March 10, 2010 5:16 PM

Patrick Kennedy: Media Doing "Despicable" Job Covering Afghanistan

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Afghanistan

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) railed against the Washington press corps today on the House floor for paying more attention to the likes of scandal-ridden Eric Massa than the war in Afghanistan.

"There's two press people in this gallery," Kennedy yelled during a debate over an anti-war resolution. "We're talking about Eric Massa 24-7 on the TV, we're talking about war and peace, $3 billion, 1,000 lives and no press? No press."

"You want to know why the American public is fit?" he continued. "They're fit because they're not seeing their Congress do the work that they're sent to do. It's because the press, the press of the United States is not covering the most significant issue of national importance and that's the laying of lives down in the nation for the service of our country. It's despicable, the national press corps right now."

Kennedy's comments came during a three-hour floor debate over a resolution sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) that would force President Obama to bring troops home from Afghanistan within 30 days, or longer if it were necessary because of safety issues.

Watch below:

CBSNews.com Special Report: Afghanistan

Add a Comment See all 94 Comments
by noloyalisti March 12, 2010 3:49 PM EST
Why should the media cover it? The war profiteer corporations that own them are having a blast. Laughing all the way to the bank from the killing and stealing. Why do they want to show our highly trained, well funded military killing women and children in a third world country so the big corporations can make billions? Not good for the propaganda campaign where they want to scare the ignorant American Sheeple into submission.
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by jcnbma March 12, 2010 2:01 PM EST
AMEN! He's 100% right. The National Enquirer does a better job of reporting world news than the Washington Press Corps. Apparently, the good stuff is boring to the American people. Ultimately, it's the American people who are to blame because they watch this garbage. It's called the dumbing-down of America.
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by erb0087 March 12, 2010 1:09 PM EST
You want to know why the American public is fit?" he continued. "They're fit because they're not seeing their Congress do the work that they're sent to do."

I thought it was all those Pilates classes.
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by ALBrainTrust10 March 12, 2010 1:04 PM EST
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PRESS SUPPOSED TO WATCH IN AFGHANISTAN?

I THOUGHT OBAMA'S SURGE WAS WORKING?

I THINK THE PRESS SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IRAQ AND LAUDING PRES. BUSH FOR HIS SUCCESS.

PADDY KENNEDY WAS EITHER "ON SOMETHING" OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN "ON SOMETHING!"....HE LOOKED AND SOUNDED LIKE A RAVING MANIAC....WHAT A PUTZ!!!!!
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by jcnbma March 12, 2010 2:04 PM EST
AlBrainTrust ... looks like you're missing your brain. Bush lied us into war and left us with a Great Depression. Oh, but the top .02 for their tax breaks! Thanks, George! lol
by porcine_aviator March 12, 2010 10:50 AM EST
This guy may be a nut but he's totally correct.

You can learn more about Iraq and Afghanistan watching vbs.tv than on any MSM outlet. We have almost NO idea what's going on over there. We have NO idea where all of the money is being spent. We have NO idea how well our soldiers are being cared for by the VA system. We have NO idea what the hell the plan is, and how we plan to accomplish any of it.

The press is a bunch of lazy lapdogs that will not ask the tough questions anymore.
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by talltimber41 March 12, 2010 12:40 AM EST
The drugs must be talking.
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by noloyalisti March 11, 2010 4:42 PM EST
Well of course. The same big corporations who wanted war for profits and don't care about country and human life own the major media corporations. They also own and run and profit from the military.

That is Mission Accomplished, baby.
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by karek40 March 11, 2010 4:00 PM EST
1. The poeple in Calif. did not want the bases while those in Tex. wanted the bases, each got what they wanted. What is the problem?

2. Has any one wanting our troops to come home thought about what those radicals left in Islam will focus on after they are gone. Duh, its how to attack us here. Islam must conquer the world of die trying. Read their commission.
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by noloyalisti March 11, 2010 6:17 PM EST
So should we kill them ALL? You need to get over your fear. That is how the fascists on the right side of aisle rule and control, through fear.
by porcine_aviator March 12, 2010 11:00 AM EST
On point #2...then why didn't Bush use his 8 years in office to totally wipe out the Taliban and OBL? If we would have had more than 10,000 troops in Afghanistan at the time of Tora Bora, we could have done that. But oh no, we poured 140,000 troops and $700 Billion into the Iraq distraction, and accomplished...what? If the objective was Islamic terrorism, then why didn't we attack Sudan, home of the Janjaweed genocidal militants who have killed hundred so of thousands of Christians?

Face it, Bush got us into an unnecessary war, and wasted time and money tilting at windmills. Now we have two disasters on our hands, and we're damn nearly broke. Once we leave, the terrorists will come back and hey likely will come after us with a vengeance.

"Mission Accomplished"

Our only hope is to defend ourselves. The idiotic goverment, that you cheerlead for 8 years, failed, and BO is only carrying on the same stupid policies. There will be another terrorist attack, and the government will NOT be able to protect us. IT IS UP TO YOU AND I TO DEFEND OURSELVES, THE MILITARY WILL BE BROKE IN A FEW YEARS.
by hateisafourletterword March 11, 2010 3:42 PM EST
Patrick, perhaps the media (most of whom are liberals) understand what would or could happen to them in such a wonderful country. Look no further than the brave and honest Daniel Pearl for your answer.

So Olbermann and his ilk are really yellow belly's huh?
Reply to this comment
by noloyalisti March 11, 2010 6:18 PM EST
It was all the right wingers in the Bushoccio Crime Family and the current right wing pundits like Beck, O'Reilly and Limbaugh who never served and are real brave with the lives of other people. Despicable lowlife scum CHICKENHAWKS.
by Scimajor March 11, 2010 3:16 PM EST
"..... sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) that would force President Obama to bring troops home from Afghanistan within 30 days..."

Wow, it's deja vu all over again. ;-) I could have sworn the roles were reversed not so long ago.
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