NBC excludes Kucinich from debate: a gross violation of democratic rights

On January 9 NBC invited Kucinich to participate in the Las Vegas debate to be broadcast on cable network MSNBC (jointly operated by NBC and Microsoft). The Kucinich camp received an email from an NBC official that congratulated the congressman “on another hard-fought contest,” and continued, “This letter serves as an official invitation for your candidate to participate in the Nevada Presidential Debate at Cashman Theatre in downtown Las Vegas. You have met the criteria set by NBC and the Debate.”

Less than two days later, NBC Political Director Chuck Todd notified the Kucinich campaign that the network was “redoing” its participation criteria and that only the three leading candidates—Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards—would be invited.

Political motives determined the change in policy. NBC had issued its invitation to the Ohio congressman when former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was still in the race. The network wanted to include Richardson, whom the media deemed to be an acceptable figure, but since Kucinich was running ahead of the former governor in several polls, they couldn’t very well bar Kucinich. Once Richardson dropped out, NBC felt free to exclude Kucinich.

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