This isn't the Apprentice.

It’s been clear from the very beginning of this race that power brokers in Washington are trying to rig the debate schedule and deny voters a chance to hear directly from the candidates.

Not only did they decree that we would have only four debates before the Iowa caucus, but also that these debates would be hidden on weekends and during the holiday season to discourage people from watching.

This morning, the situation got even worse. We learned that NBC is trying to further rig the rules and change standards for the last debate before the Iowa Caucus. They want to let pollsters decide which candidates voters like you can hear from.

This is not how our democracy is supposed to work. This isn’t The Apprentice. Media executives in New York shouldn’t be able to fire candidates from the debate stage or rig the rules for no good reason.

We should choose our President in a caucus room or voting booth, not through shady, smoke-filled backroom deals by elites in Washington and New York.

Voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada won’t stand for it, and I won’t either.

I call on all of you to raise your voices and not let special interests take your decision away from you. Elections are decided by voters, not pollsters, party bosses, or the media.

Tweet now to say you think NBC should not get to make your decision for you:

https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=.@NBCNews:+You+don%27t+get+to+decide+this+election.+We+the+people+do.+%23DemDebate


Our political system is broken, and it’s leaving too many Americans behind. I will never quit fighting to fix it.

Let’s take a stand together and say “no” to letting special interests deny your right to hear from every Presidential candidate.

Thanks,
Martin O’Malley