NBC Battles to Keep Kucinich Out of the Debate

[G_j]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=270507
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080115/cm_thenation/45270507



The Nation -- Some principles are worth fighting for: like the cherished right of television networks to decide who is and who is not a legitimate candidate for president.


NBC Universal Inc. is a major media conglomerate. And major media conglomerates have traditionally been able to police the parameters of presidential politics. Any affront to this order of affairs is a threat to the ability of corporations to define the American discourse.

That's what is at stake as NBC fights to limit the amount of information Nevada Democrats have available to them before they caucuses on Saturday to choose delegates to the Democratic National Convention. So the network has announced that its crack legal team will work through the night to overturn a judge's order that Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich be included in the last pre-caucus debate between the Democratic presidential contenders.

On the day after the New Hampshire primary, when New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was still in the race, Kucinich, Richardson, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, Illinois Senator Barack Obama and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards were invited to participate in the debate scheduled to be televised on MSNBC from 9 to 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Debate organizers wanted Richardson in the forum and knew that they could not exclude Kucinich, who was running ahead of the New Mexican in several national polls. So they grudgingly contacted the Kucinich campaign, which participated last week in initial planning discussions for the debate.



..more..

[Desertrose]

1. Its quite the show they are putting on...BEFORE the debate.

My my, it was all so much more civilized when the League of Women Voters ran these *ahem* debates, wasn't it??

I hope Kucinich stays in.


:hi::loveya:
How ya doin,G_j??
:hug:DR

[tinrobot]

4. They're treating the primaries like an episode of "Survivor"

...and NBC is trying to boot Kucinich off the island.

[elleng]

8. Yes, Desert,

it was a DEBATE.

[calmblueocean]

2. The fact that NBC is "demanding an immediate hearing before the Nevada Supreme Court"...

... tells you everything you need to know about how corrupt and rigged the entire system is.

[Contrary1]

3. We need to flood NBC with letters and emails

Let them know we will be boycotting their programming, sponsors, and other companies, if Kucinich is not treated exactly the same as the other candidates. Email the sponsors, tell them the same thing.

And then be prepared to follow through.

[RuleOfNah]

5. The Internet sees censorship as damage and routes around it.

Or so it was once said...

[ursi]

6. NBC is disgusting

[orleans]

7. appeal this NBC

"This threat to its ability to police the discourse was an affront that NBC would not let stand. "We disagree with the judge's decision and are filing an appeal," declared Jeremy Gaines, a vice president for MSNBC, who announced that the cable channel's parent network would demand an immediate hearing before the Nevada Supreme Court.

"Kucinich's lawyers will battle to preserve Judge Thompson's ruling, and the candidate's right to a participate in the forum. They have fewer resources, but are possessed of a resource the network lacks: an understanding that democracy is best served by free and open debate. http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=270507