Will Ron Paul and Gary Johnson Be Included in 2012 Presidential Debates?
By Aaron - April 4, 2011 at 7:27 AM
Filed under Elections , Gary Johnson , Leaders , Obama , Presidential , Rand Paul , Ron Paul , Take Action!
Filed under Elections , Gary Johnson , Leaders , Obama , Presidential , Rand Paul , Ron Paul , Take Action!
Will Reince Priebus exclude Ron Paul and Gary Johnson from the 2012 RNC debates?
Despite the fact that no candidates have formally announced for President, we know that campaign season is upon us because the usual suspects are working to find a way to exclude new ideas from the Presidential debates.
Presidential debates in our country have often been exclusionary, especially since the formation of the Commission on Presidential Debates after Ross Perot’s successful third party campaign in 1992. The Libertarian Party candidate has never been included in a nationally televised debate. Congressman Ron Paul was excluded from at least one debate in Iowa in 2007, but was ultimately included in the important debates. If he had not been included in the debates, both his ideas and his popularity would have suffered as a result. Perhaps the Tea Party never would have formed.
Last week, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus formed a committee comprised of RNC member Jim Bopp, former RNC Chair Mike Duncan, former Florida GOP Chair Al Cardenas, and former Congressman Dick Armey to decide whether the Republican National Committee should sponsor debates to raise money for themselves. According to James Bopp, “The RNC or its designee may at its discretion determine the time, place, co-sponsors, format , subject matter, moderators and participants” for the debates.
“Those candidates invited to participate in RNC-sanctioned debates will be allowed to participate in a list exchange with the RNC,” wrote Bopp.
And therein lies the problem. Certain candidates will be invited and other candidates will be excluded.
This is exactly what I warned of when I asked you to write your RNC member to oppose the nomination of RNC Chairman Reince Priebus just a few months ago.
The RNC is planning to pick favorites. If conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt — who thinks this is a grand plan for the Republican Party — has his way, Congressman Ron Paul and Governor Gary Johnson will be excluded from RNC-sanctioned debates. Writes Hewitt:
“Bar the stage to those candidates who simply cannot win the nomination, even under Iowa-upset circumstances. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania are long-shots, but they have a plausible path to the nomination. Former Rep. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson do not. If Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, asks for another giant chunk of valuable time, the RNC should say no, and put up with the howls from the 1 percent who will scream.“
Fortunately, some debates are already scheduled, including a May 5 South Carolina debate, a June 7 New Hampshire debate, an August Iowa debate, two debates in Florida in September and October, and the Politico/NBC debate on September 14 in California. However, if the RNC continues with its plan, they could simply adopt some of these debates and begin excluding whomever they want — just as the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates excludes third party candidates each Presidential election cycle.
TAKE ACTION
Please contact RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, RNC Chief of Staff Jeff Larson, RNC Committeeman from Indiana Jim Bopp, RNC Committeeman from Kentucky Mike Duncan, FreedomWorks’ Dick Armey, and American Conservative Union’s Al Cardenas. Ask them for inclusive debates that include Congressman Ron Paul, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer, and former Reagan official Fred Karger.
Here is a sample letter:
Dear Committeeman Bopp,
I recently learned that the Republican National Committee is sponsoring its own debates to raise money for the RNC. I am a Republican party activist and am also involved with my local Tea Party. I saw conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt comment that certain candidates should be excluded from the RNC-sanctioned debates.
Mr. Bopp, rest assured that I will not donate to the RNC if they exclude candidates like Congressman Ron Paul, Governor Buddy Roemer, or Governor Gary Johnson. I want to hear as many voices as possible so that the Republican Party can have its best choice to defeat President Obama in 2012.
If your debates are going to be inclusive, then please forge ahead. However, if you’re going to exclude candidates and ideas from the process, count me out.
Best Regards,
[Your Name]
You may also want to write to Hugh Hewitt to ask him why he believes American voters should be isolated from new ideas and different approaches to solving our problems.
GET INVOLVED
This leads us to the most important point about the discussion: We need more liberty-loving Republicans involved in the Republican Party so our voices can be heard.
Please join the Republican Liberty Caucus today and get involved in your state or local chapter.
If we’re not able to change the Republican Party from within, liberty will lose.
It’s really that simple. We choose to inject libertarian ideas into the party, or we give up. Those are our options.
On April 4th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
If Ron Paul is excluded form an early debate, this country will see a revolt that makes what we saw in Egypt look like a civil disagreement. It won’t be “1% that screams and yells”. For one, he is polling nationwide at 9%, and second, that 9% is extremely passionate, and not afraid to revolt in a very serious way. We could see something reminiscent of what we saw in V for Vendetta.
On April 4th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
They are afraid of the true facts to be exposed by Ron Paul.
On April 4th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
If they exclude Ron Paul, their will be anarchy.
On April 4th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
This kind of elitist attitude represents everything that’s wrong with American politics today. How did we ever lose control over these people? When did we go from being represented by these people to having them decide what’s best for us because we’re too stupid to figure it out for ourselves?
I was raised a Republican, and I still strongly believe in Conservative Republican ideals. However, it’s this kind of funny business that caused me to lose faith in the Republican party. This kind of funny business is what causes the need for additional political parties in America!
I tweeted about this mess to my 9,000+ followers. I hope others will follow suit.
On April 4th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
So let’s start a contingency plan: if Ron Paul is excluded, what do ya’ll wanna do? Where should we meet up? We need a show of force so we should all gather in some common area to protest, where should that protest be? Outside RNC headquarters? Let’s get the conversation started now so we can be ready when/if they decide to exclude him.
RON PAUL 2012, ONLY HE CAN SAVE OUR COUNTRY
PAUL/JOHNSON 2012
On April 4th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
The Republican good ole boys party club answers to the same puppet masters that the liberal party answers to. The game is rigged. The GOP, Democratic party, the MSM (including FOX), Wall Street, Federal Reserve, etc are all in on the game. There is no way to beat the system except by revolt. Absolutely nothing will change with either the Democrat or Republican nominee. Either will take us down the same path to oblivion and a One World Order. Watch us lose more of our liberties, freedom, rampant inflation, the loss of the dollar as the world currency, etc during the next presidential cycle. It will happen, no doubt about it.
On April 4th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
As a staunch supporter of Ron Paul, I will certainly raise a ruckus. However, to say that exclusion will result in anarchy, terrorism like V for Vendetta, etc is just nonsense. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as passionate as any with my support, but violence or chaos is not something Ron Paul would support, nor would his supporters. Of course the only way to make sure this does not happen is, as the author said, to write, call, and e-mail each of the above persons and make sure it never even comes into play.
On April 4th, 2011 at 9:33 pm
People. Stop talking about revolts and vague generalities about civil unrest. The fact is that if this happens, the majority of you will bitch and moan, and nothing more. Someone gets excluded from a debate… REVOLT!
The president sells us out to UN, big bank, big pharma, allows the passing of bills that further strip us of our liberties, allow foreign troops to practice quelling civil unrest, and helps spur the North American Union further than ever before…. bitch and moan. No revolt.
Do you see what I am getting at here?
If you didn’t revolt then, you wont now.
Take action NOW, not LATER. Fax these people your (politically correct) opinions (or they will just be ignored). Tell your friends and family. See to it that they do the same. GET THE WORD OUT.
Agreeing with the man is not enough. Promising a revolt if he’s betrayed does not help us now. Get off your computer chair, write some damn letters, find who you need to contact, and fax your letters to them.
Stay vigilant!
On April 4th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
The GOP is on borrowed time. If Ron Paul is censored from the debate, there will be fallout! And, I will vote against any candidate who participates in the RNC debate, including a campaign of sabotage in the GOP primaries. Reince Priebus must be working for the same coercive leviathan that bought and paid for the Marxists.
On April 4th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
If Ron Paul is excluded from the debates, I will vote for Obama. That is not a threat, that is a promise. And I am a conservative, too. That’s how upset I will be, and many others will join me in this protest. RON PAUL ’12!!!!!!!!
On April 4th, 2011 at 11:38 pm
There already is anarchy. Big Government is ruling outside of law. Don’t know how much more anarchy there can be.
On April 5th, 2011 at 9:21 am
I think that Hugh Hewitt is mistaken that Ron Paul has no realistic path to the nomination and Rep Paul should be included in the debates. That said, threats to vote for Obama if Paul is not included are *not helpful* in my opinion. If Paul does win the GOP nomination we want relations with other sections of the party to be good enough that we can all unite and fight together to win in 2012 behind the nominee.
On April 10th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Let me know when and where to meet or help.
On May 22nd, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Mr. Ron Paul for 2012 Republican
Nom and President.
-Strengthen our USD
-No Inflation
-Balance the Budget
-No Mandated Healthcare
-Creates MANY JOBS
-New Crop Industries
-Free Market
-Very Pro Life
-No Bailout
-No Patriot Act
-Stays out of foreign DOMESTIC
AFFAIRS, but contract/trade with all
-No Unjustified War with no
objectives
-Brings our Troops Home after
over 10 YEARS OF FIGHTING!!!!
The US could have fought WWII in
10 Years!
TROOPS HOME NOW!
Thank You
Mr. Ron Paul 2012
On May 22nd, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Mr. Ron Paul for 2012 Republican
Nom and President.
-Strengthen our USD
-No Inflation
-Balance the Budget
-No Mandated Healthcare
-Creates MANY JOBS
-New Crop Industries
-Free Market
-Very Pro Life
-No Bailout
-No Patriot Act
-Stays out of foreign DOMESTIC
AFFAIRS, but contract/trade with all
-No Unjustified War with no
objectives
-Brings our Troops Home after
over 10 YEARS OF FIGHTING!!!!
The US could have fought WWII in
10 Years!
TROOPS HOME NOW!
Thank You
Mr. Ron Paul 2012
On June 4th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
http://www.change.org/petitions/demand-cnn-and-sponsors-invite-former-gov-gary-johnson-to-the-june-13th-nh-primary-debate