Kucinich Not Invited to Debate!

dontloseyourheat

Dennis Kucinich was not invited to participate in the Iowa Debate tomorrow because his Iowa Campaign center is not located in a rented store front.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/12/were-only-surpr.html

Six-term Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich is crying foul over tomorrow's Des Moines Register debate for Democratic presidential candidates. The campaign today issued a lengthy protest against his exclusion from the debate, the last before the Jan. 3 caucuses.

The newspaper's standards for participation include at least 1% in its statewide poll and an office and paid staff in Iowa. Republican Alan Keyes, who has not been in any debates this year and has done little if any campaigning, has made the cut for today's GOP debate, which we'll be live-blogging here at 2 p.m. ET.

Kucinich's campaign said today he has been excluded because "his Iowa field director operates from a home office rather than a rented storefront." The campaign quoted newspaper editor Carolyn Washburn as saying, "It was our determination that a person working out of his home did not meet our criteria for a campaign office and full-time paid staff in Iowa."

Kucinich's campaign says Marcos Rubinstein, its field director and state coordinator, runs the campaign from his home office in Dubuque, "bolstered by a dozen-or-so other senior campaign staff who have traveled the state over the past several months."

The campaign also notes that Kucinich is the top-ranked candidate in online polls conducted by Democracy For America and Progressive Democrats of America and both groups plan to advertise for him.

What do you think? Should Kucinich get an invitation? Should Mike Gravel get an invitation? Was it right to include Keyes in today's debate? We welcome your (polite, civil and thoughtful) comments.

This is not acceptable, the workers at a local newspaper decide who gets to voice their stance to the country based on a ridiculous and clause. Show your disappointment by emailing the editor at cwashburn@dmreg.com or sending a comment through http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/HELP/40507010

Here's some additional reading:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/opedne_jean_hay_071212_dennis_kucinich_and_.htm

Yoyoyo

Alan Keyes got into the Republican debate...

he still stands

Unbelievable. Only an archaic and ignorant process would allow a presidential candidiate to be withheld from a debate because an office is located in a residence instead of a store-front.

I work out of my home instead of a traditional workplace. Does that mean I am not entitled to the same rights and benefits as those employees who work in a cubicle farm?

Eliot Rosewater

Mestophar wrote:

Alan Keyes got into the Republican debate...

I'm still kinda confused as to how any black man or woman can even vote republican, let alone run (and sometimes even win) as a republican. Republicans are a latter-day version of the klan.

chopitdown

don't gimme no wrote:

I'm still kinda confused as to how any black man or woman can even vote republican, let alone run (and sometimes even win) as a republican. Republicans are a latter-day version of the klan.

maybe b/c african americans can think for themselves and don't toe the line on every democratic issue (heaven forbid), or is that too forward thinking for you? I guess you prob are a person who can't figure out how conservatives can like pearl jam either.

Eliot Rosewater

chopitdown wrote:

maybe b/c african americans can think for themselves and don't toe the line on every democratic issue (heaven forbid), or is that too forward thinking for you? I guess you prob are a person who can't figure out how conservatives can like pearl jam either.

Anyone can like great music. Calm down.

chopitdown

don't gimme no wrote:

Anyone can like great music. Calm down.

so i guess it is to forward thinking of you to think that african americans can vote republican... i'll drink to the anyone can like great music though.

he still stands

Mestophar wrote:

Alan Keyes got into the Republican debate...

at the last minute he came up with a store-front office.

810wmb

don't gimme no wrote:

I'm still kinda confused as to how any black man or woman can even vote republican, let alone run (and sometimes even win) as a republican. Republicans are a latter-day version of the klan.

what a dumb statement

my2hands

unreal... this actually pisses me off


i let them know how i felt, and how irresponsible, absurd and short sighted their decision is. thanks for the email and links


the game is rigged, but we all know that dont we? we just shrug it off and cheer on our "guy"

Byrnzie

don't gimme no wrote:

I'm still kinda confused as to how any black man or woman can even vote republican, let alone run (and sometimes even win) as a republican. Republicans are a latter-day version of the klan.

I suppose there are some wealthy African Americans who want to hang on to their wealth and who don't give a toss for the majority of their race who have no chance to succeed.

jeffbr

don't gimme no wrote:

I'm still kinda confused as to how any black man or woman can even vote republican, let alone run (and sometimes even win) as a republican. Republicans are a latter-day version of the klan.

You sound like a typical liberal who think that African Americans are lazy and only looking for handouts. You act as if they should vote Democract so you can take care of them. Jesus Christ.

Some of us believe that they are unique and diverse just like the rest of us (imagine that!) - self-motivated and looking for opportunities to grow businesses, improve themselves, create great homes, etc...

Why are you so obsessed with race?

mammasan

810wmb wrote:

what a dumb statement

I actually agree with you on this one.

Pacomc79

It just goes to show how pathetic and irrellavent the process has become.

This is not a debate, it's a carefully crafted public appearance.

They don't want a debate... the last thing they want to do is be pinned on any tough question.

genie

don't gimme no wrote:

I'm still kinda confused as to how any black man or woman can even vote republican, let alone run (and sometimes even win) as a republican. Republicans are a latter-day version of the klan.

i don't live where you live, but i think Republicans are the same as Conservatives over here, therefore i don't see how they can be classified as "latter-day version of the klan". just because they're are conservatives doesn't mean they're rasict.

i tell you rasict party and that's BNP

mammasan

Pacomc79 wrote:

It just goes to show how pathetic and irrellavent the process has become.

This is not a debate, it's a carefully crafted public appearance.

They don't want a debate... the last thing they want to do is be pinned on any tough question.

So true. This is why people like Kucinich and Paul are largely ignored by mainstream media and the leading candidates. To engage them would give these men a platform to at least show that the other candidates are full of shit. The presidential election has become nothing more than a popularity contest.

Yoyoyo

Did he know the rules and know that he wasn't going to be invited if he didn't comply with the rules? It is their debate so they can make up whatever rules they feel fit. Why didn't he rent a store front for a month?

MrBrian

If I was not feeling so sick, I wouldve laughed at the entire "debate" or as pac79 put it, a "carefully crafted public appearance"
---
American politics is such a joke, a sad joke. it's pathetic really.

dontloseyourheat

Mestophar wrote:

Did he know the rules and know that he wasn't going to be invited if he didn't comply with the rules? It is their debate so they can make up whatever rules they feel fit. Why didn't he rent a store front for a month?

The rules say the candidate must have campaign office in the state. Kucinich did have an office but it was run out of someone's home rather than a storefront.

Here are the official rules:

Here’s the truth. Here is the arbitrary list of criteria for inclusion in this debate, and in other debates held in Iowa this fall:

Eligible Participants for Des Moines Register Debates will include Presidential Candidates who:

1. Have filed an FEC Form F-2, “Statement of Candidacy,” with the Federal Election Commission; (CHECK)

2. Have publicly announced an intention to run for the nomination of the Republican or the Democratic Party for President of the United States; (CHECK)

3. Have employed at least one paid campaign staff representative to perform full-time campaign duties in the State of Iowa on behalf of the candidate since at least October 1, 2007. (CHECK – Kucinich has had a full-time staffer – an Iowa resident – on board since April)

4. With at least 1% in the Des Moines Register October, 2007, Iowa Poll (CHECK)

5. And lastly, have a Campaign Office inside the State of Iowa as of October 1, 2007 (to which the Kucinich campaign says CHECK, but the Des Moines Register says CHECK-OUT)

The whole truth, the truth the Des Moines Register is not telling you, is that Dennis Kucinich has a political organization in Iowa. It is small, but it is energetic and energized. His paid state coordinator, Marcos Rubenstein, works out of his home.

The Federal Elections Commission recognizes that the Kucinich campaign has paid staff in Iowa. The IRS recognizes the legitimacy of a home office. Across the country, the Kucinich campaign has at least 15 high-ranking paid campaign staff members who work out of their homes. Their offices are campaign offices.

The Des Moines Register, however, does not recognize a home office as a campaign office.

Corso

Byrnzie wrote:

I suppose there are some wealthy African Americans who want to hang on to their wealth and who don't give a toss for the majority of their race who have no chance to succeed.

Your supposition may be true. At least from my experience.

macgyver06

dontloseyourheat wrote:

Dennis Kucinich was not invited to participate in the Iowa Debate tomorrow because his Iowa Campaign center is not located in a rented store front.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2007/12/were-only-surpr.html



This is not acceptable, the workers at a local newspaper decide who gets to voice their stance to the country based on a ridiculous and clause. Show your disappointment by emailing the editor at cwashburn@dmreg.com or sending a comment through http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/HELP/40507010

Here's some additional reading:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/opedne_jean_hay_071212_dennis_kucinich_and_.htm

no one seemed to care when gravel wasn't invited ON THE FACT THAT HE HASNT RAISED 1 MILLION DOLLARS


lol he passed every other qualification...

so these are the people you will be voting for come november... people you say will stand up for you, but they wont even stand up to a TV company in support of a fellow party member... THEY ARE LYING TO YOU... ALL OF THEM INCLUDING RON PAUL..

THEY WILL NOT PULL THE TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ... THIS IS NOT AN OPINION!!
ITS A PROMISE.

Gravel Announced his running in 2006.. has visited EACH STATE at least 10 times (NO OTHER CANDIDATE HAS DONE THIS) has campained at colleges for free and has only 1000 dollars of the campaign money he has.. the rest he has used for transportation and food.. HE USED ALL OF IT

the other candidates are banking on your donations!!... you are sending money to OBAMA AND HILLARY and they are throwing themselves 1000000 dollar birthday parties..


STOP BEING A FAN OF A HUMAN BEING THIS ISNT A SPORTING EVENT

just because the TV tells you OBAMA is in the lead doesnt mean anything



THINKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK




what candidate has nothing to gain from running

and your choices go very slim

one of them isnt running yet and its

RALPH NADER

one of them has created an entire web page dedicated to YOU
and wants to empower you, the people to make descisions..and not one person...He wants to be president so he can hand it over to the people

MIKE GRAVEL

one has an old indian philosophy of.. NO WAR

DENNIS KUcinich