De La Fuente: I certainly endorse federally financed elections. It would level the playing field and allow the candidates with the best ideas to rise to the top. That is not the case today.
You may have generously attributed a greater financial capacity to me than I actually have -- the reality is that no one can compete at the highest levels in today's political environment without selling themselves to one of the major parties. The cost of running a campaign has become enormous, and only the parties have demonstrated the ability to raise the kind of money that is necessary to compete.
Keep in mind that the parties created this economic monster, and they did so for a reason. They want to eliminate any viable competition so they can remain in power and attract candidates who will follow their direction. It is a bad system that needs to change.
Gemma: You are running under the banner of the Reform Party, your own party -- American Delta -- and as an independent. Which states, and under what designation, do you now have ballot access?
De La Fuente: I am currently on the ballots of 21 states, not including write-in status, and expect many more to follow. The best way to remain current on that issue is to visit my website.
As for the designations under which I will be running, you have already mentioned them. I will appear as an independent candidate for President on most of the ballots as well as the nominee of the Reform Party and the American Delta Party on other ballots.
Gemma: Finally, if you were in a debate with Clinton and Trump, what two questions would you pose to them directly?
De La Fuente: For Donald Trump, "Your behavior reflects an abnormal level of insensitivity and self-absorption to the point that you come across as the poster child of clinical narcissism. How will you manage that embedded behavior in a way that will prevent it from becoming a threat to the American people?"
And to Hillary Clinton, "You have demonstrated an utter contempt for the truth and a dangerous propensity to sacrifice the best interests of others for decisions that inure to your political or monetary interest. What proof can you offer that your embedded pattern of behavior can be managed so that it will not pose a threat to the American people?"
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A longer version of this interview originally appeared at the Independent Political Report website, September 14, 2016
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
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