On September 28, David Patterson, Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in Kentucky, sued Kentucky Educational TV for refusing to invite him into the only U.S. Senate debate in Kentucky this year. Libertarian National Committee v Holliday, eastern district, 3:14cv-63. The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Gregory VanTatenhove, a Bush Jr. appointee.
The lawsuit charges that the station’s original criterion for an invitation to the debate, which Patterson met, was changed with the intent to exclude him. Polls have shown Patterson above 5%. The original rules required a 5% showing, but after the poll came out, the station altered its rules to require a higher level of support. Here is the Complaint. The text is 22 pages and the additional pages are copies of internal communications within Kentucky Educational TV.
If Massachusetts can have a 5 person debate, there is no excuse in allowing the Libertarian to be included in the Kentucky debates since he met the original criteria.
As I’ve said before, the Democrats & Republicans will go to any lengths to keep a threatening 3rd party or Independent candidate off the ballot.
I admire the Libertarians in their determined effort to fight this kind of “voter disenfranchisement” and the remainder of us should do all we can to fight against it.