Occupy: Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD)

[PassionateProgressive]

We Demand Fair Debates: Join Tom Morello, thousands more in launching Occupy the CPD!
Sep 12, 2012
Spread the word far and wide! This morning, dozens of community leaders, artists, and academics -- including Tom Morello, Leah Bolger, Richard Wolff and Medea Benjamin -- and thousands more joined together to launch Occupy the CPD. Please join them at http://www.OccupytheCPD.org

The presidential debates are the first opportunity for millions of voters to see the presidential contenders themselves, not just their advertising campaigns. These debates are organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) - a supposedly "nonpartisan" corporation which is a puppet of the national Democratic and Republican parties, and the big corporations that fund both of them. The CPD's criteria to be included in these debates are designed to exclude independent contenders who promote ideas that challenge those in power.

Click here to read and join the sign-on statement: http://www.OccupytheCPD.org

[waiting for hope]

I got the email too - this paragraph should be stressed:

Quote:We, the undersigned, demand presidential debates that include the real choices before the voters this November. The debates must include every candidate who is on enough ballots to win the White House and who has demonstrated a minimal level of support -- meaning either 1% of the vote in a credible national poll, or qualification for federal matching funds, or both. In 2012, the Green and Libertarian party candidates both meet all of these criteria.

[Code Name D]

(09-12-2012 08:07 PM)waiting for hope Wrote:  I got the email too - this paragraph should be stressed:

Quote:We, the undersigned, demand presidential debates that include the real choices before the voters this November. The debates must include every candidate who is on enough ballots to win the White House and who has demonstrated a minimal level of support -- meaning either 1% of the vote in a credible national poll, or qualification for federal matching funds, or both. In 2012, the Green and Libertarian party candidates both meet all of these criteria.

This is not going to be enough. (Not like this is the first petition or protest held.) The function of the PEC is to provide cover for the candidates them selves who make the decision.

The occupy movement needs to host their own debates and invite the third party candidates them selves. If the third party candidates go after the Repub/Dem party and point out the similarity of their positions, they will have no choice but to show up.

[TheCrone]

(09-12-2012 08:21 PM)Code Name D Wrote:  

(09-12-2012 08:07 PM)waiting for hope Wrote:  I got the email too - this paragraph should be stressed:

Quote:We, the undersigned, demand presidential debates that include the real choices before the voters this November. The debates must include every candidate who is on enough ballots to win the White House and who has demonstrated a minimal level of support -- meaning either 1% of the vote in a credible national poll, or qualification for federal matching funds, or both. In 2012, the Green and Libertarian party candidates both meet all of these criteria.

This is not going to be enough. (Not like this is the first petition or protest held.) The function of the PEC is to provide cover for the candidates them selves who make the decision.

The occupy movement needs to host their own debates and invite the third party candidates them selves. If the third party candidates go after the Repub/Dem party and point out the similarity of their positions, they will have no choice but to show up.

I am totally in love with your idea. Anyone here able to contact Jill? I know someone who can get ahold of Rocky.