Howe asks: 'What will the voters learn?'
OXFORD (Oct. 3) -- Barbara Howe, Libertarian candidate for governor,
wonders just what North Carolina voters will learn in Monday's so-called
education debate between Governor Mike Easley and state Senator Patrick
Ballantine. Howe, who has made all reasonable efforts to be included in
the October 4 debate on education, has been refused a position on the dais
even though she is on the ballot in the Nov. 2 election.
"It's very unfortunate that the voters will be denied the opportunity
to learn of all their choices on the November ballot," said Howe. "My
Taxpayer Choice Scholarship Plan that will free North Carolina parents
from the shackles of monopolistic government education is the only plan
that offers a substantial change to business as usual.".
While Easley and Ballantine have wrangled over what kind of debates and
how many debates and where, Howe has simply and repeatedly asked to be
included. "I'll debate either or both gentlemen, anytime anywhere. North
Carolina voters deserve to hear the whole story," she said.
WRAL, the sponsor of the Oct. 15 told Howe's attorney, "We believe that
voters are best served if we include candidates who, based on our news
judgment, have a realistic chance of being elected in November."
"The fact any debate sponsor substitutes their judgment of who is
viable and who is not is a slap in the face of North Carolina's voters,"
said Howe. She noted that 18 percent of North Carolina's voters are
registered either Libertarian or Unaffiliated.
"That's a significant voting block," Howe said. "Voters need to hear
from all the possible choices, not just the candidates whom WRAL deems to
be viable."
"It's a circular argument," Howe added. "The debate sponsor says they
won't include us because we don't poll well enough. As the third party, we
will most likely never poll high enough because we are denied the free
media available to the two larger parties."
Many supporters have encouraged Howe to simply "storm the gates."
"I suppose they'd cover me if I got myself arrested. But I really
prefer to participate because the debate sponsors come to their senses and
realize it's the right thing to do for the citizens of North Carolina."
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