I am writing to voice support for including Libertarian Gary Johnson in the upcoming presidential debates, so the American people and political parties can be reminded that democracy means we have a choice.
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Gary Johnson, the presidential candidate for the Libertarian Party, is facing backlash again, after saying “nobody got hurt” in recent attacks in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota, according to NBC News. Keeping outsiders such as Johnson, a former two-term governor whose running mate is also a two-term governor, off the stage was one of the main reasons the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee took over organizing the debates almost 30 years ago.
Johnson and Weld disagree on whether Clinton or Trump would be hurt most by their candidacy, with Weld indicating that Clinton might be harder hit while Johnson is more focused on their impact on Trump and the Republicans.
I can think of three solid reasons why Johnson should absolutely be included (most of the reasons also work equally well for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, who has less than half the support of Johnson and none of the governing experience). Instead, the commission has decided that no candidate can participate in the debates unless he or she crosses a 15 percent average polling threshold. He has about 9 percent in the polls.
The campaign is calling on people to Occupy the Debates and is building toward a mass protest at Hofstra University if all candidates are not included. Rather, he said, it’s a “conciliatory vote” of those seeking an alternative to Republican and Democratic presidential nominees who are saddled with high negative ratings and who are widely distrusted or disliked by average voters. That fact alone ought to persuade the debate commission to include Johnson.
While 70 percent of Americans still aren’t familiar with Johnson and know that he is running for president, even more are unfamiliar with his policies and platform. He has broken through the 15 percent ceiling in 15 states. WTF is going on when a figure who will be on every American’s ballot isn’t given a shot to make his case on the same stage as the Republican and Democrat? Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former Govs.
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Late last month, 59 percent said “no” when asked if Clinton is honest and trustworthy – and 62 percent said “no” when asked the same about Trump, according to an ABC News survey.
