Don't Let Them Get Away With It (A Follow Up To 3 Facts That Can Change This Election)

[ihavenobias]

--I won't let them get away with it--

Last week I wrote about the 3 Facts That Can Change This Election (If We Share Them) and I know a lot of us DID share them: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6430781

But apparently no one in the mainstream media got the message. In fact, while it seems painfully obvious that McCain's tax/economic policies will screw the majority of Americans, the pundits on TV can't or won't say it. And look, I don't expect them to say it in a blunt and biased way.

But I have to ask, why not present the facts? They talk about huge deficits, national debt and the dollar but they're so TERRIFIED to take that next step. While it's true that both parties have serious flaws, I don't see what the public service is when we pretend that every issue is a 50/50 proposition. Conventional "wisdom" says we have massive national debt, so half the blame goes here and the other half goes there. BU!LSH!T.

Fact #1, over 70% of our National Debt was created by just 3 Republican presidents.

What's wrong with pointing that out? Wouldn't that in fact provide some historical context and clarity to the issue instead of an absurd and limited focus on the conventional wisdom that permeates Washington and says that Republicans are "fiscally responsible" and that Democrats always "tax and spend"?

And then there's the tax plan talk which disgusts me even more. At best you have top anchors on CNN and MSNBC saying (weakly and half heartedly) that "most" Americans won't have their taxes raised under Obama's proposed plan.

Are you kidding me? THAT is the framing they choose to go with? If you recall Fact #3, NINETY PERCENT OF AMERICANS would pay less taxes under Obama's proposed income tax plan compared to McCain's.

Not only is "most" an understatement (try "vast majority", or "9 out of 10" as examples of more appropriate phrases) but the whole frame is misleading. Why is the discussion framed to suggest that most Americans won't have their taxes raised rather than how the VAST majority of Americans will have their taxes CUT under Obama?!

And look, I understand I can't expect much better from the mainstream media (although I DO expect better from some of the weak and pathetic Democratic Strategists who don't deserve to collect a pay-check half the time). All I can do is continue to push the 3 Facts That Can Change This Election and hope that enough low-info voters (aka, Average Americans) see them or hear about them.

PS---Today I posted the 3 Facts at DailyKos. Please rec and comment here and there if you agree we can do better: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/8/131714/9990/928/548246)

[CherylK]

1. K & R!!! I get so mad I end up turning off the tv!

I already sent this to my email list but I will sign up to DK now!

:)

[Window]

2. Tom, have you thought of sending this to KeithO?

The talking heads are not going to tell the truth about these important facts.

Good rant.

:kick:

[ihavenobias]

6. A friend of mine did send it I think, but it was over the holiday weekend (bad timing)

I guess it wouldn't hurt to send it again, although I'm sure he gets thousands of emails every day (that his employees have to go through).

[navarth]

30. I've never had success getting emails to KO. Has anybody here?

What address did you use?

YES it's disgusting that the M$M won't talk about this. But then WHO OWNS the media?

The Pigs got wise after we impeached Nixon. They bought the microphone so they could control it. It's a daily source of wonder for me that they let KO and Rachel do what they do...especially after what they did to Phil 'deserves the medal of freedom' Donahue.

I know this has been mentioned here before...maybe we should think about viral emails.

[ihavenobias]

35. I'll have to ask my firend which one she uses and let you know n/t

[jgraz]

3. K&R

[matthewf]

4. Good follow up. K&R.

[NYC_SKP]

5. K&R Thanks. Clearly, the media is but a memory.

Who can deny that newspapers, cable new networks, and even the more popular blogs, have increasingly been neglecting truth and fairness in favor of ratings or promoting an agenda?

Still, many express shock at their failure to even pretend to be unbiased or to provide essential information.

My nerves are frayed, and my shock instinct has become desensitized and conditioned to expect nothing from them.

As an example, even Keith Olbermann soft balled the same questions to Hillary Clinton as were used by Larry King, in his interview that same day. Keith didn't include a caveat before or after.

All we have left are our own tools of intellect and reason, and the independent truthtellers, like ihavenobias, to provide us with the information needed to effectively participate in our own damn government.

Cheers to you, sir.

:toast:

:patriot:

[pleah]

7. I have gotten to the point of only "checking in" on the MSM,

because they rarely have real news on and because they are so biased. I end up angry with a headache and turn them off.

We have to keep speaking out to anyone and everyone about the real differences of the candidates.

There are so many out there that only get one source of news and believe every word they hear.

I do what I can to tell people the facts that are out there. My family seems to be the toughest sell , though.

[ihavenobias]

11. Sadly, 74% of Americans get their news from TV

according to the last numbers I saw.

I check in to see what the average voter is being exposed to.

[pleah]

8. K&R and I still say that the only way McCrazy can win is if the thugs steal it.

A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.
- Edward R. Murrow


To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.
- Abraham Lincoln
_________________________________

[flashl]

9. K/R nt

[Kaleko]

10. Ok, so you're saying 90 % of Americans will have their taxes CUT under Obama...

Is that right? ;-) Well, methinks we should start spreading the word. If people have time to question whether Rush Limbaugh is a drug-addicted pedophile, they can surely get excited about 90 % of Americans having their taxes CUT under Obama's plan.

[ihavenobias]

21. Well, to be fair

McCain cuts taxes across the board while Obama only cuts taxes for the middle and upper middle class (some might argue even the lower-upper class). Obama raises taxes on those making over 227k a year if I remember correctly.

The point is that the bottom 90% of Americans will pay LESS taxes under Obama's proposed plan compared to McCain's plan.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. I'm thinking of making this into a flyer to distribute,

if that would be ok with you.

[ihavenobias]

13. That'd be great(!), as long as the sources/links are there so people trust it

and can confirm the information.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

18. Thank you for giving me permission

I'll get on this as soon as I have some time (working 2 1/2 jobs and 60 + hour weeks at the moment).

[OhioChick]

14. K&R

Thanks for posting. :)

[theFrankFactor]

15. I'll Use it!

IHNB,

If you don't mind I might pull from your research and do a seg or two. I'm in a holding pattern right now as I tear down my studio. I need to set up a little temporary space. I'm also exploring launching a streaming TV channel so my time is divided.

These are critical issues but, as you know, we are screaming into a pillow. We're fucked media wise. For every drip of truth we get out a flood of sewage is returned. Word of mouth is powerful no doubt and we all need to work it.

Your research is very, very helpful and important.

[ihavenobias]

16. If Cenk can use it...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x155163

You can use it.

The important thing is to get this information out there and win this election (and many more to come). EVERYONE can and should use this.

[CherylK]

17. Bump!

[1Hippiechick]

19. I was pleasantly surprised at CNN's broadcasting today - they are our best MSM hope, IMHO

I LOVE the polished compilation that you have created, and it will serve many of us well.

As far as the MSM getting the message out, I was encouraged after seeing the following short clip today.

I LOVE this vidoe - McBomb McClaims refuted with soundbites - short and memorable

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/07/08/am.mccain.econ.plan.cnn?iref=videosearch

Actually, I was impressed with everything I saw posted on their website today.

So, I remain hopeful that the MSM will produce many more of these "soundbite approaches" because I think that is going to be the best way to reach "the masses" and get the message out.

I am going to trust CNN to be our MSM standard bearer.

[ihavenobias]

20. I'll check out that video but I've been betting on MSNBC, not CNN

Both are seriously deficient, but at least MSNBC has Olbermann and Maddow (with Dan Abrams coming in a distant but reasonable third).

CNN has Wolf Blitzer and other "moderate" dopes who buy into Republican framing 9 times out of 10 out of fear of being labeled liberal.

But to be fair I still need to watch your video clip. If they did a good job today I have to give credit where credit is due...

[1Hippiechick]

22. Please check out their other American Morning pieces - I had originally listed them in my post, but

was afraid that if others saw 3-4 links, none would get watched, so I opted for the "short memorable" one. LOL

On another clip Roberts took McBomb to task and at first, I thought Roberts was too easy on him. But after viewing a second time, I decided that if Roberts had been "perceived" as disrespectful, he would have lost credibility with his viewers, and he would have been accused of attacking McBomb.

Also, the clip w/Romney: Romney was brilliant, IMHO, but got nailed in not answering about Bush appearing w/McCain, etc., etc.

I had never realized that there is such a dramattic programming differences in AM and PM formats. If that is the case, I love what I saw this a.m. since the retirees most likely would be watching the a.m. formats.

[ihavenobias]

34. Wow...I just watched this clip of Chuck Todd of MSNBC on Obama and you might be right

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x155819

You believe that?

[ihavenobias]

23. He was decent, better than I expected I guess

Although I didn't like when he said "I'm not disagreeing with you" and I do think he could've nailed McCain harder.

I think the MSM fails miserably overall because they care about ratings first and the appearance of neutrality second (which often means accepting Republican framing to avoid the liberal tag).

And yes, the higher ups often have conservative ties, motives and leanings which doesn't help.

PS---Why didn't we hear about Rev. Hagee 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Instead we got Wright constantly on a 2 month loop. It was terrible. That's not just CNN, that's EVERY network.

[1Hippiechick]

31. Would you believe that I posted the longer interview instead of the short soundbite attack? Groan..

This link takes you to the main page of CNN's political videos. Look for the title, "Can McCain Balance the Budget?" Allan Chernoff checks the facts on Se. John McCain's pledge to balance the budget.
2:13 long - and I think it's short and memorable.

(I couldn't figure out how to post the one video - sorry)

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/politics

[gateley]

24. God! He is SO aggravating!

"Cut back on spending like Ronald Reagan" = slashing federal programs, closing mental health hospitals and other supportive actions. Breaking the unions.

That CNN guy was good - kept pressing him.

NOTE: I swear McCain's suit has been tailored with BIG shoulder pads (like I used to wear in the 80's!) to make him appear stronger and virile. I'm going to watch from here on out. Go back and look - BROAD shoulders.

[CherylK]

32. Yes he is

LOL on the should pads too!

[gateley]

25. K&R! nt

[formercia]

26. What good is Free Speech if nobody is listening?

The M$M is bought and paid for, for the most part, by right-wing reactionary elements in our society. Junior is smug, knowing that his masters learned their lesson from the Viet Nam War, and how 'Liberal propaganda' turned the population against the War. They realized that the only way to maintain control was to manage perception.

Look at the media coverage of the War in Iraq and Afghanistan vs the news coverage during Viet Nam. Show a picture of a dead GI today and you're out of there. There is no free speech as far as news coverage in the War zone. Look how many reporters have been killed covering the War. Most of them were not killed by enemy fire or accident, they were assassinated, plain and simple.

In 1975, William Simon, Bill Casey and others decided that the only way to control perception, was to engage in a massive campaign of media buyouts. This is why the people of this country can't get the truth. The name of the Federal Communications Commission needs to be changed to the Ministry of Propaganda.

[JBoris]

27. That is a great argument against half of the "tax and spend" talking point, but

does anyone have any good argument against the other half? The implication that Dems have/will implement(ed) "big government" policies?
I think it should be obvious that the neocon-repubs are the "big government" party. It should be obvious that their only talent is the consolidation and abuse of power, but then again it should be obvious that the neocons are unimaginably irresponsible with our economy.

This is great so far, I'm emailing it around. Thanks for the ammunition ihavenobias!

[ihavenobias]

41. Yes

But that's another post for another day. ;)

[liberalla]

28. Thank you - this is good!

:kick:

[formercia]

29. Had enough yet?

Put a sign in your front yard where everyone who drives by can see it.

Make people think about their own situation.


How's your bottom line?


Going broke yet?

Will you have a home come November?


Who did you vote for last election?


Short circuit their propaganda and get people to focus on their own situation.


Forget the wealthy, for them, life is good and they could give a shit for the most part.

[Radio_Lady]

33. K & R -- and I like your ideas, Formercia --

Huh. Just got a chuckle out of your screen name -- either Spanish, Italian, or ex-spook...!

[formercia]

36. former CIA.

:hi:

No relation to counter tops.

[Radio_Lady]

38. "No relation to counter tops....?" Oh, I just got it. Funny.

SeeU@theDU

Warm regards,

Ellen in Oregon

[formercia]

39. Were a big, happy family here.

Sometimes we squabble, but more often, hugs all around are in order.

and a big bear hug for you. :)

[ihavenobias]

42. As long as we don't talk about FISA

;)

[ihavenobias]

40. Make those signs and sell them! n/t

[uponit7771]

37. K&R

[OhioChick]

43. Morning Kick

for those who haven't seen it, yet.

:kick: