I recently read the Kucinich press release claiming that the Democrats were “rigging” things against him in a couple of forums in Iowa.
I thought this was unfair, and shot off an email to both Iowa Public Broadcasting and the AARP expressing my dismay that he was excluded. I got this response from the AARP, which indicates that Kucinich was invited.
Dear Jonathan,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the participation of Dennis Kucinich in the AARP/IPTV Forum that will be held on September 20 at the Adler Theater in Davenport, Iowa.
On July 2, 2007, Rep. Kucinich’s campaign was sent a registered letter inviting him to participate in the event. The letter was accompanied by criteria that were set by AARP for participation in the forum. Criteria include:
• Have filed an FEC Form F-2, “Statement of Candidacy,” with the Federal Election Commission;
• Have publicly announced an intention to run for the nomination of the Republican or the Democratic Party for President of the United States;
• Have a Campaign Office inside the State of Iowa; and,
• Have employed at least one paid campaign staff representative to perform
full-time campaign duties in the State of Iowa on behalf of the candidate since at least August 1, 2007.
During the weeks following his campaign’s receipt of the letter of invitation, Rep. Kucinich’s office had no communication with AARP or IPTV. The campaign did not acknowledge receipt of our invitation, nor did he or any of his campaign staff indicate any interest in participating in this forum. We did not hear from anyone about the forum until a story appeared in the Quad-City Times stating incorrectly, that Rep. Kucinich had not been invited to participate.
Rep. Kucinich did not meet all four of the stated criteria that would enable him participate in the upcoming forum by the designated date.
Ann Black
AARP Iowa Communications
It seems Representative Kucinich isn’t quite being honest in his press release!
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