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Electoral System That Lessig Hopes To Reform Is Keeping Him Out of the Debate (usatoday.com)

Posted by Soulskill on from the lessig-is-more dept.

schwit1 writes: Lessig has raised a million dollars, which is nothing to sneeze at, but he's being given the cold shoulder by the Democrats when it comes to participating in the debates. I think he's got a good argument for being included — he's certainly as serious a candidate as some of the others, and I'm hearing a lot about his campaign.

Why are they keeping Lessig out? According to Lessig, it's for the same reason he wants in: "My view is that if we can get this message [of reform] into the debate it would change the dynamics of this Democratic primary entirely. This issue framed in this way totally blows up the Democratic primary."

Hillary and Bernie, he says, are promising the moon to voters, but can't deliver. Lessig told me, "If I can get on that stage and say the rocket can't get off the ground, and we have to change this dynamic first," the narrative shifts in a way that the leading candidates can't address.

6 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Whoops! by tripleevenfall · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Oh my, someone told this gent there was going to be a primary race. Sorry, we've only got a coronation scheduled here.

  2. Democrats, not the "Electoral System" by sycodon · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's the Democrat Party and the media that is keeping him out of the debates. The Electoral System has nothing to do with it.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    1. Re:Democrats, not the "Electoral System" by aaron4801 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yes, this is important. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party are not public entities, they are private groups formed and populated by people with agendas. If I'm a registered Socialist, the Democratic party has no obligation to let me run on their ticket or participate in their debates. The interests don't necessarily align.
      Lessig isn't a Socialist, but is running on a platform of blowing up the system. Why on Earth would an establishment player want to support that platform?
      He'd get farther by using the cash to start blowing holes in the notion that the US must only have two parties. Granted, he wouldn't get very far that way, either, but until voters give up the idea that we always have to choose between the lesser of two evils, that's all we'll ever end up with.

  3. Re:Coronation my ass - Hillary!'s public execution by tripleevenfall · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Some would say that she could have avoided Obama exposing her corruption by not being corrupt in the first place.

  4. Re:Coronation my ass - Hillary!'s public execution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What corruption? The only leaks have suggested she might have miscategorized the security status of some emails, an administrative error not an issue of corruption.

    When it comes to Hillary Clinton, you idiots will believe pretty much anything.

    First, it's several hundred emails, at least.

    Second, mishandling classified material is a FELONY, not an "administrative error".

    Third, even if one accepts your patently risible characterization of "administrative error", how FUCKING TRUSTWORTHY DOES THAT MAKE HILLARY!? Yeah, NOT TRUSTWORTHY AT ALL and therefore unqualified to be President.

    Finally, Hillary! has downright LIED multiple times regarding her email server - WHICH NEVER SHOULD HAVE EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE as it was an ILLEGAL METHOD TO CONDUCT GOVERNMENT BUSINESS WITHOUT CONSTITUTIONALLY PROPER CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGALLY-MANDATED FOIA OVERSIGHT.

    Geez, you're one Thalidomide-brained moron of a shill.

  5. Governor Hillkin by tripleevenfall · · Score: 5, Funny

    Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances.