Stand for Real Democracy - Open the Debates to 3rd-Party Candidates

from AF&O reader John of Silence:

There are SIX Presidential candidates this year. All are qualified and capable of winning. So why are there only TWO people permitted to participate in Friday's debate? Bigotry, that's why -- two-party bias! Let's flood the email inboxes and the phone lines with one simple, yet crucial point: Open the Debates.

DO SOMETHING! It takes just five minutes to take action. Help us make a difference and create true democracy. Below is a suggested script but please feel free to appropriately modify it to support your candidate. (The following is written to support progressive candidate and Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney.)

Step one:

Call Barack Obama at 866-675-2008.
Hit 6 to speak with a campaign volunteer.
Once connected, politely deliver the following message:

Hi, my name is …

I was wondering if Senator Obama, being a believer in equal opportunity and equal rights, could insist that Cynthia Mckinney and other ballot qualified third party candidates be included in the upcoming Presidential debates? After all, Cynthia Mckinney is on 34 state ballots. And she's polling well nationwide. And he could help Senator Obama challenge the corporate Republicans. True, Cynthia McKinney would critique Senator Obama for his corporate ties also. But isn't that what democracy is about? Could you please leave this message for the campaign manager? Thank you.

Step two:

E-mail Janet Brown, the executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Here’s a sample e-mail:

Dear Janet Brown:

Greetings. You must be busy preparing for the first presidential debate this Friday. Just wanted to let you know that the American people were not born yesterday. We know the deal. Take that little private corporation that you run that's controlled by the two corporate parties and funded by big business for the purpose of excluding independent-minded candidates. Friday, two Wall Street candidates are scheduled to be in the ring, Barack Obama and John McCain. The one candidate who represents the American people, Main Street, if you will, will be on the outside looking in. So, here’s a simple request. Drop your exclusionary restrictions. Let Cynthia Mckinney into the debates.

It will be good for your conscience. Good for the American people. (I believe it was The League of Women Voters that called your corporatized debates "campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity, and honest answers to tough questions.") And it's good for democracy. Let the American people have a real debate for once. Main Street vs. Wall Street.

Thank you,

Signed
your name.