Des Moines Register contact information (Re: Kucinich disallowed from debate)

[Poll_Blind]

From their "Contact the Register" page

Telephone switchboard
Local: [phone]
Iowa: [phone]
Outside Iowa: [phone]

Mailing address
P.O. Box 957
Des Moines IA 50306-0957

Officers and Department heads
Laura Hollingsworth_____President and Publisher__(515) 284-8041
Rick Bell_______________Vice President, Circulation__(515) 284-8319
Kevin D. Hall___________Vice President, Advertising__(515) 284-8384
Julie Harvey____________Vice President, Finance__(515) 284-8226
Kevin R. Johnson________Vice President, Production__(515) 471-3505
Susan Patterson Plank___Vice President, Marketing and Digital Development__(515) 284-8261
Joyce M. Ray____________Vice President, Human Resources__(515) 284-8586
Carolyn Washburn________Vice President, Editor__(515) 284-8502
R. Dee Wilson___________Vice President, Information Services__(515) 284-8385

[1corona4u]

1. LOL...

[redqueen]

18. Aren't you a sweetheart.

:puke:

[1corona4u]

19. Why, yes, I am...

I can't help it if you picked yourself a loser candidate.

[redqueen]

21. Wow... you just keep on keepin on, don'tcha?

How do you feel about the way Biden treated Anita Hill, and cooperated so that we could have Clarence Thomas on the bench, eh?

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. OK, I called, and spoke to someone in the news room

First I spoke to a switchboard operator who switched me to the news room. Thw woman who I spoke to was friendly, but she wasn't even aware that Kucinich isn't part of the debate. I told her that while I support local decisions in general, Iowa prides itself on how seriously its citizens involve themselves in vetting Presidential candidates for the nation, so it is not just a local decision whether to include Kucinich, this is a national debate.

I said I have accepted the reasons for why Mike Gravel has been excluded from some debates because he is not really running a national campaign, however Kucinich is. He has taken the time and effort to actually run acampaign, he registers in National Opinion polls sometimes higher than some other of our candidates, and he is a spokesperson for the opinions of a significant segment of the Democratic electorate. As such his voice deserves to be heard. I further mentioned that I am not even a Kucinich supporter, but still felt it wrong to exclude him. She listened respectfully and said she would pass on my feelings to the editorial staff.

When Gravel first got excluded from a Presidential debate I wrote here that I understood that decision, but I would speak up if anyone attempted to exclude Kucinich who I acknowledge is a serious candidate. So it was time to back up those words.

I urge others to speak up also.

[1corona4u]

3. They said he didn't meet the criteria for the debate...

and really, why should he be included. He has totally snubbed Iowa.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. Because it isn't a state race, it is a national race.

If he has snubbed Iowa let the Iowans punish him for that in their caucuses, they are well known for being able to do just that. Iowa prides itself on the national implications of the vote that will take place there early next month. They are the ones who trumpet their role in determining which candidates leave Iowa still viable to run for President.

To me it is about the danger of allowing private corporations excessive power in controlling what messages are heard and what ones aren't. I understand that some criteria are needed to limit the number of politicians invited to participate. I understand why Mike Gravel, who is not really campaigning anywhere let alone in Iowa, is not being invited. But Kucinich has real national support and is an acknowledged spokesperson for a meaningful piece of the Democratic electorate, even if he isn't the first choice for President of many of those people for varied other reasons.

Do you know that the word is on another thread that Allan Keyes has been invited by the Register to participate in the Republican debate? How do you explain that one if true?

[1corona4u]

10. it doesn't mattter who's election it is...

It's Iowa's debate. See?

[1corona4u]

12. Tom;

You said;



"To me it is about the danger of allowing private corporations excessive power in controlling what messages are heard and what ones aren't."



They're PRIVATE companies. What's new here? Nothing. They all put out what they want right now. Just like Fox does. Just like Rush does...They make the rules, and if someone wants to participate, then they need to adhere to the rules. Simple as that.

I for one, am glad he won't be there. All he ever does is pimp himself. SSDD. Dennis never says anything, or does anything, that isn't self-serving. Frankly, in the debates, I find him to be an embarrassment. He may be right on some things, but he's not a good speaker, and he annoys people.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. I don't like private companies programming our voting machines either

And I also don't like private money bankrolling our election campaigns. Don't get me started, lol. I pragmatically understand how our system works, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

I do not support Kucinich for President. Pretty much every election cycle I can find one or more candiates who I think are hurting themselves and sometimes their cause (whether I agree with it or not) by standing on those debate platforms, but that has nothing to do with whether they have earned a right to be there. That is a different set of considerations completely.

[1corona4u]

16. You know what Tom...

I understand your point about having private companies program our voting machine, and it is one of my biggest concerns in this election. However, I would HOPE that people would do their own research on any candidate, and pick the one most qualified. It doesn't necessarily mean they have to like him either, in my opinon. In truth, I've never liked ANY president we've had. I hated Bill Clinton with a passion. But, I grew to appreciate him after a few years.

But a lot of people seem to be dismissing inportant issues facing the next president. I just hope this time, it isn't a sheeple mentality vote.

[Tom Rinaldo]

17. Yup. I hope your guy get's taken seriously. He deserves more respect...

...than the media coverage of this race has given him.

[Whisp]

23. delete.

never mind.

[SaveElmer]

5. If Kucinich isn't going to take Iowa seriously...

Why should they take him seriously?

Kucinich made the choice not to put any effort there...I have absolutely no problem with this whatsoever...

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. If Kucinich formally conceded that he is not contesting Iowa

than I can accept that as a basis to not invite him. Other than that I stand by the argument that I presented above.

[SaveElmer]

8. He has expended little or no money or time there...

He is not a serious candidate in Iowa...

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. Well I agree with that

and I understand how that can be used as justification for keeping him out of the debate. You know not every issue is clear cut to me, seemingly unlike many of the posters on DU, lol. I can see both sides of this and just so happen to come down on the side that I took.

The real surprise to me so far is the lack of hardly anyone on DU expressing disagreement with Kucinich being left out of the debate. I thought more of his supporters would be up in arms over this. There was more outrage expressed here over Gravel having been kept out of prior debates, a decision I supported at the time.

I have always thought that Kucinich is a serious candidate for the nomination but not a serious contender to win it. Those assessments don't negate each other in my mind.

[no name no slogan]

20. If they let Keyes into the GOP debate...

They can sure as hell let Kucinich into the Democratic debate.

[bobthedrummer]

6. Thanks

on edit: This is a Gannett owned paper

[hayu_lol]

9. Shades of the AARP Iowa debate...

Kucinich was invited by registered letter by this group. There were a few conditions that ALL candidates had to comply with. One condition was that the candidates who participated had to have at least ONE office manned or womaned in the state--just to show that much interest in Iowa. This was not an out-of-line condition.

Apparently Dennis didn't like the condition, refused to meet it, and then stood on the sidelines and whined and cried foul.

Seems like the debate, in this case now, has the same condidtions as a requirement. Dennis didn't like the condition then, he apparently doesn't like it now, and will not comply. Iowa has told him: GO FISH.

Probably a good idea. Good thing Dennis is running to fill his congressional seat. At least he will remain employed.

Gravel is running about 1% support...and does that without running a campaign. Dennis, in national polls, has been showing a rise to 2%. Obivously the smarter of the two is Gravel.

So tell me, what is wrong with Dennis?

[bluedog]

11. so, he'd rather whine and cry then get a manned office in Iowa?

and it is Iowa's race to run...all he has to do is follow the rules of that state.

[MethuenProgressive]

14. Did Kucinich know the rules beforehand?

If so... too bad, Denny.
:shrug:

[Bodhi BloodWave]

22. Concidering how much i tend to disagree with your posts

this almost feels weird writing, but i actually agree with you here.

If he knew the rules beforehand and didn't follow them he has no reason to complain about being excluded, and considering he was excluded from the AARP Iowa debate for the same reason I'd say he did know them.