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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Gravel response

Posted: Monday, October 22, 2007 9:05 AM by Mark Murray

Thanks for your emails about the recent decision not to include former Sen. Mike Gravel at the next MSNBC debate. As you may already know, no network has given Gravel more of an opportunity to get his message across than NBC and its affiliates. But with the election season beginning in just 73 days, and more candidates (135 alone on the Dem side) 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, Gravel did not meet those requirements. The standards we used included measuring the amount of time the senator spent campaigning, as well as poll standing and financial resources.

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Comments

So MSNBC joins the ranks of Fox News as corporate shills.  Sad.
Gravel says the things that other candidates are afraid to - he brings to debate deeper issues such as the need to protect the Constitution.
Where is the DEMOCRACY here??? Excluding a respectable and legitimate candidate because of lousy excuses is just WRONG!!!
Shame on you!!! Whatever happened to Democracy? Free speech??
MSNBC can shut out Mike Gravel, but cannot silence him.

The power of these networks deserves the same strict regulation that used to be applied in the past.

If fairness cannot be had voluntarily, then licensing and other access should be restricted until it is squeezed out of them.
CBS ABC CNN FOX will not make the mistake you just made.
Say good-by to GE.
Airwaves belong to the people - time we do something about that.


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