Posted on 01/15/2008 12:26:34 PM PST by outfield
Hold those Las Vegas Showdown promos describing a three way Democratic battle for tomorrow's MSNBC debate. Rep. Dennis Kucinich has won his lawsuit against NBC, granting him permission to participate in the debate, just days after he was uninvited.
The Associated Press reports that the Senior Clark County District Court Judge Charles Thompson in Nevada called it a matter of fairness.
The judge said if Kucinich is excluded, he'll issue an injunction stopping the televised debate.
Clearly this means that Kucinich now will be present in the 9pmET debate tomorrow. Will MSNBC issue a new press release?
Now there is a new valid reason for not watching.
Cue pic of Kooky and his inexplicably hot wife in 5...4...3...
Oh how lovely...Government dictating to the private sector. I can’t wait to see what liberal judges have in store for FoxNews, National Review... FR...
MSNBC is appealing and the debate will be over by the time it’s settled. It doesn’t matter that the judge wants to force MSNBC to include him. Kucinich has to hope he can get an injunction to delay the debate until the appeal is heard and resolved.
It's not that simple. MSNBC disinvited him after first inviting him (and accepting his decision to accept). It's a possible breach of contract to not include him.
Hard to believe a judge would be stupid enough to enjoin a political debate.
That’s First Amendment 101.
I think they should allow all democrat candidates there, even McCain.
Go raise hell, Dennis!
From mediabistro:
Developing: Kucinich/NBC Hearing...
TVNewser has learned the Nevada Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for 4:30pmET today, as Rep. Dennis Kucinich fights to be included in tonight’s MSNBC Democratic debate in Las Vegas.
First question for the newly included Dennis...
Considering your opponents, are you more worried about appearing to racist, sexist or insensitive to ambulance chasers?
Where the hell does the judge get the power to do this?
Actually, the judge’s reasoning apparently has zilch to do with a breach of contract claims: “Thompson called it a matter of fairness and said Nevada voters will benefit if they hear from more than just Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.” From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22656153/
Jenny Backus, a Democratic Party consultant, was coordinating the debate for MSNBC. She sent him a written invitation to the debate on behalf of MSNBC and he accepted it.
MSNBC later changed its mind and tried to “uninvite” him.
I guess the Judge thought there was a written contract for him to show up. I hope they ask Kucinich about flying saucers again.
LOL!!!
This should be fun!
I agree that he should have remained invited; although MSNBC is a format less than desirable. You know those 30 second biased sound bites.
Then again, maybe the contract issue is central here: “The judge decided an initial invitation to Kucinich to debate represented a contract between the candidate and MSNBC, and ruled that if MSNBC doesn’t include Kucinich, it was prohibited from broadcasting the debate.” http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KUCINICH_DEBATE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Wish I could find the actual decision. Haven’t been able to, though...
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