NBC Ordered by Judge to Allow Kucinich in Presidential Debate

Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson vowed to issue an injunction halting the nationally televised debate if MSNBC failed to comply with his order.

(CLEVELAND, Ohio) - Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will meet with reporters here Tuesday morning to make his first public statements following a Nevada court ruling tonight ordering that he be included in tomorrow’s nationally televised NBC/MSNBC debate - or, the court said, the debate would be halted.

Immediately following a planned 7:30 AM news conference at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Kucinich will board a flight for Las Vegas where he will gather with several hundred supporters for a rally before proceeding to the debate location.

Kucinich had originally been invited to participate in the debate because he met one of the publicly announced criteria - ranking fourth or better in a national poll - but a network official advised the campaign Thursday that it was changing those criteria, reversing its decision, and rescinding the invitation to participate.

A formal order is expected Tuesday morning. But, according to published reports, Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson vowed to issue an injunction halting the nationally televised debate if MSNBC failed to comply with his order.

The judge ruled it was a matter of fairness and Nevada voters would benefit from hearing from more than just Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama. An official order from the court is expected this morning.

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Henry Ruark January 16, 2008 11:53 am (Pacific time)

To all: Of all people to complain about ANY "strategy", you are surely NOT the one to do so in good faith and with straight face. (But, I admit, must be hard to perceive given that perpetual scowl of anger and frustration.) "See with own eyes" your intentional distortions re several issues, exampled easily for all to understand from rapid Internet pick-up citing unchallengable sources. SO, sir, "lying in teeth" again --and caught in the act this time, in fact several times, if you dare check. How's your waterboard ? Do you plan to bring it on visit to Bend with your cabal of vets ? Don't forget impale-stake which will make good conversation piece here later. You and they welcome any time, but suggest ID to Editor first to make arrangements for any possible contingencies which may result here, now that we are properly prepared.

Jefferson January 16, 2008 10:26 am (Pacific time)

People I was simply commenting on the hypocrisy of the far left's postion on "Identification Cards", ergo they simply are hypocrites! Real clear, but notice how the SFI distorts my 9:58 post, which is a common lefty strategy...

Henry Clay Ruark January 16, 2008 6:55 am (Pacific time)

To all: One needs full information re this issue to evaluate N-N distortion via his Comment. That's what he counts on, with Comments-buried here to avoid full confrontation, as in own Op Ed then bearing real access to tie response to statement. Wonder how he stands on the FCC rulings re corporate control further extended on all media enterprises ? How about response to relegating fairness in broadcast content to round file ? IF he is open to dialog on these, suggest (for 22nd time here !) he now offer full and detailed Op Ed(s) to Editor, same way all others get to do for intensely-felt content open to democratic sharing via dialog. Without that, N-N remains only pirate behind mask, with threatening sword upraised and ready to behead by attack any possible challenge to that narcissistic "ME !!Me!!ME!!"

Jefferson January 15, 2008 9:58 am (Pacific time)

I like Dennis for he does an excellent job in showing why we need to be vigilant. I wonder what Dennis thinks of the below HYPOCRITICAL action (rather Feldmanian!): For decades, Democrats have stood against strengthening voter identification standards at polling sites. Modest identification reforms have been enacted in about half the states, with a handful of them requiring photo identification to prevent election fraud and uphold the integrity of balloting. Although Americans need photo ID to write checks, use credit cards, board airplanes and even collect welfare benefits, Democrats have argued that lower-income and minority citizens are less likely to possess acceptable identification, and therefore more likely to be denied their right to vote. "BUT" for Saturday's much-anticipated caucus, the state party is poised to demand that Strip workers -- many of them minority, low-income citizens -- furnish ID to participate in the "at-large" sites set up near major hotels to accommodate them.

Zyskandar A Jaimot January 15, 2008 6:04 am (Pacific time)

Argentiferous DENNIS'does-the-new-turd-on-my-head-look-natural?'KUCINICH is back from his 'trip' with the UFO CONSTITUATE and is prepared to 'secure' the TRUE ALIEN VOTE IN ALL DEBATES!!!

Neal Feldman January 15, 2008 12:45 am (Pacific time)

Good! I feel anyone who is on the ballot in any state should be included in all national debates, period. Where do the debate organizers get off deciding which of the legitimate candidates should be heard? Claiming they are ;just minor candidates with no chance of winning' is pretty much a self fulfilling prophecy in such contexts. Good on you Judge! I, for one, am sick and tired of Rupert Murdoch and the other 4-6 media moguls deciding what we get to hear, see and think. Ah well...

yabbi January 14, 2008 11:15 pm (Pacific time)

this is what happens when big corporations own a lot of media outlets. You don't get freedom of speech, unless NBC thinks it's OK for its ratings.

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NBC Ordered by Judge to Allow Kucinich in Presidential Debate

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