MSNBC Uninvites Kucinich To Vegas Debate

Mediabistro's TVNewser:

Rep. Dennis Kucinich won't be taking part in MSNBC's debate in Las Vegas on Tuesday. It certainly won't be the first time that Kucinich was excluded from a recent Democratic debate. But the difference is Kucinich was initially invited, and had met the criteria, for the MSNBC debate. Then, MSNBC changed the criteria and told Kucinich he was uninvited.

Alternet published a Kucinich press release, which said that 44 hours after Kucinich got a congratulatory letter and invite from NBC to the Nevada debate, they notified him of their changed criteria, and his exclusion.

In the press release, the Kucinich campaign took a shot at the media as a whole: "When 'big media' exert their unbridled control over what Americans can see, hear, and read, then the Constitutional power and right of the citizens to vote is being vetoed by multi-billion corporations that want the votes to go their way."

According to the Los Angeles Times, the original criteria for the debate called for the inclusion of the top four democratic candidates in national polling. With Bill Richardson dropping out of the race last week, that moved Kucinich to fourth place in polls. NBC decided to change the criteria, featuring the top three Dem. candidates: Sen. Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama.

Read the whole story: Mediabistro's TVNewser

Comments

[TyroneTanic]

If it's true, as another prominent HuffPo article says, that Keith Olbermann runs MSNBC, then why did he allow this to happen?

[VivaZapata]

This story isn't about whether or not Kucinich would make a good president; it's about whether or not MSNBC deserves to be watched when they arbitrarily knock candidates from the stage. It's clear that they've decided who we should and shouldn't be exposed to. The person who wrote the post about Where-is-the-League-for Women-Voters? has it right.

[sparkey]

Let's see if Olbermann really runs MSNBC. If he does, he'll have a piece on this on his show and a special comment on excluding candidates from a debate. If he doesn't do this, then he is just another talking head,just like Hannity, O'Reilly and Limbaugh. I see a possible ratings drop in this, especially when the other three get hold of it.

[UncleJimbo]

This is all about not letting him say the I- Word on National Television!

[acudoc]

Of course Kucinich is being discriminated against by the media. He, like Paul, is a man of peace. Not good for business. And the dumbed-down American electorate is beyond redemption. The Founders could not have foreseen how stupid their descendants would be and how easily fooled they would be by these other fake mensches running for President.

Kucinich or Paul----those are the only two with integrity, the only two who want to be president for the right reason.

[lyingtruth]

This election is about diversity. Not of who you are inside but what look like!

[clevelandtocali]

Good GOD PEOPLE!!! Kucinich shares many of my views as well but I wouldn't vote for him if you put a gun to my head. You see, I've lived through his one attempt at Executive Office, the Mayorship of Cleveland. He SUCKED, SUCKED, SUCKED, SUCKED. Just because you agree with someone doesn't make them the right person to implement decisions on a Presidential level. He was able to bankrupt Cleveland in less than one term and even I was happy to see George Voinovich run him out of town.

Lets be practical about this, do you REALLY think it'd be a good idea to support a candidate who is guaranteed to damage this country? He may be the polar opposite of Bush in ideaology, but he is equally incompetent.

[MAX1]

.

AND THEN THERE'S THIS...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/DN-kucinich_12pol.ART.State.Edition1.3793aa3.html

Judge backs refusal to put Kucinich on ballot

Texas Democrats block candidate for refusing to sign party pledge

AUSTIN – A federal judge agreed Friday that the state Democratic Party can refuse to allow presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich onto the Texas ballot because he wouldn't sign a party pledge.

Mr. Kucinich and his singer-supporter Willie Nelson sued the party to try to get Mr. Kucinich on the March 4 primary election ballot even though Mr. Kucinich refused to sign part of the oath on his ballot application that would commit him to "fully support" the eventual Democratic nominee.

Mr. Kucinich may appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, possibly as soon as Monday, his attorney said. Mr. Kucinich was not at the Austin hearing.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel said the courts should intervene sparingly in political party rule-making. While the Democrats' oath may be "inartfully worded," it does not place such a burden on Mr. Kucinich that it should be struck down, Judge Yeakel said.

Mr. Kucinich's attorney, Donald McTigue, argued that the candidate's First Amendment rights would be violated by the required oath. He said it blocks his ballot access and would restrain his future speech if he didn't support the Democrats' presidential nominee.

"They never explain what their justification for doing it is," Mr. McTigue said of the oath. "It requires you to affirmatively support, not just stay on the sidelines."

[degjack]

Kucinich has been blacklisted by the media ever since he introduced his impeachment resolution. That's what it's all about.

[willo]

Is there some way we can punish NBC for their aberrant behavior. They should have their license revoked for not acting in the publics interest. Their broadcasting license is issued on the condition that they act in the publics interest.

[MAX1]

.

Yep,

The best damn DUH-MOCK-ra-"NOT SEE" money can buy.

DUH... not the best
MOCK... it's a mockery of a real democracy
"NOT SEE"... Congress chooses to "not see" the problem before them

.

[Fernando]

Guys, Kucinich is the man who is farthest to the left than anyone else but then says he wants Obama to the second choice for democrats. So let me see if I understand, the farthest left-leaning candidate wants the most right leaning-candidate (and the one with the less ambitious health care program) to get his support where he (Kucinich) is not a viable candidate.

[HumeSkeptic]

There is no point in winning if you don't believe in what you are fighting for. Vote Kucinich.

[VOTER]

MSNBC - NASTY!

[plages]

I guess that I'll have my purple index finger this coming Feb.
Oops, and here we all thought that the airwaves were ours! What a silly thought, why its almost as ridiculous as living in a democracy! By the way, where are the so called future democratic leaders on this? Shouldn't they be standing up for what's left of the so called democracy, and demand that Dennis Kucinich be heard? Psst . . . more fluff coming our way!