Shawn Dixon October 13th, 2008

Earlier I reported that not only is Ed Whitfield not going to show up to his debate on KET against opponent Heather Ryan, he is demanding that KET run a video produced by his campaign after Ryan’s appearance on KET even though Whitfield declined the invitation to appear.

But, DMKY is learning there is more to the story. According to Ryan, Whitfield’s attorneys have been negotiating with KET about running the video since last Friday without so much as giving her any notice of the discussions. The Whitfield campaign threatened legal action the station unless it runs the video. Further, his campaign demanded that the segment be run after Heather Ryan speaks.

KET apparently completely agreed to his requirements and this morning at the 11th hour the television station informed Ryan that they will give her 30 minutes of time and then will run Ed Whitfield’s produced segment without giving her a chance to respond. What’s worse, she can’t even see the contents of the video and has no way to know what Whitfield might say about her and can’t defend herself or her record. This means that Ed Whitfield is essentially being given free time by KET to run an infomercial while Ryan is being subjected to tough questioning by a moderator.

This move sets a dangerous precedent in Kentucky politics. If Ed Whitfield is allowed to demand that KET run his infomercial only after Heather Ryan speaks and with no rebuttal, then why would any incumbent candidate ever debate on KET again? They wouldn’t. Instead from here on out you’ll just have incumbents produce infomercials and threaten legal action against KET if they don’t run their propaganda.

Please call KET and Ed Whitfield and tell them that if there was ever a time in our country’s history to have a debate, that time is now!

UPDATE
Politicker is reporting that KET is citing FCC regulations as requiring them to run Whitfield’s infomercial.

KET: 1-800-432-0951

Ed Whitfield
District Offices
Hopkinsville, KY
(270) 885-8079 Voice
(800) 328-5629 Toll Free

Tompkinsville, KY
(270) 487-9509 Voice

Henderson, KY
(270) 826-4180 Voice

Paducah, KY
(270) 442-6901 Voice

• Mitch McConnell
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