PRESS RELEASE from Gary Johnson 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Natalie Dicou
Joe Hunter
JOHNSON CAMPAIGN FILES ANTI-TRUST ACTION
AGAINST NATIONAL COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES
Sept. 21, 2012, Saint Paul, Minn.
— Libertarian
presidential candidate Gary Johnson's campaign today filed an
anti-trust lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central
District of California challenging Johnson's exclusion from upcoming
debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. The
Commission announced earlier Friday that invitations to the debates
were being extended only to Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.
Announcing
the campaign's legal action, senior Johnson advisor Ron Nielson said,
"There is nothing remotely surprising in the fact that a private
organization created by and run by the Republican and Democratic
Parties has only invited the Republican and Democratic candidates to
their debates. It is a bit more disturbing that the national news media
has chosen to play the two-party game, when a full one-third of the
American people do not necessarily identify with either of those two
parties.
"American voters deserve a real debate between now and
Election Day. By excluding Gov. Johnson, the Commission on Presidential
Debates has guaranteed that there will be no one on the stage
challenging continued wars, calling for a balanced budget now — as
opposed to decades down the road, and who has never advocated
government-run health care.
"Someone has to stand up and call
this what it is: A rigged system designed entirely to protect and
perpetuate the two-party duopoly. That someone will be the Johnson
campaign. We are today filing a lawsuit in Federal Court charging that
the National Commission and the Republican and Democratic Parties, by
colluding to exclude duly qualified candidates outside the Republican
and Democratic Parties, are in violation of the nation's anti-trust
laws.
"It is unfortunate that a successful two-term governor
who is already assured of being on the ballot in 47 states and the
District of Columbia is forced to turn to the courts to break up a
rigged system, but it appears that fairness is not to be found
otherwise."
Johnson's running mate and retired California
Superior Court Judge Jim Gray, who is also a plaintiff, will argue the
motion on the campaign's behalf.
The lawsuit, filed only hours
after the Commission's announcement, charges that the Republican
National Committee and the Democratic National Committee and an
organization they set up, the Commission on Presidential Debates, have
conspired together to restrain trade, both in ideas and in commerce.
The lawsuit maintains that the Republican and Democratic Parties,
through the CPD, indefensibly limits access of other candidates to the
marketplace of ideas and the opportunity to be employed in these
highest offices in the land, and in so doing are violating the Sherman
Anti-Trust Act of 1890.
The lawsuit seeks an order of
the Court enjoining the debates from proceeding unless all candidates
who will appear on the ballot in enough states to win in the Electoral
College are allowed to participate.
Nielson said the Johnson
campaign would likely file additional lawsuits in additional
jurisdictions challenging the exclusion of Johnson and Gray from the
debates on other grounds.
Prior to 1988, the League of Women
Voters sponsored nationally-televised presidential debates. The League
withdrew its debate sponsorship after the Republican and Democratic
campaigns negotiated an agreement to determine which candidates could
participate, who would be panelists, and other details of the debates.
The League withdrew its support for the debates because "the demands of
the two campaign organizations would perpetuate a fraud on the American
voter."
"League Refuses to 'Help Perpetuate a Fraud'"
###
About
presidential candidate Gary Johnson: Gary Johnson, two-term governor of
New Mexico from 1995-2003, has been a consistent advocate for limited,
efficient government and personal liberty. Johnson switched from the
Republican Party to the Libertarian Party on Dec. 28, 2011. As the
Libertarian Party nominee, Johnson will appear on all 50 states'
ballots. An outspoken pro-Constitution Libertarian, Johnson would end
the war in Afghanistan now. He opposes the failed multi-billion dollar
war on drugs and demands greater transparency at the Federal Reserve.
As
president, Johnson would cut federal spending by 43 percent, slash debt
and make government live within its means while reducing taxes and
regulation to foster real job creation and economic opportunity like he
did in eight years as governor. The National Review said he was "#1" in
job creation as governor. An avid skier and bicyclist, he has reached
the highest peaks on four of the seven continents, including Mount
Everest.