07-24-2016, 01:23 AM
(07-24-2016, 12:49 AM)CKwi88 Wrote: I don't mean to sound like a conspiracy theorist but I'm yet to see a better explanation. The debate rules are established by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). Who is in charge of the CPD? The democratic party and the republican party. Since neither party stands to gain anything from a third party presence, they can at least agree in a bipartisan manner to help each other out in that regard.
I think that's all correct, although I think the rule may have been implemented back in '96 after Perot "bought" his way on stage in '92 and ended up with nearly 20% of the popular vote.
And it's even worse than you described - it's not just 15%, but an average of 15% in 5 polls chosen by - you guessed it - the CPD. I think it goes even further to qualify something vaguely about "chance of winning", or at least taking a few states. One such qualitative criteria is being on the ballot in most states (Johnson expects to be on the ballot in all 50).
I believe Gary Johnson is suing to contest those CPD rules. Certainly some level of qualification is entirely reasonable, but do the current criteria amount to a more unreasonable "barrier to entry"?
Things could change, but as of right now I would say Gary Johnson belongs on the stage and should in court. On the other hand, just based on primary votes Sanders would be at least 10% if he could get in as an independent. So maybe 15% is not terribly unreasonable.
To me, "fair" would be:
1) Must not have run as a Dem or Repub in the primaries - you tried, you lost, you're done
2) Must be on the ballot in over 80% of states
3) Must be polling at least 5% nationally - to get into the debates...let's add a 4th Presidential debate and after the first if you are not in the top 2 and still below 15% THEN you're done.
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