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NBC this morning appealed a District Court judge¹s decision Monday to force the network to include presidential long-shot Dennis Kucinich in tonight's Democratic debate.
The network appealed the decision to the state Supreme Court, which presumably will decide the matter before the 6 p.m. Debate.
"When parties seek emergency relief, it is not uncommon for this court to rule within hours," said Brandee Mooneyhan, an assistant court clerk.
As reported in today's Sun, Judge Charles Thompson sided with the Ohio Congressman¹s contention that NBC had breached its contract when the network announced Friday that it would only include the three leading Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama.
Kucinich also argues that denying him access to the stage undermines the public trust.
"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.
Such a denial has precedent: ABC News, which recently televised Democratic and Republican debates in southern New Hampshire, barred low-polling candidates from both parties.
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