A Poor Decision by the Democrats
Democratic Party leaders recently decided to cancel a Nevada Democratic presidential debate that was going to be co-hosted by Fox News. The decision was apparently a retaliatory move in response to a recent joke by Fox News CEO, Roger Ailes, in which he said the following:
"It's true that Barack Obama is on the move…I don't know if it's true
President Bush called [Pakistan President Pervez] Musharraf and said, 'Why can't
we catch this guy?' "
The “deliberate confusion” (as charged by CNN) of Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden has outraged some in the party, and their anger may be justified depending on what you believe Ailes’ intentions were in making the remark. (Incidentally, the first person I shared the joke with thought it was a jab at President Bush… until I told them who said it.)
Regardless of Ailes intent, canceling the debate is an exceedingly poor decision. This is a priceless chance to get an unparsed Democratic message in front of a group of voters that rarely hear it.
Unfiltered political speech is increasingly rare on all the news outlets for either party today. For that reason, such opportunities must be seized and vigorously defended.
If you, as a Democrat or Republican, believe in your vision and your ideas, you should jump at chances to promote them – most especially to those who disagree with you. Safe, comfortable speeches to the already converted may make one feel good, but it does little to actually solve problems in a democratic political context.
Nothing good will come from this decision. Despite the foolish broader boycott being advocated by MoveOn.org, the withdrawal will not affect the conduct of Roger Ailes, or, more importantly, the economic performance of Fox News.
This decision only squanders a valuable opportunity to communicate with voters and contributes to the political polarization that is poisoning this country and frustrating any hope of progress on the major problems facing this country and the world.
9 comments:
This is a priceless chance to get an unparsed Democratic message in front of a group of voters that rarely hear it.
Who, devout Fox News viewers? Their minds are made up already.
Unfiltered political speech is increasingly rare on all the news outlets for either party today.
If the network on which I was appearing was as obviously biased against my party as Fox News is against the Democrats, I wouldn't delude myself into thinking that my speech was going to go "unfiltered."
Nothing good will come from this decision.
Well, it highlights all the more Fox News's role as the Republicans' propaganda arm.
I second what Steve says on this one. Debates are good, when they are true debates. But debates can also be controlled and manipulated by those who run them. I don't think Ailes' comment gave the country any insight we didn't already have into the beliefs held and expressed by Fox 'News;' but I don't believe, regardless of the comment, that the Democratic candidates would get an opportunity to actually present their ideas in a debate controlled by Fox. In other news, I owe you an email! And thanks for the one you sent me. :) Perhaps in my response I'll tell you the story of when my girlfriend and I were approached by Sean Hannity in a bar (Not the start of a bad joke!)and he propositioned us to let Fox do a story on us to highlight dating in America. As much as I'm all for dating in America, and as much as I'm all for dating my particular girlfriend in America, I just somehow don't trust Hannity to be the one to non-biasedly report on the virtues of lesbian dating. Call me crazy.
I think the concern that the debate may not be fair is valid, but what is the alternative? Say nothing? It is an option, but I think a terrible one.
Steve, I reject the notion that ALL Fox News viewers already have their minds made up. I know a lot of people in the heart of the south that watch Fox and consistently vote Republican and yet are still very reasonable. Part of the problem is that many of these people have lived in Republican districts their entire lives, and have rarely, if ever, met a serious, respectable Democratic politician. (Of course, the opposite is true for many life long Democrats) Their opinion of the party and its candidates is almost entirely shaped by people like Roger Ailes, and institutions like Fox News.
In short, there is NO political debate in these areas.
The Democratic Party MUST abandon this mindset that wholly cedes certain demographics to the Republicans. I understand the logic that leads to this in Presidential campaigns with a national audience and limited funds, but embracing this strategy indefinitely is only going to increase polarization and gridlock.
In other words, instead of just asking "What is Wrong with Kansas", shaking their heads and moving on, the Democrats need to be figuring out what about the Democratic party could be appealing to Kansas, and getting themselves out there and selling it.
I'm not saying this will be easy, pleasant or even effective in the short term - but it is the only way in which progress will be made.
I think you make a great point Jared. I think the Democrats should have taken this opportunity to get their message out. The comment by Mr. Ailes highlights a couple of interesting things about today's political climate. First of all, Mr. Ailes' comment was a cheap shot that makes him sound arrogant and tasteless. If conservatives think they can joke their way into the whitehouse in 2008 then they are seriously mistaken. Second of all, the Democrats' response makes them seem too thin-skinned. I say show up for the debates and demonstrate that you are not afraid of your political rivals. The cool thing about Barak Obama is that I think he could take a comment like Mr. Aisles and turn it against him. Mr. Obama is smooth and knows how to fend for himself. This debate would be a great place for Democrats to get their ideas out to conservatives.
I think the concern that the debate may not be fair is valid, but what is the alternative? Say nothing? It is an option, but I think a terrible one.
Really?? If you gave me a choice between speaking my mind and having my words twisted, or staying silent, I will pick the latter every time. If I have reason to suspect that you're going to make me look a fool or treat me unfairly, how is it NOT in my interest to avoid that? That is more damaging than being unheard. Besides, there will be another forum another day, one without the nonsense that comes with the Fox News territory.
Their opinion of the party and its candidates is almost entirely shaped by people like Roger Ailes, and institutions like Fox News.
Why? Is this the only news station they get down there? Change the channel.
In other words, instead of just asking "What is Wrong with Kansas", shaking their heads and moving on, the Democrats need to be figuring out what about the Democratic party could be appealing to Kansas, and getting themselves out there and selling it.
This is not always possible. Lots of people are one- or few-issue voters. I personally know people whose voting decisions are entirely shaped by things like gay marriage and abortion. How do you talk to such people about foreign policy or Social Security or health care? It doesn't matter to them.
If conservatives think they can joke their way into the whitehouse in 2008 then they are seriously mistaken.
It worked in 2004. I seem to recall a video of the President "humorously" looking under the furniture for WMDs...
Steve, I didn't see the video of the President looking under the desk for WMD. However, If I had seen it I would have laughed. That kind of self depricating humor works with people.
Steve, I watch Fox News. I also watch CNN, MSNBC, PBS, NBC, ABC and occasionally CBS. All networks have their core audiences and their own editorial biases. As viewers, we are guilty of interpreting the news with our own biases. We can't avoid either reality. If the Democrats want to lead America then they are going to have to try to communicate and connect with conservative Americans. The same is true for Republicans, they need to communicate and connect with liberals.
This is a great debate - and a very important one. I found a couple of interesting lines in a politco.com article I wanted to share. (Here is the full link: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3108.html)
"Fox News is by far the most watched cable news network in the country (and the third highest rated channel on basic cable to boot). According to Nielsen ratings for last month, Fox’s viewership during primetime (1.6 million) beat both CNN (780,000) and MSNBC (464,000) combined."
"It is well understood that Fox’s normal viewers are not typical Democratic voters. But contrary to the caricature drawn by the Netroots, nor are they typically raving right-wingers. In fact, according to a study by Mediamark Research, only 38 percent of Fox News viewers self-identified as conservative. In terms of sheer numbers, that means the non-conservative audience for Fox tops CNN’s total viewership."
Steve, I think your concern about having your words twisted is valid and important, but I assume you believe that Fox will do this anyway - and that they are already doing it.
If so, why not at least have them air the debate itself in which they show what Democrats say (at least once when it takes place)? Otherwise, you are left with their selective reporting of Democrats around the country - absent any context, explanation or rebuttal.
At least with a full debate shown on Fox, you get a pure Democratic message put forth (at least once when it is oringally aired).
That kind of self depricating humor works with people.
I guess I don't find jokes about intelligence so badly flawed (or faked) that thousands of American soldiers have died over it very funny. But maybe that's just me.
If the Democrats want to lead America then they are going to have to try to communicate and connect with conservative Americans.
With the moderates, at least. Bill Clinton was good at that. The Pat Robertson kind of conservatives are a lost cause, just as the Jane Fonda kind of liberals are a lost cause for the Republicans.
In fact, according to a study by Mediamark Research, only 38 percent of Fox News viewers self-identified as conservative.
Part of this has to be a result of the recent use of "libertarian," especially as applied to oneself, to mean "conservative who is not very religious."
At least with a full debate shown on Fox, you get a pure Democratic message put forth (at least once when it is oringally aired).
Fox News has made its biases abundantly clear. To trust them to transmit the "pure Democratic message" seems unwise.
As you say, Fox News is going to pounce on the debate after it's over regardless of whether they themselves air it. But if you force the telecast onto, say, NBC or ABC, then viewers who don't change the channel immediately afterward have a shot at hearing some rational discussion instead of screeching insanity. The right-wing devotees will switch to Fox for the purpose of political masturbation, but they are the aforementioned lost cause anyway.
We demand new content!
Also: McCain's total failure to participate in reality and total willingness to lie outright continues.
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