The Badnarik campaign sent out an email last night talking about the lack of media coverage for third party candidates. Here’s an excerpt:
…the media blackout continues. Michael Badnarik has now participated in three presidential debates and Richard Campagna has participated in one vice presidential debate. The main stream media knew of these debates and refused to cover them.
Libertarians filed a complaint against Arizona State University and the Commission on Presidential Debates to stop the final Bush – Kerry debate. While a few cameras were present, this clearly did not receive the amount of national media attention it deserved. The main stream media knew, in advance, and refused to cover the story.
Friday, we attempted to serve an Order to Show Cause to the Commission on Presidential Debates at their D.C. headquarters. The CPD did everything within their power to avoid process service. Again, America’s major media outlets did not carry the story.
Later that evening, Michael Badnarik personally attempted to serve the papers to the CPD during the staged Bush – Kerry debate in St. Louis – AND WAS ARRESTED IN THE PROCESS. The mainstream press did know of this in advance, but refused to cover it.
I hadn’t heard anything about any of this, so I googled ‘badnarik arrested’ to see what kind of results appeared. Not many. However, an Arizona judge has ordered a hearing to review the legality of a debate that uses public funds but excludes candidates.
I also found this article about Libertarian spoilers, which backs up my theory that the Republicans have more to worry about from Badnarik than the Dems do from Nader. I keep hearing the argument, “A vote for anyone other than Kerry is a vote for Bush,” but one could just as easily say, “A vote for anyone other than Bush is a vote for Kerry.”