On October 18, 2006, Connecticut TV station WVIT, channel 30, was hosting a gubernatorial debate at which only the Democratic and Republican nominees were invited. The Connecticut State Police Central Criminal Intelligence Unit sent officers to that debate, because the police believed that Greens might show up to protest the exclusion of their gubernatorial candidate. These police officers were separate from the normal police unit that provides security for the Governor, and of course they were also in addition to any city police. As it turns out, no Greens protested at that debate. This information has surfaced because of a somewhat related lawsuit filed by the campaign manager for the Green Party’s gubernatorial campaign that year. See this story. Thanks to Green Party Watch for the link.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
Gotta hand it to those cops for “protecting” us from having fair elections and open debates. (Sarcasm)
How soon before incumbent Donkeys / Elephants spy on Elephants / Donkeys ???
Opps — already happened — See the EVIL Prez Nixon in 1972-1974 aka the infamous Watergate Affair (for older folks with some memory cells).
Hope this doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone. After all, we live in a brave new world. If you oppose the status quo from either the “far” left or the “far” right you will be singled out.
Politics today has come down to being able to utter one of two mindless phrases: “I am a Democrat — hurray for Obama!” or “I am a Republican — hurray for McCain!”
Those silly Greenies, thinking the Republicans and Democrats really mean it when they talk about “democracy” and “the people.”
And thinking the two old parties mean it when they urge everyone to get out and participate.
There has been a long series of incidents when legitimate candidates have been prevented, often by armed agents of the state, from participating in alleged “debates.”
In 1992, when George H.W. Bush hit a 90 percent approval rating, it looked as if no Democrat wanted to be the one to get clobbered — until a California mayor (whose name, alas, escapes me at the moment) — made the plunge.
He was a Democrat who had won in a heavily Republican area, and looked to be as viable as anyone else being mentioned at the time as a candidate.
Despite his efforts, despite his being the first one to have the courage to enter the race, he was kept out of debates and was not given even much courtesy from the Democrat Party. If I remember correctly, he was even arrested once merely for trying to participate in a debate.
Alan Keyes was arrested at least once for the same thing, despite being on the primary ballots of most states.
And, of course, new-party candidates have been routinely blocked from the presidential so-called “debates.”
That police would be on stand-by surely comes as no surprise to any knowledgeable observer.
The late Aaron Russo: “From Freedom to Fascism: