January 11, 2008

NBC Changes Criteria to Exclude Kucinich From Debates

Gotta just love this "Democracy" we live in. And let's be clear, this IS what "bourgeois" democracy is all about. Democracy for the rulers. Only.
-ww
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This was an email received from the Kucinich campaign today:

Re-writes criteria to exclude candidate with 'dissenting' positions

For Immediate Release - Friday, January 11, 2008

DETROIT, MI - Less than 44 hours after NBC sent a congratulatory note and
an invitation to Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich to participate in the
Jan. 15 Democratic Presidential debate in Las Vegas, the network notified
the campaign this morning it was changing its announced criteria,
rescinding its invitation, and excluding Kucinich from the debate.

NBC Political Director Chuck Todd notified the Kucinich campaign this
morning that, although Kucinich had met the qualification criteria
publicly announced on December 28, the network was "re-doing" the
criteria, excluding Kucinich, and planning to invite only Senators Hillary
Clinton and Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards.

The criteria announced last month included a fourth-place or better
showing in a national poll. The USA/Gallup poll earlier this month showed
Kucinich in fourth place among the Democratic contenders.

In an email to the Kucinich campaign at 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9,
Democratic Party debates consultant Jenny Backus wrote:

"Congratulations on another hard-fought contest. Now that New Hampshire is
over, we are on to Nevada and our Presidential Debate on Tuesday January
15. This letter serves as an official invitation for your candidate to
participate in the Nevada Presidential Debate at Cashman Theatre in
downtown Las Vegas. You have met the criteria set by NBC and the Debate."

Todd notified the Kucinich campaign this morning that the network had
decided to change the criteria and limit participation in the debate to
only three candidates.

Kucinich is the only remaining Democratic Presidential candidate who:
voted against the original Iraq War authorization in 2002 and every
war-funding measure since; voted against the so-called Patriot Act;
advocates a national, not-for-profit health system that covers all
Americans; has called for the repeal of NAFTA and withdrawal from the WTO;
and proposes a national back-to-work program (Works Green Administration)
patterned after the Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA).

The Kucinich campaign, which filed an emergency complaint with the Federal
Communications Commission last week because of ABC's decision to exclude
the candidate from a nationally televised debate, is considering legal
action to address "the blatant disregard of the public interest in
silencing public debate that dissents with the views of NBC, its parent
company, GE, and all of the military contractors and their
candidate-funding corporate interests. Corporate control of the media is
one issue. Corporate media control of the information that is allowed to
reach American citizens is much more dangerous, much more sinister, and
much more un-American."

"When 'big media' exert their unbridled control over what Americans can
see, hear, and read, then the Constitutional power and right of the
citizens to vote is being vetoed by multi-billion corporations that want
the votes to go their way," the Kucinich campaign said.

Paid for and authorized by Kucinich for President 2008, Inc.
P.O. Box 110180, Cleveland, OH 44111 | (877) 41-DENNIS.

7 comments:

Volksgeist said...

This is obscene. Even though I dislike DK's socialist leanings, to say the least, I believe him to be a somewhat good man. This business of the networks picking who gets to participate is a fraud to the American public. A voice from a legitimate candidate not heard, is the voice of all of his supporters muffled and swept under the rug. It is downright un-American. If you are a democrat I would raise hell with my party, not that they would care about civil liberties or rule of constitutional law. ;)

winkswink said...

volks,

regardless of party preference, or political leaning, either you want a democratic process or you don't. if thompson is still running, i think he should be included in the mix. even duncan hunter, who i believe to be a fascist. one problem is that many people will proceed from the viewpoint of their narrow interest, only acting upon something if it's is against "their" candidate.

it probably sounds "socialistic" but i say that the majority must unite against the tyranny of the rulers and make the debates INCLUSIVE, not exclusive. let the battle of ideas be about ALL the ideas, not the exclusion of ideas.

unfortunately, for many registered democrats, like for many repubs, the party is not really "their" party, but beholden to the rulers and the big bucks.

winkswink said...

Another email message from the Kucinich campaign:

URGENT: Help defend the rights of American voters

Friends,

Once again, America is faced with questions about the integrity of machine-counted ballots and about the rights of Americans to decide for themselves who they should be allowed to vote for in this crucial Presidential election.

In New Hampshire, it's a question of whether votes were counted or manipulated. In Nevada, it's a question of whether the GE-owned NBC television network should have the power to decide who your choices should be for President.

The vote counts in New Hampshire are suspicious. And, today's decision by NBC to exclude Dennis from next week's Presidential debate - even though he met the criteria - is outrageous. And, we need your help to deal with both of these matters.

Because of the unexplained disparities between hand-counted and machine-counted ballots in New Hampshire, Dennis has asked for a recount. "I am not making this request in the expectation that a recount will significantly affect the number of votes that were cast on my behalf," Dennis said in his letter to the Secretary of State of New Hampshire. But, he cited “serious and credible reports, allegations and rumors" that question the integrity of the machine-controlled process.

If New Hampshire agrees to a recount, this campaign will have to pay for it. And we can't investigate what happened in New Hampshire - or protect every other state in the Union - without your help.

Likewise, NBC and MSNBC have made a corporate decision to exclude the one and only voice who represents you and those things that the Democratic Party should stand for. If you are as outraged as we are, feel free to call:

* NBC/MSNBC at 212 664-4444 and ask for the Comment Line or
* email NBC/MSNBC at letters@msnbc.com

PLEASE share this message with everyone you know so that the voice of the people will be heard and their votes WILL be counted.

Strength through Peace,
The Kucinich Campaign

Volksgeist said...

Well, I say we follow the constitution, mob rule is no way to run a republic. The problem of majority rule as it were, is that it neglects those not in the majority. This is why we have a republic instead of a democracy, which essentially is mob rule.

But you are right, nobody who has a legitimate right to be there should be excluded. That is just another sign of what a farce our whole governmental process has become.

The parties have become 2 sides to the same coin. Neither one holds themselves accountable to the American people. They are held accountable to foreign powers, big business and many many special interest groups. It is all very disgusting. We need liberty back in the country, we need it bad.

Volksgeist said...

Calling NBC right now, thanks.

Rufus Slim said...

I've made my call too. Threatened a boycott of their shows and refusal to buy products from their sponsors. Makes me gald I work in the ad industry!!!

winkswink said...
This comment has been removed by the author.