There should be no question whether ballot qualified independent and third party candidates should be included in debates. People say: well, what’s the criterion for including such candidates? How about this: they’re on the ballot!!!

The likes of Dent and his Democratic challenger are interested in nothing more than their own political interests, when they take sides on the debate issue. Here’s the real question: do we want a society and government that is open to debate and dialogue from across the political spectrum? Or do we want a society and government that continues to be monopolized and dominated by the stooges of the two-party state and ruling political class?

@d.eris

Don’t put words in Callahan’s mouth. Do you have some basis for including him in your attack on Dent? Did I miss the statement by Callahan saying he didn’t want Towne in the debates either? If so, I stand corrected. If not, let’s get the facts straight and not attack Dent and Callahan together for something only Dent said.

Callahan sent out the transcript of the Fox segment in an email to supporters today. I think d.eris is saying you can’t view the Callahan position on this as being above politics, even though he wants what most people would probably say is the right thing. If there was a left wing Independent candidate, Callahan would almost surely be taking a different position. that said, Callahan is definitely right. It’s extremely hard to get on the ballot as an Independent candidate, and Jake has been working his tail off for this. He’s got grassroots support, he’s the only one talking about monetary policy (which really matters, even though I disagree with him), and civil liberties. Jake isn’t going to win, but the best thing a third party candidate can do is force the main candidates to talk about important, if unpopular, issues. Obviously there’s a lot more to governing than simply the issues candidates think are popular enough to talk about. I’m especially happy that Jake is pushing the civil liberties issue. I hope that he is having success pushing rank and file conservatives away from the authoritarian views that were popular on the right in this area during the Bush years.

Jon’s basically right, Adam. My point was that Dent wants Towne out because he thinks it is bad for him, and Callahan wants Towne in because he thinks it’s bad for Dent. Callahan is on the right side of this question in calling for inclusive debate formats, but, I’d bet, for the wrong reasons.