Kucinich's Lawyer Lays Out His Case Against MSNBC
This morning, the Media Mob caught up with William McGaha, who is serving as Dennis Kucinich’s lawyer in his battle to be included in tonight’s MSNBC debate at Cashman Center in Las Vegas.
Mr. McGaha said his client’s case was based, in part, on two e-mails the Kucinich camp had received from Jennifer Backus, a political consultant for NBC Universal. The first e-mail, according to Mr. McGaha, spelled out the criteria by which candidates would quality for the debate.
“The second e-mail from her was a formal invitation to Mr. Kucinich to attend the debate because he met the criteria,” said Mr. McGaha.
According to Mr. McGaha, Mr. Kucinich received the invitation on Wednesday, Jan. 9.
“All was well and good until Friday afternoon when Chuck Todd, the political director for NBC News, called up of the Kucinich campaign and said, 'Hey, we’re not inviting you any more, we’re only taking the top three,'” said Mr. McGaha. “We didn’t have any time to do anything about it until Monday morning.”
Mr. McGaha said they filed their subsequent complaint in state rather than federal court for a number of reasons.
“One of the main reasons it’s in Nevada State court is because this is a debate that is meant to influence the caucuses which take place here in Nevada on Saturday,” said Mr. McGaha. “It affects the public interest. This affects the caucus. We thought this was the appropriate jurisdiction because this is a local matter. The judge agreed he has jurisdiction over this.”
Last night, NBC News issued a statement, saying that the network disagreed with the judge’s decision and would be appealing the order.
As a result, Mr. McGaha anticipated that later today he would have to run over to the regional justice center on South 3rd Street in Las Vegas where the Nevada Supreme Court has a hearing chamber on the 17th floor. There, the dispute between Mr. Kucinich and MSBNC will likely continue.
Dennis Kucinich is a candidate in Nevada and is a national candidate who qualified for Federal Election Matching Funds. NBC operates under license by the government and must serve the public interest. How is the public interest served by exluding Dennis Kucinich from public debate. Does private media have the right to tell us who our candidates are?
The public airwaves are owned by the people, not a corporate conglomerate such as NCB. Suppose they decided to exclude Sen. Obama?
This is a huge deal, I dont think this has ever happened! Even though I am not going to be voting for Kucinich he is the ONLY Dem I like so "Congrats Dennis keep up the fight!"
Dennis Kucinich' voice must be allowed in this debate because it's the voice of tens of millions of progressive Americans who are not going to put up with the DNC's pandering any more... that is the GOP's role (to serve as beasts of burden for America's holier-than-thou Republican-stocracy.
Give 'em heck, Dennis! Progressive America is with you all the way!
Is it really NBC or actually KGB?
Is it really NBC or actually KGB?
Finally, justice is served. We cannot continue excluding candidates such as Kucinich and Paul from debates. They deserve just as much of a voice as any of the other candidates.
Let Kucinich debate! He is on the ballot! He is a viable candidate! We are not among the Palestinians, who had a democratic election; to which G.W, Buh said: Hamas, no, we won't abide those democratic elections. And, we are not part of Lebanon, where Hezbollah gained seats, and then was diminished by G.W. Bush, who said he would not uphold those "elections".!
Spreading "democracy, are we?"
What "democracy", exactly, are we spreading?
All voices heard kind of democracy, or just the "best democracy American corporate interests can buy?" kind of "democracy"?
Dennis is the only one speaking the truth. I wouldn't call him progressive so much as honest. The only candidate against the war. Imagine if all resources went into renewable energies instead of the war? We might even gain respect in the world again with a Kucinich in there.....
Since the government (us) owns the airwaves and controls licenses, I think that the penalty should be the judge can say that the whole debate can be shut down if Kucinich or other qualified candidates aren't allowed (or are uninvited). How 'bout that NBC and the neo-cons! Hey, we can always take away their license!
Score one for "David' in the battle with "Goliath".
Rock on!!!
I realize how this country that I live in is not a democracy but a hypocrisy. Kucinich is entitled to be included in the MSNBC debate as one of the candidates running for President. It is not the voters that elect the President, it is corporate
conglomerates like MSNBC that elects the President and sets the rules for the people of this country. Wakeup America and see what is happening around you! Freedom of our own human rights are being taken from us.
Thank You.
If Kucinich is not allowed to debate it will be the last nail in the coffin of democracy in this country. Gravel should be up there too. They are the only candidates who truly represent the vast majority of working people in the United States. I've heard quite enough from the "Top 3."
I just want to put on my Spanx and ride Kucinich around the living room like a show pony. "Go, show pony, go! Giddy-yep!"
I do not believe I am the only American who feels this way.
I hope many Nevadans will show their desire for a real democracy by casting their votes for Dennis Kucinich. He has been marginalized and ridiculed for being right about the war in the first place and for speaking the truth to the American people. Want to end the war? Want real 'universl health care'? He's the only one who will fight for those things.
I hope many Nevadans will show their desire for a real democracy by casting their votes for Dennis Kucinich. He has been marginalized and ridiculed for being right about the war in the first place and for speaking the truth to the American people. Want to end the war? Want real 'universl health care'? He's the only one who will fight for those things.
We have learned that speaking the truth in America is one sure way to get shunted aside and shut down.
I, and millions of working people, like what Dennis has to say. If that won't keep him from getting elected, what will?
You go, Dennis! And where do we stand on the recount in New Hampshire? This is the ONE candidate who is truly continuously putting his money and actions where his mouth is, even in the midst of a campaign and death of a close family member. And I, for one, am standing by him!
please vote for him if you like him the best!
he would be electable if all the people who say what you say would vote for him!
please vote for him if you like him the best!
he would be electable if all the people who say what you say would vote for him!
Woo Hoo!! Go Dennis!! I WILL vote for him - it's not a wasted vote. I'm fairly sure he won't win, but any of the "big three" who probably will, will do compared with what we have now!
Yay! Dennis!
It's about time all of us tell the media that they do not select our candidates for President! Kucinich for President!
If Congressman Kucinich is on the stage for the debate, I'll be watching to see if NBC actually allows him equal participation. I'd argue that anything less circumvents the intent of Judge Thompson's order. (Apologies if I've remembered the judge's name incorrectly.) Thank you, Congressman, for fighting for the rights of the voter!
The political issue with which I've become most concerned is media control. We've seen what happens when the citizens of this Democracy aren't given the information they need to make decisions. The issues of war, economy, healthcare, environment, energy, etc. are moot if we're not allowed to know the facts. I'd like to know what all of the candidates intend to do about web-neutrality, the FCC, and the media conglomerates.
Fight the Big MainStream Media Monster. They want to decide for the public now??? Put Dennis in the White House and get even with the BIG MEDIA.
Are all news media outlets owned by Americans? I mean real citizens of this country? If they are they have forgotten all that was good about this country.I am sick of only having the choice of dumb or dumber for president. The first time we really have a man of, and for the people they are determine to make him go away. Fat chance! Americans work long hours so our elected officals can have the best of everything. Maybe they could sacifice for a change. Shut up and let Dennis talk.
NBC is owned by General Electric, which is a military contractor and war profiteer. They stand to lose billions should the war end. Dennis Kucinich has been unyielding in his call for an immediate end to the war, which would be financially disastrous to General Electric.
A military contractor owns the media. The media has informed the American people who their candidates will be. Big business is keeping us in this war.
Go Dennis! Strength through Peace!
For details on General Electric's war profiteering, visit: http://www.warprofiteers.com/article.php?list=type&type=16
A single decision in favor of the voters and American people is a great step forward. But we all need to take responsibility and let NBC know it is unacceptable to the American public (aka their customers) to exclude a national candidate who has won ballot status.
These things have been happening on our watch - it's not about Kucinich - it's about our right to choose our elected officials. He's not my candidate at this point, but we deserve to hear what he has to say.
So don't just sound off here - call or email the CEO's office at NBC and let them know we object!
Chuck Todd must be panic stricken that he will lose access to Dick Cheney, also known as Darth Vader, for allowing Dennis Kucinich a chance to speak. The crooked corporate Bushite bosses of NBC should all be dragged to the nearest gallows. They are trying to prevent the public from having a chance to hear the only candidate who is even close to being right about the issues.
All the rest, including Obama and Hillary, sold out long ago and will do little or nothing to provide health care or end the stupid occupation of Iraq. 5 billion per week are being wasted in Iraq, the amount Iran spends in one entire year for its military. Iraq is dragging our economy into a full scale depression, but the govt shills at NBC would never mention it, ever.
I will not be voting Democrat in the upcoming Ohio primary, but have to say that the judge's decision in this case... and Kucinich's decision to fight what NBC has tried to do... is amazing and I love it! I was dismayed in 2006 here in Ohio when economics professor Bill Pierce was excluded from each and every gubernatorial debate because he was a 3rd party candidate - especially when all polls showed the Ohio economy to be a #1 concern. What are the establishment candidates so worried about? At worst they'll be shown up and the public will be able to see that they're all full of hot air. At best (in their opinion) they might share the stage with some different opinions... something that might get them and the public thinking. Of course I was up in arms when Fox News excluded Ron Paul from their New Hampshire debate as well. To exclude a legal candidate from a public debate is a travesty... a complete letdown of the so-called journalism in this country. It is up to the journalists to REPORT the news... not to decide for the people what IS news. I sincerely hope Kucinich wins any appeals and is allowed to debate. It is the only AMERICAN thing to do. Shame on NBC, Fox News and anyone else who tries to decide for the American people who they should hear.
Thank God for justice ... it's about time! I would've been very upset if Kucinich was not allowed to debate considering he qualified like the others did. It's sad, though, that a judge had to put a TV station on notice that the U.S. stil enjoys Freedom of Speech!