A petition now approaching 20,000 signatures (add yours!) has been delivered to executives at ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox Broadcasting, PBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Univision, and Telemundo. It reads:
To Network TV Executives:
Tell the Commission on
Presidential Debates and major-party campaigns that they no longer
control the debate process and that you intend to present debates --
controlled by journalists -- that include four candidates: Hillary
Clinton, Donald Trump, Gary Johnson (Libertarian) and Jill Stein (Green
Party). If Trump or Clinton balk, let them know you're happy to leave
their podium empty.
We urge you to follow a recommendation made
by a citizens' task force connected to American University's law school:
Include presidential candidates who are on enough state ballots to have
a mathematical chance of winning, if they either register at 5 percent
in national public opinion polls OR register a majority in national
polls asking eligible voters which candidates they would like to see
included in the debates.
Jeff Cohen, a cofounder of RootsAction.org which hosts the petition, said "It is stunning that -- in this year when the two major-party candidates for president are breaking records for unpopularity and unfavorability -- the TV networks are collaborating with the unofficial, two-party controlled Commission on Presidential Debates in excluding Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson. Polls show that most of the public want to see a 4-person debate, but the TV networks seem too cozy with elite political power to serve the public interest. Let's hope pro-democracy demonstrators gather at Hofstra University to protest the first exclusionary debate on Sept 26."
I understand they are planning to do just that. There seems to be a good deal of passion around this issue. Over 5,000 signers of the petition have added comments. Here are a few:
"All Americans deserve to hear multiple opinions on the issues. Johnson and Stein are legitimate candidates. Let's hear what they've got say. If HRC and DT are so great that will come through in a 4-way debate. What are they scared of. As far as the networks go, I'd think a 4-way debate would be more entertaining than a 2-way debate." -- Karl Jahnke from PA.
"Of ALL the presidential election years I can remember, THIS one fairly DEMANDS the inclusion of 2 other candidates - as the 2 primary options are utterly DESPISED by close to 30% of the electorate." -- James Cayon from MA.
"2 crooks, what a choice. How did we get here?" -- Kincy Harris from NV.
"42% of American citizens 30 or younger support third party candidates. Let us hear all 4 presidential candidates in the 2016 presidential debates that begin in September 2016. That's democracy!" -- D Hale from TX.
"'Closed -Debate' is truly NO-"DEBATE" @ all! - ...This Nation REALLY NEEDS more than ONE political Party!!! - :(" -- Scott Yoos from WA.
"2 parties collude to exclude other parties is just undemocratic. It must end once and for all." -- Margaret Lane from MN.
"4 way debates please. Not a fan of dems and repubs and if they do win, want them to step up their game through addressing issues others will bring up." -- M F from CA.
"A 'debate' consisting of only Donald Trump and Hillary C. does not equal a debate. If there are fewer than three debaters I will not waste my time tuning in or reading the news coverage." -- Robert West from WA.
"A debate between only Trump and Hillary would be absurd. I would NOT even watch!" -- Joel Antley from AZ.
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