Another hot day in Denver. I'm taking a break in the air conditioned cool of the Tattered Cover Bookstore just down the street from The Big Tent before the session on the "Next New Deal" with Alan Charney, USAction Program Director, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Anna Greenberg, Senior Vice President, Greenland Quinland Rosner Research , and William McNary, USAction President.
An amazing day. Dan Rather gave a talk that should be the commencement speech at every journalism school in the world. Some sound bites:
- Affect the powerful and comfort the afflicted.
- Be skeptical not cynical.
- Act both as a consumer of the news as well as a producer.
- The government is controlling the message and sanitizing the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Corporate media must work for the public interest while making a profit.
- Diversity is needed in media - alternative and unheard voices.
- News is a public service and part of the public trust.
- The media needs to get some guts and grow a spine.
He also got visibly upset when he mentioned the dead bodies and damaged soldiers returning from the war. You can call him an old softie, but in truth Dan Rather cares.
I also attended TAKE BACK AMERICA: "The Economy"
- Robert Kuttner, Co-Founder, The American Prospect and author of new book, Obama's Challenge: America's Economic Crisis and the Power of a Transformative Presidency
- Leo Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers
- Majora Carter*, Co-Founder, Green for All
This was sponsored by Campaign for America's Future. Major'a's and Leo's ideas for a green economy providing jobs that cannot be outsourced were exciting and echoed what I heard from Bobby Kennedy, Jr. yesterday.
They also sponsored "TAKE BACK AMERICA: Healthcare for America Now!"
- Rep. Jan Schakowsky, (D-IL)
- Roger Hickey, Co-Director, Campaign for America’s Future and steering committee, Health Care for America Now!
Rep. Schakowsky signed the Health Care for America "Which Side are You On?" pledge at the end of the talk. You should definitely check out their website and their The Now! Blog
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