DRAWING BACK THE VEIL

The Lynchburg Ledger
Dick Cheatham

Friday, August 27, 2004

You may be familiar with the blatantly “bi -partizan” Commission on Presidential Debates.” (Note that “bi” means two.) That commission which pretends to offer voting citizens an opportunity to hear the presidential candidates fairly debate the issues is dominated (translate that as “owned”) by the two parties money-bloated parties that also think they own the presidency. (They do and will as long as you let them.)

The only presidential candidates the Rs and the Ds want you to hear from are their own. Surprise, surprise! While trying to make citizens think they are fair and open to any and all ideas and candidates, they manipulate the process and criteria behind the scenes to exclude any but their own.

They manipulate the media and the polling organizations in a similar fashion through their massive expenditures on both. Amazing how the media only cover the R and D celebrities (which they create and sustain through massive coverage). Amazing how the polling organizations typically ask, “who do you like better, the R or the D.” Isn't it strange how the “minor” (I hate that term) candidates do so poorly when they aren't included in the polling questions?

Well, there is now a serious challenge to the corrupt and bi-partizan Commission on Presidential Debates. The Citizen's Debate Commission, a non-partizan organization intends to expose the lack of openness and behind-the-scenes manipulations of the CPD. They intend to eventually displace the CPD. Their criteria for inclusion of candidates is much more an open one. Their debate formats and questions won't be dictated by the Rs and the Ds only. Golly, the debates might even be interesting! Their debates might even showcase fresh ideas and lively discussion of issues Americans actually want to hear about! How about that?

The courts are now in the act too. There have been numerous legal challenges to the major obstacles faced by candidates whose voices just aren't being heard.

Do yourself a favor. Check out this CDC online. If they're successful in their attempt, you might eventually be able hear voices other than R and D voices. Then after hearing those other voices as well, you might still choose to vote R or D. But you would be doing so after at least knowing something about the other choices you will see on your ballot when you go to vote. Don't you feel even the slightest twinge of guilt not knowing?)

Heck, some people who never vote (and there are many millions of you because you are bored and/or disgusted with the intentionally stacked process) might actually find a reason to go to the polls on election day. Let's open up the process.

Let's hear our choices. Rarely do you go to a restaurant you've been to many times before and refuse to let the waiter/waitress tell you what the specials are.