We certainly wouldn’t want a pro-war Democrat facing meaningful opposition in a democratic society, now would we?

The cover story in the new issue of TIME, the
flagship publication of the Time Warner media empire, informs readers
that Hillary Clinton has "virtually nonexistent opposition for her
senate seat…." 

[A]t another outpost of the Time Warner
empire, decisions have been made that help ensure Sen. Clinton will
have "virtually nonexistent opposition."  Time
Warner’s NY1 TV news channel ("the CNN of New York") adamantly refuses
to host a Democratic New York Senate debate.  Despite protests over its
decision, NY1 says it is giving incumbent Clinton a no-debate free pass
because her antiwar challenger, union leader Jonathan Tasini, has not
raised enough money; the channel arbitrarily set the bar at a
half-million dollars.  This despite the fact that Tasini has reached
13% in polls….

Ironically,
NY1 has already hosted and televised a Democratic New York
gubernatorial debate between frontrunner Eliot Spitzer and a Democratic
challenger who was at only 10% in the polls.  But that candidate had
raised about $6 million….

Did
I mention that Time Warner’s PAC is one of the many corporate PACs that
underwrites Hillary Clinton’s reelection campaign against the
"virtually nonexistent opposition"?…

In
a New York Marist poll taken in July, 62% of Democrats said they were
more likely to vote for a candidate who opposes the Iraq war vs. only
9% who said they were more likely to vote for an Iraq war supporter.
Thank in part to big media, many New York Democrats don’t know that
Sen. Clinton has an antiwar opponent in the primary….

And despite a New York Times editorial this week chiding Hillary Clinton to
explain her Iraq position in debate, don’t count on her appearing this
Sunday at a public forum in New York City titled "How To Get Out of
Iraq."  She’s been invited to participate, as have all New York senate
candidates.  So far Sen. Clinton hasn’t responded to the invitation,
while Tasini has confirmed that he’ll be there.  The forum features
former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter, former CIA analyst Ray
McGovern, and myself.   

Ritter
and McGovern are two experts whose assessments of the Iraq situation
have been remarkably accurate and astute — unlike the "experts" Sen.
Clinton relied on when she voted to authorize the war and to support
the ongoing occupation. 

If
you are a New York voter, why not call Sen. Clinton’s office at
212.688.6262 and politely encourage her to show up at this Sunday’s
event?  It takes place at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square
South, starting at 7:00 PM.  (For more info, visit http://ustourofduty.org/)   

The
July Marist poll asked registered voters in New York if the Iraq war
should be a major or minor campaign issue.  62% said major, 23% said
minor – with the margin even more lopsided among Democrats.  Yet as she
campaigns around the state, Hillary Clinton treats Iraq as less than a
minor issue.

If we
had a free, robust and independent media, a candidate who flouts public
opinion in such a manner would find it difficult to win reelection.