DC Circuit Craps On Democracy

[jaF0]

WASHINGTON (CN) — Declining to futz with rules that determine who makes the coveted presidential debate stage, the D.C. Circuit sank a challenge Friday from the Libertarian and Green parties.

Led by the nonprofit group Level the Playing Field, the parties had sued in Washington after the Federal Election Commission rejected their objections to the criteria that the Commission on Presidential Debates uses to admit candidates in the televised presidential debates it has hosted for the last 30 years.

Among other parameters, the debate commission has a 15% polling threshold the debate commission that is difficult for third-party candidates to reach.

But U.S. Circuit Judge Raymond Randolph, writing for a three-judge panel this morning, said selectivity does not run afoul of FEC rules.

“There is no legal requirement that the commission make it easier for independent candidates to run for president of the United States,” the 13-page opinion states.
https://www.courthousenews.com/court-rejects-push-to-have-debates-welcome-3rd-party-candidates/

THAT needs to be changed.

 

[Paul_Chance]

Nah, I am fine with the 15% threshold. If you can't get to 15% you're just masturbating in the public square.

 

[jaF0]

Poor media coverage can keep polls low. Effective debate appearances get you before more eyes which can increase those polls.

 

[Ziggins]

They will eventually need some other threshold that doesn't use a tremendous amount of phone calls.