PRESS
RELEASE from Gary Johnson 2012
GARY JOHNSON TO RNC: LETTING
NEWS MEDIA PRE-SELECT PRESIDENTIAL FIELD IS IRRESPONSIBLE
October 21, 2011, Santa Fe, NM
- In response to several debate exclusions Presidential candidate Gary
Johnson sent the following letter to Republican National Committee
Chairman, Reince Priebus:
"There
is
one thing about which all Republicans agree: Our greatest
imperative in 2012 is to elect a Republican President of the United
States.
It
is
the simple reality that our country is headed in a disastrous
financial direction that prompted me to seek the Republican nomination
for president. As a Republican who was elected - and reelected -
governor of New Mexico, an overwhelmingly Democrat state, I recognized
that the right kind of leadership is essential if we are to regain the
White House in 2012.
Having
compiled
a record as governor that, by any measure, demonstrates the
ability to curb spending, cut taxes and create an economic and
regulatory environment that will bring about real job creation, I
entered the race for president with the belief that I bring to the
table not only the credentials, but ideas that Republicans would like
to see and hear. Never did it occur to me that I would be
excluded
from the conversation; however, that is precisely what is happening -
and I believe the Republican National Committee bears some
responsibility for what is going on.
Debates,
such
as the one this week in Las Vegas, are supposed to be
opportunities for voters to see the candidates, hear their views, and
judge their qualifications without the distortions of money,
recognition and favoritism. However, when organizing those
debates is
left to the national news media, the result has been an absurd
Catch-22. Invitations to participate in the debates are based
upon
arbitrary polling criteria decided in the conference rooms of media
organizations such as CNN or NBC or the Washington Post.
Of
course
poll performance in the early stages of a campaign is almost
entirely a function of money and name recognition - those same
distortions debates are intended to eliminate. Even worse,
the same
organizations who organize the debates are the ones who conduct the
polls upon which their invitations are based. In my case, most of
those organizations do not include me in their polling. The net
result
is that a handful of media executives have largely denied Republicans
the opportunity to hear from a former governor whose record clearly
merits their consideration.
I
recognize
that the RNC is not in the business of helping one candidate
for the nomination or another. However, I would suggest that it is
the business of the RNC to insure that the Republican nominating
process is not ceded to the likes of CNN and the Washington Post.
Commentators across the board have pointed to the fundamental
unfairness of my exclusion from the process. Even other
candidates
have done the same. But nowhere have we heard the voice of the
Republican National Committee. As a lifelong Republican and a
former
Republican governor, I would suggest that allowing the national news
media - who do not have the best interests of the Republican Party in
mind - to pre-select the presidential field is nothing less than
irresponsible.
It
is
no secret that not all of my views, particularly on some so-called
'social issues' are shared by certain elements of the Republican Party
- elements who frankly exert inordinate influence within the
Party.
Many of my supporters who are Independents - and even Democrats - are
quick to suggest that the Republican "establishment" doesn't want my
voice heard. I hope that is not the case. To the contrary,
as I
travel the country, I find a great number of Republicans who not only
share my views, but who feel disenfranchised by a vocal minority that
has become the face of the Party.
My
electoral
success in a heavily Democrat state should serve as proof
that my candidacy presents an opportunity to demonstrate that the
Republican Party is big enough to allow a slightly different voice to
be heard. That will be important next year when it comes time to
turn
our attention to the ultimate goal: Convincing a majority of
Americans
that they want a Republican in the White House.
With
the
early Republican primaries and caucuses fast approaching, I urge
you to exert some leadership and reclaim the nominating process from
the national news media who are today pre-ordaining the viability and
success of candidates. It is Republican voters who
ultimately lose
when the process is skewed, and serving the interests of those voters
is, in fact, your responsibility, as is the integrity of the nominating
process."
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