to NPR's Day to Day: Use critical thinking, regarding the national conventions, please

Today at about 1:15pm on WOPB, I was listening to someone on Day to Day speak with a Slate political correspondent. They were talking about John Kerry's notion to defer accepting the nomination.

As a person active in Democratic politics this year, let me assure you that *we* do not think this is a "fake convention" because Kerry is strategically working the system for our best win. In fact, if you are going to talk about "fake conventions" -- then why are the Republicans having a convention at all? Their nominee was never in question. Perhaps you should think beyond the media feeding frenzy on this issue, and use your common sense.

I am so tired of the press -- and NPR folks should know better -- talking about the convention as though the only people who matter are the ones on the dias. Our political conventions are part of a significant national dialogue where activists of all flavors join to hammer out a consensus on platform issues, and discuss the future direction of the parties.

This year, at the Democratic Convention, an unprecendented amount of "new blood" will be calling for accountability, coming out of the Dean and Kucinich campaigns, and including many young people -- and older people -- who never felt the urge for political involvement before this year.

For shame on both of you! *THAT* is the story you should be covering, rather than sounding so professionally jaded and sophisticated as thought the whole thing were just a sham for your cameras and microphones.

All politics is local, and this is every American locale conjoining in one union, finding a voice. That should appeal to you. Cover *that*.

Sincerely,
--
Shava Nerad
shava@efn.org