Despite the fact 70 percent of Americans polled insisted the need for a four-party presidential debate, a commission decided that only the two leading political parties — Democrats and Republicans — met the mandate to share a podium for the first slated for Hofstra University on Sept. 26.
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) ruled recently that neither Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson nor Green Party candidate Jill Stein qualified.
According to the CPD, in order to be eligible for the national question and answer forum, third party candidates must achieve 15 percent favorability in national polls.
The group said while Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump each received 43 percent and 40.4 percent in the polls, respectively, independent candidates Johnson and Stein polled at 8.4 percent and 3.2 percent.
Reportedly, the polling average is based on five polls conducted by major TV networks — ABC-Washington Post, CBS-New York Times, CNN-Opinion Research, Fox News and NBC-Wall Street Journal.
But some skeptics believe the commission’s decision stems from the fact, it is comprised of Republicans and Democrats and prefer to have their party’s views front and center of the discussion with no distractions from candidates unlikely to be elected in November.
Although the two most unpopular candidates in recent history are practically locked in a tie for the coveted prize of leading the most powerful nation on earth, the leading, independent party, candidates have been garnering attention while amassing formidable approval ratings without help from media.
Soon after the ruling, Johnson issued a statement saying that Americans were tired of “rigged systems,” and that the “CPD had created a monopoly on debates.”
“The CPD may scoff at a ticket that enjoys ‘only’ 9 or 10 percent in their hand-selected polls, but even 9 percent represents 13 million voters, more than the total population of Ohio and most other states. Yet, the Republicans and Democrats are choosing to silence the candidate preferred by those millions of Americans.”
Stein turned to social media to respond saying that “Corporate political and media establishment is trying to manufacture consent for the least liked / trusted candidates ever.”
“Stand up and say no!” she urged supporters.
Johnson and Stein have fulfilled one major criterion. Despite low polling they both will appear on ballots in many states and could win approval with votes gained in the electoral college.
When Trump, the New York mogul and GOP’s choice, and Clinton, the Democrats first approved woman qualified to run the White House propose adverse platforms related to immigration, foreign policy, gun control and maybe the controversial birther issue, dissenters are expected to rally outside in protest.
Allegedly busloads of demonstrators will publicly stake their opposition to the two-party, 90-minute, talkfest by rallying outside the venue.
There in Long Island, the topic of President Barack Obama’s birthplace may be moot considering that after five years as the centerpiece of Trump’s presidential bid, the businessman conceded the idiocy of his campaign rhetoric saying “Barack Obama was born in the United States.”
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