Are the Kerry surrogates as invisible as I'm hearing?

[dolstein]

I haven't watched the television coverage of the Republican convention. I value my sanity too highly for that. But I remember that the Bush-Cheney surrogates were EVERYWHERE in Boston, offering instant rebuttals for an all-too-cooperative media. But from what I'm hearing, top New York Democrats like Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer are MIA.

It would be just like the press to give "equal time" to the Democrats by inviting on the likes of Al Sharpton and Michael Moore, who are anything but surrogates for the Kerry campaign.

[dennis4868]

1. they are...

MIA

[apnu]

2. I honestly don't know.

College started for me this week and I haven't been able to watch any TV between classes and work.

I am curious to know what's going on the networks. If they are having round-table slam fests of the RNC like they did for the DNC with repugs. However, I seriously doubt that's happening. All I know is that Moore has a contract w/ USA Today to write an Op/Ed bit from the convention for all 4 of the days.

[librechik]

3. they haven't invited anybody.

Apparently they're using this opportunity to further the "liberal media" meme by allowing reporters and achormane (liberals, right?) to do the responding for Kerry.

Just like I said at the time when they let Gillespie be the FIRST Voice to respond to Kerry's speech: don't worry. when the Republican convention arrives the media will do the same thing for us. Exactly the same thing.

They're doing the exact same thing. In spades.

[John_H]

5. So the kerry surrogate operation sits around and waits for invites?

I find that hard to believe.

[lancdem]

7. You can't force your way on

[unfrigginreal]

10. You can raise enough hell to get some attention

[KittyWampus]

12. Right... Those Wild Eyed Liberals Again.

It's not like the media could just simply IGNORE the Democrats making a fuss or spin it that they're whiners or out of control.

This was sarcasm.

[unfrigginreal]

16. Much better to sit around with our thumbs up our asses...

yeah, that's the ticket. It's been real effective so far.

[KittyWampus]

19. During The RNC... You Expect Kerry's Numbers To Go UP?

is that what you expect?

By the way, notice that the RNC AND Bush have already given THEMSELVES bad publicity.

Purple Heart band aid. Twins, Booing Moore.
Can't win war on terror

[Feanorcurufinwe]

20. If that's what you're doing, shame on you

[RamboLiberal]

14. Exactly - that's how the Repubs do it

I just sent an email expressing my displeasure to the DNC on this issue. I fired off an email to Hardball on this Monday. I think we need to be screaming at the DNC, Kerry campaign, and the MSNBC and CNN!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

21. No the Repubs do it by blatantly favoring corporations over people

and the corporations provide payback in the form of biased coverage, for example, not allowing Democratic voices to be heard on their networks.

[NightOwwl]

11. Dean and Clark .

They bring excitement and controversy...media likes controversy. I wish they were out there making the rounds.

[WI_DEM]

4. I saw Terry McAullife on the Today Show this morning

and like you I've not been watching the convention, but from what I'm hearing they aren't having democrats offer rebuttal like they did to the GOP in Boston. Also, from what I'm hearing from the papers and the news reports the NY convention is getting great reviews. They were constantly griping about our convention. But what to expect? Bush has the media in his hip pocket.

[seabeyond]

6. well when you give yourself great reviews

yaaaaaaa............

[Wind Dancer]

8. Corporate owned media spewing

propaganda, it's never been so obvious.

[KittyWampus]

9. There Should Be Congressional Hearings

because the bias is too overwhelming and obvious this time.

It is quantifiable. There is now unquestionable proof.

[michigandem2]

13. what is media matters going to do about this?

aren't they monitoring this? what do they do next? when it is obvious that it is completely biased...there is no question...not one person is on rebutting the speeches..not one..they are all "oh this is the best speech ever!!!!!"

ugghh its disgusting but like I said, they are clueless..they can ignore us..but they can't ignore what will happen on november 2nd

[RamboLiberal]

15. Another email I fired off to Media Matters

They're sending out emails monitoring the time given to the RNC over the DNC but they're missing the big picture IMHO and that is the RW bias shown during the DNC convention and the same RW bias given favorably to the RNC convention. It's blatant!

I'm pissed!

[KittyWampus]

18. Indeed, During DNC Even When They "Showed" Speeches

they had negative talking heads in front of the speakers WHILE the speeches were BEING GIVEN.

Maybe not ALL the speeches... but many.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

17. It is incredibly blatant and obvious bias

QUESTION: Senator, the Federal Communications Commission last year voted to allow media companies to further consolidate, allowing a single entity to gain greater control of television stations and newspapers in any given market.

QUESTION: The ruling, however, has been halted by a federal appeals court, which questioned the FCC's plan.

Critics complain that consolidation is concentrating too much power in one place, limiting diverse views and eliminating job opportunities. Media companies, however, argue that they need to operate in a free market with less regulations to compete and grow.

How do you propose to deal with this ongoing push for media consolidation?

KERRY: I'm against the ongoing push for media consolidation. I think it's contrary to...

(APPLAUSE)

It's contrary to the stronger interests of the country.

I understand the world has changed with cable and Internet and the numbers of outlets that we have. But notwithstanding that, the concentration of power still remains, I think, a very significant issue.

I was in favor of the rollback. I voted against the expansion.

I've sat on that committee now for years; I'm familiar with all the issues. And as president, as I said, I will appoint people to the FCC, and I will pursue a policy that tries to have as diverse and broad an ownership as possible.

It is critical to who we are as a free people. It's critical to our democracy.

I mean, look, I don't know how many of you have seen "Outfoxed" or some of the other things that are going around. You can make your own judgments about it. I'm not going to stand here and give you a long critique here.

But I will say this, and I think most of you know it: that a lot of what is decided with respect to news and coverage -- look at the convention of the last week. I thought Barack Obama gave a brilliant speech.

(APPLAUSE)

America missed it. America missed it, with the exception of cable outlets. Because broadcast decided to cover these certain hours, I had something like 30 million people watch, versus 7 million on a certain night.

I thought it was a very important evening, very important evening, when Ron Reagan talked about stem-cell research.

(APPLAUSE)

My wife gave, I thought, a superb speech. These were moments that I think America ought to share.

If we're going to be a strong democracy, and if it's all driven by money, we're in trouble. I'm going to make sure we have diversity.

(APPLAUSE)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42212-2004Aug5?language=printer