Kucinich Wins Debate Poll, ABC Covers Up Results
| Wed Aug. 22, 2007 7:49 AM PDT
Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich's supporters (and, according to his website, even some non-supporters) are demanding that ABC explain its actions of the last few days.
On Monday afternoon, Congressman Kucinich took a significant lead in the ABC online poll: Who won the Democratic debate? About the time that he took that lead, ABC removed the poll from its prominent position on the ABC website. Then a new poll suddenly went up, "Who is winning the Democratic debate?"
Those events could be seen as technical glitches, but there was more to come. Kucinich took the lead in the second poll, also, and that poll, too, was dropped. ABC also "forgot" to announce the results (Kucinich tied with Sen. Hillary Clinton as the winner), and news about the poll is nowhere to be seen on the ABC website. Kucinich was also cut out of a group photo of all the candidates in the debate.
It's a wonder viewers were even able to vote for Kucinich in the poll. He was not permitted to answer a question from debate moderator George Stephanopoulos until the debate had been under way for half an hour.
So far, the network has failed to respond to questions about these events.
Continues Below
Continued From Above
Comments
Submitted by Anita Stewart (not verified) on Wed Aug. 22, 2007 1:16 PM PDT.
The LA Times accused the campaign of manipulating the poll results as well.
See the following:
This was great, written by a member of the 35Percenter Blog Group...(Kucinich Supporters)
Anita
http://taureandevi. wordpress. com/2007/ 08/20/kucinich- winner-of- abc-debate- poll/#comment- 1642
Kucinich winner of ABC Debate Poll
Posted by Danielle under Active Activism, Kucinich, 2008 Election, On Politics, Media
Most networks, at least all that have hosted a political debate offer a method for viewers to judge the performance of the candidates, either generally or by issue. Yesterday's ABC debate was no different. Most smart campaigners get the word out to supporters on the debate and provide a link to the poll, makes a lot of sense, right. A link to the poll is available on the network's main page as well as being promoted during the broadcast as a way for the viewer to get involved.
Many people responded yesterday and the winner of the ABC Democratic Debate was deemed to be Dennis J. Kucinich, Congressman from Ohio and future leader of the Nation.
You can cast your vote and see for yourself the results here.
This is not a scientific poll but a poll measuring the impact of the candidate's performance created and maintained by the ABC network and the people responded.
Anita Stewart, Deputy Director of Virtual Outreach for the Kucinich campaign emailed L.A. Times reporter Mark Barabak in response to his article entitled "Clinton, Obama take center stage at Iowa debate" in order to draw attention to the poll and urge the media to mention the results considering that Kucinich was selected to speak only 4 or 5 times and each time the audience responded with applause it was cut off while the other candidate's applause reactions were granted 2-4 seconds of recognition.
The response of Mark Barabak was that they do not base political coverage on opinion polls especially those that are unscientific and "so obviously manipulated by orchestrated campaigns."
Since the poll was not a scientific one, that point holds water but opinion polls is all what is being reported when it comes the perception of the American public's opinion of the candidates. The last line is the stickler: "especially ones?so obviously manipulated by orchestrated campaigns." This is an attack on the integrity of the results they choose not to report upon and a loosely veiled accusation.
The article's only mention of Dennis Kucinich was:
"Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, often overlooked in such settings, drew a big laugh with his response. "George," he said, "I've been standing here for the last 45 minutes praying to God you were going to call on me."
Read the article here.
Email your comments on the article to the authors: mark.barabak@ latimes.com and peter.nicholas@ latimes.com
Here is what I wrote:
Mr. Barabak,
The ABC debate was not conducted with democratic equality in mind and
your article clearly echoed that approach in your reporting of the
debate. The article entitled "Clinton, Obama take center stage at the
Iowa debate" is based on what exactly. The ABC poll created and
maintained by the network hosting the debate clearly shows that the
viewers saw Dennis Kucinich as the perceived winner of the debate which
cannot be reconciled with your article's title.
Did you perhaps conduct an independent, scientific poll in order to
back up the premise of your article? The media continues to push
Clinton and Obama in the public's eye mainly based on opinion polls
completely ignoring the popularity of Kucinich. When it is reported
that only 2% of Americans support Kucinich that number is only
reflective of the exclusion of his campaign by the media.
When the viewers respond favorably to the debate network's website you
accuse the Kucinich campaign of manipulating the results which is more
than exclusionary but slanderous.
Weigh the responsibility you hold to the American public as a reporter
with the L.A. Times every time you set down to write an article.
The response I received did not include the direct slanderous accusation of the Kucinich campaign, legally a very smart thing to omit.
http://action.dennis4president.com
http://www.myspace.com/kucinich2008
Anita Stewart
http://action.dennis4president.com/AnitaStewart
http://action.dennis4president.com
http://www2.kucinich.us
http://www.myspace.com/kucinich2008
Deputy Director of Virtual Outreach
Dennis 4 President Campaign 2008
Submitted by Anita Stewart (not verified) on Wed Aug. 22, 2007 1:16 PM PDT.
The LA Times accused the campaign of manipulating the poll results as well.
See the following:
This was great, written by a member of the 35Percenter Blog Group...(Kucinich Supporters)
Anita
http://taureandevi. wordpress. com/2007/ 08/20/kucinich- winner-of- abc-debate- poll/#comment- 1642
Kucinich winner of ABC Debate Poll
Posted by Danielle under Active Activism, Kucinich, 2008 Election, On Politics, Media
Most networks, at least all that have hosted a political debate offer a method for viewers to judge the performance of the candidates, either generally or by issue. Yesterday's ABC debate was no different. Most smart campaigners get the word out to supporters on the debate and provide a link to the poll, makes a lot of sense, right. A link to the poll is available on the network's main page as well as being promoted during the broadcast as a way for the viewer to get involved.
Many people responded yesterday and the winner of the ABC Democratic Debate was deemed to be Dennis J. Kucinich, Congressman from Ohio and future leader of the Nation.
You can cast your vote and see for yourself the results here.
This is not a scientific poll but a poll measuring the impact of the candidate's performance created and maintained by the ABC network and the people responded.
Anita Stewart, Deputy Director of Virtual Outreach for the Kucinich campaign emailed L.A. Times reporter Mark Barabak in response to his article entitled "Clinton, Obama take center stage at Iowa debate" in order to draw attention to the poll and urge the media to mention the results considering that Kucinich was selected to speak only 4 or 5 times and each time the audience responded with applause it was cut off while the other candidate's applause reactions were granted 2-4 seconds of recognition.
The response of Mark Barabak was that they do not base political coverage on opinion polls especially those that are unscientific and "so obviously manipulated by orchestrated campaigns."
Since the poll was not a scientific one, that point holds water but opinion polls is all what is being reported when it comes the perception of the American public's opinion of the candidates. The last line is the stickler: "especially ones?so obviously manipulated by orchestrated campaigns." This is an attack on the integrity of the results they choose not to report upon and a loosely veiled accusation.
The article's only mention of Dennis Kucinich was:
"Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, often overlooked in such settings, drew a big laugh with his response. "George," he said, "I've been standing here for the last 45 minutes praying to God you were going to call on me."
Read the article here.
Email your comments on the article to the authors: mark.barabak@ latimes.com and peter.nicholas@ latimes.com
Here is what I wrote:
Mr. Barabak,
The ABC debate was not conducted with democratic equality in mind and
your article clearly echoed that approach in your reporting of the
debate. The article entitled "Clinton, Obama take center stage at the
Iowa debate" is based on what exactly. The ABC poll created and
maintained by the network hosting the debate clearly shows that the
viewers saw Dennis Kucinich as the perceived winner of the debate which
cannot be reconciled with your article's title.
Did you perhaps conduct an independent, scientific poll in order to
back up the premise of your article? The media continues to push
Clinton and Obama in the public's eye mainly based on opinion polls
completely ignoring the popularity of Kucinich. When it is reported
that only 2% of Americans support Kucinich that number is only
reflective of the exclusion of his campaign by the media.
When the viewers respond favorably to the debate network's website you
accuse the Kucinich campaign of manipulating the results which is more
than exclusionary but slanderous.
Weigh the responsibility you hold to the American public as a reporter
with the L.A. Times every time you set down to write an article.
The response I received did not include the direct slanderous accusation of the Kucinich campaign, legally a very smart thing to omit.
http://action.dennis4president.com
http://www.myspace.com/kucinich2008
Anita Stewart
http://action.dennis4president.com/AnitaStewart
http://action.dennis4president.com
http://www2.kucinich.us
http://www.myspace.com/kucinich2008
Deputy Director of Virtual Outreach
Dennis 4 President Campaign 2008
Submitted by kelli king (not verified) on Wed Aug. 22, 2007 9:51 AM PDT.
I saw this happen the other day. Blew me away. Thanks Mother Jones for reporting the blatant misconduct of ABC.
Below is a link to an older list of ABC Advertisers with Contact Info posted on the dailykos. Go beyond ABC. Go to their advertisers.
Dennis always wins Democratic debates because he is the only one who answers the questions and always gives informed answers. (Well, to give Al Sharpton credit, he was the only one to give Dennis any competition last time around.)
Stepahnopoulis is a punk...when he is in front of a camera anyway.
This is pretty shocking. I'm especially upset by it since I have not been happy with Obama's ties to coal. And, the latest article in MoJo about Hillary's religiosity makes me think she's probably the best REPUBLICAN candidate out there. This is causing me to look to Edwards, Kucinich, and Richardson for better alternatives.
Submitted by TarGator (not verified) on Wed Aug. 22, 2007 10:10 AM PDT.
Could it be that the polls were dropped because of concern over them being freep? I know these are only online polls but if the results were being skewed too much, I could see taking it down. No explanation for the group photo thing though.
I am not a Kucinich fan given the whole "Worst Mayor in America" thing, sending Cleveland into bankruptcy, and being very weird, but he should still be allowed to participate (until we put a ban on the number of times someone can run for president).
TarBaby, who called DK "Worst"? Was it a media outlet? Who or what owns said outlet? Why are the five mega corps that own most all our TV/print/radio so very terrified of Kucinich?
He is leading a peaceful revolution that will end their gravy train. Here is the kicker, the vast majority of all Americans support his positions. Not just Democrats but Republicans, Independents, Greens, apathetics, non-voters, alienated....everyone wants the F. out of Iraq NOW
Health CARE for all
not health INSURANCE for all
Dennis will do away with the entire blood sucking industry like it does not exist in any other country.
Out of NAFTA, WTO....really protect American jobs instead of lip service.
Sorry MisScot, Edwards and Richardson are plastic creations like all others on that stage, members in the CFR and soulless shills for corporate fascism, except Dennis(and Gravel of course)
Ron Paul has seen the exact same "phenomenon" several times now.
He wins the online polls after each debate, and the polls are either reset at the point that it becomes obvious that he's far ahead, or the results are quickly removed from the network's site after the poll is closed.
Ladies & Gents, it's painfully obvious that the MSM and the top dogs in the two wings of our single "Mobius Party" are in bed together.
Outsiders and those who aren't "team players" can look forward to being ignored and buried.
It's clearly up to US, if we want real change in government. We've got to be ACTIVE in supporting the candidates who represent REAL change in DC.
Are we up to the task?
Submitted by Anita Stewart (not verified) on Wed Aug. 22, 2007 1:16 PM PDT.
The LA Times accused the campaign of manipulating the poll results as well.
See the following:
This was great, written by a member of the 35Percenter Blog Group...(Kucinich Supporters)
Anita
http://taureandevi. wordpress. com/2007/ 08/20/kucinich- winner-of- abc-debate- poll/#comment- 1642
Kucinich winner of ABC Debate Poll
Posted by Danielle under Active Activism, Kucinich, 2008 Election, On Politics, Media
Most networks, at least all that have hosted a political debate offer a method for viewers to judge the performance of the candidates, either generally or by issue. Yesterday's ABC debate was no different. Most smart campaigners get the word out to supporters on the debate and provide a link to the poll, makes a lot of sense, right. A link to the poll is available on the network's main page as well as being promoted during the broadcast as a way for the viewer to get involved.
Many people responded yesterday and the winner of the ABC Democratic Debate was deemed to be Dennis J. Kucinich, Congressman from Ohio and future leader of the Nation.
You can cast your vote and see for yourself the results here.
This is not a scientific poll but a poll measuring the impact of the candidate's performance created and maintained by the ABC network and the people responded.
Anita Stewart, Deputy Director of Virtual Outreach for the Kucinich campaign emailed L.A. Times reporter Mark Barabak in response to his article entitled "Clinton, Obama take center stage at Iowa debate" in order to draw attention to the poll and urge the media to mention the results considering that Kucinich was selected to speak only 4 or 5 times and each time the audience responded with applause it was cut off while the other candidate's applause reactions were granted 2-4 seconds of recognition.
The response of Mark Barabak was that they do not base political coverage on opinion polls especially those that are unscientific and "so obviously manipulated by orchestrated campaigns."
Since the poll was not a scientific one, that point holds water but opinion polls is all what is being reported when it comes the perception of the American public's opinion of the candidates. The last line is the stickler: "especially ones so obviously manipulated by orchestrated campaigns." This is an attack on the integrity of the results they choose not to report upon and a loosely veiled accusation.
The article's only mention of Dennis Kucinich was:
"Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, often overlooked in such settings, drew a big laugh with his response. "George," he said, "I've been standing here for the last 45 minutes praying to God you were going to call on me."
Read the article here.
Email your comments on the article to the authors: mark.barabak@ latimes.com and peter.nicholas@ latimes.com
Here is what I wrote:
Mr. Barabak,
The ABC debate was not conducted with democratic equality in mind and
your article clearly echoed that approach in your reporting of the
debate. The article entitled "Clinton, Obama take center stage at the
Iowa debate" is based on what exactly. The ABC poll created and
maintained by the network hosting the debate clearly shows that the
viewers saw Dennis Kucinich as the perceived winner of the debate which
cannot be reconciled with your article's title.
Did you perhaps conduct an independent, scientific poll in order to
back up the premise of your article? The media continues to push
Clinton and Obama in the public's eye mainly based on opinion polls
completely ignoring the popularity of Kucinich. When it is reported
that only 2% of Americans support Kucinich that number is only
reflective of the exclusion of his campaign by the media.
When the viewers respond favorably to the debate network's website you
accuse the Kucinich campaign of manipulating the results which is more
than exclusionary but slanderous.
Weigh the responsibility you hold to the American public as a reporter
with the L.A. Times every time you set down to write an article.
The response I received did not include the direct slanderous accusation of the Kucinich campaign, legally a very smart thing to omit.
http://action.dennis4president.com
http://www.myspace.com/kucinich2008
Anita Stewart
http://action.dennis4president.com/AnitaStewart
http://action.dennis4president.com
http://www2.kucinich.us
http://www.myspace.com/kucinich2008
Deputy Director of Virtual Outreach
Dennis 4 President Campaign 2008
The following webpage says Kucinich killed, but follows with "this is not a scientific survey." The fact that the poll results are not mentioned on any TV show or newspaper is highly suspect.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Decision2008/popup?id=3493427
Wait, so what you're arguing is that not only was he not able to properly articipate in the debate, but he was also perceived as the winner by viewers? I don't get it. How can he win something he wasn't really a part of.
I'm pretty sure the poll was taken down because it was getting hammered with duplicate Kucinich votes.
And yeah, it sucks that he didn't get equal time at the debate, but to say he was intentionally censored seems a little over the top. He's just less newsworthy than other candidates so they give him less time at the debates [and he is less newsworthy because his poll numbers are very low, which in turn is because a huge number of people don't like his policies, unfortunate, but true]
If he was found to get, say, 10% of a poll somewhere, you can bet the the news would be all over this. They certainly wouldn't suppress it, because it would be crazy news and would generate viewers.
I don't know why he was cropped out of the photo, but the idea that ABC has an agenda seems like a serious stretch.
I'm voting for Kucinich because I think he's the one with the best policy proposals.
It's really terrible how the media have been treating candidates such as Kucinich or Paul who don't have ties with the corporate world and whose speeches actually make sense.
Kucinich was bound to win the debates as long as he could open his mouth. Kucinich resonates with the threatened middle class on jobs and on health care and with those Americans who want peace.
Many of us have become increasingly disillusioned with our Democratic politicians when they not only failed to pursue impeachment, but added insult to injury by voting for the new bankruptcy bill, for some of the pharmaceutical industry give-aways, and for funding for the war.
For myself, when I finally mentally juxtaposed our over-inflated economy with Pelosi action on the Iran amendment that 's when the light finally came on. What would peace do to the economy when we currently have an unfavorable trade deficit with China and we are so deeply in debt to China? I began to wonder what would happen to the unemployment rate if all our soldiers came home as more and more American jobs are outsourced, and what few jobs remain are related to the defense industry? I suddenly realized that neither a neocon nor a centrist will ever regret voting for the war or the Patriot Act.
"Only a bad economy might cause voters to turn upon their politicians more viciously than they have after a war gone bad." The neocons responsible for the war and the centrists responsible for the free trade agreements simply must collude to ensure America's continued participation in the war to avoid the political and economic repercussions of peace in a country with a war dependent economy!!
Yesterday I read an OpEd article by Michael Shelby Dennis Kucinich stole my line!. This quote is awfully relevant to the millions of anxious Americans without health insurance: "Medicare and the Veterans Administration provides healthcare at overhead costs of less than 3%. Why are we allowing the current healthcare delivery system that gouges the American people for an unnecessary 27% add-on cost to continue!?!" If we might have been just able to afford a health care reform package at those prices during the Clinton years, Americans surely can't now with the deficit looming on the horizon, the economy tanking, and the cost of health care continuing to inflate & soar ever further out of reach of the middle class. Foreclosures are up 95% over what they were this time last year...and the cost of health care is one of the primary contributions to the risk of foreclosure; I have the link somewhere if anyone wants it, I'll locate it.
Submitted by TarGator (not verified) on Thu Aug. 23, 2007 5:23 AM PDT.
"Melvin G. Holli in consultation with a panel of experts, placed Kucinich among the ten worst big-city mayors of all time for reasons of temperament and performance in the book, Best and Worst of the Big-City Leaders 1820-1993."
Found on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayoral_administration_of_Dennis_Kucinich.
"Foreclosures are up 95% over what they were this time last year...and the cost of health care is one of the primary contributions to the risk of foreclosure; I have the link somewhere if anyone wants it, I'll locate it."
No doubt, medical costs are large, but I think you're setting up a pro-healthcare reform straw man here. It's pretty clear that soaring foreclosures are a direct consequence of people taking out subprime loans that they could not afford beyond the initial teaser period (when they were paying only the interest or in many cases LESS than the interest!).
Sure, healthcare is a significant cost for families, but I think bringing up the real estate market weakens your point.
Firstly, re: TarGator. Kucinich ruining Cleveland as mayor is retread anti-kucinich propaganda from the 2004 cycle. You need to get up to speed on the story. Kucinich fought the corporate pick-pockets of Cleveland in the 70's and was thanked for it in the 90's. I'm sure you can google more about it than this: http://www.truthdig.com/interview/item/20061214_battle_muny_light/
Truthdig - Interviews - The Charge of the Muny Light Brigade
or this: http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/2003/08/we_533_01.html
Secondly, I've had a couple of discussions about this elsewhere. Something to remember about why this is important: this type of 'polling' is used to generally manage name recognition, validity of the candidate in the eyes of the viewers, or to generally promote the chosen top tier candidates' visibility. (obviously, or they wouldn't have tried to hide kucinich (nor Ron Paul) while they plaster dem and pubbie chosen candidates on their websites and on whatever tv news org. that reports it).
It's a game. The name of the game is visibility and implied credibility. As long as the MSM stooge reporting the results says, 'unscientific poll', it's cool, they've covered their butts and the unassuming viewers are left with the impression that these are valid candidates because ABC, CBS, NBC and the Cable News orgs said so. I mean, it was on the news wasn't it?
All the other candidates' campaigns and supporters do exactly what they are accusing kucinich & supporters of. Don't hear no squawkin' about their freep activity. I'm pretty sure there's a way to set up a one time only vote. Of course, the poll couldn't be managed to their ends quite so handily.
I can't express enough scorn at the hypocrisy of the same people eager to use these polls when it reflects their 'top tier' strategy insisting that it's being 'freeped' by one or more Kucinich supporter. Everyone involved online knows these polls are used by all the campaigns to 'freep' the outcome. Kucinich won this time. kinda big, too, which seems to be somehow worrisome to one of the recently established ways of managing the voters/consumers.
The mentality of the people who drive the process reminds me of Jr. High cliques. It's like they plateaued emotionally in 8th or 9th grade.
Submitted by Alex (not verified) on Thu Aug. 23, 2007 12:49 PM PDT.
Kucinich definitely won the debate. However, he is the people's candidate, not the corporate candidate. This is why ABC wants to hide him. This is why he saved the people of Cleveland hundreds of millions of dollars in utility costs for standing up to the attempted corporate take-over of the city-owned power company and was declared a hero by the people of Cleveland.
Kucinich is the only candidate who had the courage to stand up and lead the opposition to the war in Iraq. He is the only candidate with the courage to lead the opposition to a planned war with Iran. He is the only candidate with the courage to call for non-profit health care. All the other candidates want the insurance companies to get the health care profits as they deny coverage to the patients. Kucinich is the only candidate to oppose USA-PATRIOT and its renewal. Kucinich is definitely the man of the people and ABC wants the people to lose in 2008. The only way the people win is to refuse to give in to corporate lies and suppression. The people can own the election of 2008 by electing Dennis Kucinich the next President of the United States.
Submitted by Patrick Michaels (not verified) on Thu Aug. 23, 2007 10:26 PM PDT.
Take a peek at this YouTube parody site of this event, enjoy it, share it, and also, note that the two Tracks(polls) are listed in the 'more' area of the right of the page, so you can still vote for your 'favorite' in this Dem Horse Race.
bugs bugs bugs,
Actually, health expenses have long been the number one cause of bankruptcy in this country. This is not a short term thing like the sub-primes either. This is a long running many year problem. Nationalized health care is the answer here, just as it is in the rest of the developed democratic nations of the world.
Maryjo K,
You have a very good point. However, even if neither Paul nor Kucinich gets the nod, please please please vote. There's still bound to be a lesser evil. Of course, feel free to vote Kthulu if you don't want a lesser evil.
Targator, Kucinich's "worst mayor" award has been long since discredited. His actions actually SAVED the city. Oftentimes, if not all the time, short-term results might appear grim but long-term they are a god send. That's why he was elected back into Congress.
I may not agree with his socialist policies (I am a Ron Paul supporter 200%) but as a politician he has done a great job.
Submitted by Clarkb (not verified) on Fri Aug. 24, 2007 7:24 PM PDT.
Sassykathy is right on. Her comments reflect an articulate point of view that many Americans feel.
How about a follow up Mother Jones? Good work.
Here are new details on this sordid affair:
http://mediabloodhound.typepad.com/weblog/2007/08/special-report.html?ci...
Submitted by thepoetryman (not verified) on Wed Sep. 5, 2007 1:17 PM PDT.
What are people so afraid of? The truth?
It is rather telling of our supposed "liberal media" bias. Sounds to me like they're all sold down the oily river.
poetryman, poetryman
if you can't do it
no one can
to post a note one week later
bitch slap hilary
or be a hater
liberal bias indeed
as Orwell
woulda said or we all
go to hell
come back at me on truth
nine eleven
fires we'll light
fuel numb masses
rocket to heaven
co-pilot dennis gonna get
His due, with cheney
swinging from an old oak tree
Posted by TarGator:
"I am not a Kucinich fan given the whole "Worst Mayor in America" thing, sending Cleveland into bankruptcy, and being very weird, but he should still be allowed to participate (until we put a ban on the number of times someone can run for president)."
From Wikipedia:
"In 1998 the council honored him for having the "courage and foresight" to stand up to the banks and saving the city an estimated $195 million between 1985 and 1995."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Kucinich#Cleveland_Mayoralty.2C_1977...
When Kucinich was Mayor of Cleveland he had the FORESIGHT to not sell the power company which actually benefited the people. It was the BAnk which was trying to blackmail him, which is responsible for the default! Look it up! Nice to see a man who has some FORESIGHT rather than relying on HINDSIGHT and saying oops!
Why did the people of Ohio elect him as congressman? hmm... that's because they understood he made the right decision!
ABC received a heated email from me about Dennis not being allowed to participate in this debate. It is then - to me - not! a debate because all bona fide candidates are not participating. The media in this country is a laugh - none of us are getting real information unless we are online - and know the sites to search (and of course seek correct information).
Why do you assume the poll was skewed? Many Americans who are paying attention are trying to get the message out that, since the media won't report the truth, we need to use every communication device available. It's obvious what's happening here: Kucinich would be the only candidate to risk his political career to stand up to big media and make the FCC do its job. That scares the beejeebers out of the corporatists. His sin in Cleveland was to stand up to them when they wanted to steal the public utility company and the banks foreclosed on Cleveland's loans to protect the thieves. When Cleveland realized Kucinich had been right (the now privately held utility started raising energy rates on the populace), the people of Cleveland elected Kucinich to Congress. Catch a clue: we need Kucinich running the country and we need to toss the money-chasers out of democracy's temple (the U.S. Capitol).
I just took another look at the "ABC News: Who Do You Think Won the Democratic Debate?" site (see http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Decision2008/popup?id=3493427) which is now blank except for the header and footer. I clicked View, then Source and found this (I've edited out extraneous code, which you may view yourself):
Dennis Kucinich 15,500
Barack Obama 9,310
Hillary Clinton 5,893
Joe Biden 3,499
John Edwards 3,291
Nobody won. I'm voting Republican. 1,882
Nobody won. I'm waiting for Al Gore to get in the race.
1,447
Mike Gravel 1,278
Bill Richardson 1,187
Chris Dodd 208
Total Vote: 43,495
