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The Invisible Man And Our Chance For Dramatic Change When Dennis Kucinich announced his candidacy for the presidency, his original plan was to get $50 from each of a million citizens, about a third of one percent of the U.S. population. 50 bucks – that’s two tanks of gas or 10 six-packs of beer. With that, he figured, he'd be able to mount a decent campaign without having to go, hat and soul in hand, to the money sources that have the American political system in their grasp. He was not successful. Skip to January, '08. Kucinich has been denied the right to debate in Iowa and on ABC (Disney, Inc.) and has had his image excised from a photograph of democratic candidates, said photo sent all over the world. After an early debate, when a national poll revealed that viewers considered him the winner, mainstream media declared him "unelectable" and began to ignore him completely. Nevertheless, he has won polls by ABC, MSNBC, CSPAN, Democracy For America, the John Edwards Campaign (!) and every online poll I'm aware of that would attract progressive democrats and independents. On January 7, Jay Leno asked Ron Paul who on the democratic side he liked best. When Paul mentioned "Dennis" the crowd erupted in applause. The New York Times produced a two-page synopsis, “Where the Democrats and Republicans Stand”. It included photographs of the presidential “hopefuls” and their positions on Iraq, health, taxes, energy, immigration, climate ….. everything. The presentation included candidates down to Richardson, Biden and Dodd, all three of whom have, by now, dropped out. Everybody was shown except Kucinich. As far as “America’s Paper of Record” was concerned, he did not exist. Going into the New Hampshire primary, Clinton and Obama enjoyed 200 million corporate/fat cat dollars -- "the mother's milk of American politics" -- between them. Hillary "We are the President" Clinton touted her experience which, if one recalls the administration of her partner, must include NAFTA, welfare "reform" and the 1996 Telecommunications Act that further solidified corporate control of the public's airways. Obama, whose "star quality" cannot be denied, gave the crowds stirring speeches and lots and lots of "Hope". It is understandable that "The System" would consider Kucinich a threat and seek to make him invisible. Simply look at his platform: Out of NAFTA on day one; out of the World Trade Organization; universal not-for-profit health care; creation of a Department of Peace (Imagine that! ); repeal the Patriot Act; end the phony "Drug War"; end the war in Iraq now, not in 2013 or 2020 but now; speak as an equal among equals with all world leaders, whether or not they are in synch with "American Interests Around the World". Everything a progressive American would dream of. Just imagine the shudders his expressed plan would send through the defense industry (e.g. GE/NBC), the pharmaceutical industry, the insurance industry, the "corporate sector" generally. One cannot consider Dennis without his wife Elizabeth, an articulate expert on monetary policy who would certainly be as valuable a partner in a Kucinich administration as Hillary was in Bill's. But our media, hell-bent on reinforcing its tabloid qualities, locked on her looks. In one painful/hilarious interview of the couple, the "journalist", after speaking with Dennis, turned to Elizabeth, immediately referred to her age and looks, and wanted to know about her pierced tongue. Dennis, unruffled, said "I hope as a professional you won't trivialize her", and he then ticked off Elizabeth's considerable accomplishments. His allusion to "a professional" was a tangential rebuke of the interviewer's stunningly unprofessional display. Nevertheless, obtuse and undeterred, the woman was unrelenting in her tastelessness and wanted to know if Elizabeth would show her tongue. Elizabeth would not. On January 3, the New York Observer declared "Dennis Kucinich Owns New Hampshire". Oh how I hoped for an upset. In a way he may have owned that small state, for having vacated Iowa he went early to New Hampshire and criss-crossed it to enthusiastic crowds. But people do vote "strategically" in primaries, and the acute lack of "big money" necessary for "front runner" status may have been too much. That and the media drumbeat of "But he's not electable" and the pathetically superficial need of too many American voters for slick or "alpha" or “tall-in-the-saddle” father-figure politicians. But of course he is electable if people vote for him. He certainly has the most progressive platform. "Change", we're told, is what people desperately want. Obama may give us a little change, but he won't give us the real change we need because he won't be able to. He’s in hock to Big Money, and he's mum on the issue of his tight relationship with “Bush’s favorite democrat, Joe Lieberman. Hillary won't give us the real change we need because she has already demonstrated with her Senate votes that she will not. Dennis is giving us our chance for dramatic change, and, to date, either we are failing to see that chance or we are rejecting it outright. www.billwillers.com Bill Willers is emeritus professor of biology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh now living in Middleton, WI. He is founder of Superior Wilderness Action Network (SWAN) and editor of Learning to Listen to the Land and Unmanaged Landscapes, both from Island Press.
Bill Willers is emeritus professor of biology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh now living in Middleton, WI. He is founder of Superior Wilderness Action Network (SWAN) and editor of Learning to Listen to the Land and Unmanaged Landscapes, both from Island Press.
Brokaw Your mention of Brokaw (who for me is the very face of corporate media) brings to mind some of his most famous comments, posted below. TOM TOM: THE BEAT OF GE'S CORPORATE NEWS "We can't let that whole generation and a whole segment of the population just slide away out to the Internet and retrieve what information it wants without being in on it." - Tom Brokaw "I ... believe strongly that the Internet works best when there are gatekeepers. When there are people making determinations and judgments about what information is relevant and factual and useful. Otherwise, it's like going to the rainforest and just seeing a green maze." -Tom Brokaw "I think Jack Welch [CEO of General Electric, owner of NBC] is the smartest boss I ever had, and he signs my paychecks" -Tom Brokaw by
Bill Willers (11 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 48 comments)
on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 2:44:34 PM
Invisible Man Did you catch the interview with Dennis by Bill Moyers? It is available around the Internet. Start posting it in every website, blog, vlog or anywhere you can to make him visible. Keep using different headings as that is what the spamalot media does. (i started using "spamalot media" years ago) As an observer I am amazed that people are not taking to the streets to demand full coverage of everyone. If the current trend continues, the next President will be elected in March, by the mainstream (spamalot) media. If you cannot find it I would be happy to send Rob a link. by
IwasJulius (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 30 comments)
on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 2:59:25 PM
Did you see The Ron Paul supporters chasing Hannity (who has been dissing and censoring Ron Paul) into the ABC building. There's people taking it to the streets. What's interesting is how so many Kucinich supporters fiond that distasteful. I loved Dennis' comment about reaching China..."when I was a kid I heard, if you dig a hole deep enought you'll wind up in china..well folks we're there. I loved that. My favite line so far in all the debates. Go Ron Paul! by
Jeanette Doney (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 304 comments)
on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 3:35:26 PM
I am a retired opera singer. I was a leading soprano with the New York City Opera for ten years. I am a strong supporter of Dennis Kucinich and worked for his campaign in 2004. I believe that he is the ONLY honest man in congress. He has been working against this insane war since before it began. I am 72 years old and I have been so frustrated with the media, the Congress and the American people that they don't tell the truth.
What must we do to alert the American people to Kucinich?? It's so frustrating to see that the American people are bamboozled by the "Big Three" candidates. What do we do to educate people that they are being lied to, bamboozled, and generally told the tallest stories in history in this campaign? If we elect Dennis Kucinich, he can save our country by his dedication, honesty and brilliance. How is it that people can't see that as a fact? Is the whole population so dumbed down and brainwashed that there is no room for a clear thought in their brains? Does Britney Spears occupy all the space in their heads? WAKE UP, AMERICA!!!! We are being led down the road to the fall of our country to depths from which we will never recover. Hitlery is not the answer. Barack is not the answer. Edwards is not the answer. They all might be good people underneath all of their rhetoric but I doubt it. They have been bought by the MSM and the other lobbyists. The insurance companies own their souls. There is no way to change them now. They can't see that they are causing the death of America. Or they don't care which is even worse. In any case, my fellow Americans, get with the program and vote for Dennis Kucinich. He will win if we all vote for him. He must win if we are to have our country back. And another thing, forget Ron Paul. He is a fraud! by
Caronome (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 238 comments)
on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 3:55:27 PM
Bob Kincaid is a founder and host on the Head-On Radio Network ("The H.O.R.N.), America's Liberal Voice. "Head-On With Bob Kincaid" can be heard every weeknight from 6 to 9 p.m., Eastern at www.headonradionetwork.com Archives are available at www.whiteroseociety.org
Thanks for saying what needed said I have reached a place in regard to Dennis Kucinich and the American People with which I am comfortable. It is this: Dennis offered the American People a chance to be who we like to say we are, as opposed to who we truly are. We rejected him. The U.S. talks of its love of peace and Dennis offered us a chance to prove it. We rejected it. The U.S. talks of its dedication to human rights and Dennis offered us a chance to prove it. We rejected it. More than anything, corporate America and our "betters" have shown, once and for all, that we are a bloodthirsty people who have seldom, in our history, known a single year's "peace," and have no intention of starting now. by
Bob Kincaid (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 43 comments)
on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 6:00:15 PM
I am a college graduate, a loyal patriot of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, a person whose convictions and pessimism drive my thought invoking others to think, and enjoy some politcal debate. I like truth even if it doesn't set you "free" in this US of A any longer. I am a liberal.
kucinich I was stunned when I heard Kucinich say support Obama. I really thought he would throw his support Edwards' way. He said he couldn't support Edwards because Edwards in in hock to the hedge funds or something to that affect. Obama "sounds" good but I have great doubts he can "deliver" anything to help us, the ppl. Corporations have taken over. We are in a state of Fascism and the Media serves THEIR interests and their interests are corporative interests. I have little faith in the voting system. However, the Internet is serving many of us well. I am a pessimist. "Optimists build the planes and pessimists build the parachutes". The constitutional rights need to be secured down first before anything else is done. The Rule of Law needs to be restored and I believe Dennis would and will do this first and foremost. I fully support him on all policies. Without Dennis as President, this will not be done, IMO. by
shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 370 comments)
on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 6:26:36 PM
I am a concerned grandparent.
Kucinich In a way, I was delighted to see your article. I feel like I'm in a bubble supporting Kucinich all by myself. In another way, I wasn't so delighted. I struggled to write an article for a local blog, and then I saw yours, which is so much better! Here's mine anyway: by
V. S. Lynch (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 9:05:30 PM
Mother of 7, grandmother of 21, great grandmother of 41 and great-great grandmother of 2 and loving every minute of it. I want a better world for us all than the mess we have now.
Dennis Kucinich is our only chance by
Rae (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 218 comments)
on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 9:43:20 PM
I am a concerned mother, and voter. I want to do more than just pray for my children's future.
Get out the vote for Kucinich in Michigan tomorrow Since the write in votes for Michigan will not be counted tomorrow, get everyone you can to vote for Kucinich tomorrow. According to the Rhandi Rhodes show today, the write in votes don't count...so vote for someone on the ballot::))))) by
SUSAN SPALDING (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Monday, January 14, 2008 at 5:26:09 PM
VOTE FOR KUCINICH HE CAN WIN! THE MEDIA IS OWNED BY THE CFR,THEY SELL WEAPONS TO MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.CLINTON OBAMA AND EDWARDS ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE CFR.THEY WORK FOR THEM,THEY DONT GIVE A CRAP ABOUT YOU! THATS Y THEY'LL STAY IN IRAQ, & GO TO IRAN AND PAKISTAN! TO SELL WEAPONS, TO PRIVITIZE EVERTHING! THEY MADE $152 BILLION FROM 1990 TO 2006 IN WEAPONS ALONE!THEYRE HORRIFIED OF KUCINICH BECAUSE THEY KNOW HE WILL WIN IF HE GETS THE MEDIA ATTENTION! THATS Y THEY'RE APPEALING THE DEBATE 1/15/...
I AGREE, KUCINICH CAN WIN AND THEY'RE SCARED TO DEATH! VOTE FOR KUCINICH! HE CAN WIN! THE MEDIA IS OWNED BY THE CFR, THEY SELL WEAPONS TO MAKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. CLINTON OBAMA AND EDWARDS ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE CFR.THEY WORK FOR THEM, THEY DONT GIVE A CRAP ABOUT YOU! THATS Y THEY'LL STAY IN IRAQ, & GO TO IRAN AND PAKISTAN! TO SELL WEAPONS, TO PRIVITIZE EVERTHING! THEY MADE $152 BILLION FROM 1990 TO 2006 IN WEAPONS ALONE! THEY AND THE MEDIA ARE HORRIFIED OF KUCINICH BECAUSE THEY KNOW HE WILL WIN IF HE GETS THE MEDIA ATTENTION! THATS Y THEY'RE APPEALING THE DEBATE 1/15/08! THEY DONT WANT HIM TO GET A SPECK OF EXPOSURE! DONT LET THEM FOOL YOU! KUCINICH WILL DESTROY THE MONOPOLIES, HE WILL BRING THE CFR TO ITS KNEES! DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!I DID! VOTE KUCINICH AND HE WILL: BRING THE TROOPS HOME SPRING OF 2009! GIVE FREE HEALTHCARE! GET OUT OF NAFTA & WTO! REPEAL THE PATRIOT ACT! IMPEACH CHENEY! RESTORE & DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION! REGAIN OUR SOVRANTY! AND HE CANT BE BOUGHT! HES NEVER TAKEN A DIME FROM BIG CORPS, LOOK IT UP! HE'LL ALSO GUARANTEE FREE COLLEGE AND FREE PRE K!, STOP PRIVITIZATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY! CHANGE THE RETIREMENT AGE BACK TO 65! CREATE STRONG UNIONS! MAKE IT A WORKING WHITE HOUSE! HELP WORKING FARMERS!, RESTORE INDUSTRY TO OUR COUNTRY!, TAKE CONTROL AWAY FROM THE MEDIA!, GO BACK TO PAPER BALLOTS! , AND THE LIST GOES ON! HE'S ANOTHER FDR FOR CHRISTS SAKE! IF YOU WANT ALL THE THINGS I JUST MENTIONED THEN VOTE FOR HIM! TRUST ME, YOU'LL BE SORRY IF YOU DONT! OBAMA CLINTON AND EDWARDS ARE LYING TO YOU! THEY WILL NOT DO THOSE THINGS! AND KUCINICH SAID HE WILL. ITS A NO BRAINER! THE MEDIA AND BIG CORPS R SCARED! THEY DONT WANT HIM TO GET A SPECK OF AIR TIME OR EXPOSURE! THEY DISCREDIT HIM! THEY TELL YOU HE DOESNT HAVE A CHANCE! BECAUSE HE'LL WIN!! IF HE GETS ANY AIR TIME! THINK PEOPLE! WHY WOULD THEY FIGHT SO FIERCELY TO APPEAL THE NEVADA COURTS DECISION THAT KUCINICHS DEBATES IN NEVADA OR THERE'S IS NO DEBATE?!THINK! THINK BACK TO THE FIRST DEBATES THAT KUCINICH WAS IN ,REMEMBER? HE WON THEM ALL! REMEMBER?? THAT WAS ONLY A MONTH AGO PEOPLE, REMEMBER?? THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN HE DROPS OUT OF SIGHT? AM I GETTING THROUGH TO ANYONE YET??!! DO IT PLEASE! HELP SAVE OUR COUNTRY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!! VOTE KUCINICH!! ITS ALREADY BECOMING TOO LATE EG: PATRIOT ACT,NAFTA,WTO, S1959 THATS A THOUGHT CRIME BILL AND OBAMAS FOR IT! OBAMA'S A TRAITOR TO DR MARTIN LUTHER KING, TO SUSAN B ANTHONY, TO CESAR CHAVEZ! THOSE PEOPLE ENCOURAGED CIVIL DISOBIENDENCE TO GET THEIR POINT ACROSS TO FIGHT AN UNJUST GOVERNMENT, AND THEY DID IT PEACEFULLY! CLINTON OBAMA AND EDWARDS ARE NEO CONS! THERY'RE CFR PUPPETS! THEY WORK FOR WAR AND BIG BUSINESS! PLEASE DONT BE FOOLED THIS TIME! NOT AGAIN! WE CANT AFFORD IT FOR A THIRD TIME! BE PROUD OF YOUR VOTE! BE A PATRIOT! VOTE YOUR OWN CONVICTIONS! REMEMBER IF YOU VOTE FOR THE LESSER OF 2 EVILS YOU'RE STILL VOTING FOR EVIL! VOTE FOR KUCINICH!! KUCINICH!! KUCINICH!!! by
sophie v (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments)
on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 2:01:05 AM
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