Democracy requires active participation by everyone, especially those whose views diverge from the majority. The Democractic debate will be meaningless if important voices such as Mike Gravel's are excluded.
Fundraising and polling requirements for a Democratic debate? Outrageous!Americans should be able to hear what ALL candidates have to say, not just the corporate- sponsored ones. This is just one more nail in the coffin of democracy. You must let Mike Gravel have his say, NBC!
Please let Mike Gravel speak. I would rather hear what all the canidates have to say all throughout the election than have my media edit which canidates I get to hear. Give them all equal opportunities. If you don't, I'll go with a media provider who will for my information on the candidates.
That is HORRIBLE that you would exclude a presidental candidate from the debate - effectively eliminating them from the eyes of Americans who might want to see and vote for them. Media control SUCKS
Bless all those who have signed and will sign. Now, as an unofficial campaign volunteer, I'd like to mention that, according to the last report I had from the campaign, which was three days ago, we were at $450K collected, and we needed to collect another 550 by the 30th to meet the requirement. The federal matching means that individuals only need to contribute $275K, and the other 275 will be kicked in by the govt. If everyone together averages $15 per person, that works out to only 18,400 contributions between now and the 30th. If we can't do that, what are we doing being involved? Let's go... get your donation in, then call everyone you can think of who won't set the dogs on you, tell them the sitation, and ask for them to give $15 or more. WE CAN DO THIS; PETITIONS SERVE ONLY TO SHOW
Please, let Mike Gravel into the debates! He speaks for a whole lot of Americans who don't feel like they have a voice in this country anymore. Let him speak and let the voters decide, not the politicians!!!
Every person seeking the presidential nomination deserves to be heard. Arbitrary decisions like that of NBC are violations of their license to use our broadcast bands for the common good. Freedom of speech should not be stifled by short-sighted corporate interests.
It's not about who meets requirements, it's about giving the American public the right to decide! Stay out of politics NBC - I can make my own decisions!
It's not up to NBC to decide who gets to speak or not. It's up to the people to decide who they want to be our next president. I personally support Mike Gravel.
This is unfair, and destructive. Mike Gravel should be allowed to have his say on our behalf. Stop betraying our country and what it stands for, let him speak!
It seems that the truth about our elections is in the open now. It's about money, and maybe nothing else. Why bother to call it a republic when money is all that counts for getting into office?
Mike Gravel has been a tireless advocate for the democratic process and civil liberties. To bar him from the opportunity to particpate in the upcoming debates is especially insulting to the electorate as well as to Mr. Gravel.
I am disappointed in NBC: if you have the courage to air Keith Olbermann who is rapidly gaining popularity; why not air another vital voice who is expressing dissent? Are you the puppets of General Electric?????
At the very least, criteria for participation in public debates needs to be established and publicized well in advance -- probably a year -- and not subject to whimsical changes to suit some arbitrary agenda. The more voices we can hear, the greater our freedom of political expression can be.
It's not only pathetic that G.E. via NBC wants to stifle democracy with their convenient rules for public debate, it's truly part of what is wrong with America today.
