CPAC, the annual wall-to-wall showcase for the stalwarts of the Republican Party (Donald Trump, Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, Allen West and Pat Toomey to name just a few on this year's agenda) is now underway and being well covered here on DKos.
But it is also getting live streaming coverage by NBC and by PBS.
Now one could argue that this kind of exposure to GOP group think can only be a good thing for progressives by shining the spotlight on just how far the party has strayed from its moderate roots. But one can also question why NBC and PBS are giving so much coverage to what has become in many ways closer to the John Birch Society than the Ripon Society.
Regardless, it strikes me that we need to start working now to make sure that Netroots Nation gets equal treatment. The exposure is only fair and the contrast would be striking.
Netroots Nation is now set to hold its 8th annual convention in San Jose, CA, June 20-23.
Over the years, NN has hosted a stellar roster of leading progressive thinkers, innovators and strategists. NN has been a catalyst in bringing together progressive activists from around the country and has helped build new powerful networks of organization to combat GOP efforts to weaken progressives through redistricting, voter ID laws, funding of bogus think tanks, and partnerships with corporate lobbyists to write pro-business laws and regulations under the guise of ALEC. It has played a major role in setting new party policies including contesting elections everywhere possible, new routes for fund raising, and election of more progressive candidates nationwide.
Nancy Pelosi will be returning this year and past gatherings have featured a Who's Who of important party and progressive thinkers....Bill Clinton, Valerie Jarrett, Al Gore, Howard Dean, Donna Edwards, Van Jones, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Baldwin, Paul Krugman, Richard Trumka.....
The NBC coverage link above includes a listing of the speakers program for CPAC and it is an amazing list of current right-wing thinking (giving a very wide latitude to the verb 'think'.) I am sure you share my amazement at both the speakers and their topics and find yourself asking, "THIS is mainstream? This is worth streaming coverage by NBC and PBS?"
Well, in a free society, yes it is worthy of coverage. You may strongly disagree with it and question over and over how it has managed to survive despite being repeatedly and emphatically rejected by the voters, but you can't avoid it and you need to understand it.
That said, the immediate question now becomes,
"What can we do to make sure that Netroots Nation 2013 gets equal coverage?" I would argue the following:
1- Let us immediately begin contacting all of the networks, including PBS and asking that they provide equal coverage to Netroots Nation this year. It seems unlikely that all of them will do so, but even if one or two do provide streaming coverage, that is a huge plus.
2- Let us also immediately begin petitioning MSNBC to schedule live on-site coverage from San Jose during the run of Netroots. Rachel, Chris Matthews, Chris Hayes (who is now blessedly about to move into the network's evening prime time at 8 PM), Alex Witt, Lawrence O'Donnell, Al Sharpton.....all of the MSNBC lineup should be on hand and build their coverage around the program.....
It's a good case to make. Nowhere will a network which has steadily been shifting its focus to moderate and progressive causes find such a gathering of interesting guests and in many cases, folks who may not yet have gained the national spotlight and should. It's a great opportunity for MSNBC hosts to have on new faces and new ideas....challenge them and showcase them.
So let's get to work. As Bill in Portland Maine has noted, we've got about 14 weeks until the event and there is much to do. Start making your contacts now and asking for fair and equal coverage from the networks and especially MSNBC