The debate rules specify that to be included, candidates must receive at least 15 percent in a major poll. Most major polls do not even list Stein and Johnson as an option. Televised presidential debates date back to 1960, and have been a regular event since the 1976 election. Originally administered by the League of Women Voters, they’ve been jointly organized by the Democratic and Republican parties through the Commission on Presidential Debates—a group the two parties jointly formed—since 1987.
Raw Story
Raw Story
Looks like Ralph Nader was wrong.
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000; 10:09 p.m. EDT
ST. LOUIS –– Ralph Nader was barred from the presidential debate here Tuesday, hours after he sued the commission organizing the debates because he was excluded from the first one. "Mark my words, this is the debate commission's last hurrah," Nader said after police turned him away from Washington University where Al Gore and George W. Bush appeared for the third and final debate. "Its power will be broken."
WaPo
ST. LOUIS –– Ralph Nader was barred from the presidential debate here Tuesday, hours after he sued the commission organizing the debates because he was excluded from the first one. "Mark my words, this is the debate commission's last hurrah," Nader said after police turned him away from Washington University where Al Gore and George W. Bush appeared for the third and final debate. "Its power will be broken."
WaPo
Not now that the Commission on Presidential Debates has it. What happened to the League of Women Voters? Let me guess. Not enough money to compete. Nope. I'm wrong.
The formats of the debates have varied, with questions sometimes posed from one or more journalist moderators and in other cases members of the audience. Between 1988 and 2000, the formats have been governed in detail by secret memoranda of understanding (MOU) between the two major candidates.
[...]
In 1987, the LWV withdrew from debate sponsorship, in protest of the major party candidates attempting to dictate nearly every aspect of how the debates were conducted. On October 2, 1988, the LWV's 14 trustees voted unanimously to pull out of the debates.
[...]
Most objectionable to the League...were conditions in the agreement that gave the campaigns unprecedented control over the proceedings.... [including] control the selection of questioners, the composition of the audience, hall access for the press and other issues."
[...]
” The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates...because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public.”
Wikipedia
[...]
In 1987, the LWV withdrew from debate sponsorship, in protest of the major party candidates attempting to dictate nearly every aspect of how the debates were conducted. On October 2, 1988, the LWV's 14 trustees voted unanimously to pull out of the debates.
[...]
Most objectionable to the League...were conditions in the agreement that gave the campaigns unprecedented control over the proceedings.... [including] control the selection of questioners, the composition of the audience, hall access for the press and other issues."
[...]
” The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates...because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public.”
Wikipedia
So you see, women voters have known for a long time that the debates are just an extension of a rigged system of governance.
The Obama-Romney MOU
They aren't permitted to ask each other questions, propose pledges to each other, or walk outside a "predesignated area." And for the town-hall-style debate tomorrow night, the audience members posing questions aren't allowed to ask follow-ups (their mics will be cut off as soon as they get their questions out). Nor will moderator Candy Crowley.
Gawker
Gawker
UPDATE on Stein's arrest
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