URGES ALL DEBATES INCLUDE BALLOT-APPROVED CANDIDATES
Montgomery County: U.S. Senate candidate Kevin B. Zeese today accepted the invitation of the NAACP to participate in a three-way debate on October 28, 2006 in Baltimore. In a letter to Marvin L. 'Doc' Cheatham of the NAACP, Zeese noted "You have set the standard that all debates in Maryland should follow."
In the letter Zeese made the case for inclusive debates saying "inclusive debates are consistent with the traditions of free speech and the marketplace of ideas on which our country was founded. Elections are the time for full discussion of the issues facing our Nation – if we do not have open discussion during an election when will we?"
Zeese gave four reasons for why inclusive debates:
- Inclusive debates are good democracy as they increase voter interest and participation
- Inclusive debates enliven the debate and bring new ideas to the forefront that would otherwise not be discussed
- Inclusive debates reflect the popular will as voters want more choices and a plurality consider themselves independent of the two parties
- Inclusive debates can have clear standards and in the U.S. Senate race will only include three candidates
"In this race there will only be three candidates. I've united all the new parties behind my campaign thus there is no administrative burden or voter confusion. There is no legitimate excuse to limit debates to two candidates. Voters -- not debate sponsors -- should determine the outcome of elections," said Zeese. "Excluding a candidate that represents three parties and has Democrats, Republicans and independents on his campaign committee is an insult to the nearly 20% of voters who are registered independent of the two old parties."
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August 23, 2006
Hon. Marvin L. 'Doc' Cheatham, Sr. 7th President - NAACP Baltimore City Branch 8 W. 26th Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21218
Re: NAACP U.S. Senate Debate – Inclusion of All Ballot-Approved Candidates
Dear Mr. Cheatham:
I am writing to confirm my participation in the U.S. Senate debate scheduled for October 28th in Baltimore, MD.
Let me take this opportunity to thank you for including all ballot-approved candidates in the debate. Inclusive debates gives voters the chance to know what each candidate stands for and allow them to contrast each of us as we discuss issues together in the marketplace of ideas. You have set the standard that all debates in Maryland should follow.
In the U.S. Senate election, because I have united three new parties behind my campaign – the Green, Libertarian and Populist Parties – the debate will only include three candidates. My campaign has reached beyond the three parties to include voters who are Democrats, Republicans and independents on my campaign committee. Thus, including my “Unity for Change Campaign” it is not a burden administratively, nor will it cause electoral confusion. But, it will ensure a lively discussion of issues facing Maryland.
We need robust and lively debates on all the serious issues facing the United States today. The vast majority of Americans believe the country is going in the wrong direction. The majority see both old parties as lacking new ideas and corrupted by political donations. They are tuning out electoral politics and not participating because politics does not respond to their interests or concerns. Indeed, the United States is in a democracy crisis, ranking 127th out of 172 countries in voter turnout.
In Maryland, the fastest growing group of voters is registering independent of the two old parties. Independents are approaching 20% of registered voters. This is remarkable because Maryland law only allows those registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary. Thus, registering independent is saying – “even your best candidates are not good enough for me to register with your party.” When Marylanders declare their independence or register with a new party they are making a strong political statement that should be respected by the media and debate sponsors.
Why have inclusive debates?
Inclusive Debates are Good for Democracy
Participation by new-party candidates raises interest, debate viewership and voter turnout. Rather than elections based on a barrage of misleading advertisements that increase voter cynicism, debates allow candidates to discuss issues face-to-face in a spontaneous, unscripted format. Inclusive debates increase interest in democracy. The 1992 presidential debates included Ross Perot and were watched by record-breaking TV audiences, averaging 90 million viewers, with a larger audience for each successive debate. Presidential voter turnout went up in '92, reversing a 20-year downward trend. In 1996, when Perot was excluded, viewership shrunk averaging only 41 million viewers -- and voter turnout nosedived. In 1998 Minnesota, participation by third-party candidate Jesse Ventura in the gubernatorial debates stirred interest in the campaign and generated massive turnout.
Inclusive Debates Add Fresh Viewpoints and Issues
Televised debates should be more than just a showcase for the two candidates of the two old parties. They should be a broad discussion of the problems facing our country, as well as possible solutions-- including proposals that may not yet be in mainstream circulation. New-party candidates bring up topics that would otherwise be ignored. Depending on who is nominated I may be the only candidate advocating a single payer health care system to ensure that all Americans have health care; the only anti-war advocate not only opposed to the Iraq War but also opposed to a military attack on Iran and urging a cut in the bloated military budget; my tax plan, which includes the first $100,000 in income being federal income tax free, is unique; I will be the only candidate who opposes corporate trade agreements that make corporations more powerful than government; I will be the only candidate urging free post-high school education with a plan to pay for it and I will be the only candidate who is not funded by wealthy special interests that many Americans blame for the misdirection of our country. These issues need to be debated and discussed and elections are the opportunity to do so. Throughout history third parties have brought new ideas to elections this includes: ending slavery, giving women the right to vote, the 40-hour work week, Social Security, ending child labor, and Medicare among others.
Inclusive Debates Reflect Popular Will
Polls show a majority of Americans want more choices in their elections and are unhappy with the two old parties. More and more Americans feel unrepresented by their federal elected officials. In fact, a poll published in the Economist in July 2005 indicated that only 17% of Americans feel represented by their federal elected officials. Polls in 2006 have found both of the two old parties have higher negative ratings than positive ratings. Gallup reports that 38% of Americans consider themselves independent of the two parties – larger than the number of people who consider themselves Democrats or Republicans. At the presidential level, Unity08 reports that 74% of Americans want more than two choices in their elections. National polls have also shown that a majority of Americans want more than two choices included in debates.
Inclusive Debates Can Have Clear Standards
In the U.S. Senate race in Maryland there will only be three candidates so it will be easy to have well managed debates that cover a wide range of issues and let the voters hear the views of all candidates. Each candidate can be given sufficient time to explain his perspective on each issue so voters can be well informed about the views of the candidates for whom they can vote.
I appreciate the NAACP for acting in the traditions of free speech and the marketplace of ideas on which our country was founded. Elections are the time for full discussion of the issues facing our Nation – if we do not have open discussion during an election when will we?
Thank you again. I hope your debates will be a model for all who sponsor debates this fall so that Maryland can be a model for the nation.
Sincerely,
Kevin B. Zeese
Unity for Change Candidate of the
Green, Libertarian and Populist Parties
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