State Green Party Press Release

Pennsylvania Green Party

Morrill Campaign Protests Exclusion From Debate.

Morrill for Governor
P.O. Box 7571
Reading, PA 19601
570- 372-0503
http://www.michaelmorrill.org

NEWS RELEASE

October 27, 2002,
Contact: Eric Prindle 570-372-0503

Morrill, Greens demonstrate at gubernatorial debate in Pittsburgh WPXI-TV excludes Morrill in what may be an illegal campaign contribution to Rendell and Fisher.

(PITTSBURGH)- While dozens of his supporters demonstrated outside, Michael Morrill tried to get inside today's gubernatorial debate to present his views on the issues. Morrill was arbitrarily excluded from participating in the debate, sponsored by WPXI-TV of Pittsburgh. Once inside, Morrill explained to those gathered why he was being denied the opportunity to present his views alongside the two old parties' candidates. As he was speaking, WPXI personnel asked the Pittsburgh Police to have Morrill removed from the auditorium at the Jewish Community Center.

After Morrill spoke, more than a dozen participants walked out of the debate, decrying the undemocratic nature of the sham debate. Many of them commented loudly before leaving.

Since the summer, the Morrill campaign has tried to get a satisfactory explanation from WPXI for his exclusion. WPXI gave the Morrill campaign various reasons during that period. Even today, WPXI staff gave various criteria, citing a non-existent federal law that mandated excluding Morrill, and arbitrary polling number ranging from 5 to 10 to 15 percent. None of the reasons stated today had ever been published anywhere, nor were they ever sent to the candidates.

Morrill was excluded from two other debates, last Thursday's event sponsored by IssuesPA and WITF-TV in Harrisburg, and next Tuesday's debate sponsored by WPVI-TV in Philadelphia. The Morrill campaign disagreed with his exclusion from those events, but both of those debates had published criteria (5% in the polls).

WPXI staff, in a vain attempt to save face, told media that they have offered Morrill a 5 minute infomercial that would air early on Sunday morning. Morrill has spurned that offer. Today they also offered a half-hour program on their cable affiliate.

"If WPXI wants to give us equal access to the airwaves they should have allowed me in today's debate," said Morrill. "Their offer of a five minute spot amounts to crumbs from the master's table offered to ease their guilty conscience."

Morrill believes that today's debate is an illegal campaign contribution by the corporations that own television station WPXI-TV. Since no criteria were used to exclude Morrill, the effect was an hour long contribution to the Rendell and Fisher campaigns. Pennsylvania law prohibits campaign contributions by corporations. The campaign is discussing possible legal actions.