Kucinich to appear in Congressional Black Caucus/Fox debate

[AnOhioan]

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

CLEVELAND, May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Democratic Presidential
candidate Dennis Kucinich said Sunday he would definitely participate in a
September debate sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus and scheduled
to be broadcast on the Fox Television Network. Kucinich said for Sens.
Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Barack Obama to skip the debate simply
because it was to be broadcast on Fox was a snub of the Congressional Black
Caucus.
"This is particularly troublesome because the concerns of African
Americans should take precedent over what network is broadcasting the
debate," Kucinich said. "There are matters relating to employment, health
care, education, jobs, rebuilding our cities, environment and civil rights
that all presidential candidates have an obligation to address and debate.
Those candidates planning to skip this debate clearly are trying to avoid a
forum where there will be hard-hitting questions from people who may not
agree with them. But taking questions from all sides is part of politics,
and part of being President. I'm running to be President for all people in
this country."

snip

"Certainly many Fox viewers are not part of the traditional Democratic
base," Kucinich said, "but they have a right to hear from the Democratic
candidates and we as candidates have an obligation to reach out to them.
Families who view Fox News have lost loved ones in Iraq, lost their jobs to
NAFTA, and lost their homes to medical bills, just as have the viewers of
other networks."

snip

"I know some people object to Fox News," Kucinich said, "and they take
issue with Fox coverage, and the way Fox covers the news. I've taken issue
with Fox on many occasions, but I don't hesitate to be questioned by Fox or
any of its affiliates. I've also taken issue with the New York Times -
which, after all, was largely responsible for selling the Bush war plans to
the American people. But this will be a live debate. The issue here is not
what questions Fox broadcasters will ask, but how the candidates for
President will answer them. The issue is not what the commentators will say
after the debate is over, but what we as candidates say during the debate."
"The questions asked by the Congressional Black Caucus will be just as
important, and our answers just as telling, on Fox as on any other
network," Kucinich said.



Read more: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-29-2007/0004596926&EDATE=

---

As a constituent and a supporter, I agree with Dennis' stance on this issue.

[Greeby]

1. .............................

"Certainly many Fox viewers are not part of the traditional Democratic
base," Kucinich said, "but they have a right to hear from the Democratic
candidates and we as candidates have an obligation to reach out to them.
Families who view Fox News have lost loved ones in Iraq, lost their jobs to
NAFTA, and lost their homes to medical bills, just as have the viewers of
other networks."

True Dennis, but the people who watch other networks just might have a hope in hell of understanding which politicians did that to them, unlike the Ministry of Truth

[Azathoth]

2. "Mr. Kucinich, do you really hate America, or do you just use far-left anti-American rhetoric to ...

pander to the gullible fringe of your party?"

Good luck "reaching" those open-minded Faux viewers, Dennis. When you're done answering all those fair and balanced questions, I'm sure Charles Krauthammer, William Kristol, and Sean Hannity will be more than willing to help those same viewers better understand and assimilate your positions by providing some keen, insightful post-debate analysis.

Walking away from a fair fight is a sign of cowardice; walking away from a rigged fight is just plain common sense.

[donsu]

15. it's ridiculous to say Dennis hates america

nt

[Azathoth]

33. I was providing a preview of the type of question that will no doubt be tossed at him

courtesy of Faux.

[grytpype]

3. What an *sshole.

I really despise Little Dennis. He can't win and he'll do anything to get attention including supporting Fox News and trying to blame the Democratic party for the war.

[partylessinOhio]

5. Please don't CindySheehan/RosieO'Donnell Dennis, please!

Dennis Kucinich is the only "Peace" candidate. We need peace in America.

We need to stop the killing in Iraq and we need to stop killing America.

Peace.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. Excuse me?????

This man has been AGAINST this goddamned war from the beginning! Can't say that about the establishment "frontrunners" now can you? I suppose you also think Cindy Sheehan is an "attention whore" too?

Dennis Kucinich could win if all the REAL anti-war Democrats and independents voted their conscious instead of letting the MSM tell them who is "electable." I might remind you that the establishment Dems did everything they could to wipe out Dean in 2004 because John Kerry was also "electable." The man managed to lose to the WORST PRESIDENT EVER. Talk to me about "electable."

[Forkboy]

10. Grow up

[onehandle]

4. How perfect. He's a good man, but he's considered the fringe...

...and the fringe is what Fox News loves to serve up from the "looney left."

We want people to wonder why Democrats skipped the debate. If some show up, Fox will spin it as "schedule conflicts."

[Le Taz Hot]

8. OH, and it's real important

that we skirt around everything this party is SUPPOSED to stand for for fear the Republicans will call us bad names. Our spineless "leaders" just voted for more funding 'cause they didn't want the Republicans to say bad things about them. Howard Dean was considered "the fringe" also so "we" nominated John Kerry -- he was "electable," he wasn't "the fringe." So, tell me, how'd that work out for the Dems?

[LiberalFighter]

29. Playing right into FOX's and the Republican's hands

[AnOhioan]

6. I think we all agree that the post debate commentary

will be spun enough to make one dizzy. But that is not the point.


"The issue here is not what questions Fox broadcasters will ask, but how the candidates for President will answer them. The issue is not what the commentators will say after the debate is over, but what we as candidates say during the debate."

"The questions asked by the Congressional Black Caucus will be just as
important, and our answers just as telling, on Fox as on any other
network," Kucinich said.


Dennis is right and I support his decision. To not appear is to slight the CBC and if other candidates choose to do so, that is their decision.
Like it or not, many Dems and independents will watch the debate, regardless of the network it is on.

[Tarheel_Dem]

27. This Dem won't....

and I applaud the candidates who turned it down. Is the CBC so starved for a venue that Fox was their only option? I can't believe that, I'd like to know what offers (if any) they turned down before agreeing to Fox.

Gotta disagree with Dennis on this one.

[LiberalFighter]

30. Kucinich and the CBC are not helping their cause.

Kucinich accepting an appearance on FOX makes him irrelevant.

The CBC sponsoring a debate consisting of who? Makes them irrelevant!

[rpannier]

9. I'm impressed. Kucinich can spin

He knows the issue is NOT the CBC and he is saying it is to score points.

The issue is faux news.

So, it'll be Dennis, Joe and ???

I disagree with his decision. It's his to make.

[rocktivity]

20. DING DING DING! Rpannier, you're our grand prize winner!

He knows the issue is NOT the CBC...(t)he issue is faux news...

Right--the issue is that Fox is NOT a legitimate national media outlet, and he will not legitimize either himself or them by going there. They have yet to formally retract that fake madrassah story about Obama (if HE caves to Fox beforehand, he's lost my vote). If Kucinich needs something legitimate to complain about, he should be asking why the the other mainstream media aren't giving ALL the candidates equal time.

There's a story about a baseball pitcher who had the best record in the league though the team finished last. He asked for a raise but was refused on the grounds that "we could have finished last without you." Well, that's how I feel--if the Dems ARE going to lose, they can certainly do with WITHOUT Fox's "help."

:headbang:
rocknation

[MaineDem]

11. I'm disappointed in this decision

I would like to see unity among the campaigns. I'm sorry any of them are taking part in this while it's on Faux.

[Donnachaidh]

12. MAJOR flip-flop

I'm sorry, this is total BULLSHIT.

[Nightjock]

13. I am very disappointed in Dennis

What a shame.

[ohio2007]

17. so you think it's a level playing field ?

Or did you donate to all the others runnning for president?

[brentspeak]

32. We should also be disappointed with the Congressional Black Caucus

Why did they agree to hitch their caboose to Fox News? Couldn't they see that Fox pursued them in order to cause division in the Democratic ranks?

[progressoid]

14. Why is the Congressional Black Caucus using Fox for it's debate anyway?

Lowest bidder?

[ohio2007]

16. Geeze, bc NOBODY wouold give them the airtime of day

Kucinich isn't going to turn down a chance to reach ANY voters for free. He wants his message heard.,only FOX is donating the timeof any major network.

that should actually say something about how important the almighty dollar is to the others

[rocktivity]

18. I consider it a snub BY the Congressional Black Caucus

that they would have anything to do with Fox! Can't they tell it's just a stealth attempt to get black Repub votes?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Tarheel_Dem]

28. I'm with you rocknation....n/t

[mikelgb]

19. I support Dennis

I also support those who abstain from the debate. Dennis is NOT a Faux News supporter.

How come no one piles on Wes Clark for being paid by the SOBs?

Dennis agrees simply to appear in a debate hosted by them and he is somehow supporting and legitimizing the network as a news organization?

(lol mid post I was called by Dennis's campaign asking for a contribution! I will send one when I get paid.)

[ohio2007]

21. He can't afford to be heard thats why he strikes when the iron is hot

and national exposure is offerred.
imo, I think people are afraid that Dennis may sway voters away from the Hollywood financed canidates.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

22. OK, fringe candidate w/o money but he should not criticize others for not participating. nt

[CRH]

23. It has been a long time since I have not agreed with Kucinich, ...

and I would support this action if the other networks would not give him a share of the podium at the debates.

But my first reaction to this, is there is a boycott against a network that has never made an attempt to be a fair and balanced political forum. A network that has taken every opportunity to twist truth into lies and contort lies into supposed truth, in defamation of the policies and candidates of the democratic party. It almost seems like crossing a pickett line where people are striking for fair treatment and equal rights.

edit: added a word for clarity

[pberq]

24. Dennis is great - thanks for posting!

[BigDDem]

25. Maybe he'll move from 2%

to 2.5%

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. Just like he participated in Nevada debate cosponsored by FoxNews?

:shrug:

[LiberalFighter]

31. Anyone have the breaddown by ethnicity for each network?

[tomp]

34. the more people who hear kucinich the better. period. nt