One of the reasons I started blogging nearly 4 years ago was due to my frustration with what topics the mainstream media covered. Too many important issues were ignored or given poor coverage.

Apparently there is still a need for non-professional bloggers as was proven yesterday. All major local news outlets were sent press releases and invitations to talk with presidential candidate, Cynthia McKinney who was in town to file to be on the ballot in Utah. Most failed to show, most noticeably our local papers. Our local media is more interested in covering locals who win big on game shows or American Idol it seems. Although in fairness, there's probably a large number of Utahns who believe that kind of thing IS big news and the newspapers are likely trying to cash in on what appeals to the lowest common denominator . . .

McKinney is a very newsworthy subject. She is the Green Party candidate for president, and she and her running mate Rosa Clemente make the first all woman, all color team to run for the White House in history. She was a 6 term Representative in Congress for Georgia and the subject of the film, American Blackout. She has been known to speak to power on many issues – one YouTube video I saw showed her grilling Donald Rumsfeld most effectively. When other Democrats in congress were rolling over and letting Bush have his way, McKinney was standing firm.

 

Cynthia McKinney Files to be on the Utah Ballot - September 3, 2008 (photo by Deanna Taylor)	Cynthia McKinney talks to Utah media September 3, 2008 (photo by Deanna Taylor)

 

The best coverage of McKinney's visit goes to KCPW. Their story here.
Deanna Taylor of Dee's 'Dotes writes about Kinney's visit here.

Deanna writes in a later post about the Utah media:

Yesterday Cynthia McKinney filed for President of the United States in Utah. (See my post below.) Tons of press releases were distributed to all Utah Media, along with follow up reminders. Invitations were sent out to select media outlets to interview her Tuesday night.

Not only were there no responses to the chance to interview this amazing woman, only two camera technicians - Fox 13 and Channel 2 KUTV - and one reporter from KCPW showed up to cover this historic event. Not one newspaper appeared to cover this.

We were told by the camera technicians (they couldn't even send reporters!) that the coverage would be aired and Fox13 said it would be on their website as well. I heard that there was a clip on channel 2 during the day, but I have not seen any video at all on the internet.

How very sad for Utahns to be deprived of this news.

Meanwhile, the big headline news on the front page of Utah newspapers this week was - no, not Hurrican Gustav or the RNC (although they had their places on the front page), or the plight of our health care or education systems in the U.S., or the travesty of strip mining our mountains in the west - it was (drum roll please).....

Jessica Robinson from Sandy, Utah winning one million dollars on "Deal or No Deal".

Now THAT'S news worthy of a flashy front page spread!

I hope that our blogging community will help spread the word about Cynthia McKinney running for President. I will be posting as much as I can, including showings of her award winning film (in Sundance) "American Blackout".

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
 - George Bernard Shaw

An Unreasonable Man starts March 30 at the Salt Lake Film Society. I saw this documentary about Ralph Nader during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and I reviewed it at that time. Here are some highlights of the film that I chose from that review:

The film covered a variety of perspectives. Those who criticized Nader's run (including those who had formerly worked with Nader -- Nader's Raiders) and those who felt that it was important for him to run.

The film is also very inspiring. Ralph Nader has accomplished more to make this country a better place as a citizen than most politicians could ever dream of in office. That accomplishment came at a price: long work hours that made a personal life difficult. Nader never married, and the film suggested that he didn't have time for a girlfriend (or boyfriend? don't want to assume sexual preference.) But we can thank Nader for so many things that many people probably aren't even aware that we have because of Nader.

My biggest criticism of the film is that it didn't cover any of the controversy and splitting within the Green Party in 2004 over Nader's decision to run a second time. The film seemed incomplete without those events and conversations. The filmmakers were present at the screening and did a Q&A afterward and I regret that I didn't ask them about that while I had the chance. I was still trying to absorb all that I had seen -- there was a lot of perspectives and information presented and the omission didn't occur to me until about half an hour after the film finished.

Lisa Viola, who reviewed the film for the 2006 Sundance Film Festival catalog wrote this:

“The name Ralph Nader sparks fiery debate among people across the country. To some,  he is an icon of rare idealism, while others see him simply as the political spoiler of the last two elections. No matter what you think of the man, the fact remains that he is a tireless crusader.

Hailing from modest means in small-town Conneticut without a family pedigree, Nader rose to prominence during the 70s as a consumer rights activist. Over his lengthy career, he has impacted the public in countless ways. He has saved thousands of lives by initiating legislation ranging from seat-belt mandates for cars to food safety regulations. This well-documented film recounts his early days going up against General Motors and inspiring young liberal minds, who adopted the name “Nader’s Raiders” to help fight unregulated corporations.

This exhaustive and potentially charged film by Henriette Mantel and Stephen Skrovan includes well-placed archival footage and newly shot interviews with Nader himself. Numerous extended interviews  with former colleagues, supporters, and family members allow the riveting, dramatic story to unfold. An Unreasonable Man skillfully dissects the life and work of an unparalleled human being. The film begs the question, when do we speak for what is right without compromise and when do we surrender one battle for the sake of the war? America, it’s your turn to vote.”

Salt Lake Film Society Screening Times (doesn't show 3/30 and beyond times yet)
Film trailer
metacritic
Official website