LP files Suit To Stop State Funding Of 3rd Debate

Mike Oliver writes "Arizona Libertarians have filed a lawsuit that could stop Arizona State University from sponsoring the third presidential debate between George Bush and Sen. John Kerry, scheduled for Oct. 13. The lawsuit maintains that by spending up to $2 million to sponsor the event in Tempe, the university is making an illegal campaign contribution to the Republican and Democratic parties."

Comments

I'm unimpressed.

[Jherico]

The libertarian party wouldn't be doing this if they were in the debate, even if all the other 'third' parties were excluded. That much seems self evident. Since that's likely the case, this means its less about what the two main parties are getting and more about what the libertarians are not getting. Which makes the whole thing bullshit from an ethical standpoint.

People need to realize that the two party system is essentially the result of our voting system. Fine, say you're a libertarian, but register democrat and work towards a change in the voting system. Otherwise by clinging fiercly to a third party system you're essentially giving more power to the main party that opposes your views by taking your vote away from the main party that's closest to your views. This works both ways, whether your liberal or conservative. That's why third party members piss me off so much. They essentially remove themselves from the main political process because they don't want to compromise their principles in a party that has an actual chance of winning, but in the end they only give the opposition more power. There's a lot more to be accomplished by being an active member of the libertarian subset of the democrative party than by being in the libertarian party. At least on a national level.

SPIN ALERT

[follower_of_christ]

"They have absolutely no right to use our tax dollars for what is effectively a very expensive television commercial for Bush and Kerry," Hess told reporters.
The vice presidential debate in Cleveland tremendously helped the local economy and provided a marketing engine for Cleveland. Arizona State has a ton to gain from using this debate to market itself and get its name out there. They are merely hosting a presidential election event and aren't enforcing the rules of the contracts between the candidates. The whole purpose of this lawsuit is political in nature to get us lemmings talking about the viability of more than 2 parties. To attack Arizona for this is ridiculous. It only hurts the people there. This is an enormous commercial for the university.

The real test of whether the Uni is really promoting the two-party system, will be in whether they cancel, or go ahead with the Libertarian candidate included.
I sure hope they are not swayed by this election year third party political ploys.

My position, if anyone was wondering, is that the party system should be abolished and the people should merely focus on the issues rather than political spin like this.

Re:Hmm..

[macdaddy357]

Indeed! Pot, kettle. Kettle, pot. The Libertarians are as much a legitimate political party as the scientologists are a legitimate religion.

No third parties!

[jim_v2000]

Why do people hold to this illusion that having 3 parties will fix anything? The third party will be as corrupt as the first two. As soon as a third party candidate gets in office, you know corporations and interest groups will be waving money in his/her face. And when money talks, politicians listen.

Also, third parties don't offer "more choice" as is purported. They usually choose one issue to run with that a lot of people will agree with them on, like say the Green Party who is big on nature. However, that might be the only thing that people would agree with them on, and the rest of their agenda could be bs. Image a system with a bunch of these little parties.

I'll stick with Republicrats.

Re:No third parties!

[linzeal]

The green party is as authotarian as any socialist system.