Media Insiders Shaft Biden, Richardson, Dodd, Kucinich and America

Immediately after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto the front page story in the Washington Post about Pakistan and the presidential campaign did not even mention Joe Biden, the only candidate who seriously distinguished himself on the Pakistan crisis.

Upon reflection, the Washington Post editorial page, which has supported Bush on the Iraq war as Pravda supported Leonid Brezhnev, followed up with a lead editorial on candidates and Pakistan, which, incredibly, did not even acknowledge of Joe Biden.

Here is why the major media, including the daily newspapers, has lost such credibility with the American people and in the case of insider print media, so many subscribers who moved their business to internet sites, including this one.

It is not only Biden. The insider political media is now embedded with, and morphed into, the insider political classes to the point where they part of the same beast. The insider political reporters have moved beyond the courtiers that Stephen Colbert so brilliantly satired two White House correspondents dinners ago; and have fully joined the home team of the insider Washington establishment.

This class decided a year ago which candidate was inevitable, and which candidates were exiled into the insider media gulag, destined to disappear as though they never existed.

By any standard, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd stand at the top of the list in presidential qualification, stature, substance and a lifetime of depth and achievement. A reasonable person might conclude that each of these three, has equal or greater qualification to be president as any of the three leading Democrats.

Yet from the beginning, they were banished by the insider classes like the Soviets banished dissidents in the Gulag, like Pinochet banished the disappeared in the darker days of Chile.

Biden, Richardson and Dodd simply did not exist in the eyes of the annointing class, a group of political insiders with an extremely narrow life experience beyond their life as political insiders with each other.

Biden, Richardson and Dodd are the political detainees of our time, the political prisoners of our democracy, treated with contempt and scorn by the elites of the political press who, by doing so, are showing their contempt and scorn for the standards of professionalism in journalism, and their contempt and scorn for the very notion of the role a free press should play in our democracy.

Who do these people think they are, that during most of the presidential debates, the three candidates with such vast experience had to virtually ask permission, to sandwich a few seconds of their views, into the most boring, shallow, vapid, pointless debates that any serious democracy could possibly conduct at such a momentous time in our history?

Regarding the last Iowa Democratic debate, who do these sainted Iowa debate organizers think they are, that Alan Keyes gets prime participation in the Republican debate while Dennis Kucinich is banned from the Democratic debate?

I cannot even show minimal professional respect; only an idiot would give Keyes prime exposure while treating Kucinich like a Guantanamo detainee; and the idiots that made this decision have far too much power, in Iowa and nationally, for the health of our democracy.

The internet will continue to mature; grow and flourish over time; some reporters and some television will rejoin the real America and prosper while major newspapers such as the Washington Post will careen towards obsolescence and ultimate extinction unless they dramatically get with the program of true democracy and serious standards of journalism.

In the meantime, the reason the so-called pundits and media elites are almost always wrong is they are so divorced from the real America and so embedded into their provincial elitism.

The only thing that is truly inevitable is that the courtier classes and incestuous bonds between media insiders and political insiders are destined to fade further into the mist, until they are left with large galas of insider self-congratulation, and no remaining customers as the real America takes its business elsewhere.

Comments

[cblcar]

A chilling indictment against the media's rigging of the election. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK7DRPyNAHA

[sugarmac]

FINALLY! Someone has the guts to call it like it is. This isn’t new; it’s been going on ever since Kennedy, as far as I can remember. They pick their favorites early, from among the most glib, press-friendly, entertaining candidates. The ones with real brains – like Adlai Stevenson and Gary Hart – get pummeled and ridiculed because they are serious about what happens to this country. Their research is into their personal lives from the time they were 5 – rather than what they think and what they have done with their lives. Oh, I could go on, but why bother? But I do appreciate this guy . . .

[Mariel]

The media has somewhat abandoned their 4th Estate role, as a poster said. Time to return to REAL journalism, but the problem is that the readers and listeners have been dumbed down by our awful schools. Not that all schools are awful (I am a retired teacher).

The dumbing down of education is primarily a "liberal" thing (I say as a lifelong Democrat). I am still supporting Huckabee; his ideas on education make a lot of sense and he helped education in Arkansas, carrying out the court mandates in excellent form, but I agree with the other blog on Huffpo which says Edwards is the best Democrat to bring change rather than wallowing in the compromised "middle". My heart goes out to Biden and Dodd, but my brain says "Edwards"--maybe Edwards can stop the corporate "middle" now toying with running Bloomberg.

Bottom line, we need to educate voters who will have some discernment about what "media" says.

[thedirtman]

Brent, you've touched on the major reason I am having trouble with the Democrats this year. The coming years were to be very promising. I had high expectations. The promise was to be built on opportunity, not stagnant hope...on progress, not the analysis of moronic mistakes... on vision, not on fate and inevitability.

Now, instead of going forward into the coming years I am left to wonder instead about what went wrong. The "three candidates" that the press has chosen for me are not the experienced candidates that will bring about the needed change. They are celebrities. We needed energy independence to bring security and reduce emissions. The Democratic party is wandering from its plan to recover the troops. I feel abandoned by Al Gore who was on such a perfect track of uniting Democrats with a forward vision, and then did not wish to run and then failed to endorse anyone.

So what really went wrong? Why can't Democrats choose their qualified leaders? To understand how to follow we have to understand something about leadership - specifically how to recognize it. Instead of progress on issues, I see enamor over charisma, inevitability, and vengeance. Are Dems entirely without capacity?

[HearNoWeasel]

Thanks for stating it so plainly, Mr. Budowsky, and thanks to HuffPost for publishing a critique that applies to HuffPo as well.

Here’s what I got when searching for each candidate. The search goes back to April ’06.

McCain 30,464
Romney 30,046
Huckabee 29,718
Hillary Clinton 22,064
John Edwards 11,735
Obama 8,000
Giuliani 2,459
Biden 994
Richardson 782
Dodd 770
Fred Thompson 741
Kucinich 659
Ron Paul 565
Tancredo 219
Mike Gravel 208
Duncan Hunter 154
Alan Keyes 51

At least HuffPost gives the “2 nd tier” Dems some exposure and publishes their blogs, but do they really deserve to rank with Lazy Fred? More news on low-polling Dems and a little less on top Repubs would be good.

Now I can just imagine how much coverage the MSM gave those 5 Democrats. The press is clearly rigging the primaries, and then they say stuff like “he’s barely showing up in the polls,” as if it’s the candidate’s fault alone.

[weslenforever]

This is exactly why we need to bring back the fairness doctrine so many politicians are so afraid of. Every candidate should have equal time and for FREE on every tv station. And if the Murdocks of the world don't like it then they should lose their licenses to broadcast on the airwaves. The airwaves belong to all of US and the price to use those airwaves could be re-evaluated any time. Also a certain amount of time for political ads should be set aside each day for FREE. Bring back the fairness doctrine and everyone will have equal time. Also make new laws about slander so that you can't make up lies about opponents. Instead of having to prove slander after the fact, the one putting out the statement should have to PROVE they are telling the truth BEFORE they can say it in public. And then make laws that every politician has the same amount of money allowed for campaigning so everyone has an equal opportunity to win. And that ALL candidates MUST be included in EVERY debate until the primaries are OVER in ALL states, not just two. Among other things.

[dsmbrian]

This comes as no surprise for those of us supporting "second tier" candidates whose names rarely get mentioned by the biased local and national media.
It was my honor as an Iowa voter to see Gov. Bill Richardson's energetic, presidential speech yesterday in Des Moines. He defined himself as the truly experienced candidate with solid plans to impact change for our country. His experience as a former U.N. Ambassador, Secretary of Energy, and current status as Governor of New Mexico is unparalleled in either party, and the Republicans fear running against him most for that reason. Join the grass-roots campaign on caucus night and show the country that the people of Iowa and New Hampshire vote for a candidate based on their resume, and not how a poll tells you. And please help Bill surge to the top by supporting him if your candidate is not viable. Bill Richardson 2008!

[TekBoss]

Brent, you are spot on!

[corsair1917]

Where have you been Mr. Budowsky? Mentioning this now mere days before the Iowa Caucuses does nothing. We have been feeling this shaft of our candidate for months. It is appalling that the MSM gets away with this. I even tried getting people to flood the MSM outlets with customized postcards bearing this message:
"Dear News Director:
The media does not select presidential candidates, the people elect them. In order for voters to make a knowledgeable decision come primary time, we need to learn about all the candidates. It's about time you allow voters to decide for themselves. If you only discuss 3 people, how can they? It's not about money, it's about ideas. The media overlooks the most qualified candidate. Senator Biden is more than well versed on the important topics facing the world today. Just watch a debate and see how many times the other candidates agree with him!
There are many of us who are "Sidin' with Biden" and we ask you all to give Biden the media coverage he deserves."

Unfortunately I feel that many of felt that they couldn't change the MSM agenda. I sit here now with crossed fingers and toes that come January 4th the MSM will be sitting there with their mouths open and egg on the their face when Joe Biden pulls off a MAJOR WIN in Iowa. And in my own childish fashion can go thbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb! to all of them!

[poopdeck]

In 1964 when I was at the University of Chicago, Thomas E. Dewey came to speak at the University. The Chicago Press ridiculed this "perennial loser". I decided to attend his address anyway. Guess what. He predicted long before any major politician, including the then irrationally idolized JFK, that military entanglement in Vietnam would result in disaster. Ever since I have tended to ignore political judgments of journalists. My gut feelings have too often turned out to be far better than a degree in journalism.

[kad7777]

It's nice to see, FINALLY, someone standing up and calling it like it is. Biden and Dodd especially have been ignored by the media. PURPOSELY. In such a delicate, critical time in our nation's history, with our men and women spilling their blood in the Middle East, turmoil in Pakistan, tensions with Iran, Syria, Israel, Turkey, China and now Russia, someone like Joe Biden should be in front and way ahead. ND WELL COVERERED BY THE MEDIA. Unfortunately, it looks like the American voter will be dupped again, and we'll get what we "DONT" deserve. Very sad for America and people around the globe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtGCaqOdIJ4

[BumbleBeeBoogie]

Thank you truth teller, Brent Budowsky, for exposing the Media's stupid arrogant belief that they are best at choosing who shall be president. I blame the Editor class for this assignment corruption.

BumbleBeeBoogie
Albuquerque, NM

[cblcar]

Thanks for a great article. The latest FCC ruling allowing more consolidation in the media is only going to make things worse.

Biden '08

[veracity]

Mr. Budowsky, please get real. The reason the "major media" can get away with "SHAFTING Dodd, Biden, Richardson, and America" is because they don't deserve any respect. There are MOUNTAINS of criminal abuses of power by the Bush-Cheney White House, and none of those three candidates can seem to notice any. (Kucinich is a different problem: he is too bluntly honest, and American voters, used to the US nuclear umbrella for the past half-century, are not able to conceive of a Dept. of Peace.) Sen. Dodd showed he COULD almost lead a FILIBUSTER vs. the telecom-spying ("reform") bill... but that just illustrates all the other issues he, Biden, and their fellow senators have NOT filibustered. Like the Alito, Roberts, and Mukasey nominations. Or, for a "GIMME" veto the damn Senate Dems REFUSED to use, the Repubs shot down the Murray Amendment to fund $2.7 billion for Veteran's care back in 2006. By REFUSING to FILIBUSTER that Repub OBSTRUCTION of that bill, the Democrats HANDED the Repubs the "WE SUPPORT THE TROOPS" issue on a silver platter. They (Senate Dems.) are FOLLOWERS, NOT LEADERS. The press is like a pit-bull puppy... it can be turned into a savage attack dog, or a friendly family mate. The press realizes Biden, Dodd, Richardson, Hillary, Obama, Rockefeller, Reid, and etc. ARE FOLLOWERS, NOT LEADERS (of the BushCo "war on terra" agenda), so they deserve no respect.

[Plowboy]

What is the good of having power that you can't abuse? Of course, the media insiders ignore those who don't kowtow to the right people.
And since the media is controlled by such a limited few, guess how far we really are from a dictatorship.
But don't worry; we'll get there soon.
Democracy? Well everyone knows that is an inefficient way to do business. There is too much noise when everyone has a voice. Keep things simple. Let a decider decide. Then our betters will be happy. And does anyone else deserve to be? Who says?