Media blackout over the illegal Cobb/Badnarik arrests - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Willravel · 10-15-2004, 04:39 PM

Inside, the two major party candidates were having their pre-scripted, teleprompter-aided, taxpayer-funded hour long press conference. Outside, Michael Badnarik, the nominee of America's third largest political party, the Libertarians, was being arrested while trying to enter the debates and serve legal papers. With him was David Cobb, from the Green party, another Presidential candidate getting arrested to protest his exclusion from the debates. Two government candidates inside on the national stage, in the time-honored tradition of the Presidential Debates, and their two largest challengers, independents, outside being handcuffed and put into a paddywagon. Really makes you think, doesn't it?...

Imagine the Orwellian sense of confusion those police officers must have felt. Here they were, in America, called out to don riot gear and protect the Presidential Debates and while the debate is going on inside, you find yourself arresting two Presidential Candidates and riding them around in a paddywagon for a few hours. Do these officers feel like good Americans?

Do any of the officers that were witness to this historical event have the courage to step forward and speak up about it?

What if some other country were having an election, and citizens were only allowed to hear from two government-approved candidates? What if their opposition, candidates on the ballot in a majority of states, were arrested on the orders from the leader in power, during the Presidential Debates, would this be news?

The USA Today, Atlanta Journal, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, New York Daily News, Seattle Times, Indianapolis Star, Boston Globe, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, San Diego Union Tribune, Kansas City Star and a long list of other so-called newspapers decided for whatever reason to spike the story.

The media blackout this entire campaign for Michael Badnarik is easily explained. The Libertarians do not have alot of money for ads and the Republicans and the Democrats do. There has obviously been an unspoken rule put into play across the board to not include Badnarik in any polls or to even mention his name. This circular logic keeps anyone, even someone from a political party that has been on the ballot in all 50 states since 1992, from ever reaching the magic 15% mark required for inclusion in the debates. And without being in the debates, it is virtually impossible to win an election. Or at least that is what Bush and Kerry are banking on.

There have been documented instances where people have gone on Fox News and CNN and been told that they would not be allowed to say Badnarik's name. This country is 20 days away from a presidential election and there has been no national exposure of the 3rd party alternatives available to the voters.

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for these but with the people themselves; nor can they be safe with them without information. Where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe."
-Thomas Jefferson

"Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people, by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations."
James Madison

Since Bush came to power there has been a steady attack on Freedom and Rights in America. The Patriot Act, secret courts, endorsed torture, endorsed torture via foreign cooperation, people locked up for holding a sign or having a bumper sticker not in favor of our current President, all in the name of the war on terror, justified by the 9-11 tragedy, the details of which President Bush has been working hard to make sure you don't find out about. With Patriot Act 2, the draft, and compulsory community service looming on the horizon, a future with Bush or Kerry in power does not look well for the Freedom-minded Americans that made this country great, and we are not sitting idly by.

It is incumbent on all of us Americans to insist that U.S. citizens have a meaningful opportunity to meet with lawyers and present their side of the story -- and to insist that courts know what they're talking about before consigning people to their fates. It is also incumbant upon us to inform ourselves, since the Press is AWOL, about ALL of the choices available for the Presidency on November 2ND.

Extraordinary measures will need to be taken by Team Badnarik. Word of mouth, home printers, and the disassociated internet groups are all that is available at this late hour. Will it be enough? I have faith in the American people, and if they can be woken up to the what the media has been doing, we have a real chance to change things for the better come November 2ND. The internet is famous for routing around censorship, and I firmly believe that the internetet will play a deciding role in this highly charged election.

filtherton · 10-15-2004, 05:17 PM

That is because the media are complicit in the sham of pretending ours is a two party system.

SecretMethod70 · 10-15-2004, 05:19 PM

Reposted from <a href="http://www.e-thepeople.org/article/35752/view">e.the.People:</a>

Quote:

Is America still a free country?

What if some other country were having an election, and citizens were only allowed to hear from two government-approved candidates?

What if two other candidates, on the ballot in a majority of states and representing parties that drew over 3 million votes in the previous election, were arrested simply for trying to enter a debate?

What if all that happened, and the “watchdog” news media didn’t tell the citizens about it?

Well, it happened in the good old US of A! Libertarian Michael Badnarik (on 49 state ballots) and Green David Cobb (on 28 state ballots), crossed a police line in St. Louis, and were arrested.

You would think that Fox News, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and MSNBC would be all over this affront to the democratic process, but no, not a peep.

Badnarik was also attempting to serve the Commission on Presidential Debates with a “Show Cause Order,” issued by an Arizona judge, requiring the CPD to appear at a hearing concerning the Libertarian Party’s lawsuit to stop the upcoming debate at Arizona State University, as an illegal campaign contribution to Bush and Kerry, an unconstitutional use of Arizona state funds to support selected candidates, and a violation of the LP’s equal protection rights, since they are a recognized political party in Arizona.

If this happened in some other country, what would we call them? Undemocratic? Human rights violations? Unbelievable?

If you think America is a free country, you are sadly mistaken. If you think the news media aren’t controlled by the same people who control the Democrat and Republican parties, think again.

Dane Bramage · 10-16-2004, 12:53 PM

And it amazes me that people actually think our media is liberal!?! If they weren't themselves pawns to the corporate special intrestes that control our government, then they certainly would have said something about this.

TheKak · 10-16-2004, 03:12 PM

I think this is an outrage. I sent several emails to CNN about the lack of coverage of Michael Badnarik's arrest without a peep back from them. You would think that a Presidential candidate being arrested at the debates would make the news, wouldn't you?

wnker85 · 10-16-2004, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dane Bramage

And it amazes me that people actually think our media is liberal!?! If they weren't themselves pawns to the corporate special intrestes that control our government, then they certainly would have said something about this.

Why can they not be Liberal? In a sense that they want their side to win too, and by showing anyone who would take votes from Kerry would give Mr. Bush a better shot at it. If the Democrats had three people that they could choose from no ones would have enough to kick Mr. Bus out. They do not want what happened to Gore in 2000 and Dole in 1996 and Bush number one in 1992. (even though they liked the latter two

)

Lebell · 10-16-2004, 03:42 PM

I note that we have people here on TFP that support the democrats effort to keep Ralph Nader off the ballot in several states.

It all starts at home.

Willravel · 10-16-2004, 08:20 PM

I think that all partys should be represented on the ballot. I don't care that some people have bought into the lie that a vote for one person takes away from another. This is supposed to be a representative democracy. If not all of the possible representatives are recognised, we cease to have our control as civilians. A choice between two people is much different than a choice between 5 or 6. Who decided that 15% of the popular vote was the rule for the debates? Who would it have hurt to include the Libratarian and Green candidates?
I guess my faith in politics is seriously missplaced.

SecretMethod70 · 10-16-2004, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

Who decided that 15% of the popular vote was the rule for the debates? Who would it have hurt to include the Libratarian and Green candidates

The bi-partisan Commissino on Presidential Debates. The Republican and Democratic parties.

It's time the American people understood that politicians are not looking out for the PUBLIC'S best interests and haven't been for quite some time.

I don't think all candidates should be represented on all ballots, but I think it's fair to have a signature requirement to get on the ballot in states. First of all, this signature requirement should count for EVERY party (unlike the current rules where Reps and Dems are on automatically) and it should be set at a reasonable percentage of the population of the state (perhaps 0.5%-1%). This should be a federal law.

One of these days I'm going to compile a list - maybe write a book who knows - about the various changes I would like to see to our electoral process.

10-15-2004, 04:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Media blackout over the illegal Cobb/Badnarik arrests Inside, the two major party candidates were having their pre-scripted, teleprompter-aided, taxpayer-funded hour long press conference. Outside, Michael Badnarik, the nominee of America's third largest political party, the Libertarians, was being arrested while trying to enter the debates and serve legal papers. With him was David Cobb, from the Green party, another Presidential candidate getting arrested to protest his exclusion from the debates. Two government candidates inside on the national stage, in the time-honored tradition of the Presidential Debates, and their two largest challengers, independents, outside being handcuffed and put into a paddywagon. Really makes you think, doesn't it?... Imagine the Orwellian sense of confusion those police officers must have felt. Here they were, in America, called out to don riot gear and protect the Presidential Debates and while the debate is going on inside, you find yourself arresting two Presidential Candidates and riding them around in a paddywagon for a few hours. Do these officers feel like good Americans? Do any of the officers that were witness to this historical event have the courage to step forward and speak up about it? What if some other country were having an election, and citizens were only allowed to hear from two government-approved candidates? What if their opposition, candidates on the ballot in a majority of states, were arrested on the orders from the leader in power, during the Presidential Debates, would this be news? The USA Today, Atlanta Journal, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, New York Daily News, Seattle Times, Indianapolis Star, Boston Globe, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, San Diego Union Tribune, Kansas City Star and a long list of other so-called newspapers decided for whatever reason to spike the story. The media blackout this entire campaign for Michael Badnarik is easily explained. The Libertarians do not have alot of money for ads and the Republicans and the Democrats do. There has obviously been an unspoken rule put into play across the board to not include Badnarik in any polls or to even mention his name. This circular logic keeps anyone, even someone from a political party that has been on the ballot in all 50 states since 1992, from ever reaching the magic 15% mark required for inclusion in the debates. And without being in the debates, it is virtually impossible to win an election. Or at least that is what Bush and Kerry are banking on. There have been documented instances where people have gone on Fox News and CNN and been told that they would not be allowed to say Badnarik's name. This country is 20 days away from a presidential election and there has been no national exposure of the 3rd party alternatives available to the voters. "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for these but with the people themselves; nor can they be safe with them without information. Where the press is free, and every man able to read, all is safe." -Thomas Jefferson "Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people, by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations." James Madison Since Bush came to power there has been a steady attack on Freedom and Rights in America. The Patriot Act, secret courts, endorsed torture, endorsed torture via foreign cooperation, people locked up for holding a sign or having a bumper sticker not in favor of our current President, all in the name of the war on terror, justified by the 9-11 tragedy, the details of which President Bush has been working hard to make sure you don't find out about. With Patriot Act 2, the draft, and compulsory community service looming on the horizon, a future with Bush or Kerry in power does not look well for the Freedom-minded Americans that made this country great, and we are not sitting idly by. It is incumbent on all of us Americans to insist that U.S. citizens have a meaningful opportunity to meet with lawyers and present their side of the story -- and to insist that courts know what they're talking about before consigning people to their fates. It is also incumbant upon us to inform ourselves, since the Press is AWOL, about ALL of the choices available for the Presidency on November 2ND. Extraordinary measures will need to be taken by Team Badnarik. Word of mouth, home printers, and the disassociated internet groups are all that is available at this late hour. Will it be enough? I have faith in the American people, and if they can be woken up to the what the media has been doing, we have a real chance to change things for the better come November 2ND. The internet is famous for routing around censorship, and I firmly believe that the internetet will play a deciding role in this highly charged election.

10-16-2004, 12:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dane Bramage Insane Location: Charlotte, NC	And it amazes me that people actually think our media is liberal!?! If they weren't themselves pawns to the corporate special intrestes that control our government, then they certainly would have said something about this. __________________ Every passing hour brings the Solar System forty-three thousand miles closer to Globular Cluster M13 in Hercules — and still there are some misfits who insist that there is no such thing as progress. Kurt Vonnegut - Sirens of Titan

10-16-2004, 03:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheKak Insane Location: Virginia	I think this is an outrage. I sent several emails to CNN about the lack of coverage of Michael Badnarik's arrest without a peep back from them. You would think that a Presidential candidate being arrested at the debates would make the news, wouldn't you? __________________ Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm a schizophrenic and so am I.

10-16-2004, 03:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
Lebell Cracking the Whip Location: Sexymama's arms...	I note that we have people here on TFP that support the democrats effort to keep Ralph Nader off the ballot in several states. It all starts at home. __________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate!

10-15-2004, 05:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
filtherton Junkie Location: In the land of ice and snow.	That is because the media are complicit in the sham of pretending ours is a two party system.

10-16-2004, 08:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I think that all partys should be represented on the ballot. I don't care that some people have bought into the lie that a vote for one person takes away from another. This is supposed to be a representative democracy. If not all of the possible representatives are recognised, we cease to have our control as civilians. A choice between two people is much different than a choice between 5 or 6. Who decided that 15% of the popular vote was the rule for the debates? Who would it have hurt to include the Libratarian and Green candidates? I guess my faith in politics is seriously missplaced.