Kucinich files complaint on ABC debate (FCC Equal Access claim re: Kucinich, Gravel & Duncan Hunter)

AP via Yahoo ^ | 1/4/2008 | DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

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.

< snip >

Fox News Channel is sponsoring a debate in its mobile studio Sunday that excludes Paul and Hunter. Huckabee, Giuliani, Romney, Thompson and McCain have been invited.

< snip >

[bushfamfan]

All legitimate, filed candidates deserve to be heard in debates. There is way too much manipulation going on with the media and people who want to influence an election to deny people the opportunity to hear from all the candidates. The greatest injustice has been done against Duncan Hunter.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

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.

What do ya know...! The weasly rat-man actually has a case here, especially by pointing out ABC's obvious conflict of interest.

[Calpernia]

Contributor	Occupation	Date	Amount	Recipient
ABBOTT, JIM NEW YORK,NY 10036	DISNEY THEATRICAL/MUSICAL DIRECTOR	1/11/2007	$206	DNC Services Corp
ADEGBONMIRE, YEMI BURBANK,CA 91521	DISNEY/ABC ENTERTAINMENT/LAWYER	9/11/2007	$2,300	Obama, Barack
BATES, RICHARD M MR WASHINGTON,DC 20036	DISNEY/SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT	2/28/2007	$2,300	Dodd, Christopher J
BENNETT, DUSTY NEW YORK,NY 10005	DISNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS/PRODU	9/13/2007	$1,000	Obama, Barack
BREEN, SEAN BRISTOL,CT 06010	DISNEY & ESPN NETWORKS/VICE PRESIDE	5/14/2007	$500	National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
BROWN, MARTHA MS SIMI VALLEY,CA 93065	DISNEY/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	5/24/2007	$250	Giuliani, Rudolph W
BROWN, MARTHA MS SIMI VALLEY,CA 93065	DISNEY/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	5/29/2007	$250	Giuliani, Rudolph W
CALHOUN, JIM PASADENA,CA 91106	DISNEY/DISNEY	8/3/2007	$2,300	Obama, Barack
CONNOLLY, JUSTIN WEST HARTFORD,CT 06107	DISNEY & ESPN NETWORKS/SENIOR VICE	4/13/2007	$500	National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
COOK, RICHARD LA CANADA FLINTRID,CA 91011	DISNEY COMPANY/CHAIRPERSON	5/23/2007	$1,000	Baucus, Max
DAVIS, ALISHA NEW YORK,NY 10036	DISNEY/WRITER	6/13/2007	$200	Obama, Barack
DAY, ABRAHAM L MR HIGHLAND,UT 84003	DISNEY INTERACTIVE/ARTIST	9/15/2007	$2,000	Paul, Ron
DISNEY, MICHAEL MR EL CAJON,CA 92019	DISNEY FINANCIAL CORP./PRESIDENT	2/27/2007	$500	National Republican Congressional Cmte
ELIAS, MICHAEL LOS ANGELES,CA 90066	DISNEY/PRODUCER	5/22/2007	$500	Clinton, Hillary
GIANGRECO, MARK F MR CHICAGO,IL 60661	DISNEY WLS-TV ABC/SPORTSCASTER	4/18/2007	$500	Obama, Barack
GLIDEWELL 900, CAMERON MR LOS ANGELES,CA 90042	DISNEY/ABC INC/TELEVISION ENGINEER	1/26/2007	$201	Americans Against Illegal Immigration
GOMEZ, HUNTER E MR PARADISE VALLEY,AZ 85253	DISNEY/ACTOR	5/22/2007	$2,300	McCain, John
HAMBURGER, ANNE LOS ANGELES,CA 90027	DISNEY THEME PARKS/EXECUTIVE VP	6/14/2007	$200	Walt Disney Co
HAREWOOD, FRANCESCA NEW YORK,NY 10023	DISNEY/BAEHAVISTA TV	6/11/2007	$250	Clinton, Hillary
HOWARD, DOUGLAS J MR BELL BUCKLE,TN 37020	DISNEY MUSIC/SR VP	8/10/2007	$2,000	National Republican Congressional Cmte
HOWARD, DOUGLAS J MR BELL BUCKLE,TN 37020	DISNEY MUSIC/SR VP	5/31/2007	$500	National Republican Congressional Cmte
IINO, TIFFANY LOS ANGELES,CA 90077	DISNEY/ABC CABLE NEWS GROUP/VP CREA	2/12/2007	$500	Walt Disney Co
KRAMER, SCHANA LOS ANGELES,CA 90048	DISNEY/ABC DRAMA COORDINATOR	9/7/2007	$250	Clinton, Hillary
KREIDER, KAREN B PASADENA,CA 91106	DISNEY/EXECUTIVE	3/29/2007	$250	Edwards, John
LANGLEY, RENA ORLANDO,FL 32835	DISNEY CRUISE LINE/DIRECTOR PUBLIC	4/20/2007	$250	Cruise Lines International Assn
LEE, JEFFREY EDGEWATER,NJ 07020	DISNEY THEATCIAL/ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR	9/28/2007	$500	Obama, Barack
LEWIS, JAMES M WINDERMERE,FL 34786	DISNEY/CEO	4/26/2007	$400	Obama, Barack
MAHONEY, BRETT LOS ANGELES,CA 90016	DISNEY/ABC/TV WRITER	6/22/2007	$250	Clinton, Hillary
MATTOX, DAN ORLANDO,FL 32835	DISNEY WORLDWIDE SERVICES/VICE PRES	1/29/2007	$300	Walt Disney Co
MCALDIN, TOM WINDERMERE,FL 34787	DISNEY CRUISE LINE/PRESIDENT	5/11/2007	$300	Cruise Lines International Assn
MCLEAN, MARIANNE CASTAIC,CA 91384	DISNEY/PRODUCER	8/16/2007	$200	Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte
MICKEY, RESEDA MS LOS ANGELES,CA 90026	DISNEY CHANNEL/BROADCASTING	5/16/2007	$250	EMILY's List
MICKEY, RESEDA MS LOS ANGELES,CA 90026	DISNEY CHANNEL/BROADCASTING	7/11/2007	$200	EMILY's List
MILLS, SCOTT PASADENA,CA 91105	DISNEY STORES/PRODUCTION COORDINATO	7/26/2007	$200	Clinton, Hillary
MILLS, SCOTT MR PASADENA,CA 91105	DISNEY STORES/CHILDRENS PLACE CORP.	4/4/2007	$250	Obama, Barack
MORSE, DARLA ORLANDO,FL 32836	DISNEY CRUISE LINE/VICE PRESIDENT	5/11/2007	$250	Cruise Lines International Assn
PADDEN, PRESTON R MR WASHINGTON,DC 20036	DISNEY/EXECUTIVE	3/7/2007	$2,300	McCain, John
PEREZ, DONNA M MRS ORLANDO,FL 32806	DISNEY/ENGINEER	9/24/2007	$2,300	Thompson, Fred
PERRELLI, GARY GLASTONBURY,CT 06073	DISNEY & ESPN MEDIA SALES/VICE PRES	5/14/2007	$500	National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
PETERSEN, CHRISTIAN Q MRS REDLANDS,CA 92373	DISNEY/MARKETING MANAGER	6/8/2007	$250	Romney, Mitt
PLACIER, DAVID L TOLUCA LAKE,CA 91602	DISNEY/MARKETING	6/22/2007	$250	Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte
PRESCHLACK, DAVID C SOUTHPORT,CT 06890	DISNEY & ESPN NETWORKS/SENIOR VICE	4/24/2007	$500	National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
PYNE, BENJAMIN NEW YORK,NY 10024	DISNEY & ESPN MEDIA NETWORKS/PRESID	4/2/2007	$500	National Cable & Telecommunications Assn
REED, JASON T LOS ANGELES,CA 90025	DISNEY/STUDIO EXECUTIVE	3/10/2007	$1,000	Edwards, John
REED, JASON T LOS ANGELES,CA 90025	DISNEY/STUDIO EXECUTIVE	3/19/2007	$1,000	Edwards, John
SCHUMACHER, THOMAS NEW YORK,NY 10016	DISNEY STUDIOS/THOMAS SCHUMACHER	1/17/2007	$2,100	Obama, Barack
SEGAN, ALLISON L SHERMAN OAKS,CA 91403	DISNEY/EXECUTIVE	3/28/2007	$2,300	Richardson, Bill
SOUTHWICK, TERRI MS SHERMAN OAKS,CA 91403	DISNEY/ATTORNEY	3/29/2007	$1,000	Dodd, Christopher J
WARD, PAMELA FARMINGTON,CT 06032	DISNEY CORPORATION/BROADCASTER	2/12/2007	$500	Obama, Barack
WARE, SANNON M KISSIMMEE,FL 34744	DISNEY/SECRETARY	3/31/2007	$250	Clinton, Hillary

[ProCivitas]

Enjoying the odd novelty of saying "Well Done, Kucinich!"

Hope he and others brought and will bring up the legal/ethical responsibilities of broadcasters granted a public license for the limited band frequencies to serve some reasonable standard of public purpose in their broadcasting, the most minimal of which is 'don't black-out the candidates for public office', and skew our sad little electoral process.

Corporatism is degenerate.

[omega4179]

I do. if the candidates want everyone included they would put
their own debate on and invite selected media instead of the other way around.

[ProCivitas]

bingo. bttt.

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

I hate to say this....

but God Bless Dennis Kucinich.

He is the only passionate, honest and genuine Democrat in the race. His politics are nutty and delusional. But I would invite him over for dinner and it would be fun to debate/talk to him. nice guy.

[The Pack Knight]

All the media companies give to candidates, just like every other company, and they mostly give to Democrats.

Even Newscorp, Fox's parent company, mostly contributed to Democrat campaigns in 2004. The only media company that gave more to Republicans that year was General Electric, parent of NBC, MSNBC, etc.

[The Pack Knight]

That’s what Reagan did.

[Kevmo]

Well said.

[deport]

All legitimate, filed candidates deserve to be heard in debates.

---

Am I reading you correctly that you think all 21 republican candidates that have filed and are on the ballot in NH should be included in the debate?....

[savedbygrace]

If not, then what criteria do you use to decide who's "legitimate" or not?

Are they on the ballot or not? If they're on, then their views should be heard.

[WalterSkinner]

..Rush nailed it yesterday when he said that the broadcasting of these things is merely show business, therefore it explains why they want a nice, neat, tight little package that they can manipulate and present to the masses

Kucinich is doing a great service--I can't believe I just said that LOL!

[Calpernia]

from the donation box above. I've never heard of Emily's list. I just looked it up:

http://www.emilyslist.org
EMILY's List

>>>EMILY's List members are dedicated to building a progressive America by electing pro-choice Democratic women to office.<<

[Calpernia]

Kucinich is a congressman. Hunter is his colleague.

[RedStateRocker]

Wouldn’t you love to see a Kucinich vs Hunter debate?

Onny two guy with real cajones.

[ConservativeMind]

I don’t see the parent company, Walt Disney Corp., listed as any of the contributors.

Just because employees or owners contribute doesn’t mean the corporation is doing something wrong.

If this is the evidence for the complaint, the lawsuit should be thrown out.

Networks have been limiting candidates in debates for decades.

[Dante3]

Yes, they do appear afraid of Hunter.

[Calpernia]

I don’t think I’m that pleased :P

[Heartofsong83]

I agree...let those three into the debates as they are running national campaigns without any real influence by the elitists...even if Kucinich is the most left-wing of the Democrats running.