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.

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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.

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[stentorian conservative]

That is my question also. It seems kinda convoluted to me.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

I’ll add that the real problem is that the candidates and the parties should never have given control of the debates over to the networks to begin with.

Unfortunately, all the candidates were too tempted by the free airtime to consider the harm being done to our political process.

Truly united we stand, divided we fall. If parties and candidates were to commit to the good of the USA rather than facetime as priority, and stand firm, the programs would have nothing to sell unless they went for, as the cable companies call it, the 'WHOLE BUNDLE.' But that's in a perfect world....

[max americana]

I agree with everyone.

let the fool speak. At least, all of America will be laughing at his UFO nutcase comments and prove that the Dems are idiots.

[melt]

"I still question whether Dennis is even a native-born earthling, let alone a native-born American."

Are you suggesting that Dennis K_UFOcinich could be an illegal alien?

You've got some nerve...!

[Marine_Uncle]

Well perhaps Mr. K shall slowly see how the L/MSM run the show. And let him look back in time in the tens of thousands of cases where the L/MSM omitted things from the Republican side that all Americans should have had access to viewing, whether political in nature, national defense or simply points of view echoed in congressional hearings etc..
Now watch how the beast shall bleat if she is cut off in mid stream.

[xjcsa]

If ABC is giving support to the campaigns and then only offers them airtime, I would think that airtime would then have to be counted as a monetary gift!

You could certainly make that argument (although *every* televised debate has some kind of threshold for inclusion), but that is not how Kucinich's complaint is worded here.

[hellbender]

Last I checked, there were more than 30 Republicans and almost 20 Democrats who have filed as candidates.

This debate is held in NH as a runup to the NH primary. I doubt that all the "joke" or "vanity" candidates are on the NH primary ballot. Hunter certainly is, and is doggedly campaigning there, God bless him. Go Hunter!

[cgbg]

The relevant question is what criteria is a reasonable one for eliminating candidates since there are dozens of candidates who have filed papers.

I don't have the answer, but I do know the correct question.

:-)

[gondramB]

>>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.<<

1. I thought the equal time or “fairness doctrine” was not renewed.

2. We make knock polls and sometimes they are wrong but when a candidate isn’t polling 1% either in the state or nationally it really doesn’t make sense to give them equal time.

[Kakaze]

Am I reading it wrong? To me it reads, as if ABC has cherry picked 4 candidates, they have supplemented them through donations and now are supplying a national forum to showcase those they have Donated too.

That would make the airtime a monetary gift / donation, with either tax or more importantly Federal Election Law violations.

I understand that Kucinich just wants to speak but I think his complaint opens the network up to much more than inclusion.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I don't care if a 100 people filed to run for POTUS.

If they're candidates, then they deserve to be heard.

[Marine_Uncle]

Strange. Fox is so fearful of the man who should become president (Duncan Hunter). Sure Fred gets my vote if he can last it out, but Duncan would be the strongest time proven conservative in the pack, IMHO. Plain and simple. Duncan still has his youth. And has a long proven track record on strong national defense, supporter for revitalizing American business to hire Americans, set the wheels in motion to somehow bring companies back into the mainland, security issues internal such as the southern border, as well as a rounded out republican leader who appears to embrace most all long standing conservative views.
Therefore. He must be shunned by the L/MSM and many of the powers that be. Don't want a straight shooter running this country. It could cause a lot of problems for a lot of folks on the payrolls.

[A. Morgan]

Dennis who?

[Kevmo]

I’ll add that the real problem is that the candidates and the parties should never have given control of the debates over to the networks to begin with. Unfortunately, all the candidates were too tempted by the free airtime to consider the harm being done to our political process.
***Yup. If the candidates simply held their own debates, and published the feed, the networks could make their own decisions as to what to put up and what not to, and the party would control who gets into the debate.

[nwrep]

Then they should buy their own time. Go ABC.

[The Pack Knight]

If they’d step back, the candidates would see that the whole “debate” process of this election cycle is one big “show of hands” question. Someone needs to step up like Fred Thompson did at the last debate, act like the leader they’re all allegedly running to be, and tell these mealy-mouthed parasites that they won’t be taking any more crap.

[HereInTheHeartland]

He is a nut. 1% candidates have no place in a debate once voting has started. 6 months ago yes, not today.

They are irrelevant to the process at this point.

[kerryusama04]

The only one I disagree with is Ron Paul being ousted from FNC. Dude is nuts, but he got 10% in IA (technically 4th place) and a pile of money in the 4th quarter. He's more qualified than Rudy to be on that stage since Rudy isn't even running in NH.

The rest of these guys need to take the hint, this includes Hunter.

[rintense]

Good for him.

[Kevmo]

It’s weird to see something the same way as Kucinich. Did the DUers spread fairy dust around here?