Should Third-Party Candidates Like Ralph Nader, Bob Barr, and Cynthia McKinney Be Included in the Presidential Debates?
Reader Comments
Third Party debates
I thought this was suppose to be a democratic society, appparently not!
I thought there was a law of "equal time" for all candidates. How can we say we live in a democracy when the media all but completely ignores these presidentail nominees, when they are unable to participate in debates and moreover, when we are implicitly and explicitly told by the media that we cannot vote for one of these candidates?
The American people have the right to hear from all of the candidates and choose the one they feel will best serve the country, not be forced by the media and the "two main" parties to choose one of their candidates.
I personally will exercise my right to vote for who I want and it will be one of the Thrid Party candidates not Democratic or Republican, and I will continue to do so until they are recognized as viable and legitimate candidates. I urge the rest of America to do the same.
third partys
Well their it went. the last debate and they were not allowed in.
Perhaps becuase if someone stood up and said they were against the war and were bringing home troops would mess up their appeal.
I dont think we have a choice anymore and that the die has been cast and the ball is rolling.
Its like history.... if anyone reads it anymore... but few people actually read now.. which is why people will vote for one of two people instead of knowing anything about the others due to media control, and the majority of the population only sees that media instead of digging for information.
Forced voting for one of two people who will do the same crap... both who want more goverment control and less freedoms. hello Soviet Russia?
Invading countrys falsely, then continueing on no matter how much it puts us in debt.. hello Germany?
Well.. wont china be pleased. we can always have the banks, er. the fed.. print more money huh...
My real quustion is.. how long is this going to last? All of it? Whats going to happen to our country? Russias goverment collapsed but the people survived, albeit poorly. But they didnt have england, china and europe crash when they went down.
All those people who have died for our country.. all those patriots who died for our constitution... all meaningless now.
Makes you think.
yellow streak going down Republican and Democrats backs
The Republican McCain and the Democrat Obbama are running scared not of each other but of all the 3rd Party Candidates like Nader, Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party, Bob Barr of the Libertarian Party, the runners this year
In the last Election 3rd Party debates
I thought the Candidates of the 3rd Parties did great, Mike Peroutka of the Constitution Party I voted for. I honestly believe that if the yellow belly Republicans and Democrats allowed the 3rd Parties to debate them we might have had Peroutka or Cook as the President of the US,that is how good these men did in fact the only one that didn't do so good was the socialist Brown. Their is no way their will be a fair debate meaning those that are on at least 40 or more state tickets. The cry is fairness umong the 2 main Parties ( they are hypocrites ) because they will not accept the 3rd party challenge they are running scared therefore I say Run Republican Run into the Democrats arms.
yellow streak going down Republican and Democrats backs
the Republican McCain and the Democrat Obbama are running scared not of each other but of all the 3rd Party Candidates like Mader, Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party, Bob Barr of the Libertarian Party, the runners this year
I thought the Candidates of the 3rd Parties did great, Mike Peroutka of the Constitution Party I voted for. I honestly believe that if the yellow belly Republicans and Democrats allowed the 3rd Parties to debate them we might have had Peroutka or Cook as the President of the US,that is how good these men did in fact the only one that didn't do so good was the socialist Brown. Their is no way their will be a fair debate meaning those that are on at least 40 or more state tickets. The cry is fairness umong the 2 main Parties ( they are hypocrites ) because they will not accept the 3rd party challenge they are running scared therefore I say Run Republican Run into the Democrats arms.
YES
It's a pathetic manipulation of democracy for the two main political parties to hinder the democratic process by erecting barriers for non-affiliated candidates. Unfortunately the barriers are so many and so rampant that the debates is just one tiny portion of the whole picture.
I believe in democracy, and I believe that dissenting opinions are an important part of the political discussion in america. The fact that a candidate has managed to garner enough support in enough areas of the country to theoretically gain a majority of the electorate should qualify that person as a presidential candidate, and those candidates should be treated equally by democratic institutions, including media coverage, debates, public funding, etc.
real debates!
Let third party candidates be heard. We need other choices!!!!!!!
Of course!
Why aren't they? Because there are former Republican and Democratic party leaders in charge of deciding who debates... ever since, yup, Ross Perot! Sure Ross was a freak, but we've had quite a few candidates that have really good ideas get denied a chance at winning by not being allowed in the debates and not being allowed on the ballot... what kind of country is this? Are we really free? How much of that freedom is an illusion? Let them in the race, for the love of God!!!
Yes- 3rd Party
Again, YES, This is a monopoly that has infected all the branches. While this 1987 ruling by the Commission created is only that old, this Monopoly started years earlier. It has caused an imbalance of power with in the Branches of our government. This is about the only time that the "trickle down" theory has worked; to the detrement of this countries base of "Freedom".
Third Party Candidates should be allowed in the debates!
YES! Wake up people! When will the people be given the option to choose the BEST candidate instead of 'the lesser of two evils' candidate?!! The time is NOW! The two party system has a stranglehold on Americans and it's time for REAL CHANGE! The media is blocking out this issue and acting like there are only TWO people running for president! It's time the people got the representation they deserve. We should all boycott CNN, FOX, and CSPAN until they report on this issue and force change. Wake up and vote for a third party! I'm doing it and I know many who are. Don't believe the polls and don't believe the corporate run media. Don't be fooled again! These aren't just MY words, they are the words of a third party candidate..Ralph Nader. (If you don't believe him, ask Ron Paul! He's forced to stay on the Republican ticket because Texans vote 'party line' instead of 'best candidate'.) I used to do that myself, but NO MORE! Break free from the media's fear mongering and stop voting for the lesser of two evils because of 'party loyalty'...when was the last time either party did anything for YOU?!!!
