[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

So you support media blackouts of presidential candidates?

[The Pack Knight]

I don't particularly like their exclusion of those three, but the "equal time" argument is pretty ludicrous. Last I checked, there were more than 30 Republicans and almost 20 Democrats who have filed as candidates. Do they all get equal time? If not, then what criteria do you use to decide who's "legitimate" or not?

The only thing ABC can do is exercise their discretion. Now, I think they're making the wrong decision, but it's their network.

[The Pack Knight]

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.

[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.

:-)

[BfloGuy]

So you support media blackouts of presidential candidates?

You didn't pose the question to me, but let me answer. I sure don't want the government dictating what the networks may or may not do in the name of fairness. If you want to boycott them, then have at it. Leave Washington out of the mix.

If my favored candidate, Thompson, had been excluded I'd be furious. I already think the media's giving him short shrift. Nonetheless, I do not favor any "fairness" laws which would require Brit Hume, for example, to devote a segment of his show to good news about Fred (or any news for that matter).

It's an imperfect system that we have, but bringing gov't. into it, would only make it worse. IMHO.

[submarinerswife]

So you support media blackouts of presidential candidates?

Ron Paul shouldn't be too upset because the right to appear in political debates on TV networks weren't included in the Constitution.

[bert]

They are differentiating between known losers and candidates.

Kuchinich, Dodd, Hunter and Paul have failed to measure up as candidates. They were culled

[GeronL]

I do not support government telling media what to do or say, but I hate the media too

[ajay_kumar]

It makes sense to not crowd the debate by indivduals polling such low vote % that there is no realistic chance to win.
I am interested more in hearing from those who have a realistc chance to win. I would put the threshold at 5 % of total votes.

[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.

[xzins]

Kucinich is also right to point out that Disney has donated to 4 of the candidates (all dems.)

They have a political interest in controlling access.

This should be an ownership issue, but the notion that the airwaves are the “people’s” airwaves throws a bone to Kucinich.