Content: OpEd News Tweet: Gary Johnson Sues Debate Committee Over Lock-out: http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/gary-johnson-files-anti-trust-lawsuit-to-get-into How can he and Jill Stein get 15% if they're ignored by pollsters?

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September 22, 2012 Permalink

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Gary Johnson Sues Debate Committee Over Lock-out: click here How can he and Jill Stein get 15% if they're ignored by pollsters?

Submitted by Gustav Wynn

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Dorothy Przystas

(Member since Sep 19, 2012), 27 comments (How many times has this commenter been recommended?)

The media ignores both candidates: The only time that I have seen any media coverage on Johnson or Stein it was on non profit channels. Many people don't have a clue that anyone besides Obama and Romney are TRYING to run. It isn't fair that they are not allowed in the debates. What is really going on in this country ? If they are not allowed to debate then we have a bigger problem here than most realize. Our only choice is going to be what we believe is the lesser of two evils. More proof that our government is rigged.

Submitted on Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 3:56:20 AM

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Gustav Wynn

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(Member since Oct 6, 2006), 23 fans, 167 articles, 116 quicklinks, 1196 comments, 5 diaries (How many times has this commenter been recommended?)

Reply to Dorothy Przystas:

The Committee for Presidential Debates: No question the CPD has set the bar for third party candidates unrealistically high to protect the duopoly of the the two major parties.

Specifically, the conundrum that seems to have serious merit is that a candidate must poll above 15% in national polls, yet national polls are overwhelmingly not gathering data about third party choices.

Other criticisms include the hypocrisy of the Democrats in shutting down democracy and the hypocrisy of the Republicans in shutting down choice.

The qualifications also do not parallel legal criteria for matching funds and violate the spirit of FCC guidelines requiring broadcasters to serve the public interest. In a year in which the negatives for both candidates are unusually high, the CPD's 15% requirement seems a bulwark against the growth of alternative parties and candidates.

The debates sponsored by the CPD are supposed to propel the best ideas and candidates, yet in reality, the determination of who is permitted to appear in those debates suggests an unwritten political power not granted by either law nor the will of the American people.

Contact the CPD at comment@debates.org if you have something you'd like to ask them.

Submitted on Monday, Sep 24, 2012 at 11:12:49 PM

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