Johnson continues to fight for spot at presidential debate
Posted at: 10/02/2012 7:44 PM
By: Stuart Dyson, Eyewitness News 4
 Gary Johnson |
There is still no ruling from the federal courts on Gary Johnson's legal fight to be included in Wednesday's presidential debate in Denver.
The two-time New Mexico governor is the nominee of the Libertarian Party, and will be on the ballot in at least 47 states and probably all 50 by the time Election Day rolls around.
Johnson argues that he should be onstage with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney Wednesday night, but the Presidential Debate Commission said no.
Johnson took his fight to CSPAN this week, making the case that the two major parties are in cahoots on at least one issue - keeping him out of the debate.
"The commission that determines who gets in the debate is the Presidential Debate Commission," Johnson told CSPAN . "Guess what? The Presidential Debate Commission is private and they're made up of Republicans and Democrats with absolutely no interest whatsoever in seeing a third voice onstage."
The Commission's rules say that a candidate has to be on the ballot and polling at least 15 percent to be included in the debates. Johnson argued that he is not usually included in the polls with Obama and Romney, so how can he be expected to poll high enough numbers to get in. He usually polls around 5 percent when he is included with Obama and Romney.
"Where's the difference between the two," Johnson wondered on CSPAN. "I'm going to argue that we should not bomb Iran, that we should get out of Afghanistan tomorrow, bring the troops home, that marriage equality if a constitutionally guaranteed right. Let's the end the drug war - let's legalize marijuana now."
Two sponsors of the debate have dropped out in protest over the exclusion of Johnson - Philips Electronics and the YWCA both wrote that the Debate Commission seems to be bipartisan, but not nonpartisan, favoring Republicans and Democrats to the detriment of others.
 |
Tweet |
|
