Exclusive Debates Violate Voters' Right to Make Informed Choice
Green Party of New York State
www.gpnys.org
October 23, 2006
Released October 20
Contact: Ann Link 347-226-1195 eastst@hotmail.com
Green Party of New York State Responds to League of Women Voters
Sponsorship Withdrawal
Contact: Gloria Mattera, Co-chair, 917 886 4538 or
gmattera@gmail.com
Peter LaVenia, Co-chair, 518 463 8653 or mactyler42@yahoo.com
The Green Party of New York State welcomes the decision by the League of
Women Voters (LWV) of New York State to withdraw from the upcoming debates
for Attorney General and US Senate. According to the League, "The voters of
New York State deserve better."
After some pressure, the LWV reconsidered its original exclusion and
declared both Rachel Treichler and Howie Hawkins, Green Party nominees for
Attorney General and US Senate, to be "bona fide contestants" and thus
eligible to participate in the debates. When none of the co-sponsors would
accept the League's decision to include them, the LWV of NY State withdrew
its sponsorship. [www.lwvny.org]
"My inclusion in debates," said Senate candidate Hawkins, "would allow the
voting public to hear more about the issues in this significant race. I am
one of several antiwar candidates running, and to silence any of us at this
crucial juncture muzzles a large percentage of antiwar New Yorkers." Hawkins
added, "Though the latest Zogby poll shows my campaign at 21% among independent voters, a level that more than satisfies the League's last
criterion for inclusion, the fact that I am on the ballot is all that should
matter."
Peter LaVenia, co-chair of the Green Party of New York State, pointed out
that "a growing number of voters find the artificial restriction of debates
to Democratic and Republican candidates a complete sham. When alternative
candidates are included, both viewership and voter turnout increase. When
Independent candidate Jesse Ventura was included in gubernatorial debates in
Minnesota, he went from 10% in the polls to over 30% in just a few weeks.
And then he became governor. That would never have happened had he been
excluded from the debates. This indicates why major party candidates strive
to keep voters from hearing alternative candidates."
Even if it did not increase participation, all legitimate voices should be
included because it is the right and democratic thing to do. Some candidates
and parties are "weak," unable to "demonstrate significant public support"
because they've been systematically excluded by corporate control of nearly
all popular forms of information, Without exposure, it's next to impossible
for a candidate to gain enough public support to raise enough money to get
enough exposure to gain significant public support.
"Many voters are frustrated," said Rachel
Treichler, Green Party candidate for Attorney General, "by the closed nature of
our current electoral system. A poll last spring by Princeton Survey Research
Associates found that 73% of Americans think it would be a good idea to have
more than just Republican and Democratic choices in the 2008 presidential
election. It's disappointing that voters in this state election will not
have the opportunity to hear all the candidates debate the issues together
in the same public forum."
Challenge to the League of Women Voters The Green Party believes that all candidates who successfully petition to
get on the ballot, should be included in all forums and debates, especially
televised debates, so voters can make informed choices. "True democracy is
allowing voters to hear all the candidates' views so they can vote for the
one who truly represents their vision," said Gloria Mattera, former candidate for Brooklyn borough president and co-chair of the Green Party of
New York.
The LWV is perhaps the only non-governmental organization that has the clout
to ensure equal access to the electorate for all candidates. The Green Party
of New York State urges the League to take the lead in fostering an attitude
of democratic inclusion and to pressure all other debate sponsors, especially TV stations, to do the right thing.
The exclusion of alternative candidates because of biased criteria,
bolstered by opinion polls that include only Democratic and Republican
candidates, is happening all over the country. See the press release issued
on Thursday, October 12, by the Green Party of the US. (www.gp.org).
Green Party candidates and their supporters continue to lobby media outlets
and nonprofit organizations to sponsor inclusive debates. New York City
Green Party members will join Green US Senate candidate Howie Hawkins outside WABC
Studios (Columbus Ave & 66 St) to protest his exclusion from the US Senate debate sponsored by that station on Sunday,
October 22, at 8 AM.
To learn more about the Green Party's Peace Slate, go to:
www.gpnys.org
Candidate's web-sites:
www.hawkinsforsenate.org
www.voterachel.org
www.votemalachymccourt.org
www.alisonduncan.org
Julia for Comptroller