On Policy, Kerry is King...It's The BS Media Game That Hurts Him (and Us)

[DrFunkenstein]

The media has nothing but contempt for policy, which for me was the whole reason I turned to internet politics back in late 2001.

To me, the candidates are not celebrities. They are public servants and I look at them accordingly.

Obama has charisma and Clinton has star power, but I'm not some friggin' groupie. The decisions of a President are too important to leave to "entertainment value."

I don't want someone who is going to take us into some military misadventure to make herself look "tough" and I don't want someone who doesn't know how to handle a crisis between, say, India and Pakistan (to name just two volatile nuclear powers, leaving alone the terrorist question of handling loose nuclear materials).

Especially on three issues - foreign policy, the environment, and health care - Kerry had POLICIES, not fancy words, that could bring tears to my eyes.

Other candidates - actually ALL candidates, at this point - talk a bit about energy independence. But it's not some vague lip service from Kerry. He's thought long and hard about how to actually achieve this goal with numbers of real-life measures. As someone who spent a good deal of time looking at Kerry's record back in 2004, I am comfortable saying this is the matter closest to his heart.

Kerry actually talked IN DETAIL about improving the quality of life in the Middle East to end the war on terrorists - "draining the swamps of terrorism," as both he and Chomsky both put it. Without that facet, the war on terror will truly be endless - which is far more significant than some politician's fear of looking "soft" to CNN (or whomever).

I'm shocked by how easily people at DU are willing to play the media game and not take their considerable powers of internet activism to spit it back in their faces and demand the media respond to REAL POLICY DISTINCTIONS - NOT POLL NUMBERS and POP PSYCHOLOGY.

This is only the beginning of 2007, and yet we are already accepting the media process of 2004.

We are not passive players in this democracy.

I have the utmost respect for people who truly believe that Clinton or Edwards or even someone like Brownback are the best people to set this country straight with actual policy decisions.

For me, though, I have yet to see anybody in this race who is willing to make a Presidential agenda better than Kerry offered (including Gore).

As someone who looks to media moments like the "botched joke" and thinks the shame is on the media - and those that would swallow this perversion of the political process - I hope to see some of my fellow DUers pushing for a real and healthy debate of the issues, rejecting the horse-race "journalism" of a bunch of smug, self-absorbed media hacks who have nothing but contempt for both the democratic process and the human lives affected in very real ways by its unfolding.

I am not so naive as to think that the media culture is something that must be dealt with realistically, but "realism" has a way of becoming a euphemism for "there's nothing we can do to change it."

[Parche]

1. KERRY KERRY KERRY

He is my main choice, and has been since 2002!!!


KERRY/CLARK 2008

[Tellurian]

2. What I'm seeing is RW talking points are coming from right here..

It's really a shame letting the RW control the destruction of the Democratic Party
by pitting one Dem candidate against the other. The media is going to spin Kerry, (who
hasn't announced one way or the other, against the strongest Demo candidate, probably,
Clinton) It's really a sad day! The press is having a field day with RW talking points
originating right here from DU..

If you really want this war to end; STOP the DEM bashing!

They are going to use Kerry against Clinton:

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/01/the_rncs_first.html

two good candidates used by the VRW!

ridiculous!

[AtomicKitten]

3. I'm sorry you find two of our strongest candidates so lacking.

Kerry had his shot in 2004 and didn't fight back effectively against the Swift Boat liars and didn't fight for the vote count as he promised. Many see that as having already demonstrated what to expect and are looking elsewhere.

[rodeodance]

4. I agree. Polices are too hard to translate into silly soundbites so we

all suffer-------and are dumbed down.

[blue cat]

5. He has fought so many for so long

that he has made lots of enemies that keep him down - like the corporate media. He would be the best choice, but our nation just isn't sophisticated enough to appreciate him.

[greenbriar]

8. so much agree

thank you

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Thank you, Dr. Funkenstein.

I agree. There's always more emphasis on form over substance. :(

[Island Blue]

7. Bravo Dr. Funkenstein!

:applause: We shouldn't be casting our ballots for the leader of the free world as if he/she were a contestans on American Idol.

Thank you for this Doc.

[PresidentObama]

9. "the candidates are not celebrities. They are public servants and I look at them accordingly."

DrFunkenstein, you hit it right on the head.

This is why I still support Kerry for 2008.

[wisteria]

10. Wonderful, wonderful post. Thank you! Give me a Meritocracy not a dynasty! n/t

[sendero]

11. I kinda agree with you..

... I totally agree that Kerry is excellent on policy and a thoughtful and high-minded person.

But his problems are not just the media. Many of them are self-made. Because in America, you are what you look like and sound like and act like and Kerry is not good at those things.

Yes the media rags on him. The media will rag on any Dem who gets the nomination. It is how one responds to the attacks that will make a winner or a loser. And Kerry doesn't do that too well either.

[karynnj]

17. I think it's also how the media spins it

Let's assume that in 2004, the media had a vested interest in Kerry winning - instead of the opposite. Here's what I see them doing:

- Republican convention time - Kerry windsurfs.
Experts explain this sport - showing young healthy people doing it - say in North Carolina. Stressing that Kerry is fit enough to do this.
Video - I saw windsurfing for the first time on vacation a couple of years ago - it's pretty. It was a gorgeous day - blue sky, ocean sparking - smiling candidate, smiling Teresa, staff and press on boat. (Unpictured comparison Bush and his constant scratches.) Folow up: Ted Kennedy's story of Kerry biking about 100 miles even though the weather included hail, told back to back with Bush's bike accidents

- Back to back coverage of the two sets of daughters' speeches at the conventions

- The media itself demanding proof from the SBVT and rejecting them when they had NOTHING to explain why after 35 years they suddenly realized the medals they signed for weren't good. Showing the phote of Kerry in Vietnam with the little puppy he rescued.

- The media blasting Bush for not getting mocking bandaids out of the convention.

- And above all covering Kerry's rallies and showing him hugging kids (and grown ups). Showing sweet things that did happen on the campaign (as happens in all campaigns.

- Fairly covering Teresa, who is incredible.

It's in what the media chooses to cover and chooses to ignore. It was only after the election that there was the story that aides delayed a day telling Bush about Katrina - because he would get mad at them. There is no one who would imagine this of Kerry, who has a much nicer personality.

[babylonsister]

12. Excellent post, DrFunkenstein. Thank you! nt

[wisteria]

13. it is important for our country that the right people get elected. We need to change the direction

of our country. This is more important that who looks good in a bathing suite and who has the most famous name.

[ShortnFiery]

26. Most important, it must be someone who will not stop the Military Industrial Complex

It's all important for the corporate elite that we remain in perpetual war.

We've always been at war and we always will IF the M$M gets it's way. :grr:

[ProSense]

14. Terrific post! n/t

[rockymountaindem]

15. Well said, kicked and recommended

I really hope he gets into this race and shows what real policy and governance is about.

[politicasista]

16. K&R

Excellent post! :kick:

[garthranzz]

18. Yes!

See Orwell's "Politics and the English Language."

Heck, see Olbermann, Stewart and Colbert.

This is what I try to teach - research, analyze, think, debate.

Yes.

Policy over puffery

[MrRobotsHolyOrders]

19. whatevaz

"Obama has charisma and Clinton has star power, but I'm not some friggin' groupie. The decisions of a President are too important to leave to "entertainment value." "

Which means you're framing the argument as Obama and Clinton as these big, empty headed, media created drones, devoid of their own policy decisions. Which is completely untrue, but find your happy place with it if thats what gets you through this whole thing.

I liked John Kerry plenty, but his foreign policy ideals were based on the same group of policy wonks that will probably influence any Democratic administration. Fuck, some of them were probably concieved by Bill Richardson, who's actually running for president this time.

[karynnj]

27. Have you read any of Kerry's foreign policy speeches

they are not based on Bill Richardson. This is on area that has interested Kerry since he was young. He is a powerful foreign policy person in his own right.

Madeline Albright quoted some a speech on foreign policy by John Kerry in her lates book - not from 2004, ... not from 1971 ... but from 1966. The end of Kerry's 1971 speech addresses a need to change foreign policy.

Bill Richardson MIGHT have influenced Bill Clinton, who came to DC with fewer credentials on foreign policy than on domestic policy - but I think that's a stretch.

But, Richardson most certainly can not beat Kerry in this area.

[raccoon]

20. If only more Americans were like you!

"Obama has charisma and Clinton has star power, but I'm not some friggin' groupie. The decisions of a President are too important to leave to "entertainment value." "

[rockymountaindem]

21. This could be our first and last chance to direct readers to Atomic Kitten's block list

On it you'll find every poster I can think of who has defended Kerry on this site in one way or another. That's probably why nobody has replied to her in this thread. I just didn't want there to be any confusion about who is afraid of the debate. That is all.

[Joe Chi Minh]

24. She's a Clarkista. Nuff said.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

22. You make an excellent arguement for Senator Kerry

DrFunk, and the Senator would do very well for himself if he would pursue this line of reasoning in a second quest for the Democratic nomination for President.
Very good post, and good to see you here again.

[Joe Chi Minh]

23. Such an insightful post. Brilliant. I remember Kerry mentioning

renewable-energy sources during the Democratic Convention, and wondered what he was on about!!!!

When ignorance is bliss... He sure has a heavy cross to bear with the likes of us around!

[ShortnFiery]

25. Agreed! The guy is a gem. :-) I'd vote for him again in a heartbeat. n/t

[beachmom]

28. You said it, Dr. Funkenstein. Today Lebanon is in crisis. And what

is the media talking about? '08 silly talk.

Anyway, I wrote a diary about it, and gave an example of how bad a joke our media is:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/23/112931/400#c37

[_dynamicdems]

29. Thank you for this terrific post!

Kerry does have policy and experience. He has detailed plans that actually makes sense to people who take the time to read them. For a long time, however, people have been turning to the media for their information.

Unfortunately, todays media is the news equivalent of junk food: we all know it is bad for us but we can't resist consuming at least a little of it from time to time. The problem is that quite a few people actually swallow this crap thinking they are consuming something of substance.

The arrogance of the media is out of control. They take very little responsibility for accuracy and turn serious issues into a three-ring circus.

This Don Henley song pretty much sums it all up:

DIRTY LAUNDRY

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry

Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde, comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye
It's interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet?
You know the boys in the newsroom got a running bet
Get the widow on the set, we need dirty laundry

You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough alone, keep your dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff, kick 'em all around

Dirty little secrets, dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
Love to cut you down to size, we love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo, we can dance and sing
When it's said and done, we haven't told you a thing
We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry

Kerry has been one of the favorite targets of the media. They love to "cut him down to size" whenever the opportunity presents itself. The "joke" was an obvious example, but they have done just a good a job cutting him down by ignoring nearly all his statements on policy. I don't recall one mention on the news of Kerry's "Kid's First" bill even though a couple of dozen major children's and health organizations endorsed it. How often would you hear some talking head lament, "I haven't heard a single Democrat with an actual plan to get us out of Iraq" after Kerry had given several speeches outlining his Iraq plan and even introduced legislation to redeploy our troops?