As a dedicated Cheesehead, I'm not at all happy that I'll miss 2 Packer games this season because they're going to be carried on a cable sports channel, and I just can't afford cable TV on a fixed Social Security income. But that's just life in the slow lane. However, I don't think our democratic process should be subject to the same conditions…but in much the same way, it is.
I'm an enthusiastic rural Central Sands of Wisconsin Bernie Sanders supporter, and I'm not as rare an endemic creature as you might think. We exist here in the beauty of this area of rolling hills, mixed forest and agriculture, expansive wetlands and remnants of prairie, beautiful bodies of water - the countryside that gave rise to the ethic of John Muir, attracting little attention other than curiosity over our progressive ways, and seldom a bad word from the other more conservative native species that abound here, even when we're out trying to "recall" a better Wisconsin.
I signed up for and hosted a July 29th house party sponsored by Bernie's campaign, and enjoyed the company of 8 other curious to progressive to outright socialist attendees, most of whom I knew, but with at least one new coming-out progressive. And that with a last-moment sign-up on my part. I got a couple "I'd have come if I knew sooner" messages, so decided to jump early onto Bernie's schedule for the first Democratic debate watch event for October 13th. Signing up for a Bernie event is easy and low-pressure….I'd highly recommend doing so.
Everything seemed to be fine the next day; 3 people, all local friends so far, had signed up already. Then while sitting at the café counter having coffee, one of these friends asked, "What's it on?" I guess that as a public citizen, I felt entitled to watch any presidential debate broadcast on television that I'd care to, and I do have a television. But….."sponsored by CNN" popped into mind, and I let slip a little, "Oh, shit!", as it's my friend's café and there were no other customers around. "You don't suppose it's only available to cable subscribers, do you?"
I'm afraid that is the case.
I checked a bit, found the CNN press release claiming "exclusive national broadcaster", other than the unknown-to-me Westwood One News radio network, also "exclusive".
Just to be sure, I checked with Wisconsin Public Television and no, PBS would not be able to broadcast this debate on "free" TV. There is CNNGo, the online streaming service of CNN, but in addition to the 10 minute free preview of live CNN feed never becoming watchable on my not-very-new computer, continuing the stream requires logging in to a cable provider account, and my local co-op provider isn't even on CNN's list. So, in their own words:
"This service is only available through participating TV Providers. Please check back soon to see if your TV Provider has been added."
Yay, democracy, participation, involvement!…for some. For me, only emailed regrets for having to cancel the debate watch event.
I've been reading for some time now about some….unrest I'll call it, most recently over the DNC's stubborn refusal to field any more than a half-dozen Democratic presidential debates to stack up against the Republican mini-series of mental machinations and fascist inclinations, as well as some other rather sticky issue positions of its chair, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, especially her manipulation of DNC policy in opposition to the Iran deal negotiated by her own President and Party leader. Is there any political leader willing to step up and rock the DNC boat just a little? Oh, right....
Sen. Bernie Sanders said…..that he thinks the idea of limiting the debates “is dead wrong” and that he had “let the leadership of the Democrats know that.”
Well, for people in my position at the opposite end of the spectrum from the "billionaire class", a real issue, in addition to the debate schedule itself, is the source for this earliest of the few Democratic presidential debates, a pay-to-play source, and it's unavailability to those most likely to have a personal interest in the policy positions of candidate Sanders, and to those who would best benefit from Bernie reaching them with his message, and vice versa.
So, what up, DWS? Could it be the Post nailed it?
her desperation to continue her vanity project as DNC chair has given the Clinton Empire the opening to manipulate her by having fewer debates.
Yes, I know, CNN is a crock news outfit anyhow, but who
better handles these
jags than Bernie? I'd love to see that and share that, but until the next debate, I can only feel, not watch, the Bern.....and back the Pack!