By Jim Rex | Most Americans appreciate and value a contest that allows qualified contestants to compete on a level playing field utilizing and adhering to the same rules. Whether it is athletics, business or politics, most of us believe that “fair” competition is likely to give us the best legitimate outcomes.
Unfortunately, the CNN presidential debate scheduled for June 27 – which is three months prior to usual first presidential debate among parties – and the arbitrary and unevenly applied criteria used to qualify candidates for the debate seem to point to an overt attempt to ensure that the American people are allowed to hear only from two candidates, while excluding a third candidate whose poll numbers and state ballot access numbers meet the debate inclusion criteria. In fact, Robert Kennedy Jr. more clearly meets the publicized debate criteria than either former President Donald Trump or President Joe Biden – since neither of the two candidates have been nominated by their respective parties.
CNN’s published criteria says that a candidate’s name must first appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold. CNN is holding Kennedy to this requirement- which he is exceeding – while not requiring it of Biden or Trump. Instead, the media giant’s concocted term, “presumptive nominee,” is being used as a way of exempting both men from the requirement. The Presidential Debate Commission (which, after overseeing debates for decades, has been cooperatively circumvented by the Biden and Trump campaigns) and the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) have both publicly stated “presumptive nominee” is not a part of the debate regulations.
It is clear that the early debate date, the quickly arrived-at exclusionary debate criteria and definitions, and the closely orchestrated rhetoric from CNN and the two candidate’s campaign staffs are an attempt to stall the rising popularity of RFK Jr.. His candidacy is understandably viewed as a threat by the two “presumptive nominees” who seven out of 10 Americans dislike as their two choices in November.
As voters, we should be angered by this attempt to keep us from hearing the voice and the perspectives of the highest polling third party/independent presidential candidate in decades. What are the “presumptive nominees” afraid of? Perhaps, the fact that more and more of us are tired of the two-party domination of the messaging around our choices for improving the nation we love? Perhaps, that we are also tiring of the arrogant manipulation and narrowing of options for real solutions and a more unified America?
Please consider speaking out to CNN, the media in general and to anyone who cares enough about this election to listen about the need for us to have a truly free and fair 2024 election.
A “free and fair election” is not just about how the votes are counted in November. It is also about how fair and open the process is for voters as we strive to gain information and weigh options prior to the casting of our votes -“our” votes, not CNN’s votes or votes “owned” by any political party.
Jim Rex, a former state superintendent of education in South Carolina, is chair emeritus of the Alliance Party of South Carolina, which has nominated Robert Kennedy Jr. as its presidential candidate to appear on the 2024 ballot in South Carolina.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!