Naomi Klein’s speech at the National Conference for Media reform was not included on the conference website. subMedia contacted Free Press, the organizer or the conference, to ask why The Shock Doctrine
"Despite our best efforts, we feel that some of our speakers encroached on electoral space during their remarks at the National Conference for Media Reform. It is not in our interest to disseminate these recordings. We are reviewing all of our video content and will add that which we determine to be free of electoral statements to this page."
I don’t quite understand how these things work, but whatever. Two sources have told me the reason Free Press did not include the speech was Klein’s criticism of Barack Obama. It would be pretty fuckin lame if it were true.
But fuck it, I got a hold of a copy of the speech and here it is.
Read Klein’s article "Obama’s Chicago Boys" published in "The Nation"
Embed on your Blog
Check out Naomi’s film "The Take"
Right on Naomi!!
AWESOME speech, thanks for posting it. So succinctly and honestly states the very real possibility of an all-too neutered version of Obama getting elected and points the finger right where it should be, on who’s fault that would be: us. If we don’t demand truly radical, revolutionary acts from our government, in these dire times when ONLY radical change can save us and the world, then we will continue to have politics as usual, regardless of who wins in November.
Thanks for posting this speech, I’ve reposted on my blog.
Thanks so much for posting this speech Stimulator! Thank you Naomi for having the cajones to say what needs to be said!
Thanks for posting this! Everyone should read her latest book (The Shock Doctrine). Of course, “everyone” is a pretty lazy group, so this video is very helpful.
Wow! Do YOU get points. I’ll be posting this too. Naomi is about the only noncointelpro voice out there! And I’ve done my research on O O O O O Obama, too. (just what the world needs is more Zbignew, now that would be the ITETWAWKI.)
I am blogrolled on dandelion salad amongst others .. and I have a HUGE blog. You are blogrolled on my blog and I watch you faithfully. HOT STUFF!
I am the organizer for the WAR CRIMES conference, Canadian contingent. Things are off to a slooooooooow start, but it’s vacation season.
http://velvelonnationalaffairs.blogspot.com/2008/06/prosecuting-for-war-crimes-as-lincoln.html
Could we please talk? I think you are perfect for helping us cover the conference! I am sure in due time there will be a nice budget.
ladybroadoak@gmail.com
416 488 3149
http://www.ladybroadoak.blogspot.com
Toronto
wow. it’s pretty sad when a speaker asking the american populace to actually stand up and exercise the powers of citizenship and hold politicians to task is considered “controversial”.
Dear People,
Naomi, Naomi, Naomi….without political power, without the office of the President, neither you, nor I, nor any on the Left can accomplish anything amounting to real change on any of our beloved issues. Obama has to be elected. Once in office, if he does not do or attempt what he has promised then he will last only one term at the most. But you are showing amazing stupidity and naivete in demanding Obama preach the same message as Revernd Wright before the election. If you want John McCain to be elected, if you want the lobbyists of Big Corpo to control us and complete the elimination of America as we know it, if you want two more Alitos on the Supreme Court, if you want more oil wells dotting the American coast line, if you want an invasion and bombing of Iran, Syria and 100 more years in Iraq, if you want more Big Brother in the form of former General of the Air Force Michael Hayden data mining without limit, if you want the elimination of hope for universal health care, if you want all this…then keep badmouthing Obama to Progressive groups before the election…you will surely get your wish.
After the election, we can and will hold President Obama’s feet to the fire. And if he fails us, we will burn his feet off to the kneecaps. But stop the pre-election circular firing-squad for all our sakes.
Dj Shiva - I agree with you, what she’s saying is not at all out of the question or controversial. I hope the sarcasm came through on the title of this post.
JG HERTZLER - I’ve been voting since ‘96 and I can recall that every 2 years we get sold the same bullshit. Let’s not forget that the congress we have now is there, primarily due to people voting on an anti-war platform. And what have they done? Keep signing them checks to continue Bush’s war, and that includes Obama. Pelosi has turned out to be a big disappointment. Furthermore, Obama is the candidate because of his original stance on the war. So what may seem like radical platforms actually get people elected. Come October when the economy will be in freefall, maybe then will Obama take an anti-corporate stance.
See y’all at the conventions?
Obama can’t make change alone. The Congress must also be changed. To ignore the composition of Congress is to doom whatever Obama wants to do to failure. Work to change Congress too!
I agree with JG HERTZLER above. WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN HUMANLY DO TO HAVE A PRESIDENT OBAMA. Doesn’t that sound good. Say it a few times, really, would you like to say President McBush. PLEASE, I love Naomi Klein and she is right but we can’t afford to get divided like this. Ms. Klein is a little dogmatic with her views, right as she is, NO NEXT PRESIDENT can remove all our troops out of Iraq the day after they are inaugurated. Let’s say that Ms. Klein is the next president, she wouldn’t be able to do it either. She would have to make sure that Iraq had a government that can control things. She would have to have time to put in place means and money to repair what we’ve broken, such as the infrastructure, military, police, utilities and on and on. SHE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS THIS UNNECESSARY WAR COST,THE LIVES LOST AND 300,000 U.S.INJURED, WILL JUST HAVE TO BE WRITTEN OFF. (I’m not looking forward to the Iraqis who lost loved ones get comfortable again and despise us even more.) I’m liking my scenario of Ms. Klein being president, I KNOW FOR SURE THAT SHE WOULD INVESTIGATE ALL THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF THE BUSH GANG AND I CAN PICTURE THEM ALL IN STRIPES AND BEHIND BARS. (’stripes’ maybe wearing orange jumpsuits.)
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO IMPEACH THE WHOLE BUSH GANG. LET’S CLAMMER FOR IT!!!