Thursday, May 14, 2015

Johnson sues for presidential debate access

Libertarian Party sues for access to presidential debates, calls exclusion 'unfair and illegal' - Washington Times - Jennifer Harper:

May 13, 2015 - "Independent and third party candidates have yet to stand on flashy podiums of officially sanctioned presidential debates. Now the Libertarian Party is pushing back. Fed up with ongoing exclusion and the valuable national exposure that is beyond their reach, the Libertarians have launched a lawsuit against the 'duopoly' of Republican and Democratic candidates who have a guaranteed national forum - when alternative candidates do not....

"'The legal challenge will maintain that the Commission on Presidential Debates, a private organization, formed by the chairs of the Democratic and Republican parties, unfairly and intentionally limits participation in the nationally-televised debates to the Democratic and Republican nominees - placing other national party nominees at a severe and unjust disadvantage,' notes Ron Nielson, an advisor to Our America Initiative, an interest group that is mounting the challenge and counts former Libertarian presidential hopeful Gary Johnson as its chairman.

"'With polls showing that independent voters now constitute a majority of the American electorate, this duopoly simply isn’t fair - and must be changed,' Mr. Neilsen says.

"The ultimate goal is a chance on the mighty 2016 podium for the aforementioned Mr. Johnson and his former running mate Jim Gray, plus Green Party nominees Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala. The Libertarians have already launched a public petition to help their cause, and staged a two-hour Google-plus hangout to discuss the lawsuit, fundraising and future strategy."

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/13/libertarian-party-sues-chance-stand-2016-president/
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