big boogers who are killing Kerry-Edwards. Obviously FOX and its many affiliates (see Congress link for access numbers). Include every major news network that you can, as they are all guilty to varying degrees...CNN, MSNBC, ABC, etc.

If we don't do this to combat the Bush Media Blitz, I'm afraid we will surely lose. Enlist your friends in this work. Contact local young democratic groups in your area. Don't be afraid to go state-wide...AND DON'T STOP...hope this helps

[volosong]

20. Addresses of the New Agencies

Are also to be found at the Congress site


http://congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/


Everything is there that you need, and more.

If unhappy about a search result with the congress link, you can always do a web search of the respective news agency

[newscaster]

7. I hate to agree

because I love journalism so much, but you are completely correct.
Members of the media have abrogated their time honored roles and have allowed themselves to be used like puppets.
Its really a new phenomenon. I retired in 1998 and this kind of thing was not evident but as soon as the Bush gang took over, things went to hell in a hand basket. I have am friend who is still working. I always new him to be incisive, fair, intelligent and thorough. Today, he is a hack. He rewrites news releases and reports what he is told to report regardless of the truth.

You are right...journalism used to be an honored profession. I remember speaking in high schools to students interested in journalism and their idols were Woodward and Bernstein of Watergate fame. All these kids wanted to be investigative reports and dig into stories and find the truth and report it. Not any more. Now, truth is boring, research takes too long and besides, these kids couldn't construct a grammatically correct sentence if their life depended on it. I wont even go into the issue of spelling.

The media has surrendered and we will all be the poorer because of it.

[rocktivity]

8. WE know that. And Dem_Strategist CLAIMS that he or she knows that.

But if the Kerry camp does realize that the mainstream media hates him as much as the GOP does, why aren't they strategizing accordingly?

Why was Kerry photographed in a powder-blue jumpsuit?

Why did Kerry use "sensitive" and "warfare" in the same sentence? Or say that he "wasn't able to think" on 9/11? Or make a statement that was easily spun into his supporting Bush's Iraqi invasion? Doesn't the Kerry camp realize that the media is chomping at the bit to distort ANYTHING he says or does?

I know Kerry wants to keep things positive--and he should. But that doesn't mean he should keep silent when attacked. Having a response team is fine, but he himself should be taking the lead with immediate, declarative, fact-based, spin-retardant, Bush-underminding statements like these:

"The issue isn't what I knew then or know now about the Iraq invasion. The issue is, what did BUSH know then--and whether or not he fabricated any of it in order to win support."

"(The Smear-Boaters campaign) is a desparate, politically-orchestrated attempt to patch over the holes in Mr. Bush's own miltary record."

"If I'm too 'sensitive' to be commander-in-chief, then I guess Mr. Bush is, too. In a recent speech, he also used the word 'sensitivity'..."

"The suit I wore when I toured NASA was regulation for everyone in that department to wear. And it's worn for safety reasons, not political ones."

It's that simple: Kerry can hit back at Bush without "stooping to his level" or giving more ammunition to the mainstream media. All he has to do is orient what he says around THE FACTS, and then step back and let his response team do the rest!

:headbang:
rocknation

[patdem]

9. rocknation...Kerry does not live in a bubble like bush*...and reporting

you think if he just gave a real good comback it would take care of things...NO...ITS THE MEDIA STUPID (I don't mean you)...NO MATTER WHAT Kerry DOES or SAYS..it is taken out of context or used by bush* and co to MISREPRESENT...WE....WE....WE...the public have to hold the media to a higher standard...WE WE WE are the only people who can help Kerry get his message out!!! The 'spinless Democrats'...that is US!!!!! the Democrats in congress/senate cannot get the message because WE let the media DECIDE what THEY want to print/produce!!!

WE ARE THE SPINLESS DEMOCRATS!!! UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING!!!!

[rocktivity]

12. Of course it's not a cure-all

But ANYTHING that makes it even a little harder for the mainstream media to do what they're doing to Kerry would help. And I certainly hope I didn't give the impression that I think Volosong's ideas are bad ones. It's like doing a jigsaw puzzle--there are several pieces that have to be fitted together to reach our goal.

:headbang:
rocknation

[KittyWampus]

10. I Started A Thread Suggesting Protesting CNN (Atlanta) Rather Than RNC

in NYC.

Makes sense to mass people in front of CNN's headquaters and let America know that we're not afraid of Bush but are outraged at CNN's bias and malfeasance.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x620229

[volosong]

19. Great Idea about CNN Protest

But don't forget the Atlanta Fox affiliate


WAGA (Fox-5) -- Headquarters
Website: www.wagatv.com
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Address: 1551 Briarcliff Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30306

[Poiuyt]

14. The pen is indeed mightier than the sword

It's so sad that the media is no longer the watchdog of the government. And it is even more frustrating when most of America believes that there is a liberal bias to the press. There may have been at one time, but there sure isn't anymore.

[devinsgram]

22. Writing letters and complaining is a great idea

But in this case you have to go for jugular. Hit them were it hurts, in the pocketbooks, this is the only thing they understand. You have to go after their advertisers. As long as they sell airtime, they will keep on doing what their doing.

Let the advertisers know you will not be viewing these networks. That will speak volumes. No one wants to spend money advertising when no one is watching their ads.

[volosong]

23. After Media Bias, attack Bush as a "Strong Leader"

After doing a blitz exposing the media for their bias, you might consider doing something about the fact that Bush still leads Kerry as being perceived as a strong leader.

God Only Knows how the public concludes this, but I think Kerry is not likely to win until a majority feel he will be as strong or stronger than Bush.

Writing letters probably won't change the way news is reported in this country, but at least it will get our information before the reading public bypassing the fascists news services. We can't win without that...

[deutsey]

24. Who owns "the media"?

Bush's buddies in the five or six conglomerates that own practically everything else. Any attack on "the media" must include an attack on the media owners as well.

"Bom-Bom, rock the nation
take over television and radio station
Bom-Bom, rock the nation
give the corporation some complications" Michael Franti

[ItsMyParty]

26. There's one little problem with this plan

Will the massive march on CNN be reported by the MEDIA; will the raving letters be reported by the MEDIA??----see the problem?? There is a way to get on TV. They will ignore Kerry and Edwards as long as they are making these same speeches day in and day out. They do give a little clip here and there but that's all. If Keery/Edwads make some waves, the media will come. If they accuse Bush of things, they will come. If they 'charge'Bush with things, they will come. If they chant Bush's failures, they will come. They have to because they all want the 'scoop'. That's why every day they have some piece of "dog poop" that came out of Bush or Cheney's mouth to play as a sound bite. Give them a sound bite that smacks of confrontation, and they will come.

[Keirsey]

27. sound/print bites

"That's why every day they have some piece of "dog poop" that came out of Bush or Cheney's mouth to play as a sound bite. Give them a sound bite that smacks of confrontation, and they will come."

http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=42263