Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
How LP Pres. Candidates Qualify to Participate at LP National Convention CSPAN Debate I write this since it seems many Libertarians are unaware of the criteria which will be used to determine which LP Presidential candidates will be able to participate in the CSPAN debate held at the LP National Covention in Denver this May. I am attaching a letter (below) from LP Executive Director Shane Cory which explains the criteria.by Christine Smith
(Libertarian)
Friday, April 25, 2008
I write this since it seems many Libertarians are unaware of the criteria which will be used to determine which LP Presidential candidates will be able to participate in the CSPAN debate held at the LP National Covention in Denver this May. I am attaching a letter (below) from LP Executive Director Shane Cory which explains the criteria.
Over the past two weeks, I have received several inquiries from Libertarians concerned about how a presidential candidate "qualifies" to participate at the National LP Convention in Denver and/or "qualifies" to participate in the CSPAN debate. Several of you are concerned about the "Liberty Decides" program and whether that has anything to with qualifying as a candidate to participate - it does not. I write this letter to clarify it, since so many are asking about this.
It is my understanding, participation in the CSPAN debate is dependent on a candidate receiving between 70-106 tokens from delegates before Saturday morning at the Convention. Every delegate will be given a token when they are credentialed, and a candidate must have a percentage (10%) which means between 70-106 tokens to be allowed to participate. This is what I have been told by Secretary Bob Sullentrup-LNC. I have confirmed this with Michele Poague as well (who is part of organizing the LP Convention). (SEE COPY OF LETTER FROM SHANE CORY REGARDING I NCLUSION IN THE CSPAN DEBATES BELOW. Letter was sent to me (and other presidential candidates) and copied to David Nolan & Bob Sullentrup.)
Thus, "Liberty Decides" has nothing to do with being "qualified" as a candidate. It is simply a fundraiser for the LP - it has no bearing whatsoever on being a candidate or participating in the CSPAN debate. Since so many have inquired, you may read a longer piece I have written on this matter at: [link edited for length]
To summarize:
I am a LP Presidential candidate, and I will be at the National LP Convention in Denver. I will qualify to participate in the CSPAN debate if enough delegates give me their tokens.
DELEGATES: Please bring your token and give to me at our token collection at Table 17. Thank you for your support.
And, I look forward to meeting so many of in Denver. Please introduce yourselves. Christine Smith
PAID FOR BY CHRISTINE SMITH FOR PRESIDENT
COPY OF SHANE CORY'S LETTER REGARDING INCLUSION IN CSPAN DEBATES:
From: "Shane Cory" Subject: [Presidential] Inclusion in C-SPAN Debates Date: Tue, March 4, 2008 6:15 pm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear LP Presidential Candidate: One of our Party's founders, David Nolan, e-mailed Convention Oversight Committee Chair Bob Sullentrup to suggest we simplify the methodology for determining who participates in the presidential debate on Saturday night at the Denver Convention. Mr. Nolan's idea was to use the presidential petition signature tokens in place of the arcane and complex' methodology we had announced in December based on what Geoff Neale had used in 2004. For details of that proposal, see the Charleston minutes, page 49, [link edited for length].
After Bob Sullentrup discussed this among members of the Convention Oversight Committee and after broaching the idea with the LNC, the Convention Oversight Committee has decided Mr. Nolan's recommendation is very attractive. It is objective, easy to tabulate and puts the decision into the hands of the Convention delegates.
Accordingly, participation in the Saturday evening debate, which in 2004 was broadcast on C-SPAN, will be granted to those who manage to collect a number of signature tokens that meets or exceeds 10% of the credentialed delegates as announced at the Saturday morning business session. These tokens are due in to the LNC Secretary Bob Sullentrup at the end of the Saturday morning business session.
The Convention Oversight Committee expects the threshold to be around 70 tokens. Atlanta had a cumulative total of 814 delegates and stood at 679 on Saturday morning. Since there will be no more than 1051 delegates in 2008, the threshold will be no more than 106. You may be aware that it takes 30 such signature tokens to be awarded 16 minutes of convention time on Sunday for nominating and seconding speeches. However, there is a Bylaws proposal that would raise that number to 82. For more information, see the Delegation Chair's Manual at [link edited for length].
Meanwhile, if you have any concerns or questions, please contact LNC Secretary and Convention Oversight Committee Chair Bob Sullentrup at rwsully@charter.net.
Best Regards, Shane Cory Executive Director Libertarian National Committee
cc: David Nolan Bob Sullentrup
________________________________________
PAID FOR BY CHRISTINE SMITH FOR PRESIDENT
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2008 Christine Smith, all rights reserved.
Published: Friday, April 25, 2008
Last modified: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
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