Cancelled Presidential Debates Smack of Manipulation by 'Run and Hide' Candidates

[ProSense]

Cancelled Presidential Debates Smack of Manipulation by 'Run and Hide' Candidates

Sun Mar 11, 5:54 PM ET

To: POLITICAL EDITORS

Contact: Andy Juniewicz, National Communications Director of Kucinich for President, [phone], [e-mail]

AUSTIN, Texas, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The cancellation in the past two days of two planned nationally televised debates because of candidates' "scheduling conflicts" and unwillingness to participate smacks of "manipulation by some candidates who would rather run and hide than defend their records and their positions on the war," Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate
Dennis Kucinich said today while campaigning in Texas.

Widely publicized Presidential debates in New Hampshire in April and in Nevada in August were cancelled after some candidates either backed out after agreeing to participate or declined invitations to attend.

"Whatever their excuses, some candidates are clearly trying to avoid any head-to-head public debate where they will have to answer tough questions -- questions about their votes in favor of the Iraq war, their votes in favor of trade policies that have wiped out millions of American jobs, their votes in favor of abridging Constitutional rights by approving the Patriot Act, and their collaboration with insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations to deny Americans adequate health care protection."

Kucinich said, "it's an insult to the voters, and the height of cynicism, for candidates to refuse to take the public stage and subject themselves to public scrutiny."

The New Hampshire debate was announced on January 12. Just last week, Kucinich pointed out, did some candidates back out because of "scheduling conflicts." Charles Perkins, Executive Editor of the Manchester (NH) Union Leader, contacted the Kucinich campaign today to object to the use of the word "cancelled." Perkins said a debate will be held during the first week in June.

"Is it possible that the real conflict was having to take the stage to defend their votes to fund the war?" Kucinich asked. Votes in the House and the Senate on a $100 billion supplemental appropriation are expected soon.

Other candidates were trying to sidestep the Nevada debate because they claimed that the sponsoring television network, Fox News Channel, was conservatively biased.

"If you want to be the President of the United States, you can't be afraid to deal with people with whom you disagree politically," Kucinich said. "No one is further removed from Fox's political philosophy than I am, but fear should not dictate decisions that affect hundreds of millions of Americans and billions of others around the world who are starving for real leadership."

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Fox News at Its Finest.

[bpeale]

1. this tells me all i need to know about kucinich

he's not in my consideration now and i no longer want to hear anything he has to say. if he doesn't get it, then he doesn't deserve to be president.

[Jim Sagle]

2. Kucinich reveals himself here as an anti-Democrat. Fuck'm.

[mtnsnake]

14. That is simply bullshit

Kucinich has a point and he made it. Just because you don't agree with him on this issue...him wanting to debate the war even if the debate is sponsored by Fox...you're completely out of line to question his political loyalties. You should be so loyal a Democrat yourself, as what Kucinich is.

[Forkboy]

18. Your post and political insight ain't nuthin but shit.

[Jim Sagle]

20. Hogwash!

I'm right on target as usual. :beer:

[Forkboy]

21. I dunno....I worry

:toast:

[Colobo]

3. Kucinich's is not helping with this...

Now Fox News will use him as an excuse to bash Edwards, Richardson and the others. If anything, Kucinich should applaud Edwards, Richardson, Obama and the Democratic Party for their stance against Fox News.

[KingofNewOrleans]

4. Kucinich is going for the Fox vote?

because the number of Democratic primary voters who like Fox news can fit in a phone booth.

[NYCGirl]

10. LOL!

And the number of Kucinich voters who like Fox News can fit into a thimble.

[countmyvote4real]

5. I read the entire article and it makes sense to me.

According to the first three posts above this, the Democratic tent must be getting smaller. Really small.

[Adelante]

11. Indeed nt

[zulchzulu]

6. Nicely played... Dennis... Nicely played...

Kucinich did three things that now will be wonderful knee-jerk talking points:

1. Now Democrats are not just "cut and run", they are "run and hide" Democrats for any position against further Bush plans for the Wars.

2. Making this statement goes against the strategy of de-legitimizing Fox News and the cannons are now aimed back at Democrats.

3. By attacking fellow Democrats running for President who now must engage in a response, the circular firing squad will begin. Fox New couldn't be happier!

I'm guessing that Kucinich will now have the debate all by himself and be further mocked by the Fox News viewers who will make fun of his haircut or something. They certainly won't listen to what he has to say.

[FogerRox]

7. Dennis is right, FOx NEws played no role what so ever in the cancelling

of the NV debate.




/snark

[AlCzervik]

8. no debate means no face time for Dennis and as much as i might admire his

postions the only way he gets face time is at debates.

[Jim Sagle]

25. With a face like his, face time will sink him, haw haw haw.

[Old and In the Way]

9. Bonehead play Dennis.

Maybe Fox viewers will appreciate the defense, but you've just made your campaign less relevant than it was.

[wyldwolf]

12. BREAKING: Kucinich Appears On FOX News To Debate The Issues Alone

FOX News moderator: So, Rep. Kucinich, tell us about your plans for a Department of pansy-ass cut and run appeasers...

Kucinich: Well, my dept. or pea... uh... what???

FOX News moderator: And why did you decide some years back become a baby killer?

Kucinich: Now, no... wait...

FOX News moderator: There you have it. The real face of the Democratic party, in his own words...
(Kucinich clearly heard protesting the FOX line of questioning...)

(moderator talk heard off camera as the credits role): Gee, wish we could have gotten Clinton or Obama here...

[SaveElmer]

13. Is this Kucinich's cute little "Sister Souljah" moment...

Dissing the left wing for advocating the cancellation of the Fox debate?

Wonder how he will do in the next Moveon poll?

[Sparkly]

15. I think he's right.

"If you want to be the President of the United States, you can't be afraid to deal with people with whom you disagree politically."

I understand the rationale that it's about "delegitimizing Fox," but weighing that against the importance of the race itself, I think the campaign against Fox is secondary.

And, while Fox is undeniably a rightwing propaganda outlet as a whole, moment-by-moment and person-by-person there are isolated cases where it actually can compare equally or even favorably to other networks. Ted Koppel was absolutely *terrible* "moderating" the debate in 2003, for example; no Fox head could have done worse. And, while I'm an unabashed Clark supporter, he's experienced nothing on Fox as bad as Scarborough accusing him of "aiding and abetting our enemies" and implying he didn't support the troops, and then not letting him speak.

Further, I think there are enough people watching Fox who NEED to hear the Democrats speak -- as opposed to hearing the Republicans mischaracterize what the Democrats are saying -- that it's worthwhile. And, in the long run, I think hearing the Democrats speak is the way to change minds and ultimately change channels.

Again, I understand that Fox is a rightwing network, but I think avoiding it isn't the only way to deal with it.

[Adelante]

17. The candidates will not avoid it, either

There is no way the Democratic candidates will not appear on Fox in the next 18 months. They will. We all know they will.

[SemperEadem]

22. non sequitur, Dennis

This isn't about being afraid to deal with people with whom you disagree politically.... this is about an entertainment outlet, masquerading as a news organization, which has, since 1996, tacked to the far, far right in their dissemination of 'information', considering itself to be qualified to host a debate for a political party with which IT disagrees politically.

This is about not putting it past said organization to tape the program and then re-air it heavily edited and pass it off as 'live'---and the damage would be done, not only to the other candidates, but to YOU, too, Dennis, because you're a Democrat and that is anathema to fuxnoise and their myrmidons.

And secondly, it was the State Democratic party of Nevada that pulled the plug, not the candidates--so now you're uninformed as well as out of line. Sheesh!

[madfloridian]

24. Kucinich is blaming the candidates. It was not them. He is not being honest.

The bloggers and other activists did this. The NV Dem party was not even in on the contract with Fox. It was done by other groups mainly.

He is trying to paint his fellow candidates in a bad light, and he is not being honest.

[madfloridian]

16. Somebody tell him what really happened in the NV debate deal.

The candidates had little to do with it at all. Now that is just being uninformed.

[Forkboy]

19. I love the guy but think he's wrong on this.

Well,technically he's probably right.But Fox is truly worth making exceptions for,and in this case I don't feel they should be treated as a news agency until they start acting like one.

[ruggerson]

23. Screw him and his egotistical non candidacy

Getting rid of Fox News is a far more important goal than paying attention to Dennis Kucinich.