Libertarian Candidate Excluded From Debate For Refusing Corporate Donations

fishdan writes: "I'm a long time /. member with excellent karma. I am also the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Congress in Massachusetts 6th District. I am on the ballot. I polled 7% in the only poll that included me, which was taken 6 weeks ago, before I had done any advertizing, been in any debates or been on television. In the most recent debate, the general consensus was that I moved a very partisan crowd in my favor. In the 2 days since that debate, donations and page views are up significantly.

Yesterday I received a stunning email from the local ABC affiliate telling me that they were going to exclude me from their televised debate because I did not have $50k in campaign contributions, even though during my entire campaign I have pointedly and publicly refused corporate donations. They cited several other trumped up reasons, including polling at 10%, but there has not been a poll that included me since the one 6 weeks ago — and I meet their other requirements."

Idealism is Impractical

[hutsell]

... I did not have $50k in campaign contributions, even though during my entire campaign I have pointedly and publicly refused corporate donations.

Is it possible one can be too idealistic for their own good and forget that playing politics (with corporations) is presently the most effective way to obtain enough power to eventually achieve some of one's original goals? I say some since interacting politically with others of differing opinions occasionally can result, if not in a better solution, at least with a workable compromise.

Another problem is the criteria for participating -- was it hidden or changed at the last minute to prevent anyone from b

Re:

[fishdan]

There was no announced criteria previously. It seems most likely that this is a response to my having refused to buy advertising from them, which I did because I'm buying on local cable in my district rather than on a broadcast that reaches 5 million people who are not in my district.