Jonathan Tasini, the longshot Democratic, anti-war challenger to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, on August 2 accused NY1 (cable news television New York) of playing a role in "legalized election corruption" for refusing to let him participate in a televised debate because he hasn't raised at least $500,000.
Tasini's campaign said he's been told by NY1 that he can't participate in an Aug. 22 "town hall" at Pace University meeting of U.S. Senate candidates. (TimesUnion)
Tasini is Clinton's only primary opponent and has been outspoken in his opposition to the Iraq War, which Clinton has consistently supported. By shutting Tasini out of the debate, NY1 is limiting the discussion of important viewpoints and ultimately limiting voter choice. (FAIR)
NY1's criterion is new this year:
"NY1 News is producing the most ambitious series of political debates and town hall meetings this election season. As part of the staging of these events, NY1 established criteria to identify which candidates would be invited to participate in these events.
The criteria are that a candidate must poll at least five percent (including margin of error) in a recognized independent poll and would need to have spent and/or raised $500,000. All candidates who have met these criteria have been invited to participate."
FOLLOW THE MONEY:
Time Warner owns NY1 cable news tv. NY1 says Tasini is shut out of Senate Town Hall debate with Hillary Clinton, until he comes up with half a million. Tasini is Clinton's only Democratic challenger who has come up with the required signatures to be put on the ballot.
Time Warner's contribution to Hillary Clinton's campaign 2006: $101,000
see: opensecrets.org
I smell a huge rat.
While the debate is being covered by NY1, it is being hosted by Pace University. It seems to me that Pace should dictate the terms, not NY1 news media
FAIR Action Alert
NY1 Silences Debate
Refuses to allow Clinton challenger Tasini in television primary debate
8/4/06
There is a heated debate among Democrats about the direction of the party, with centrist party stalwarts facing challenges from the left on issues like the Iraq War. But New York City voters will have a more difficult time seeing this debate play out, as New York City cable news channel NY1 (which is owned by Time Warner) has blocked the anti-war Democratic challenger Jonathan Tasini from a primary race debate against incumbent Sen. Hillary Clinton.
In a statement (Village Voice, 8/2/06), the channel said it had "established criteria to identify which candidates would be invited to participate" in the debates: poll at least 5 percent and have spent and/or raised $500,000.
ACTION: Call NY1 and demand that they remove their requirement that candidates raise or spend a large amount of money in order to participate in televised debates.
CONTACT:
Robert Hardt
NY1, Director of Politics
Robert.Hardt@ny1news.com
212-379-3330
See:
TASINI ACCUSES NY1 OF CENSORSHIP
