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twitterKucinich hard to silence, NBC learns
But network, ordered to let him in debate, will try again anyway
Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008 | 2 a.m.
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At A Glance: Tonight's Debate
Tonight’s Democratic debate begins at 6 at the Cashman Center Theatre, 850 North Las Vegas Blvd. The two-hour event will air live on MSNBC and will be rebroadcast with a Spanish-language translation on Telemundo at midnight. Both networks are owned by NBC.
The moderator is “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams. Joining him will be Tim Russert, host of NBC’s Sunday morning talk show “Meet the Press.” The format includes questions submitted by viewers.
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A District Court judge Monday ordered NBC to include Democratic presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich in tonight’s debate in Las Vegas after the candidate complained that the network had breached its contract and undermined the public interest by barring him from the stage.
Judge Charles Thompson said he would file an injunction to stop the 6 p.m. debate if it does not include Kucinich. NBC said it will appeal today, setting the stage for more last-minute legal maneuvering before the debate, which is scheduled to air on the local NBC affiliate and on MSNBC, an NBC cable network.
Bill McGaha, the Ohio congressman’s Las Vegas attorney, said the network should “let the people decide who they want to vote for. Don’t exclude a candidate. Let the voters do that. That’s what the process is for.”
According to the lawsuit, Kucinich was invited Wednesday to participate in the debate with the three front-runners New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. Kucinich qualified because he placed among the top four Democratic presidential candidates in a national news media poll conducted after the Iowa caucus, McGaha said.
On Friday, an MSNBC official withdrew the invitation, saying the criteria to participate had changed and the cable network wanted only the top three candidates, court documents said.
McGaha argued that MSNBC had breached its contract by withdrawing the invitation, an opinion that UNLV law professor Jeff Stempel said sounds reasonable.
“MSNBC invited and then disinvited Kucinich,” Stempel said.
Since there is no monetary award that can compensate for the breach, Stempel said, “the only thing that cures the breach is to let him in” the debate.
McGaha also argued that NBC had undermined the Federal Communications Act, and therefore violated its obligation to the public, by excluding Kucinich. The act requires broadcasters to provide a reasonable opportunity for conflicting points of view to be included in discussions of public importance, McGaha said. The lawsuit argued that Kucinich’s anti-war voice was being silenced.
“The debate is not a true presidential primary debate without including all credible candidates, but instead is effectively an endorsement of the candidates selected by NBC,” the lawsuit said.
Jim Rogers, chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education and owner of the Las Vegas NBC affiliate, said he does not know the specific laws that dictate the Kucinich case but he is not surprised by the judge’s ruling. Many rules dictate how networks run presidential debates, he said.
The judge’s ruling is scheduled to be released this morning.
Discussion: 18 comments so far…
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Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Candidate, is a champion for Peace, he even won the Gandhi Peace Award for his steadfast determination to change our politics to pursue real strength which can be only achieved through peace.
Free Speech and the pursuit of peace go hand in hand but corporations like General Electric's N.B.C. censor Dennis Kucinich from the national conversation by reneging on their invitation for the Debate at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas, Tuesday, January 15th, that's tomorrow.
We have a great opportunity to show NBC, Las Vegans and the media that we will not stand by and become spectators of our democracy, we are participants.
Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich will be in attendance at the Free Speech Rally in front of the Cashman Center entrance located at 850 North Las Vegas Boulevard. Cat Bus Routes 113, 209, 215 and the Max line all will get you to the area but double check your routes online.
For more information please contact Nevadans for Kucinich, Co-Chair Diana Smith at 702 812 7957 or by calling the Nevada Kucinich Headquarters at 702 477-0019.
Please join us as we show the nation that Las Vegans stand for Strength through Peace and Free Speech. Bring signs and your enthusiasm.
Cynicism will be the death of the great American Experiment of Democracy. If the People Lead, the leaders will follow.
No matter who you are supporting for President, the American public deserves to hear all the candidates so that we may make an educated decision in choosing our Public Servant #1!
http://forpresidentronpaul.blogspot.com/...
We the People need to awake; We the people need to grasp the depth and seriousness the main media role is in manipulating us the People of this beautiful country.
The majority of the main well known media are private own by private entities and they serve to the interest of their owners not us. For many years they have been injecting their spin by silencing voices they do not want to gain any traction under the cover of many words which are nothing more than deceptions.
The sad part is that while we are sending our man and women soldiers to far-away and unknown lands, to kill or get kill, here at home the process established by our US Constitution, that master piece where 56 founding fathers full of courage signed knowingly that if it fails they will pay with their life, that process is being tramped by those pretending to brings us the “news”..
I will leave you with some Thomas Jefferson Quotes to think about.
Please note the word Newspaper in today’s era is also “Radio, TV and Internet”
- “Advertisements... contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper."
- "The press is impotent when it abandons itself to falsehood."
- "Nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle. The real extent of this state of misinformation is known only to those who are in situations to confront facts within their knowledge with the lies of the day."
http://forpresidentronpaul.blogspot.com/...
It is so important in this "land of the free"
that any candidate who legitimally seeks office
be given the same opportunity to be heard as
all the other candidates.
NBC is wrong in trying to silence Kucinich,
just as ABC was wrong in keeping Kucinich out of their debate last week.
The air waves belong to the people and not the corporate interests.
PJ
'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it'
S. G. Tallentyre, referring to Voltaire. Often attributed to Voltaire.
Pseudonym of Evelyn Beatrice Hall
Lest one forget this is the guy that bankrupted Cleveland (which still hasn't recovered) and gets less than 2 % of vote. The boy in the state of Ohio is cosidered a disgrace.
The issue here isn't Kucinich's record as Cleveland's mayor nor as an Ohio representative, shoddy as it may be. The real issue is whether or not we sit back and let the media exert undue influence on the elections process. I imagine the suits at NBC in a near panic over losing viewers because they're afraid Kucinich will distract from the more "engaging" canditates, but guess what fellas (and maybe gals, too), that's not your choice to make. The choice belongs exclusively (and you can check the Constitution to be sure) to the electorate, not the media. Judge Thompson, I salute you for upholding the Constitution, and putting the media in its rightful place of public servant. Let's hope your colleagues on the Appeals bench are as astute as you.
re: "the guy that bankrupted Cleveland"
Kucinich's tenure as mayor is often regarded as one of the most tumultuous in Cleveland's history. After Kucinich refused to sell Muni Light, Cleveland's publicly owned electric utility, the Cleveland mafia put a hit on Kucinich. A hitman from Maryland planned to shoot him in the head during the Columbus Day Parade, but the plot fell apart when Kucinich was hospitalized and missed the event. When the city fell into default shortly thereafter, the mafia leaders called off the contract killer.
In the book Best and Worst of the Big-City Leaders, 1820–1993, Melvin G. Holli, in consultation with a panel of experts, placed Kucinich among the ten worst big-city mayors of all time for reasons of temperament and performance, while Kucinich's supporters say that Kucinich kept his campaign promise of refusing to sell Muni Light to CEI and was brave for not giving in to big business. Specifically, it was the Cleveland Trust Company that required all of the city's debts be paid in full, which forced the city into default, after news of Kucinich's refusal to sell the city utility. For years these debts were routinely rolled over, pending future payment, until Kucinich's announcement was made public. In 1998 the council honored him for having the "courage and foresight" to stand up to the banks and saving the city an estimated $195 million between 1985 and 1995.
(wikipedia)
We will live in a true democracy when we have the courage to be able to voice AND listen to opinions freely. Kucinich, perhaps perceived as 'a voice in the wilderness' needs to be heard by our citizens. The truth may sting, and Dennis WILL tell it like it is.
IF HE'S IN, I'M IN TOO!
Sorensen Endorses Obama: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ReDCmk2c2g8
Comment removed by staff.
I am amazed at how many of us continue to allow ourselves to be led, like sheep to a slaughterhouse. I'm even more amazed by the numbers of us who have been indoctrinated into the idea that we are led by a "governmental system". I have some very frightening news for you, my brothers !!! Our so called "leaders" are as much a part of the flock as we are. They play their roles in this drama called
"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" just as we do. As long as we are satisfied and content with what the "real holders of power" give us through our "nipple of choice" then we will all be allowed to nestle in and suckle to our hearts content. But, when the bitch's milk turns sour or no longer satisfies our need some of us make the choice to seek out other, alternative sources for our nutrient and we take the chance of losing our grip on what we've come to know as "security" and "freedom" and can be forced away from the breast of life by one who shows a greater willingness to take and be happy with what we have grown tired of and we'll be left to starve, wither, and die.
We can yell, scream and say we only want fairness and truth but, as Jack Nicholson so eloquently put it, we "can't handle the
"truth". This is not about NBC, FOX, or ABC. It's not about CBS. It's not about Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly or Rush! They are just tools, albeit very useful ones. This is about a mere handful of men, not just ordinary men, who wake up every morning and put on their pants one leg at a time, like you and I do. I'm talking about the wealthiest and most powerful men in the entire universe. The ones who own everything that we know in our lives. Men who've never done anything for themselves since the day they popped out of theirs mother's vagina. The Men who allow us only what they deem necessary to keep us in line, quiet and manageable. Men who dictate what we see, what we hear, what we say and what we do. This thing called "media" is, in reality, their "medium". Used by them to inject a constant flow of mind altering subliminal directives into our feeble little meaningless minds that tells us what to buy, how to dress, what to eat, who to listen to and, oh yes ... who to VOTE FOR! They control our very lives! I know, I know ... sounds a little "out there", right? So I guess it's working pretty well then and therein lies the magic of their power.
You think you want the "real truth"? I suggest devoting 2 hours of your life to watching a movie. But let me warn you! This will scare the crap out of you. Friday the 13th, Scream, Poltergeist, that is kid stuff... this is for grownups! If you can watch it with an open mind you will be forever changed!
www.zeitgeist.com .... the movie!
May god have mercy on our souls!
Washington Post Awarded "The Scoundrel" Who Put The Obama/Pledge Of Allegiance Email Into Circulation "Four Pinocchios" On Its Fact Checking Scale, Which Classifies The Attack As A "Whopper."
Obama Said His Grandfather Taught Him The Pledge And To Put His Hand Over His Heart, "During The National Anthem You Sing." Obama said, "My grandfather taught me how to say the Pledge of Allegiance when I was 2...During the Pledge of Allegiance you put your hand over your heart. During the national anthem you sing." [AP, 11/7/07]
This grunt has not yet decided, but I will research all troll attacks to see if there is any truth and if so, in balance, does the truth affect my decision.
I hope the Democrats do not self destruct and give the Republicans too much swift boating material before the general election. 6T.
I'm a dyed in the wool conservative Republican and Dennis just isn't my cup of tea, but NBC invited him to participate in the debate and he accepted. NBC did the wrong thing in reneging.
This is all about election tampering on the part of NBC. All the candidates but Kucinich voted for Yucca Mountain and/ or its funding. Kucinich is the only candidate running for President who opposed Yucca Mountain and its funding.
Corporate America is afraid of Kucinich because he'll cost them billions in lost revenue if elected president.
The ABC debate was sponsored by AARP who's insurance division would suffer under Kucinich's single payer not-for-profit healthcare plan.
GE, the parent company of NBC, has worldwide companies that would take a severe financial hit with Kucinich's plan to withdraw from NAFTA and the WTO. GE has a military and aerospace division with contracts that would cease with Kucinich's plan to bring our troops home NOW.
Corporate greed is conspiring to keep the status quo, and a vote for any candidate other than Dennis Kucinich, is a vote for corporate America, not "We the People."
http://www.aarphealthcare.com/
http://www.ge.com/company/worldwide_acti...
"Corporate America is afraid of Kucinich because he'll cost them billions in lost revenue if elected president."
"Corporate America" is every man woman and child in this country. When "Corporate America" loses we all lose.
Do you have an IRA or 401k or 403b or Roth or Keogh or qualified annuity or pension fund?.....get it??
Hard to silence. I would say it didn't take much. The media is absolutely controlling this election and they have since the very beginning. I'm disguested with the manipulative rhetoric that is consistently heard on all news stations. NBC, ABC, FOX are the most manipulative out them all. I refuse to watch any of those stations or their affiliates. Pretty soon I will completely stop watching t.v. because I'm sick of hearing their lies over and over. What really upsets me is the majority of the people in America have no idea what is being done to them.