PRESS RELEASE



Jim for Congress Campaign files Complaint with Federal Communication Commission over Exclusion from October debate by WCAU10 and Candidates Meehan and Lentz.

Meehan Campaign Stubbornly Proceeds As If Legitimate, Yet Nomination Shouldn't Have Been Formalized Until Attorney General's Investigation Was Complete.



Friday, September 24, 2010    5:00 PM (EST)
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    The Friends of Jim Schneller for Congress Committee has filed a  complaint with the FCC asking that the FCC remedy WCAU Channel 10's failure to include Jim in the District 7 candidate debate scheduled to be taped on October 1, 2010 and aired on October 3, 2010.

   The complaint was also served on WCAU's General Manager, Host Steve Highsmith, Producer Catherine Brown, News Director Chris Blackman, and candidates Patrick Meehan and Bryan Lentz.

   Straight off the debate in Havertown, at which Jim received a warm welcome, albeit not invited to briefly comment nor participate, the Jim for Congress campaign was rebuffed in it's most recent wave of approaches to NBC Philadelphia, seeking to participate in the scheduled debate.  Court decisions make it clear that complaints to the FCC are the first step for candidates who claim their rights are being deprived of equal air time.

   The Schneller campaign claims a right to appear on the debate.   A request for an FCC directive to allow a candidate to appear on a specific debate is a less frequent request by candidates, but is warranted when circumstances are appropriate.

   The complaint is well founded in the fact that the debate is a political debate hosted by a media station, and so is permitted a complaint and request for equal time, without question.   The campaign goes further to allege that WCAU 10's restriction of the event to two candidates is clearly unreasonable and appears to be an effort to suppress expression. 

   Much in support of FCC action, is the fact that Jim Schneller is a visible candidate, and a candidate who may well be elected.  Moreso his platform is popular and is different from those of the two major party candidates.  Likewise, the campaign has pointed out that Pennsylvania voters vote across party lines and are composed of a significant ratio of citizens who are registered independent, and the fact that the nation is experiencing turmoil and has witnessed numerous upset elections since the Spring of 2009.

   Even more supportive of FCC action is the fact that Jim Schneller is likely to be one of only two candidates in the election, because the campaign's petition for mandamus to the Pennsylvania Attorney General and Secretary of the Commonwealth is well founded and worthy of granting by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, and as such is likely to result in investigation and removal of the third candidate from the ballot.  Argument has been set in that case for October 6, 2010.  Jim for Congress has requested the Commonwealth Court to notify all County Boards of Election of possible issues with the ballot in the near future, reminding all that the Meehan nomination should never have been formalized until the investigation launched in April was complete. 

   The Schneller campaign claims pronounced infringement by NBC 10 on candidate Jim Schneller's first amendment rights, as well as the people's rights to integrity of the free and fair election process, both of which have received numerous setbacks by the two-party bloc and their allies recently.   Also claimed is the fact that NBC10-Philadelphia unfairly intends to affect the election.

   The complaint requests the Federal Communication Commission's immediate directive to NBC 10 to include Jim Schneller in the stated debate, and any and all other action deemed appropriate, such as providing equal time.