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Thursday April 26, 2:34 AM Dean: Bar Media and Candidates Will Talk The head of the Democratic Party said Wednesday that the best way to get presidential candidates to talk frankly about issues is to lock out the media. During the Mortgage Bankers Association conference, a banker expressed frustration with candidates who only talk in sound bites and wondered how that could be changed. Howard Dean, once a presidential candidate, offered a simple solution. "I suggest you have candidates in to meetings like this and bar the press," Dean said. The Democratic National Committee chairman criticized media coverage, arguing that networks such as CBS used to put content first and didn't mind losing money for the prestige of delivering a quality news report. Dean said the days of Walter Cronkite are gone and the corporatization of the media has led to a desire to boost profits. "The media has been reduced to info-tainment," Dean said. "Info-tainment sells, the problem is they reach the lowest common denominator instead of forcing a little education down our throats, which we are probably in need of from time to time." Dean was considered a strong contender for the 2004 Democratic nomination, but after finishing third in the Iowa caucuses, he gave a speech that included a rant punctuated by a scream. The clip was shown repeatedly on television and became the subject of late-night jokes. Dean said politicians live in fear that their words will be twisted for the sake of headlines. "Politicians are incredibly careful not to say anything if they can possibly help it, except if it is exactly scripted. And if you want to hear anybody's true views, you cannot do it in the same room as the press," Dean said. "If you want to hear the truth from them, you have to exclude the press." ___ LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The online social networking site MySpace and reality TV producer Mark Burnett are teaming to launch the search for an independent presidential candidate. The political reality show "Independent" comes with a $1 million cash prize and a catch: the winner can't keep the money. The prize can be used to finance a run for the White House or can be given to a political action committee or political cause. Contestants in the show, set to launch in early 2008, will meet the public and interact with supporters, protesters and others. An interactive "town hall" will give MySpace users and TV viewers a chance to rate their performance. The show does not yet have a commitment from a TV network. Potential candidates will audition for the show by submitting a video. Once the contestants are chosen, they will set up MySpace profiles to serve as their campaign headquarters. The hope is that the show, with its Internet component, will engage younger voters in the political process. "Through this new network television series and the partnership of MySpace, we're going to discover in a big way what America really thinks, and bring to light the issues that are closest to those who now finally have a chance to be heard," Burnett said. MySpace is a unit of Fox Interactive Media, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. ___ LOS ANGELES (AP) _ California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, one of the state's leading Hispanic politicians, said Wednesday he will be a national co-chair of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign. "Not only does she have the experience to lead this nation, but to also restore our place in the world," Nunez said in an interview. "We are in a unique place in California to elect the first woman president of this country." Nunez's endorsement gives the Clinton campaign a seasoned political hand and a powerful statehouse dealmaker in the nation's largest state, a major battleground for Democratic candidates. He can use his influence in the assembly to enlist support for her candidacy, and as a former union organizer he can strengthen her ties to labor, another vital source of votes. The endorsement comes just days before Clinton and other Democratic candidates are scheduled to appear at a state party convention in San Diego. An independent Field Poll earlier this month showed that Clinton is popular among California Hispanics. Nunez's support could help her broaden her appeal among those voters, especially on his home turf in Southern California. Nunez is a close friend of popular Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, whose endorsement is being eagerly sought by presidential candidates. It's unclear what, if any, influence Nunez's decision will have on the mayor's thinking. California moved up its primary to Feb. 5. ___ Associated Press writer Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles contributed to this report.