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| Camejo Protests Exclusion From Debates. | |
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September 24, 2003 PRESS RELEASE Green candidate calls on League of Women Voters members to protest their organization's efforts to exclude the Green Party from gubernatorial debates. Camejo campaign will launch national web-based letter writing campaign from http://www.votecamejo.org targeting media outlets and League of Women Voters.
Oakland, CA - In a situation similar to the 2002 campaign, the Los Angeles Times is proposing a debate for the major recall candidates, but excluding the Green Party. The LA Times/CNN debate is tentatively scheduled for September 30th. The Times/CNN debate sets an arbitrary polling figure as their criteria for inviting candidates, in spite of the overwhelming majority support for including all three of the major California political parties in debates. The League of Women Voters has lent its support to two other debates which have so far excluded the Green Party; October 2 (co-sponsored by NBC4 and Telemundo) and October 4 (San Diego Union Tribune and KPBS). The October 2nd event is co-sponsored by the California League, while the October 4th debate is co-sponsored by the San Diego County chapter. The Camejo campaign is preparing to launch a national web-based letting writing campaign to protest the exclusion, using supporters from throughout California and around the country. The campaign's website, http://www.votecamejo.org, will provide protest letters that can be quickly sent to sponsoring media organizations, as well as the League of Women Voters. "The Green Party has over 60 elected officials throughout California, and has received more than 5% in statewide elections," said Camejo. "We represent a national and worldwide political movement. The Green Partys vote has been growing rapidly, surpassing 10% in many areas of Northern California. And this is in spite of the winner take all system that blocks many voters from voting for the party of their choice. More importantly, 69% of the people have said they want the Green Party candidate in the debates." Camejo is referring to a poll taken by KXTV in Sacramento during last year's campaign. Camejo further stated: "It is a form of political discrimination for the League of Women Voters, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, NBC4, The San Diego Union Tribune and Telemundo to reverse course from the open, inclusive debates held by the California Broadcasters Association, KTVU, The Contra Costa Times, New California Media and Adelphia Cable which included the voices of the Democratic, Republican and Green parties as well as an independent. It is particularly disturbing that the League of Women Voters, which is supposedly in favor of opening up the electoral system, would lend its name to closing these debates, and in two cases excluding the only woman among the major candidates in this race." One of the most hypocritical stances has been taken by NBC4 & Telemundo, which set the criteria for their debate at 3% in the polls, but specified the L.A.Times poll, which therefore excluded Camejo. In that poll Arianna Huffington was at 3% and Camejo at 2%. A more recent poll from PPIC, has Camejo at 3% and Huffington at 2%. What will NBC & Telemundo do now, exclude Huffington and include Camejo? Camejo points out that not a single poll has been taken of the voters of California. The polls that use "likely voters" as their sample are almost 80% white, include almost no youth and low income respondents and thus leave out the majority of voters. The key poll that has never been taken is one that asks if the voters want the Green Party in the debate. The only such poll was taken last year and 69% percent said they did want the Green included. A recent poll showed 67% of the people have still not definitively made up their minds as to how they will vote. To silence voices is to oppose democracy in California. MORE INFORMATION The Green Party of California |
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