Here's something the Kerry campaign and Dems MUST do

[Eloriel]

I just finished semi-watching Bush's speech in Ohio. The entirety of it was carried live on MSNBC. The speech was nothing but a campaign speech. 100% campaign speech, with plenty of digs at Kerry/Edwards.

This must not stand. MSNBC (and all the others who carried it in full, live) must be made to carry Kerry/Edwards campaign speeches as well, on an equal basis.

Personally, IF the cable news statiosn don't treat both campaigns equally on this matter, that a case could be made with the Federal Election Commission that carrying pure campaign speeches by Bush are in-kind contributions to the Bush/Cheney campaign. (I don't recall they carried Clinton campaign speeches when he was President either, did they?)

So, how do we get the DNC and/or Kerry campaign or other appropriate organizations to act on this?

[NMDemDist2]

1. there is no longer a Fairness Doctrine

not much they can do, short of buying a cable news network

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Election issues don't fall under the fairness doctrine

there is a separate rule (I will have to look it up) still in place pertaining to candidates and free air time.

[Eloriel]

5. This has nothing to do with the Fairness Doctrine and even it

that was something I had actually invoked, the Fairness Doctrine wouldn't have applied. Many people wrongly believe that the Fairness Doctrine called for something approaching "equal time." No way -- never did, not even close. And frankly, I'm sick and tired of having to correct people on this. Every time the subject comes up, someone or several have it wrong. Why don't you google Fairness Doctrine and find out what it was really about?

Sorry to be peevish about this, but actually there's more: did you bother to even read my post -- the part about the FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION and IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS? Do you have any idea what I'm talking about with those terms? Again, let me suggest that google is your friend.

Your post is ill-informed and off point.

[NMDemDist2]

8. excuse me, and I do realize the FD is lame at best

and the inkind contributions would be a hard sell, as the president, by definition is "news"

Even though it was a campaign speech thru and thru, he is still the pResident and as such is newsworthy and the FEC won't touch it with a 10 foot pole and neither will the FCC

While I understand your frustration this one is a non starter. The only way to combat this is on the streets with grass roots activists going door to door to educate voters.

Since I am going out now to do just that I hope that we will take Kerry's statement to heart.

"Never has there been a more urgent moment for Americans to step up and define ourselves. I will work my heart out. But, my fellow citizens, the outcome is in your hands more than mine.

This is in our hands, by talking to our neighbors and co-workers, by supporting our local party's outreach programs, by phone banking and precinct walking. Not by taking on a fight that is not winnable and a waste of time and resources.

[cheezus]

11. How much would a cable news network cost?

could we, the people, buy one? I'd throw in $1000, and I'm sure there are others who could invest even more. MoveOn cable station anyone?

[Eric J in MN]

13. MoveOn is planning a tv show, Al Gore's Group is planning a

tv network, and there is another group, described below, trying to start a tv network:

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,64378,00.html

The group includes one of the producers of the Clinton documentary, The Hunting of the President, and the author of a book about corporate influence on politics, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy: The Truth About Corporate Cons, Globalization and High-Finance Fraudsters. Also on board are a veteran record producer, multimedia producers for the Democratic Party's website, leftist bloggers and the former head of the Dean Media Team Network, which produced online ads for the Howard Dean presidential campaign.

Just as the Dems this week surprised pundits with a show of Republican-style unity, those to the left of the party (and to the left of Al Gore, who is starting his own TV network next year), insist they can get their act together, too.

"That's what I'm doing right now," said Micheal Stinson, who helped arrange the Boston meeting, SummitNet04, and who runs the Take Back the Media website. "I'm herding all of the cats."

[cheezus]

20. thanks for the info and the PM!

The MoveOn show will be a hit. I've heard about Gore's TV station, but I've heard that it won't have a politic slant (then again, FOXNews doesn't either ;) )

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. I agree with you but I think THAT needs to be a grass roots action

or the media will just portray this as Democratic party whining...perhaps we can coax Move-on with some legal funds now that we can't give the the campaign anymore...the legal funds to file a suit (class action) would be far less than a campaign and class action lawyers are firmly in the Dem camp so I'll bet we can do it discounted.

[Only Me]

18. I think after Moveon gets ran through the muck with Faux they will

need the funds. They say on their website that they are a small group that rely on private donations. In the article about taking Faux to court they said "Fox was being extremely difficult."
Fox has BIG bucks, probably much more than Moveon. We need somebody to come to our aide soon.

[Beetwasher]

4. I Saw That Briefly

I can't stand to watch him but I watched for a few minutes...

Since the Dem convention, the cable news channels have been running Bush speeches constantly. I have yet to see a good recap of Kerry's acceptance speech on cable news or any good snippets and I was home all day yesterday (the day right after the convention) doing chores w/ the TV on...

[Jawja]

6. And I think we should

require cable companies to allow consumers to subscribe to individual channels - like you do to HBO, Showtime, etc.- instead of having to buy a package that includes CNN, Fox, MSNBC. We should have the right to have cable or satelite TV without buying or subsidizing Big Media.

I would like to have Encore, Sci-Fi, ESPN, etc. without the bullcrap.

[kentuck]

7. It's like a 100-yard dash....here George, stand on the 20-yard line...

You get the advantage because...??????

[dmr]

9. This angers me too

I have an issue about him campaigning on my tax dollar, then being given unlimited air time to stump his campaign speeches on CNN, MSNBC, Fox and CSPAN. All the while these same networks (sans CSPAN) all try to negate everything Kerry and other Democrats stand for during our own convention.

It's also an abuse of our tax dollars when he uses Air Force One to arrive at his many destinations.

I listened to quite a bit yesterday while he was in Missouri campaigning. It too, was 100% campaigning with digs at Senators Kerry and Edwards. Promoting his wife as the best First Lady, and if for any reason he needs to be elected so she can continue to be First Lady for four more years. He had to say something about Laura at least 4 times before the crowd reacted.

I didn't listen to the whole speech yesterday, who could? But he spoke at least, if not more than 30 minutes, and those cable stations did not break away.

I am very angry and disgusted. I'd like to help do something about this issue.

[Eric J in MN]

10. do you want us to email MSNBC? nt

nt

[Eloriel]

12. Well,t hat would be one approach

I still think the campaign and/or DNC needs to do something, and I also think my FEC idea isn't all that bad a one. It's not "news" if he's purely campaigning and throwing digs at Kerry. It's a fucking campaign speech, pure and simple. So Kerry's fucking campaign speeches should be covered as well -- at least on a one-for-one basis.

[Toots]

14. What was the speech billed as?

Why was he speaking anyway?

[NMDemDist2]

15. do you mind if I bookmark and use that graph?

there have been threads it would have been a great addition to

thanks in advance for a reply

[Toots]

16. Help yourself it isn't mine

:-)

[G_j]

17. I've been wondering how he continually gets

away with travelling around doing fundraisers at the tax payers expence. One small speech about "education" or something then on to a $5000 a plate fundraiser. This has been going on for a long time.

[shraby]

19. One town in Wisconsin

is going to bill Bush's campaign for the expenses it incurred when he went there to speak. Last I heard they were anyway.