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| Joined: | Mon Nov 21st, 2005 |
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Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Joe
In the past year, I have attended 11 national Democratic debates of which two were sponsored by corporate media giant NBC. However, last week, NBC suddenly conjured up arbitrary polling and fundraising requirements specifically designed to exclude me. None of the previous debates I attended held such requirements.
When my staff called NBC directly to find out why I was now barred from attending, Chuck Todd, NBC news' political director, told us that there were three criteria we did not meet, namely that I had not campaigned in New Hampshire and/or Iowa at least 14 times in the past year, that I was not polling at 5% and that I hadn't raised $1 million.
It is clear that NBC just wants me out of the race. This was made evident by the fact that NBC did not even inform me of its arbitrary criteria before making the decision to stifle my campaign. NBC's Todd waited until 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 19, to inform my staff that I was not invited to the Oct. 30 debate at Drexel University in Philadelphia. That's a fact!
Since I announced my candidacy for the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States on April 17, 2006, I have certainly traveled to New Hampshire and Iowa at least 14 times. And, according to a recent CNN poll, I am tied with Joe Biden, Dennis Kucinich and Chris Dodd.
NBC claims I haven't raised enough money to qualify. I'm proud of the fact that I don't collect millions from special interests (or fugitives like Norman Hsu). The reason why Senator Hillary Clinton seems to have a fundraising scandal every month is because money has corrupted our democracy. By stifling my voice on the basis of fundraising dollars, NBC is reinforcing the power of money over our national political discussion and our freedom.
But why has NBC suddenly come up with "requirements" designed to exclude me from the debate?
NBC's decision is proof that our corporate media do not want a genuine debate over our impending war with Iran. During the last debate I was the only one to aggressively confront Senator Clinton over her vote to label the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. Had I not brought up the subject, seasoned NBC commentator Tim Russert, the moderator of the Sept. 26 debate, would not have even asked about it.
Most Americans still don't appreciate the gravity of that vote and they don't understand that our government is intentionally raising roadblocks to diplomacy. Corporate media have once again failed to investigate how Bush and a compliant congress have set us on the warpath. Instead the media simply parrots the demonization of Iranian President Ahmadinejad and the administration's unproven accusations against Iran. NBC and the other corporate media have jumped on the war bandwagon and they are determined to shut up anyone who tries to stop it.
The fact that NBC is owned by General Electric, one of the world's leading military contractors, is frightening and certainly smacks of censorship directed at the most outspoken critic of the influence that the military-industrial complex holds over this great nation. In the past decade, GE has benefited financially from the global war on terrorism and currently holds almost $2 billion in military contracts .
So I ask that anyone, who is as concerned as I am about the power of the mainstream media and the military-industrial complex, speak out in support of my campaign today.
Joe here are 3 powerful things you can do:
1. Sign the online petition to have me included in the debate! http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/letgravelspeakoct30
2. Contact NBC and GE and tell them they are wrong for trying to stifle my campaign! Here are there emails you can copy/paste into your "TO:" field of your email.
chuck.todd@nbcuni.com, viewerservices@msnbc.com, directors@corporate.ge.com, ombudsperson@corporate.ge.com, jeff.zucker@nbcuni.com, lynn.calpeter@nbcuni.com, steve.capus@nbcuni.com
3. Email the DNC at http://www.democrats.org/page/s/contact
Finally, since the powers that be now require that I raise $1 million in order to participate in the debates, please make a donation to my campaign.
I will not stop. In fact, this fuels my fire even more.
Unlike my fellow candidates, I am not focused on raising millions of dollars; I am focused on fixing representative government. Help us reach that arbitrary threshold for financing and I will continue to fight for democracy and peace for all of us, not just the wealthy.
Best,
Mike
My web site: http://Gravel2008.us
PS.
On a personal note, I want to thank the many volunteers who made my recent swing through Florida such a huge success. I will be attending the Florida Democratic Party Convention and the United For Peace And Justice (UFPJ) Southeast Regional Rally & March in Orlando on Oct. 27. For more information on these events, email David Nelson-VanDette , Florida State Director.
PPS. PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM!
If you live anywhere near Philly, we are planning an event at University of Pennsylvania on Oct. 30, the night of the debate. If you live in the area and would like to attend, please contact my office via email at phillydebate@gravel2008.us.
Edit (e-mail reply):
Thanks for your email. As you may already know, no network has given Sen. Gravel more opportunity to get his message across than NBC and its affiliates via both interviews and debates. But with the election season beginning in just 72 days and more candidates trying to get into our debates, we believed it was necessary to have some minimum standards. Leaders and activists from both parties believe our requirements are very fair. Unfortunately, Sen. Gravel did not meet those minimum requirements. The standards we used included measuring the amount of time the senator spent campaigning as well as poll standing and financial resources.
From: Joe Kelley [mailto:josf.kelley@verizon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 4:11 PM
To: Todd, Chuck D (NBC Universal)
Subject: Mike Gravel
Chuck.Todd,
Are you going to let Mike Gravel be censored?
Seriously
Joe Kelley
Last edited on Tue Oct 23rd, 2007 05:01 pm by Joe Kelley