This is What Democracy Looks Like? (The Nation Questions NY1 over debate)

[im10ashus]

"Celebrity is no substitute for an honest and vigorous debate on a matter as fundamentally important as war."

That is what antiwar Senate candidate, Jonathan Tasini, told New York Times columnist Bob Herbert last May in describing his rationale for making a Democratic Party primary run against incumbent-Goliath, Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Tasini has since qualified for the ballot with 40,000 signatures – far surpassing the required 15,000 – and he is polling at a surprising 13 percent (or, perhaps not so surprising, if one considers the outrage over Iraq.) But, despite Tasini's strong run, the voters of New York might not get that vigorous debate after all.

Cable news station, NY1 – owned by Time-Warner – declared that Tasini cannot participate in its televised debate series because he hasn't raised the arbitrarily required $500,000. Tasini nearly triples the 5 percent polling requirement but he doesn't have the cash flow NY1 is looking for to legitimize his candidacy.

Now there's democracy in action for you: only the wealthy or those who raise enough money are welcome in this contest of ideas – no matter how critical the moment in our nation's history and no matter how many voters pledge their support.

cont'd...

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?pid=112643

[Tom Joad]

1. I am sure that the leadership of the Dem. Party does not want debate on

the issues Tasini has raised. Where is Howard Dean?? I expect he supports not including Tasini in any debate.

[im10ashus]

2. No word from Dean, as far as I have heard.

I have a friend on the Tasini campaign. I will ask her if she has heard anything.

[Tom Joad]

6. Don't expect one. No debate is wanted by the leadership. But

go ahead and prove me wrong, it would make me happy. I just suspect the number one (and number 2 - 99) concern for the leadership is getting Democrats elected. Issues do not matter. Increasing "market share" does.

[Snivi Yllom]

3. NY1 should be ashamed

It's such a minor station to begin with.

Something really stinks.

[BurtWorm]

4. It's owned and operated by Time Warner cable.

It's not so minor. A "minor" station would have been more interested in news and less interested in protecting Hillary Clinton's incumbency.

[Snivi Yllom]

5. forgot about that

obvious

[Synnical]

7. From the link - contact NY!

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/ContactUs/index.jsp


Also, there's a horrible picture of Katrina vanden Heuvel, IMO. She looks like she's smirking! As well she should be, but still.