Kerry is for media consolidation

[Mile Hi]

The Guardian, UK, Feb 10, 2004:
"Key executives from News Corp (Fox News), Viacom, and Sony are bankrolling Senator Kerry's Presidential Campaign."
NewsCoprp’s chief operating officer, Peter Chernin, one of Rupert Murdoch's most trusted lieutenants, has pledged to raise $100,000 for Kerry's campaign.

CNN is Kerry's third largest lifetime campaign contributor and ABC, NBC, and CBS have all contributed $100,000's of dollars to Kerry's campaign.

Kerry sits on the Senate Committee that regulates media owners. Most of them currently have business in front of Kerry's committee. Kerry can pass a bill easily or hold it up for years in committee. Kerry helped write and pass the 1996 legislation that allowed media consolidation. Kerry has received more special interest money than any other Congressman has in the last 15 years.

Kerry had to mortgage his house to loan his own campaign money, and he was polling in single digits going into the Iowa Caucuses. The Center for Media and Public Affairs, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization in Washington, DC, concluded that the 2 1/2 weeks before the Iowa Caucuses, Kerry received an unprecedented 98% positive coverage and that "the media had chosen the winner of the Iowa Caucuses long before the public did".

Five media giants now control what 71% of Americans view as news and entertainment. Every single one of them is backing Kerry's presidential campaign. Every major network has contributed significantly to Kerry's campaigns. Kerry is their candidate and with 98% positive coverage, and his former rival portrayed as “angry and unelectable”, Kerry’s winning landslide after landslide.

Proof Kerry voted for it
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=1&vote=00268

[IndianaGreen]

1. And Dean was against media consolidation, which is why

the Democratic Party establishment wanted Dean's candidacy squashed like a bug.

The Democratic Party establishment is totally corrupt!

[WiseMen]

15. Does Posting Same Anti-Kerry Rant 3/wk Multiply his Evil? PHONY TACTIC

[IndianaGreen]

20. Kerry's voting record is his own worst enemy, second only to...

showing Kerry flip-flop on the issues such as his statements on Iraq that range from opposition to outright cheerleading of the war.

Kerry cannot be trusted!

[DrFunkenstein]

24. What About DU Denizens Who Flip Flop Just To Spite Candidates

I'm not naming names, but I distinctly recall certain members who blast Kerry for something in one thread, then cheer on Edwards for the same.

Can these people be trusted? Is the record of their posts their own worst enemy?

[Snivi Yllom]

30. But but but there is a huge difference with Bush

throw another pile of manure on the pile. It's getting pretty ahrd to avoid the smell of more of the same BS.

[Mile Hi]

21. My first post on this.

[AntiCoup2K4]

2. John Kerry - choice of the mediawhores and PNAC

Now there's an honest bumper sticker slogan!

[KittyWampus]

27. As Was Dean, Who Got Plenty Of $ From AOL, I Believe

and MONTHS of free, glowing, unquestioning press.

And whatever Dean said about "Media Consolidation" was meaningless because talk is cheap and his Libertarian record as Governor was antithetical to such a positioin.

[DaisyUCSB]

3. This is one issue I hope Kerry supporters will admit Edwards has edge on

I admitted that Kerry had the edge on the environment as far as the better record goes

[edzontar]

4. This is one of Kerry's WORST issues--along with IWR, NCLB

And so many others.

I am sure he will serve his Media masters well.

[mzmolly]

35. I agree. This bothers me almost as much as his war vote.

*sigh*

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. Kerry has 98% positive media coverage? FANTASY!

That is pure fantasy. Read this interview:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/business/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2077032

[Mile Hi]

9. You're kidding right

You post a link to a Kerry interview.

The result I posted was from The Center for Media and Public Affairs, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization in Washington

So I should believe Kerry over a non-partisan report?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. Sorry, not everything is objective

even a non partisan think tank can get it wrong, and the fact is Dean ws running for President for close to 2 years and had been in Iowa long enough that everyone knew who he was there.
Al Gore and Tom Harkin did not endorse Kerry.
The fact is Kerry was doing most everything right while Dean was flailing.

[Mile Hi]

18. Kerry voted for it

Here's the proof
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=1&vote=00268

Number: S. 652 (Telecommunications Act of 1996 )
Measure Title: An original bill to provide for a pro-competitive, de-regulatory national policy framework designed to accelerate rapidly private sector deployment of advanced telecommunications and information technologies and services to all Americans by opening all telecommunications markets to competition, and for other purposes.

Kerry (D-MA), Yea

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

40. All but 18 Senators voted for it, it was one of Clnton's pet projects

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Headline of thread is a blatant falsehood

[Mile Hi]

10. Why?

Is it not true that Kerry helped write and pass the 1996 legislation that allowed media consolidation

Doesn't sound like he's against it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

32. Here's a fact for you, not an unsupported assertion

KERRY SEEKS TO REVERSE FCC�S �WRONGHEADED VOTE�

COMMISSION DECISION MAY VIOLATE LAWS PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESSES; KERRY TO FILE RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL

Monday, June 2, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC � Senator John Kerry today announced plans to file a �Resolution of Disapproval� as a means to overturn today�s decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise media ownership caps and loosen various media cross-ownership rules.

Kerry will soon introduce the resolution seeking to reverse this action under the Congressional Review Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act on the grounds that the decision may violate the laws intended to protect America�s small businesses and allow them an opportunity to compete.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerry expressed concern that the FCC�s decision will hurt localism, reduce diversity, and will allow media monopolies to flourish. This raises significant concerns about the potential negative impacts the decision will have on small businesses and their ability to compete in today�s media marketplace.

In a statement released earlier today regarding the FCC�s decision, Kerry said:

�Nothing is more important in a democracy than public access to debates and information, which lift up our discourse and give Americans an opportunity to make honest informed choices. Today�s wrongheaded vote by the Republican members of the FCC to loosen media ownership rules shows a dangerous indifference to the consolidation of power in the hands of a few large entities rather than promoting diversity and independence at the local level. The FCC should do more than rubber stamp the business plans of narrow economic interests.

�Today�s vote is a complete dereliction of duty. The Commissioners are well aware that these rules greatly influence the competitive structure of the industry and protect the public�s access to multiple sources of information and media. It is the Commission�s responsibility to ensure that the rules serve our national goals of diversity, competition, and localism in media. With today�s vote, they shirked that responsibility and have dismissed any serious discussion about the impact of media consolidation on our own democracy.�

http://kerry.senate.gov/high/record.cfm?id=204465

[TheDonkey]

7. How much do they give to Bush?

[maddezmom]

8. Neither Kerry or Edwards voted for Media Consolidation

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1980171
]

[Mile Hi]

12. .

Kerry helped write and pass the 1996 legislation that allowed media consolidation

[maddezmom]

23. oh 1996, my response was to 2003

the present. :)

[janx]

11. He enabled media consolidation with his votes, didn't he?

It seems to me that he backed legislation that made it easier for the consolidation to happen in the first place.

I wish I had a link for this, but I don't.

[DaveSZ]

14. Damn

I'm very against media consolidation.

That explains why the media is being so kind to him, and so against Dean. I think the voters just didn't like Dean though, so you can't blame it all on the media.

[DaveSZ]

16. One cannot win

Without the media's support.

Fox News has been slandering Kerry pretty hard, but some of the other stations haven't.

Are the major newspapers (Wash Post, NYTimes, etc.) also corporately controlled?


What is Edwards' position on media consolodation?

My Texas primary is today, and I'll proably vote edwards.

[redqueen]

33. Your Texas?

The Texas I live in has its primary on March 17.

[KittyWampus]

28. The Media Kissed Dean's Ass Trying To Get Him Elected

and it wasn't until the pathetic Scream that his fate was sealed.

Give it a rest already. Dean sunk himself.

[mobuto]

17. Complete horseshit

You don't distinguish between your own commentary and the Guardian's.

Have major media companies contributed to Kerry? Sure. And they've contributed a lot more to the GOP. They try to cover all their bases. But your unattributed editorial comment is irresponsible and highly misleeding.

[Mile Hi]

19. here

Here's a link
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=1&vote=00268

Kerry voted for media consolidation!

[bigtree]

26. This doesn't sound like media consolidation to me

"An original bill to provide for a pro-competitive, de-regulatory national policy framework designed to accelerate rapidly private sector deployment of advanced telecommunications and information technologies and services to all Americans by opening all telecommunications markets to competition, and for other purposes."

Here's a Kerry amendment to the bill:

S.AMDT.1342
Amends: S.652
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (submitted 6/13/1995) (proposed 6/14/1995)
AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
To prohibit redlining of any high-cost area or any area on the basis of rural location or the income of the resident of such area.

Mr. KERRY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 652, supra; as follows:

On page 146, strike line 14 and insert in lieu the following: `cency, or nudity'.

This section shall not become effective unless the Commission shall prohibit any telecommunications carrier from excluding from any of such carrier's services any high-cost area, or any area on the basis of the rural location or the income of the residents of such area; provided that a carrier may exclude an area in which the carrier can demonstrate that--

(1) providing a service to such area will be less profitable for the carrier than providing the service in areas to which the carrier is already providing or has proposed to provide the service; and--

(2) there will be insufficient consumer demand for the carrier to earn some return over the long term on the capital invested to provide such service to such area.

The Commission shall provide for public comment on the adequacy of the carrier's proposed service area on the basis of the requirements of this section.

Other amendments proposed by John Kerry to the legislation:

78. S.AMDT.1331 to S.652 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 6/13/1995) Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 6/13/1995 Senate amendment submitted

79. S.AMDT.1332 to S.652 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 6/13/1995) Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 6/13/1995 Senate amendment submitted

80. S.AMDT.1333 to S.652 Purpose will be available when the amendment is proposed for consideration. See Congressional Record for text.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 6/13/1995) Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 6/13/1995 Senate amendment submitted

104th Congress (1st session)
http://thomas.loc.gov/j104/j104index1.html

104th Congress (2nd session)
http://thomas.loc.gov/i104/i104index1.html

[Mile Hi]

22. It's all the Guardian

The only thing I added was the link to show Kerry voted for it.

[bigtree]

31. Highly misleading I must say

I maintain that you don't have a wit as to where the bill mandates media consolidation. I speaks mostly of competition, access, and deregulation. How do these translate into media consolidation?

[redqueen]

36. Dude are you kidding me?!!!!!!!!

This is the Telecommunications Act!

For crying out loud sometimes I wonder about people on this board.

This bill is what allowed ClearChannel to take over half the radio industry, for one thing.

Do some web searches.

:grr:

[bigtree]

34. Again

Where does the stated bill allow for media consolidation? You have the legislation before you. Spell it out. Seperate the passages from the other provisions that relate to your claim.

Lot's of hyperventilating here but not a whiff of explanation.

[redqueen]

37. Why should anyone have to educate you?

Do you care about media consolidation or not?

[bigtree]

41. What you fail to realize is that this is also an info board

I'm not some campaign hack computer warrior. John Kerry's candidacy or anyone elses won't be won or lost because of the bullshit that flies around here. So, if you don't want to explain then move aside. I don't deserve to be fed shit for asking for clarification. If I didn't care then I wouldn't ask. Unfortunately some around here are only interested in scoring points, for God knows who. How about contributing to the debate instead of just throwing stones? Where is your candidate's record on media consolidation? Post it. I'll listen.

[CWebster]

25. Kick

because I can't find this thread.

[mzmolly]

29. This explains everything doesn't it?

The media took Dean out, and inserted a friendly candidate. *sigh*

[NewYorkerfromMass]

38. If Kerry had criticised the caucus as being for special interests

etc.... maybe I'd buy this.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. Here's his actual recent statements

Jan. 27, 2004


Dialogue with presidential candidate John Kerry


By Peter Kiefer
Everything seems to be going John Kerry's way these days. Following his first-place finish in the Iowa caucuses and his front-runner polling numbers heading into the New Hampshire primary today, the Massachusetts senator has more than resuscitated his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, which just weeks ago had been written off by the political punditry. In the first in an occasional series of interviews with the Democratic contenders, Kerry spoke with The Hollywood Reporter's Peter Kiefer about entertainment and media-related issues.

The Hollywood Reporter: What are your thoughts on media consolidation, and do you believe it has become a problem in the country?

John Kerry: I think it is a serious problem in the country, and I was against the FCC decision and efforts to narrow the ownership of media outlets in America. I think the consolidation of information is a dangerous trend in America because it has the ability to shape our Democracy and shape the flow of information. I believe you need real competition, and you need limitations on that ownership. I have always been in favor of the restraints on the cross-ownership. You know we opened up a little on the radio, and I thought that was appropriate. But look, there have been changes, legitimate changes in the marketplace that reflect real access to information and real access to competition. I am open-minded. I serve on the (Commerce) committee, I have actually voted on these issues, and my record is very clear about favoring real competition, being smart about transitions in the industry that you have to take into account. But I am not going to be hoodwinked into believing that we are in a place today where there is sufficient competition in some of these areas, where we should lift the rules and consolidate, and I am against it.




THR: How has media consolidation affected the political process?

Kerry: Well, look, the loss of equal time requirements, I think was a blow. I was for equal time requirements. Because I think what's happened is that we got networks that are almost providing a single point of view, and I don't think that is wise. The competitive instinct between entities and the bottom line make the courage to carry counterprogramming very difficult for people, and the trend appears to confirm that.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/business/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2077032

From the Office of Senator Kerry


KERRY SEEKS TO REVERSE FCC’S “WRONGHEADED VOTE”


COMMISSION DECISION MAY VIOLATE LAWS PROTECTING SMALL BUSINESSES; KERRY TO FILE RESOLUTION OF DISAPPROVAL

Monday, June 2, 2003


WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry today announced plans to file a “Resolution of Disapproval” as a means to overturn today’s decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise media ownership caps and loosen various media cross-ownership rules.

Kerry will soon introduce the resolution seeking to reverse this action under the Congressional Review Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act on the grounds that the decision may violate the laws intended to protect America’s small businesses and allow them an opportunity to compete.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerry expressed concern that the FCC’s decision will hurt localism, reduce diversity, and will allow media monopolies to flourish. This raises significant concerns about the potential negative impacts the decision will have on small businesses and their ability to compete in today’s media marketplace.

In a statement released earlier today regarding the FCC’s decision, Kerry said:

“Nothing is more important in a democracy than public access to debates and information, which lift up our discourse and give Americans an opportunity to make honest informed choices. Today’s wrongheaded vote by the Republican members of the FCC to loosen media ownership rules shows a dangerous indifference to the consolidation of power in the hands of a few large entities rather than promoting diversity and independence at the local level. The FCC should do more than rubber stamp the business plans of narrow economic interests.

http://kerry.senate.gov/text/cfm/record.cfm?id=204465