Why do you think the media ignores Dennis Kucinich?

Question

Everyone, including Republicans, I have talked to who have really listened to the speeches and interviews of Dennis Kucinich think he really does make a lot of sense. The crowds of people listening to his speeches always give roaring applause and standing ovations. The top tier candidates ignore the fact that some of their bright new ideas have been Kucinich's ideas all along. Even Bill Clinton, in an interview, went to great pains to list all the Dem candidates except Kucinich. Kucinich is the only candidate who has the guts to go on Fox News when the others don't dare. The media and other candidates say there is no way to pull out our troops from Iraq without leaving the civilians unprotected but Kucinich has a well thought out plan to replace our troops with Mid Eastern peace keeping troops that he worked out with the ambassadors and leaders of the surrounding countries. The only problem is that Halliburton and the big American oil companies would get nothing.

Answer 1

It's bad enough that Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is marginalized and mocked by big media because, aside from - and due to - standing against nearly everything corporate America desires, he doesn't have the fund-raising ability to compete against the money machines of the front-runners.

Our citizens watch helplessly (or obliviously) as Kucinich and other fund-raising challenged candidates struggle to get in a word edgewise during the debates. Meanwhile, as we do every four years in this country, we then must suffer the mainstream media received notion that voters, you see, are growing frustrated with having to listen to all those minor candidates in addition to the "serious" contenders. Of course, in reality, those minor candidates scarcely receive enough attention for voters to remember their names let alone their ideas, which, were they given equal time, may actually challenge big money candidates to address issues more honestly and thoroughly while bringing new issues and ideas into the national political dialogue.

Sadly, we've grown accustomed to our elections having more to do with who can raise the most money than who might make the best president. To steal a friend's email signature quoting Bill Moyers: "There's a cancer eating at the heart of [American] democracy and it's money in politics. If free speech means you have to buy it, then only those who can afford it have free speech."

But when one of these marginalized candidates is making news, big news, yet the mainstream media refuses to cover it, then something even more intentionally misleading and disgraceful is at work here.

Kucinich's grilling of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the Pat Tillman hearing the other day, which focused on whether the Department of Defense had a "press strategy" to shape coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, was the stuff of legendary political showdowns. Far better than any exchange at the hearing, it also happened to reveal what's at the heart of this issue.

Unfortunately, most Americans will never see it.

Rumsfeld had for years fed a cowed media and Republican-controlled Congress the kind of lies that Dr. Seuss might have dreamt up had he owned a black heart: his explanations centering around "known knowns," "known unknowns" and "unknown unknowns"; the dissonant dollops of "gee-whiz" and "golly" in the face of life and death questions about the war he was prosecuting; the monarchal mix of condescension and snap surliness.

Well, on Wednesday, Congressman Kucinich wasn't having any of it. Like no journalist or politician had during Rumsfeld's reign as defense secretary, Kucinich (yes, that Kucinich, the one painted by big media as the perennial prince of political lightweights) stood toe to toe with Rumsfeld. And won. Truly unwavering, in measured questions and responses, the congressman from Ohio pulled no punches and outmaneuvered the former defense secretary.

Rumsfeld reacted the way most bullies do when confronted with an earnest and feerless force of truth and justice.

First, the former defense secretary was taken aback by the directness of Kucinich's question, "Was there a Department of Defense press strategy with respect to the war?" Then he tried to scuttle the inquiry with some of that ol' flip sarcasm that used to regularly send our press corps into titters: "If there was, it obviously wasn't very good." Yet this back-fired. Kucinich, justifiably angered by the response, redoubled his efforts, pointing out, "Well you know maybe it was very good because you actually covered up the Tillman case for awhile, you covered up the Jessica Lynch case, you covered up Abu Ghraib, so something was working for you."

By the end of the questioning, Rumsfeld, reduced to a stammering, defensive man, appeared somewhat stunned and fatigued, his narrative embarrassingly feeble. Kucinich finally unmasked the former defense secretary in public as the shameless disinformation war minister he's always been. (Kucinich also provided a window into how the Bush years might have gone without a rubber stamp Congress and an obedient press corps. Watching the congressman eviscerate Rumsfeld's evasions, you realize the enormity of the handicap availed to Rummy all those years. As with Karl Rove, Rumsfeld's "genius" demanded a fixed deck.)

Yet in the NBC Nightly News report filed by correspondent Chip Reid, the Kucinich-Rumsfeld exchange is completely scrubbed. We see only snippets of Rumsfeld's defense. Reid fails to show any of Kucinich's questions. This crucial context is jettisoned. And Rumsfeld, of course, comes off looking exceedingly better than he did during the hearing.

Another brilliant piece by NBC's resident Washington stenographer Chip Reid, who appears to have a special knack for this type of reportage. You know, that disingenuous school of journalism that says, "Hey, I'm simply reporting what they said," but cherry-picks who "they" is and has undue influence on which particulars of what was said reaches the public.

NBC should make an on-air apology for this glaringly deficient coverage. It would not only be a responsible correction of journalistic negligence, but would also have the added benefit of informing Americans that some minor candidates, like Mr. Kucinich, are greater than the sum of their bank accounts.

We'd all be a lot richer for it

Answer 2

Kucinich did poorly in the last election, and there's little reason to think he will do better this time. I like Dennis, but he's too progressive for most of America, and the media know this, so they mostly ignore him. If people start supporting him, he'll start getting coverage. Look at Huckabee and Paul. They were also being ignored until they started getting support, then the media got interested. But I don't agree that all the candidates are clones. Sure, there are plenty of old, tall, white guys with nice hair, but we also have the most serious female and African-American candidates ever. It's an exciting time.

Answer 3

The Media cracks jokes about his being "short" and "not photogenic".

What I think it boils down to is that Kucinich is rational and hasn't been *bought out* by the companies the way all the other candidates have. It really is that simple. If the Rich Guys, a.k.a. the CEO Class, don't want you to be in politics or to get elected or nominated, you *won't* get the nod.

Welcome to the Plantation Age. Follow the money. Seriously.

I hope this explains things....thanks for your time. -_-

Answer 4

Let me be frank, I believe the media ignores Dennis Kucinch for the same reasons they ignore Ron Paul, he tells them what they don't want to hear-the truth. Fox will not touch him because he is not bought and paid the the same folks that lobby Congress and own half the media.

He outed the crooks and liars that have sold their souls to the devil, and have trampled on the U.S Constitution and placed their double think front and center. He is not afraid of Bush and stands strong on his principles regardless of votes, unlike Hillary and Obama.

Just like Paul Findley, Kucinich is his own man. I don't agree with him on many issues which I feel are way to far left, but when it comes to this war, and calling out the hypocrites in the Democratic and Republican party he is right on target.

Fox is part of the media axis of evil in my opinion and CNN isn't very far behind. The alternative media is the only real media and these anti- Constitutionalists would love to take away our 1st Amendment rights. Hey they won't even allow independent reporters to film in the streets of New York. I guess had no one filmed Building 7 coming down, we would still believe the lie.

Answer 5

He is doomed because he doesn't bow down to the Clinton political machine and might actually try to do what he says he would do if elected. I think that's why he is viewed as a "nut" or "crackpot". I would love to see Kucinich selected by the Democrats as their candidate, it would be refreshing to see, and I'm a Republican.

Answer 6

Dennis Kucinch has positions on the issues with which many of the media's big advertisers would disagree. Hence, the media downplays him to keep on good terms with their sponsors.

Personally, on the Democratic side, I prefer Mike Gravel to Dennis Kucinich, but I would not be disappointed to see Denny pick up some momentum.

Answer 7

Because he is a threat to the powers at hand. Large corporations own the media. Large corporations finance political campaigns. Therefore, large corporations essentially determine the politics in the US and Kucinich is NOT their friend. There is no wonder why Kucinich is ignored by the media.

Answer 8

If you really believe that Kucinich should be President then register as a democrat and vote in your state's primaries. But honestly you'd be better off saving your vote because there is no way he'll even win the nomination let alone the presidency. He managed to bankrupt Cleveland when he was mayor. Although he seems to be charismatic and responsible about the other issues, I would have to say his fiscal responsibility is practically non-existent. I need a president that is well rounded on all of the issues and has a good track record.

Answer 9

I agree, the man has great charisma. The media ignores him though since they have a general bias towards endorsed candidates. The right wing people call him a liberal or a "nut job" since they follow their own blindly (in Bush's case, right off a cliff). They think all democrats are tree huggers and can't conduct a war properly to its end. The plan he has come up with is great, as you mentioned. But because it doesn't support Corporate interests, the media really has no interest in putting him anywhere in the limelight.

Answer 10

American oil companies - it and there is the unique Grandiose Problem of Americans !!! )))

America started to the climb to Iraq after oil, but not after Khusseyn or certain Ben Laden.. )))

And that is why all of these suggestions outside Kucinich - simply sabotaged the American oil magnates - what here incomprehensible?

Honestly speaking - does not know even, who it such Kuchinich..)))

but to the American magnates - military and oil - without a difference to Any "Kuchinich" !!! )))

do not Americans of it understand really ?