Kucinich files complaint on ABC debate

[rsmith6621]

Source: AP



By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer 9 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich filed a complaint with the FCC on Friday after ABC News excluded him, fellow Democrat Mike Gravel and Republican Duncan Hunter from its prime-time debates on Saturday.


Kucinich argued that ABC is violating equal-time provisions by keeping him out of the debate and noted that ABC's parent Walt Disney Co. had contributed to campaigns involving the four Democrats who were invited.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_on_el_pr/abc_debate

[flvegan]

1. Oh, snap on Disney!

[mikelgb]

2. go for it Dennis

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Too bad Kucinich's message is being muzzled

I find it interesting that Disney has contributed to Democratic campaigns, as I figured it was pretty right wing. Could be a harbinger, though-the corporations realize that the Dems will win this year, and want to start trying to buy them off early.

[taylor egv420106]

27. Its not being muzzled

They simmply require you actually have some sembelence of a campaign and an actual following that breaks double digits in order to be treated like a legitimate candidate. He put ZERO work in any state where the winter temperatures was below 80.

[stimbox]

42. The Kucinich campaign has focused heavily on New Hampshire.

From Dennis' website:

"Kucinich “is the only Democratic presidential candidate who has qualified for Federal matching funds who is being excluded by ABC.”

Kucinich effectively by-passed the Iowa caucuses because the state Democratic Party and other political and institutional interests there excluded him from two earlier debates and from Party-sponsored functions. Instead, the Kucinich campaign has focused heavily on New Hampshire.

To underscore Kucinich’s standing as both a “credible” and “qualified” candidate, the emergency complaint notes that he has campaign offices in Keene, Dover, Manchester, and Concord, paid staff, hundreds of campaign volunteers, and significant financial contributions from residents of New Hampshire."

[taylor egv420106]

48. Thats a load

Kucinich was excluded from the debates because he refused to have an actual HQ in Iowa. He is excluded from this debate because he was told he would have to finish in the top four in the caucuses. He didn't and now he wants the rules changes to fit him.

[Yael]

50. Why is Giuliani in then?

[fascisthunter]

55. No Legitimacy for Those Defending This UNDEMOCRATIC ACTION

I expect shit like this from republicans but then again DLCers act just like them too. So, the establishment decides who campaigns and who doesn't and we Democrats are supposed believe in this system? Nope.... won't happen due to elitest arguments such as yours.

I bet you believe democracy is for only an exclusive crowd too.

Yes GOP, we have democrats who are just as undemocratic, snobby or phonier in our party too. Here's one of them!

[high density]

60. It's too late to argue about that now

Kucinich and Gravel had time in previous debates to state their cases. If they're out of the top four then the fact simply is that they have no chance to winning the nomination at this point of the game. That's how the system operates and the media is a huge part of that. Heck, Edwards was second and you'd think he was down in Richardson's territory by the way he's being ignored. If we don't like this, then we need to have a single primary day in 2012 or 2016 so that this front loading BS is killed. I'd say that the core "undemocratic" thing going on here is having 236,000 people in Iowa basically choose our candidate for us. The media loves this process because it's cheap and easy for them to cover Iowa and NH, and then beyond that they think they don't need to do anything but be an echochamber for the "winner."

[panzerfaust]

61. Agree

Who decides who is a 'legitimate' candidate?

I could announce that I am running for president, but, truly, I would not expect to have the opportunity to participate in a national debate with the other candidates. There has to be some way of deciding who is a 'viable, real, legitimate' candidate.

Is having double-digit support in (which of several) poles THE way of deciding? That seems to be the TV network's choice.

More logical, I would think, would be to offer a spot on a national debate to anyone who has qualified for matching funds: which I believe this candidate has.

[lovuian]

4. I love this man

:woohoo:

[ray of light]

5. corporate media has got to go. (And we can thank Bill Clinton for their consolidation)

[onenote]

6. DK probably can't win this one, even though he might have an argument

For more than 20 years, the FCC has held that debates are exempt from the equal opportunities rules. I should note, however, that this made more sense when the debates were sponsored by third parties (like the League of Women Voters) and covered by the media as a news event. A debate that is sponsored by a broadcaster would seem to be distinguishable. Nonetheless, I can't see the FCC ruling for DK in time for it to make any difference.

[Desertrose]

7. I wish it would make a difference....

Probably will only watch if DK is in it.

So skewed as to what we are supposed to see & hear.

Bastids.

[Dragonfly]

8. Your clear-eyed and brief overview

was/is rejuvenatory; especially the middle sentence.

It's good to embrace first-hand proof that others see-hear-feel via enfolding alternative concentric spheres.

Peace to you and yours throughout 2008 and beyond.

Thanks for sustained and altruistic care.

[Desertrose]

9. Yo, Dragonfly....

Peace to you & yours as well.


Turning out to be quite the ride, isn't it??

:hi:
DR

[Dragonfly]

12. Yes it is...

Somehow, I still maintain that many (enough) Americans will wake up in the nick of time to collaboratively help steer sanity and compassion into the center of the fray.

Hope to communicate more in 2008 with allied kin toward the aforementioned. :~D

[dweller]

10. proud to be rec #13

listening to Dennis has taught me to fear not.

dp

[frog92969]

11. I hope NH considers the deafening message

of the muted voice when they potentially pick our President. (What a system!)

After living through the Bu$h Media, I wont buy anything they push at me.

[AngryOldDem]

13. Good for him,

Last I looked, he is still in the race. Ergo, he deserves a spot on the stage. Period.

Whatever happened to equal time? Or does that only apply to the two candidates from the two parties running for president?

[tritsofme]

14. I'm sure there are many many more names that appear on the NH Dem ballot

Because they paid a fee, thought it would be funny/are crazy whatever reason.

Do equal time provisions demand that every single person that appears on a ballet must appear on televised debates?

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. There are 22 Democrats on the ballot in NH

There has to be some criteria to separate the real candidates from the jokes.

[stimbox]

16. I guess you are ok with the M$M picking the candidates then?

Only the top 4 corporate approved mouth pieces are allowed.
Such undemocratic shit spewing around here...

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

17. I'm OK with them limiting it to people who are actively campaigning.

Since Kucinich isn't, I see no reason to allow him in.

[EFerrari]

18. That's a circular argument. They don't cover the campaign

and then they say he's not viable.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

19. He ISN'T campaigning.

At least not seriously. How many times has Kucinich been to New Hampshire in the last six months?

[EFerrari]

20. From looking at his web site, it sure looks like a campaign.

There are video clips and notes from all over. :)

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

21. Video clips and notes?

If that's your criteria then YouTube is running for President. Where are his NH canvassers? His NH volunteers? For that matter where is HE? Here's a list of planned campaign appearances by all of the candidates in NH between now and the primary?

http://www.prioritiesnh.org/birddog_calendar.php

Notable for his almost total absence is... Kucinich. The only other similarly absent candidate is Rudy, because he never planned to contest NH.

[EFerrari]

22. You're leaping to a conclusion.

Dennis is in Manchester on 1/05 (today) and not listed on that site. Gee, what a surprise. And, judging from a clip at his site clip, he was also there last week.

http://www.dennis4president.com/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=36&extmode=view&extid=62

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

24. Uh, that would appear to be an event in which his wife is participating, not him.

And his appearance tomorrow in Manchester *is* listed on the site. The point is that every other serious candidate for President has a wealth of events scheduled, whereas Kucinich has... one. What is he doing with his time?

[EFerrari]

25. So I misread. There is something strange going on because

I signed up to donate to him monthly and have yet to be debited even once.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

32. Then you should consider yourself lucky. n/t

[EFerrari]

64. Not really. It's a small price to pay for having issues that I care about

given a voice.

[taylor egv420106]

30. It would appear

His time consists of complaining about private organizations making decisions not to his benefit.

[ohio2007]

35. He NEVER campaigned for reelection in his own district last time around

just fact as he was a shoe in for reelection.
He has taken his home district for granted imo........

[taylor egv420106]

29. He Doesn't campaign

In fact he has gone out of the way to avoid campaigning and he only seems interested in it when he can cry about how they dont treat him like a campaign just because he doesn't campaign.

[EFerrari]

37. Cry? Dennis? That's silly.

While Obama and Clinton take the safe road, Kucinich has been calling out BushCo very consistently and for years.

[taylor egv420106]

38. Quite the contrary

Yes outright sniveling is the best way to describe DK's slogan this year. He did next to nothing in iowa, got 0 delegates to show for it and complained that just because he wasn't campaigning he got treated like a non candidate.

DK wants all the perks of being an active democratic candidate without any of the rules, obligations or actual work.

[stimbox]

41. So full of it.

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

44. Your priorities aren't mine, obviously.

And, I prefer mine, thanks

lol

[fascisthunter]

53. Who is Your Candidate? (nt)

[stimbox]

31. He's actively campaigning in NH.

From Dennis' website:

"Kucinich “is the only Democratic presidential candidate who has qualified for Federal matching funds who is being excluded by ABC.”

Kucinich effectively by-passed the Iowa caucuses because the state Democratic Party and other political and institutional interests there excluded him from two earlier debates and from Party-sponsored functions. Instead, the Kucinich campaign has focused heavily on New Hampshire.

To underscore Kucinich’s standing as both a “credible” and “qualified” candidate, the emergency complaint notes that he has campaign offices in Keene, Dover, Manchester, and Concord, paid staff, hundreds of campaign volunteers, and significant financial contributions from residents of New Hampshire."

So I guess you DO like the media and big corporations limiting your presidential choices.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

43. Well then I expect him to have a fine showing in New Hampshire.

If he's worked as hard as you say he has, surely he can pull 5% there.

Right?

Because if he's working his ass of as hard as he says he is and he can't pull 5%, he ought to drop out.

Right?

[stimbox]

45. No, because the world does not revolve around Iowa and New Hampshire

There are other states and other primaries coming up.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

51. Orly?

And in which of these upcoming primaries do you expect Kucinich to exceed 5%? Face it, he can't even get 5% in his home state.

[stimbox]

57. We'll see on February 5th... n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. If the sponsor of the debate do not pick the participants, then who should?

:shrug:

[taylor egv420106]

28. I'm for

Candidates who have ACTUALLY CAMPAIGNED getting the time. I'm for candidates with demonstrable followings getting the time. I'm for candidates who have treated their campaign money like something more than a vacation fund for him and the Mrs. getting the shot.

[taylor egv420106]

26. Yet another thread

Where DK supporters argue that a private organization has no right o have any rules or requirements that in any way inconvenience DK. Sure DK couldn't be bothered to run a real campaign. Sure DK couldn't be bothered to actually raise money. But dammit despite that they should treat him like a real canidate. Hell he got what ZERO delegates in Iowa?

[99th_Monkey]

65. and yet another unnwarrented tacky insult to heap on DK. nt

[ohio2007]

33. He has been seen as not electable. I wonder how the other canidates feel about this

reduction in choices?

[stimbox]

34. The silence is telling.

Dennis makes the other candidates look like repukes.

[taylor egv420106]

39. Oh gee

Maybe the zero delegates DK got in Iowa will storm out in protest.

[fascisthunter]

54. Who Do You Represent? What Candidate? (nt)

[toopers]

36. I read about this in the paper . . .

The paper stated that the terms associated with being included in the upcoming debate were discussed with each of the candidates, and each agreed prior to the Iowa Caucasus. Apparently, DK did so poorly in the caucus that he did not make the minimum standards.

[taylor egv420106]

40. Yes but don't you know

Silly rules are for the OTHER candidates. To require DK to actually campaign, have an actual following or anything that obligates DK in any way shape or form is fascism. At least it is according to his followers here.

[KoKo]

46. If you don't care for Dennis why not keep it to yourself and post on a thread

for whomever it is you DO support. Obnoxious sniping just makes you look incredibly silly.

[taylor egv420106]

49. I'm not sniping

I'm just commenting on the repeat history in this cycle of DK being told the rules, DK ignoring the rules and DK complaining that the rules were being followed.

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Algorem]

47. Good old "The Path To 9-11" ABC?

[fascisthunter]

52. Once Again: Big Money Controlling Democracy...How is This Democratic?

Wake up!

[hayu_lol]

59. Apropos of absolutely nothing...

Kucinich managed a 1% standing in Iowa. Current polls show his standing in NH is 2.4%. And that is the highest of any of the current polls.

Dennis surrogates appear to feel that all 22 dem presidential candidates should be allowed to participate. I suggest that many of these people are non-viable. No one offered to pay for the debate from the Kucinich camp did they?

Pretty obvious that Dennis supporters want to cram Dennis down our throats for no reason other than they like him. Sad that they have continued this push for two elections now. Frankly, Dennis has run the very best non-campaign I've ever seen.

[bamacrat]

63. Good for him, I barely watched the debate after I knew he wouldnt be there.

It has to be the most fucked up blatant demonstration that a choice has already been made. We don't really get to choose our candidates, instead they are designated "electable" or "unelectable" by the thought vacuum that is the mainstream media. I hope Dennis comes out on top with this, but Im sure it will be ignored or he will be labeled a nutt.

:puke:

[taylor egv420106]

67. Yeah Why

Should we assume that just because someone has no following, no money and isn't campaigning that it would somehow affect the likliehood of their election?

[CONN]

68. If you don't like what is happening, tell the DNC...

... and Democratic Leadership:
http://www.democrats.org/page/s/contactissues
http://www.speaker.gov/contact/

[frog92969]

69. Wow! So much Kucinich hatred on this board.

You'd think we were talking about pResident chimp.

[Le Taz Hot]

70. Look again.

You'll find mostly ONE very prolific poster doing all the dissing. For whatever reason he/she finds it necessary to piss on EVERY thread. I'm guessing the granite is being prepared as we speak.

[frog92969]

71. By golly your right

Maybe it has stock in Exxon.
Do I hear clanging shovels? Oh, it's Arlington Cemetery again.