Kucinich claims candidates skipping FOX debate are 'snubbing' Black Caucus

[bigtree]

He knows their objections are with FOX. Why set it up like their just skipping because of the Black Caucus?

I happen to think skipping the FOX debate is a small gesture, probably, on balance, a good way to put FOX in their place and avoid their awful spin. Yet, I also believe that all FOX viewers are not just right-wingers, and that there's an opportunity there to reach a different crowd.

But, Kucinich must know that these candidates have nothing at all against the Black caucus. To suggest that is ridiculous and wrong.


Here's the report:


Kucinich to appear in Congressional Black Caucus/Fox debate

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."

"America needs a President with the ability and willingness to unite
people of diverse political views," Kucinich said, "Let us never forget
that the symbol of our country, the American eagle, needs two wings to fly
- a left wing and a right wing. I'm prepared to reach out to all Americans.
We all deserve to be heard, and we all deserve to be represented."

"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."

Kucinich said the refusal of the three senators to participate in the
debate raises questions about whether or not they really have the ability
to be President.

"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.


more: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/05-29-2007/0004596926&EDATE=TUE+May+29+2007,+04:27+AM

[KharmaTrain]

1. This Could Make Interesting Viewing

Lemme see...we've got Kucinich, Biden and Richardson. Anyone else? Isn't this the debate many would love to see...the lower rung getting a bigger chance to get their views out?

Personally, I detest Faux and applaud all those who are boycotting that GOOP propaganda machine. But, if there's gonna be a debate there, why not let the wingnuts see a Kucinich or Gravel...they might just forget about Ron Paul.

[bigtree]

3. Richardson's campaign said he was out, then said he hadn't made up his mind yet

I wonder how this will shake out. Rangel expressed reservations about holding a debate with the absences. He said the candidates had made the decision ( whether to hold it) for the Black Caucus with their withdrawal.

[KharmaTrain]

7. There's Other Problems With The CBC...This Isn't The Biggest

William Jefferson is.

There's a lot of behind the scenes games playing here that is getting mixed in with the Faux boycott. For a Kucinich, one hour...especially if you get more time with less people on the stage...is worth millions in ad time in a campaign that barely is keeping the lights on.

I was hesitant to put Richardson's name in that list, but that recent 180 made me include him. It will be interesting how things shake out.

[stuartrida]

2. Dennis "I was pro-life until I ran for President" Kucinich is wrong

His "Fox is a legitimate news agency" claim is wrong. I'd hold my nose and vote for him if he was our nominee, though I can't imagine he will get more that 2% support anytime soon.

[Richard Steele]

4. Well, it had to happen eventually- Kucinich said something STUPID.

Oh well- life goes on.

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Opportunism.

Taking on the noise machine has got to start somewhere and this is as good a place as any.

BTW, if Clinton thinks FOX News is boycott-able, why did she attend their 10th anniversary gala? If memory serves, it was *last year*.

Hard to keep up with her.

[nuxvomica]

6. It doesn't sound to me like he's saying that

You wrote: "Why set it up like their just skipping because of the Black Caucus?" I don't see where Kucinich is saying they are skipping just because of the Black Caucus sponsorship. It sounds to me like he's saying they are skipping just because FNC is airing the debates but that it also has the effect of snubbing the CBC.

[bigtree]

8. this is his press release. his campaign is responsible for the wording

"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."

and,

"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."

I don't believe this for a minute. He's out of line and just plain wrong. This is about FOX. Whether that gesture is sincere or a political move is a more apt criticism than characterizing their refusal to appear as having something to do with "questions" from the Black Caucus.

[Atman]

9. You're wrong one one key point...Fox viewers ARE just right wingers.

You cannot be a liberal or even left-leaning and still watch Fox News. Because Fox News spouts ONLY right-wing drivel. Nothing else. Liberals, by definition, are more open to opposing to ideas, so maybe you think that they get some of them from Fox...but I highly doubt it. Once you find out what is really happening in the world, which is much of what makes a liberal a liberal, you simply CAN'T watch Fox without throwing a brick at your television and taking it for the bullshit GOP propaganda office that it is.

Every democratic politician should boycott Fox. And when the right-wing extremists attempt to spin this into a "they won't go on Fox because they're so fair and honest!" debate, every democrat should loudly and proudly say "No, we refuse to appear on a GOP tabloid news program which fully intends to use its footage to mock and deride us anyway."

I like Dennis, but if HE is one of the liberals watching Fox, maybe he shouldn't be president after all.

.

[bigtree]

11. I just don't think that many folks are as reactive as we are and settle for whatever they spin

not knowing of any alternative. Think about it. Are the other networks so pure and different that they really have a clear choice? I find them all biased and elitist; every one of them.

[Atman]

14. Nothing compares to Fox

Funny thing is, even though CNN and MSNBC and the others devote 90% of their air-time to spewing similar love-screeds about BushCo, it's the 10% crit that the righties go nuts over and cause them to scream "LIBERAL MEDIA!" They've grown to expect 100% adulation the likes of which Fox provides. If the "news" doesn't wave the flag all the time, it's apparently "liberal."

I stand by my point. No real liberal actually watches Fox News unless it's for a quick romp, the way some on this board wade in the freeper cesspools every now and again.

.

[bigtree]

16. I take some of Kucinich's points about FOX viewers

I think the viewers may not be liberal, but, they can't all be right-wingers either. And, we can't expect to elect a president with just Liberal supporters. Our candidates have to have wide appeal to win in the general election.

Whether or not they should cast that wide net on FOX, though, is a legitimate question.

[Clark2008]

17. Ummm.... apparently you don't go to the South or mid-West too much.

Faux is on in every waiting room throughout the Heartland. Whether you like it or not - liberals and swing voters are FORCED to watch it in many cases (no way to change the channel or no one strong enough to step up and ask that it be changed).

I agree with you that Faux is GOP propaganda, but self-professed Democrats DO watch it.

[rpannier]

10. They do have a right to hear what the Democratic Candidates will say

Just not on faux

[flvegan]

12. I'm not seeing where Kucinich suggests that they "have something against"

the CBC. He said that their boycott (for whatever reason, and I don't buy for a minute that it's the moral high road over Fox) because it's on Fox is a snub of the CBC, which it is.

If it's a moral high road boycott of Fox, I'll be entertained to see NONE of them advertise on Fox or any of the Fox locals.

[bigtree]

13. It was pretty clear to me what he was trying to say. You can spin it, I suppose

He says right in the release that he thinks they don't want to answer questions from the Black Caucus members. He's clearly insinuating they're trying to avoid the Black Caucus.

Was the boycott of the Nevada debate a snub of Latinos? Lot's of Latinos in Nevada who would have been able to question the candidates.

[Laughing Mirror]

15. He compares the awfulness of Fox to the awfulness of NY Times in pushing Bush's wars

And that is indisputable. Yet we still link to stories in the NY Times. Why is that?

[Sparkly]

18. He didn't say they have a problem with the CBC -- he's clearly talking about Fox.

I don't think he's misstating anything.

[bigtree]

19. he knows very well how this would be taken. And, he does say they have a problem with the CBC

from the release:

"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."


It's pretty clear to me that he's trying to put a wedge between these candidates and the Black Caucus with his statement - implying that the candidates were avoiding the Black Caucus more than they were FOX - though he may have left some room for interpretation, as politicians usually do. I think it's just regular political slime. Kinda slick.

and, this is just silly:


"Kucinich said the refusal of the three senators to participate in the
debate raises questions about whether or not they really have the ability
to be President."