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BREAKING NEWS: Barr and Mc Kinney offer to replace Mc Cain in Presidential Debates

by AlvarezGalloso | September 25, 2008 at 06:22 am | 109 views | add comment | 0 recommendations

Bob Barr [Libertarian Party Candidate for President of the USA] and Cynthia Mc Kinney [Green Party USA Candidate for President of the USA] have offered to take the place of Republican Presidential Candidate John Mc Cain if he [Mc Cain] does not want to debate. The following are the press releases from the Libertarian and Green Party Campaigns.

I. Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party Press Release

Barack Obama Can Debate Bob Barr

McCain Moves to Dictate Debate Timing, Agenda Should Be Rejected

Atlanta, GA – With the recent proposal of Senator John McCain to postpone the first presidential debate, it is clear that the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has no authority.

"For the past several elections, candidates have used the CPD as an official buffer to keep competition out of the two-party presidential contest," says Libertarian Party presidential nominee Bob Barr. "McCain publicly proved with his announcement what we've been saying all along: The candidates call the shots as to when to debate, where to debate and who to debate."

Barr continued, "Given Senator McCain's political stunt to avoid the debate, I ask that Friday's debate moves forward without him, as I am more than willing to step in to participate."

In the 1980 election, Ronald Reagan chose to debate John Anderson, one-on-one, without Jimmy Carter.

In the 1992 election, George H.W. Bush demanded the inclusion of H. Ross Perot in all three presidential debates.

"It's time that at least one of the two leading presidential candidates show leadership and provide the American public an opportunity to witness an open and fair debate, based upon substance and issues rather than sound bites and rhetoric," concluded Barr.

On Wednesday, Russell Verney, Barr's campaign manager, sent a letter to both the Commission on President Debates (view letter) and the Obama campaign (view letter) asking for Barr to be included in Friday’s debate. In his letter to the CPD, Verney wrote that including Barr in the debate would allow them to proceed as planned, noting that “Congressman Barr’s participation will provide a substantive and vigorous debate of the issues facing our nation.”

II. Mc Kinney and the Green Party USA Press Release

Distributed by the Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org

Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente Power to the People Campaign
http://votetruth08.com

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Contact: 202-584-1021, press-secretary@runcynthiarin.org

Cynthia McKinney ready to step in for McCain at Friday's debate

WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party presidential nominee Cynthia McKinney
has offered to debate Barack Obama if John McCain's opts out at this
Friday's presidential debate in Oxford, Mississippi, following the
Republican nominee's announcement that he is seeking a delay of the
event.

"If John McCain wants to bow out, I'm willing to step in and take his
podium on Friday," said Cynthia McKinney.

"The financial meltdown won't come any closer to a resolution because
a presidential debate is postponed. Now is the best time for Americans to see how prepared their leaders are to handle emergencies,
how they introduce fresh ideas and solutions for national problems,
and whether they're willing to stand up for the American people
instead of Wall Street moguls and corporate interests," Ms. McKinney
added.

Ms. McKinney has sharply criticized the bailout bill and has
introduced a ten-point plan to address the financial crisis ("Seize
the Time," http://votetruth08.com/index.php/learn/mckinney-messages).

The Green Party has also called for extensive measures and protections
for American taxpayers, calling the collapse and bailout of financial
institutions a sign that bipartisan deregulation policies and the
free-market ideology have failed
(http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=107).

"I'm ready right now to travel to Mississippi. Voters have a right to
know about all the candidates whose names they'll see on the ballot.
Voters deserve to know which candidate best represents their interests
and ideals. Any presidential candidate who is on enough ballots to be
elected deserves to participate. We need multi-party presidential
debates, and I'm ready to go up against Barack Obama or any other
candidate and present my ideas to the American people. I should be
included in these debates whether McCain shows up or not," said Ms.
McKinney

Cynthia McKinney is a former six-term Georgia member of the US House
of Representatives. Ms. McKinney and running mate Rosa Clemente
(http://www.rosaclemente.com) were nominated by the Green Party of the
United States at the 2008 Green National Convention in Chicago this
past July.

Used with permission from the Libertarian Party and Green Party USA