Personally, I dislike the cheerful format of the Kucinich Weekly Update, especially the music in the theme song and the polished communication style of the news anchor, but within this packaging, the Kucinich campaign actually makes some substantive points. In its interviews, it unpacks some of the reasons why MSNBC and its parent company GE excluded Kucinich from the debate.
I found this YouTube video on a post from Manila Ryce:
The Kucinich campaign argues that GE excluded Kucinich from the MSNBC debates in Las Vegas, Nevada because Kucinich opposes nuclear power plants and nuclear waste dumping grounds like Yucca Mountain, which is widely opposed by the people of Nevada. Apparently, GE (or General Electric) sells nuclear power plants, both equipment and services.
There are other reasons why GE excluded Kucinich from the MSNBC debates - he opposes war as an instrument of foreign policy, and GE’s subsidiary, Raytheon, relies on war and the prospect of war to sell their missile systems. In a very real sense, Raytheon is a warmonger, a company that trades in war. Raytheon and its parent company GE may not want all-out-war, but they want enough fear of war to convince us to purchase more defense systems. For Kucinich to suggest that we do not need any more nuclear power plants and that we should make every effort to minimize the prospect of war is too much for GE and children companies, Raytheon and MSNBC to bear.
3 responses so far ↓
1 michael // Jan 30, 2008 at 5:36 pm
This might be a nice website if I could preview my post, post immediately with out leaving my email, website, or waiting for approval. Otherwise I’m no big fan and your website will no longer be used by me.
Anyway, the hint of creepy happiness in the video and theme song aside… point taken. But this is no different from past elections. Debates are held by private entities and police presence at such events indicate that the state no longer has a monopoly on violence, but instead shares it with corporations. I remember the police threatening to arrest Ralph Nader when he attempted to attend a debate that he held a ticket for. He wasn’t allowed to debate – naturally? - but who’d have thought he would be banned from being in the audience? Well, it wasn’t even that new back then either.
Once upon a time I was under the impression that representatives were servants to the public. Whatever happened to my youth? Wasn’t it Kissinger that something like, “[The US doesn't have friends, it has interests].” I believe Noreena Hertz is still worth a read, “The Silent Takeover: Global Capitalism and the Death of Democracy” for starters. I suppose that book will be used as the first half of my follow-up to your post. The second half will be in the form of another book. Although I disagree with the authors’ personal opinions on many issues, I do believe it is an essential read for anyone who has or will ever use Google, Youtube, or anything on the Internet at all. Please read “Who Controls the Internet.” Or I can summarize it in about 15 minutes of talking over a glass of scotch or two.
Well, that such a thing should happen to Kucinich, me, or you. It’s not really a surprise. But I’m glad to see that people are starting to unite in some mediums (these YouTube videos for example).
I was reading something nice today about parliaments (written in days of yore). It went something like this, “[Parliaments] have not remained conscious of the revolutionary forces to which they owe their existence.” - Walter Benjamin
I think that’s still applicable.
2 Will Riley // Feb 26, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Great points Michael! I will try to find a way to allow posting without email addresses, and rely only on the captcha system to verify the author’s humanity. It’s sad that I have to using an impersonal captcha system, but its better than forcing a user to provide additional personal information.
3 Did McCain Subvert Pastor Rick’s Cone Of Silence? // Aug 18, 2008 at 4:30 pm
[...] we have is another facsimile of a public forum hosted by MSNBC. MSNBC couldn’t host a fair debate between the first round of presidential candidates, and now, they cannot host a fair forum for the presidential nominees they brought to center [...]
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