ABC Cuts 3 Candidates From Its New Hampshire Debate

AP:

ABC News is eliminating Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter and Democrats Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel from its prime-time presidential debates Saturday night because they did not meet benchmarks for their support.

The Democratic debate three days before the New Hampshire primary will include Iowa caucus winner Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Bill Richardson. It starts at 7 p.m. EST.

Shortly after Democrats leave the stage in Manchester, N.H., Republicans Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul will arrive for their own forum.

ABC anchor Charles Gibson will moderate both debates.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[VivaZapata]

The idea that ABC could go into more depth by excluding someone like kucinich, who along with Gravel at least differs from all of the other candidates, is ludicrous. The questions were designed to generate controversy, not understanding. With this action Time Warner has proven to be as vile as General Electric (NBC), Viacom (CBS), and Murdoch (FOX).

[gakabani]

You call it democracy? ABC is just a filter, a controlling entity of our lives and thoughts. Democracy is a transparent process for all to be part of, not a fascist system.
Oh! I forgot, we live in fascist america, don't we?

[WorkingClass]

Disney has chosen our candidates AND paid for them. They belong to Disney so they get to run for president. Does anyone not understand this? Disney has the power to do this because they are in league with other corporations and because they control OUR air waves. It is our air waves that make it possible for Disney to choose our President. Does this seem right to you? Does this piss you off? isn't it enough that Kucinich is on the ballot?

Bull shit. Disney is afraid of Ron Paul because they don't own him. They are AFRAID OF EVERYBODY THEY DON'T OWN!! Don't let them get away with it people. Make them pay.

[realitytrumpsbull]

How about Kucinich/Paul on the Independent
ticket as write-ins? I'll bet a lot of people
would put their names down for that...Kuc­inich
and Paul both start from the standpoint of 'Constitution FIRST', and would be less
liable to run around handing out money etc.

[happykilt]

ABC should be ashmaed of themselves! Let Kucinich speak, America needs to and has the right to hear what this man has to say. Shame on you.
www.purplestates.tv

[larry278]

The Republicans have upstaged the Democrats since they won't appear at a debate because a few candidates were pulled from the debate by a network. It would be a good idea if the Democrats didn't appear at the ABC debate either.

[johnnycanuck]

Dennis speaks for alot of us , with-out this guy in the debate our voices are cencored by big media .

[Meteor]

Dennis Kucinish can say more in 30 seconds in a calm and reasoned fashion than the others in the whole debate. He has to try to buy an ad to be heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-TiijrjFrI

ABC NEWS is a disgrace.

[lookingAhead]

I would be more upset and would voice my option with ABC if, Kucinich wouldn't have started the votes going to Obama. I always thought that his views were closer to Edwards. What is up with that. The switching of the votes gave Obama a bigger lead than he truly had before the switch by the 2nd tier candidates.

[SunshineDaydream]

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.

"ABC should not be the first primary," the Ohio congressman said in papers filed at the Federal Communications Commission.

[truthyguy]

Remind me again - what country is this?

[bodhibabe]

Go Dennis go. The REAL voice of the American people.

[Libsrule]

That really sucks they are keeping Dennis off the Democratic debates ESPECIALLY with this debate forum. Apparently the candidate will be able to actually confront and debate other candidates face to face. None of the "In 30 seconds explain what you will do to change the entire medical system in the country"?

I mean that is such bullshit.

Having Dennis on would have put the big three on notice that they would have had Dennis in their face asking some really tough and embarrasing questions.

He should be on. ABC is an asshole for doing this.

[Waitaminute]

This is another reason we need publically funded debates.

If the MSM want to sponsor debates, it must be done as if it was publically funded. Otherwise, they will/can/are manipulating the rights of the people in the remaining states from hearing all the candidates.

Even though only one state has voted. The sold out MSM has decided for the rest of us, in the remaining 49 states, who they think we should hear. This is fraud.

What will it be, "we the people"? Will the elections be decided, our choices taken away and told you dam well votes for the one we allow you to hear?

With one freaking stroke of the pin, the rest of us AMERICAN CITIZEN IN THE OTHER 49 STATES, rights (to hear judge and make an educated decision) have been taken away.

We are already under fascism.

[ZingoBonMot]

The Disney channel missed one. They left off that "You must be THIS TALL to board ride" requirement. Sumbitches!