Paul Lewis from WNYT has responded to our inquiries about their debate. Here's what he sent to Richard Cooper our campaign manager;
Dear Mr. Cooper:
Thank you for your email and telephone message regarding the debate WNYT will host in the campaign for New York's 20th Congressional District.
We have invited Scott Murphy, the Democratic candidate and Jim Tedisco, the Republican candidate to participate. Similar to the procedure followed in national debates, we have invited only candidates from political parties that have achieved or surpassed the threshhold of five percent in the previous election.
Thank you for your interest.
Paul Lewis
News Director
WNYT-TV/NewsChannel 13
715 North Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12204
I spoke with Mr. Lewis and he restated the opinion that they were going to go with the 5% test. I protested and he said it was still up for discussion but at this point they were leaving it as is. "They" refer to the general manager and some legal advice they got.
I have other people calling. The debate is one week from tomorrow. Either Eric gets in or somebody's gonna see my naked butt.
Morris Guller
Lexington, New York
Is this 5% thing a LAW?? Seems like if you are on ballot that would be the "test" . Is this bordering on discrimination? What does the campaigns legal staff say? Since we are dealing with a "public" political election - it would be withholding information from the voters - to exclude any candidate seeking "public" office. Could a voter sue for damages if the candidate of their choice is excluded from a "public" debate therefore denying them of an opportunity to get info needed to make a responsible voting decision? There have been lawsuits over lesser things. I hope we don't have to see Morris' naked butt!
I received the same canned response from Mr. Lewis, to which i responded:
Mr. Lewis,
If WNYT fails to invite Eric Sundwall, a legitimate candidate who appears on the ballot sanctioned by the State Board of Elections, doesn't that indicate that you are in fact limiting information about a candidate to the electorate? By limiting knowledge to the electorate that there is in fact a legitimate third-party candidate who is vying for the 20th Congressional Seat isn't that akin to censorship?
As a member of the military, I have spent almost 30 years defending the Constitution and specifically the Bill of Rights. One of the original amendments to the constitution was the inclusion of "Freedom of the Press." The media should have the right to be honest, open and transparent. "Freedom of Speech" is also one of the original amendments. It is my opinion that WNYT is limiting Eric Sundwall's freedom of speech in this case by denying Mr. Sundwall's access to the debate. Furthermore this leaves me with the impressions that WNYT must have "a dog in the fight" in this Congressional race in one of the other candidates. And that's disappointing, as I would like to have thought that WNYT considered itself an unbiased source of information.
As far as continuing to watch NewsChannel 13, I may exercise my freedom of choice by switching off your channel in the future.
Very respectfully,