-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [FAIR-L] ACTION ALERT: Contact NBC and CNN to Call for InclusiveDebates
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2000 16:02:11 -0400
From: FAIR-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
FAIR-L
Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
Media analysis, critiques and news reports
ACTION ALERT:
Contact NBC and CNN to Call for Inclusive Debates
September 5, 2000
A previous FAIR action alert (8/25/00) called on citizens to urge the
Commission on Presidential Debates to include viable third-party
presidential candidates. Now, media activists and pro-democracy advocates
need to speak out promptly in the wake of George W. Bush's recent offer to
debate Al Gore three times:
-- on an NBC "Meet the Press" primetime special (Sept. 12 in D.C.)
-- on CNN's "Larry King Live" (Oct. 3 in L.A.)
-- at an Anheuser-Busch/Commission on Presidential Debates-sponsored event
(Oct. 17 in St. Louis).
At present, the Bush proposal -- like that of the major party-dominated
Commission -- would exclude top third-party candidates, despite polls
showing most Americans want candidates such as Ralph Nader included in the
debates.
"Although the Bush arrangement with NBC and CNN envisions an exclusive
two-party deal," says FAIR's Jeff Cohen, "the good news is that it could
move the exclusionary Commission on Presidential Debates to the sidelines.
Now NBC and CNN need to hear how the public feels about debates restricted
to just the two major-party candidates."
Inclusive Debates are Good for Democracy
Recent history shows that participation by third-party candidates raises
interest, debate viewership and voter turnout. The 1992 presidential
debates included Ross Perot and were watched by record-breaking TV
audiences, averaging 90 million viewers, with a larger audience for each
successive debate. Presidential voter turnout went up in '92, reversing a
20-year downward trend. In 1996, with Perot excluded, the debates had
shrinking viewership that averaged only 41 million viewers -- and voter
turnout nosedived. In 1998 Minnesota, participation by third-party
candidate Jesse Ventura in the gubernatorial debates stirred interest in the
campaign and generated massive turnout.
Inclusive Debates Add Fresh Viewpoints and Issues
Third-party candidates bring up topics that would otherwise be ignored. If
debates are limited to Gore and Bush, discussion will be narrow or
nonexistent on the many issues on which the two major-party candidates
basically agree, including issues like trade, globalization, corporate
welfare, military spending, Iraq, Colombia, the drug war and the death
penalty.
Inclusive Debates Reflect Popular Will
National polls have shown majority support for the inclusion of Nader and
right-wing candidate Pat Buchanan. Asked in a July Fox News poll, "Do you
think Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan should be in the presidential debates or
not?," respondents said yes by a 64 to 25 percent margin. That same poll
found a 73 to 17 percent majority saying Nader and Buchanan would make the
debates "more interesting."
Inclusive Debates Can Have Clear Standards
The independent Appleseed Citizens' Task Force on Fair Debates, convened by
American University Law professor Jamin Raskin, recently proposed that
invitations be extended to any electable presidential candidate who has
either 5 percent support in national polls or at least 50 percent of the
American people favoring his/her inclusion. Congress member Jesse Jackson
Jr. (D-IL) has introduced a House Resolution (HR 373) proposing the "5
percent/50 percent" standards be instituted.
ACTION: Call on NBC/Meet the Press and CNN/Larry King Live to invite
qualified third-party candidates to join Bush and Gore in the debates.
As always, please remember that your comments are taken more seriously if
you maintain a polite tone. Please cc [EMAIL PROTECTED] with your
correspondence.
CONTACT:
Tim Russert
Moderator, "Meet the Press" and NBC News Senior Vice President
4001 Nebraska Ave. NW
Washington DC 20016
Phone: 202-885-4598
Fax: 202-362-2009
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Andrew Lack
NBC News President
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Phone: 212-664-4611
CNN's "Larry King Live"
Larry King, Host
6430 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Phone: 323-993-5101
Fax: 323-993-5171
Fax: 202-898-7686
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Frank Sesno
CNN Senior Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief
820 First St. NE
Washington DC 20002
Phone: 202-898-7900
Fax: 202-898-7923
----------
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