Who's Afraid of Open Debates?

Who's afraid of open presidential debates?

Let's see...Washington's two major parties, perhaps? Which of course are actually just two different factions of the SAME party. Corporate controlled, bought and paid for.

And WHY are these corporate whores deathly afraid of open debates? Because such debates would provide the level playing field upon which they cannot possibly win. Which is why they got together to create the "bi-partisan" Commission on Presidential Debates, with which they have conspired to systematically shut out independent and third party voices.

From votenader.org:
The debates are controlled by the so-called Commission on Presidential Debates, a private corporation which was created by the Democratic and Republican Parties in 1987.

The Commission is headed by Frank Fahrenkopf -- the former head of the Republican National Committee, and Paul Kirk -- the former head of Democratic National Committee.

Fahrenkopf is a lobbyist for gambling interests, Kirk for pharmaceutical companies.

Debate sponsors have included Anheuser-Busch, Phillip Morris, Ford Motor Co.,

Yahoo Inc., 3Com, among other companies who gave soft money to the two parties' national committees.

Walter Cronkite called the presidential debates under the CPD an "unconscionable fraud" because the CPD format "defies meaningful discourse."

In early years the CPD determined who could be in a debate by vague criteria including interviews with columnists, pollsters and consultants who determined whether a candidate could win.

In the year 2000, the CPD changed their criteria for third party and independent candidates -- a candidate now needed 15 percent or more support as measured by the average of five private polling organizations -- which just happen to be owned by several major newspaper and television conglomerates.

In 2000, Ralph Nader was excluded from the debates because the parent corporations that conduct these polls were giving him scant attention.

Without the mainstream media attention there is no moving up, and without moving up, candidates like Nader do not get into the debates and reach tens of millions of people.

HOMEWORK:
http://www.votenader.org/issues/presidential-debates/

http://www.citizensdebate.org/

http://opendebates.org/

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ralph
• nader
• debates
• jesse
• ventura
• matt
• gonzalez
• DNC
• RNC
• debate
• commisson

[witzkeyman]

Nader is making a lot of money off of campaign financing, even though he knows he doesn't have a shot. SPOILER. McCain will win. don't complain if McCain wins.

[jperryam]

Come on, witzkeyman. You're better than that. First of all, this vid should NOT be construed as an endorsement of Nader, although I do understand how people will think that. They just need to keep thinking. The point is OPEN DEBATES. Secondly, you're aware that Lincoln was a third party candidate, correct? And that some of the most meanginful reforms in U.S. history came about as a result of the efforts of third parties? The "spoiler" rap is a weak cop-out that only enables the status quo.

[Waspnests]

John, could you elaborate?

[jperryam]

The point is that third parties and independents must be given an equal voice in debates (an idea that most Americans support), so voters can make truly informed choices. Republicrats aren't interested in such a thing. The only difference between the two major parties is who's blowing the smoke and who's holding the mirrors. This ugly reality WILL NOT CHANGE until enough citizens stand up to demand it. People need to explore the links in the video info here and get to work sharing the message.

[ferrozm]

wrong! not a democracy, A republic! But I agree we need third parties. I'm voting libertarian or constitutional party.

[countrybob2]

Wait for Ron pauls announcement this week and see what he does.

[boterfofy]

You are never throwing your vote away when you vote you conscience. I will not be intimidated into changing my vote or staying home no matter who says my candidate doesn't have a chance.

[EarthNsky17]

Nader donates 80% of his income.

[asdimd]

Thanks for putting this together

[cycimian]

FMR Gov,Ventura hit it dead on.I also noticed in how RonPaul had the highest rateings from a non poll media called Youtube.Keeping this in mind Youtube like the MediConz in mainstream tried to make him invisible to the public. If this ZioCon power continues on this NWO path the people who have already lost the Jobs through NAFTA

and now seeing the financial towers failing.

Will be left to foreign corporations moving into and haveing total control over the economy and all aspects of goverment

[evcrawfish]

great vid JP thanks for sharing....

[Waspnests]

Maybe Both scared of calling each others bluff?

America has been buffaloed once again. Term is derived from how the native American's would kill buffalo,.. by running them off a cliff.