Topic: Election 2008
Ralph Nader and Bob Barr banned from the media The media continues to ignore Third Party candidates and American Apathy has never been greaterby Jonathan Cymberknopf
(libertarian)
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
As we get within 30 days to Election Day, the media has apparently decided to ignore and block any campaign coverage of Third Party Candidates.
Granted, there are 13 Third Party candidates for President, according to Ballot Access News, who are on at least 2 state ballots this 2008 election and so coverage on most would be unrealistic.
There are, however, 4 major Third Party candidates that Americans deserve to hear from.
Two of the four Third Party candidates, Chuck Baldwin and Cynthia McKinney are on 37 ballots or less each and so it could be argued they are not players in this election cycle, even though they are on enough states to win the Presidency by electoral map. Not to mention, both Baldwin and McKinney are legitimate candidates for well established political parties, those being: The Constitution Party and The Green Party respectively.
There is, however, no excuse in ignoring Independent Candidate, Ralph Nader and Libertarian Candidate, Bob Barr, who are currently listed on at least 45 ballots each.
In the 2000 election, Ralph Nader was erroneously blamed for the election of George W. Bush and he was actually on fewer ballots than he is now. Talk about irony, now that Nader is on more ballots, he is ignored and mocked as irrelevant. More outrageous is the fact that the media, amid this economic crisis, decides to ignore the one man who has been a crusader for consumer rights and has always railed against corporate corruption; as Nader saw this Wall Street meltdown coming long ago.
On the other side of the coin, you have a former congressman in Bob Barr who as a Libertarian Candidate poses a real threat to the Republican Party for the first time since Ross Perot, and so he is not only ignored now, but his ballot access this election cycle has been constantly challenged in state after state in an attempt to at best, remove Barr from the ballot, and at worst, tie Barr's time, efforts and campaign money in defending his ballot access through lawsuits. The Republicans are doing to Barr what the Democrats did to Nader in past elections. Of course, this travesty never sees the light of day. Moreover, the double standard was quite obvious when The Republican Party and The Democratic Party failed to meet the deadline to gain access to `the Texas ballot, and they were allowed to break the law; of course no mention in the mainstream media on this.
It is important to note that much like Ralph Nader; Bob Barr also opposes any billionaire bailout, especially one without hearings, without considering other options and in this hurried fashion, just to get back to campaign politics as usual.
Furthermore, the exclusion of Ralph Nader and Bob Barr from the debates is unconscionable. Their inclusion would only push serious dialogue about our nation's problems and push the agenda for solutions.
The Duopoly's control of the media has gotten so bad that most polls do not even include Third Party candidates, and those that do, the media totally ignores the results for that Third Party Candidate that is registering in the polls; as they conveniently just give you the Obama and McCain's poll results.
Apathy on all of the above is even more frustrating, as most Americans if they recognize what is going on, won't even take five minutes from their day to send an email. What has happened to "We the People" of these United States of America?
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The views expressed in this
article are those of Jonathan Cymberknopf only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Jonathan Cymberknopf is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
The only time Ron Paul saw the light of day was when he quit being a candidate. If these people want on T.V. then they merely need to drop out of the race.
F@#$ the media and both of the "major" parties! I'm voting for Barr, Root, and any other LP candidate that I see on my Georgia ballot next month. I'm sick and tired of this crap!
Our so called "democracy" is disgusting. Its all crisscrossed and tied together - the Democrats and the Republicans the Media and Corporations and the Military Industrial Complex. I cannot believe that enough people out there can't see this for themselves. It's right there as visible as the sun is hot! I mean look at the "Debate Commission" its ran by a Democrat and A Republican. Of course they are going to keep out 3rd party candidates, they don't want the general population to actually hear common sense and truth from a presidential candidate! The "Sheep" are having the proverbial wool pulled over there eyes by these two parties. The Democrats and Republican alike are laughing at us, mocking us everyday! And most people just sit back and take it, they let it happen and they enjoy it! They actually root for and support and eventually vote for these same two parties that keep giving them the shaft election after election, year after year, war after war, crisis after crisis. Unfortunately enough people will not open their eyes to this madness until it is too late and there is no longer a turning back point. What a shame, a shame for all of us who are aware of the scam being perpetrated on the American people and on future generations to come. Well I am voting and supporting and pushing third party all the way! I invite you all to visit my blog @ http://enemyartistkristofer.blogspot.com
Ironically, FOX's Cavuto has had Barr on, because Cavuto is FURIOUS over the bailout! I think he actually wants to kill McCain after the Senate usurpation. He was actually promoting Barr's candidacy.
CNBC wants to kill all the anti-bailout Conservatives - because they are back-stabbing Wall Street, and Cavuto and others from FOX Business (a channel I've never watched) are totally standing up for the Free Market.
Bob Barr, Alan Keyes and Ralph Nader all agree with Dr. Paul that the FED should be abolished. Since the FED is the de facto government of the United States it is likely trying to keep down its critics.
Regardless of the censorship's cause we should insist that those three candidates, Barr, Keyes and Nader be heard.
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