F**K the Congressional Black Caucus (and CNN and the Big Three)!

CLEVELAND, May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Democratic Presidentialcandidate Dennis Kucinich said Sunday he would definitely participate in aSeptember debate sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus and scheduledto be broadcast on the Fox Television Network. Kucinich said for Sens.Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and Barack Obama to skip the debate simplybecause it was to be broadcast on Fox was a snub of the Congressional BlackCaucus.

"This is particularly troublesome because the concerns of AfricanAmericans should take precedent over what network is broadcasting thedebate," Kucinich said. "There are matters relating to employment, healthcare, education, jobs, rebuilding our cities, environment and civil rightsthat all presidential candidates have an obligation to address and debate.Those candidates planning to skip this debate clearly are trying to avoid aforum where there will be hard-hitting questions from people who may notagree with them. But taking questions from all sides is part of politics,and part of being President. I'm running to be President for all people inthis country."

"America needs a President with the ability and willingness to unitepeople of diverse political views," Kucinich said, "Let us never forgetthat the symbol of our country, the American eagle, needs two wings to fly- a left wing and a right wing. I'm prepared to reach out to all Americans.We all deserve to be heard, and we all deserve to be represented."

"Certainly many Fox viewers are not part of the traditional Democraticbase," Kucinich said, "but they have a right to hear from the Democraticcandidates and we as candidates have an obligation to reach out to them.Families who view Fox News have lost loved ones in Iraq, lost their jobs toNAFTA, and lost their homes to medical bills, just as have the viewers ofother networks."

Kucinich said the refusal of the three senators to participate in thedebate raises questions about whether or not they really have the abilityto be President.

"First Sens. Clinton and Edwards were tricked by George Bush intovoting for the war. Then they and Sen. Obama voted most of the time tosupport funding the war. All three have said all options are on the tablewith Iran, meaning they are ready to go to war against Iran. This raisesquestions about their judgment, about who they are, who they represent?African-Americans - and Fox viewers - have a right to know."

"I know some people object to Fox News," Kucinich said, "and they takeissue with Fox coverage, and the way Fox covers the news. I've taken issuewith Fox on many occasions, but I don't hesitate to be questioned by Fox orany of its affiliates. I've also taken issue with the New York Times -which, after all, was largely responsible for selling the Bush war plans tothe American people. But this will be a live debate. The issue here is not what questions Fox broadcasters will ask, but how the candidates for President will answer them. The issue is not what the commentators will say after the debate is over, but what we as candidates say during the debate."

"The questions asked by the Congressional Black Caucus will be just asimportant, and our answers just as telling, on Fox as on any other network," Kucinich said.