Saturday, September 11, 2010

Another example of limiting voter information

It's almost the norm to exclude Libertarian or other third party candidates from debates. A variety of excuses are used, a good example is this recent story from North Carolina:

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina hasn’t been invited to two television debates because event organizers say his poll numbers are too low.

North Carolina Association of Broadcasters President Tim Morrisey said Friday that Libertarian Michael Beitler had not been invited to the Oct. 11 and Oct. 21 debates because surveys fail to show him with at least 10 percent support. Morrisey said the threshold has been used before.

Republican incumbent Richard Burr and Democrat Elaine Marshall were invited and have agreed to participate.

Beitler spokesman Daniel Chang said the association’s threshold was arbitrary and limits discussion to the establishment parties.

All three candidates are slated to participate in a TV debate Oct. 13, sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

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