The following started as a comment on Booman’s recent post “Bernie is Stronger Than People Think.” (http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2019/2/20/133331/676) It grew.
Read on.
But first…if you have not done so already…read what he had to say. As always, his insight into what has been mainstream politics and the way it has worked over the past 50 years or so is spot on.
The question is…will it work the same way this time?
I don’t think so.
Wishful thinking?
Quite possibly.
Sorry…I am an almost incurable optimist.
Read on.
Booman writes:
After Bernie Sanders announced that he will make another run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, I spent some time watching the news coverage on MSNBC and CNN. I also skimmed through more than a dozen news articles at major newspapers. The impression I got, although anecdotal, is that there is a common wisdom on the center-left that Sanders is a spent force in American politics.
Sadly…I got yer “common wisdom,” Booman.
Right here!!!
MSNBC, CNN, the rest of the news networks and the (round up the usual suspects) “major newspapers” are all in the pocket of corporate interests.
Why do I say that?
Besides the obvious evidence? The last 50+ years of consistent media bias against any politicians of any party who even hinted that they might like to lessen the power of the corporate world and/or the Deep State over Washington DC?
Because they are supported by advertising revenues, that’s why. Leaving aside the overwhelmingly well-proven interference with political reporting from the Deep State/CIA etc., the people who run those media organizations know full well on which side their bread is buttered. They may run a sort of faux “balanced” coverage, especially if they are a generally respected old newspaper of record (Yes, I mean the NY Times. Sigh…), but in the final analysis their coverage always remains clearly biased towards the middle.
Bernie?
They cooperated in the DNC/HRC-led efforts to get rid of him in 2016.
They will do the same…along with any other truly corporation-threatening candidates…in 2020.
That’s a given.
What is not a given…and the main reason why I am so happy so far with politicians like Beto O’Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez…is that there is now a serious question of just how much influence the mainstream media really possess.
I will tell you one thing that I have personally observed over the past 20 years or so. They have almost no influence…in fact, more of a reverse influence…over the dominant minorities in his country.
And…they have less every year.
Who are these minorities?
Duh.
The African-American population, the Hispanic population and…now more than ever before…the young population.
Why?
Well…the evidence is in as far as most African-Americans and Hispanics are concerned. No matter how many people of color these media may hype, corporate control means continuance of the caste system by any means necessary. The old saying from post slavery-days goes like his:
You white?
Alright!!!
You brown?
Stick aroun’.
You black?
Step back!!!
Yup.
Now?
Nothing much new in that respect except for a few super-hyped , corporate-owned Judas goats.
The young?
I got news fer ya.
They ain’t watching those channels or paying much attention to what the print media say.
And all three of these major minorities…plus a fourth “minority,” the non-voters who do not fit into any of the above categories…are waiting around. Watching the big show, looking for someone who not only speaks to them but for them.
Together with the regular base Democratic vote, these groups could make a landslide Dem victory a sure thing.
The problem?
Sure.
The DNC is also owned by the same interests as are the media, and the primary voters are heavily non-“minority.” They are the ones who are still under the spell of TV and print media.
The worm is turning. That is undeniably true.
The question that remains is…will it turn fast enough for 2020?
I don’t know.
I certainly hope so.
Let us pray.
Later…
AG