Gary Johnson: 'I Never Thought I Would Be Left Off '

[harvey007]

Run time: 06:24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWRK1nrzsrk   Posted on YouTube: June 15, 2011 By YouTube Member: ABCNews Views on YouTube: 58   Posted on DU: June 16, 2011 By DU Member: harvey007 Views on DU: 1269

 

[Angry Dragon]

1. What right does a news organization have to determine who is a viable

candidate?? Perhaps if they gave them more air time more people would hear of them.......
Sounds like news organizations think they are part of the political process instead of actually covering the news
I think they should be sued

[dotymed]

7. "News" organizations ARE an integral part of

the political process. Regular citizens are no longer allowed to determine who THEY want for political office. First the corporate tee vee must determine (or sabotage in many cases) the candidates that are presented to the people.

It is sickening but true.

IMO, the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated and updated to cover all media.

[Grassy Knoll]

2. He wasn't invited because....

CNN and Fox News don't want to be upstaged by their pick and agenda.
He would have done a lot less Obama bashing, and more problem solving.
If you don't shout "Obama is a one term President" and "Obama Care Sucks"
to get them all frothy, what's the point to put him on TV?

[Bjorn Against]

3. There is no doubt he should have been included in that debate

He is a two term Governor who certainly has a hell of a lot more experience than say Herman Cain or Michele Bachmann. His views on the economy are insane, but he is probably the best of the Republican candidates. I know that is not saying much, but when you listen to him talk about the wars whether they are foreign or domestic (war on drugs) he can sometimes make a lot of sense. His views on economics are so far off the deep end that he would be a disaster as President, but he occasionally takes positions that are worth hearing so I would much rather see him in the debates than most of the other GOP candidates. He is a lot like Ron Paul, he is batshit crazy but every once in a while he will take a bold stand for something good and he can be a very strong voice when he does.

[Bjorn Against]

4. There is no doubt he should have been included in that debate

He is a two term Governor who certainly has a hell of a lot more experience than say Herman Cain or Michele Bachmann. His views on the economy are insane, but he is probably the best of the Republican candidates. I know that is not saying much, but when you listen to him talk about the wars whether they are foreign or domestic (war on drugs) he can sometimes make a lot of sense. His views on economics are so far off the deep end that he would be a disaster as President, but he occasionally takes positions that are worth hearing so I would much rather see him in the debates than most of the other GOP candidates. He is a lot like Ron Paul, he is batshit crazy but every once in a while he will take a bold stand for something good and he can be a very strong voice when he does.

[Tx4obama]

5. He actually qualified to be in the debate under the CNN criteria

but CNN still excluded him.
-------
CNN debate criteria: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/03/criteria-for-the-new-hampshire-republican-presidential-debate/

And here's an except from Johnson's website:

June 9, 2011, Santa Fe, NM - The Johnson 2012 Campaign released evidence today confirming that former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson has met the polling criteria to attend the CNN Republican primary debate scheduled for Monday.

Debate sponsors CNN, WMUR and the Union Leader require one of three polling requirements to be reached for a candidate to be included. The Johnson campaign has discovered that the criteria for "an average of at least 2.00 percent in at least three national polls released in May" was achieved using the approved polls below:

- A CNN Opinion Research Corporation Poll released on May 27 shows Governor Johnson at 2% nationally.

- A Gallup poll from May 26 shows Johnson at 3%.

- A Quinnipiac poll released May 4 shows Johnson's support at 1%.

Together the three approved polls total 6%, which is a 2% average, thereby qualifying Governor Johnson for Monday's debate.

Upon seeing this information, Ron Nielson, Senior Advisor to Johnson's campaign, released the following statement, "It is our hope that CNN will review the criteria that has excluded two-term Governor Gary Johnson from the New Hampshire debate. Now that this information has come to light, we look forward to receiving an invitation for Governor Johnson to participate."

http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/presidential-candidate-gary-johnson-meets-cnn-debate-criteria-remains-hopeful-for-inclusion

[Lions_fan]

6. He brings up a very good point on his website regarding the snub

“Consider: In early 1991, then-Governor Bill Clinton was in 11th place in presidential primary polling with 2%. By November of 1991, he was only at 6%, a fact which led one commentator to later observe: “If the front runners in the 1992 Democratic primary had been successful in excluding all the “non-serious” candidates, Bill and Hillary Clinton would have never made it to the national stage.” The “frontrunners” in 1991, by the way, were Mario Cuomo and Jerry Brown.

“And there is this excerpt from a memorandum sent to supporters by the Mitt Romney campaign in 2007: “Carter, Dukakis, and Clinton were all governors of small states who began their campaigns with low national exposure and went on to win their party’s nomination. At this point in 1975, Carter was polling at 1%; in 1987, Dukakis was polling at 1%; in 1991, Clinton was at 2%.”

“In short, applying your criteria, the ultimate nominees in several modern elections would likely not have been invited to a CNN debate. And in each case, they were Governors of relatively small states who simply had not enjoyed the advantage of the national media’s attention – a rather precise description of Governor Johnson. The polls were not predictive then, and they are not now.

http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/johnson-campaign-protests-cnn-debate-exclusion